The Teacher Symposium

What if teachers had meaningful input and control over how the school system could improve? We could have a symposium of teachers to discuss how they would change and mold a school. In the discussion would be the areas that needed to be changed, improved, a wish list down to the minutest detail. This would not only include teaching, but programming, guidance, discipline, technology, limitation, legalities.

Teachers at the symposium would have two demands - brevity and reality. Both are flexible. Sometimes it takes longer to make a point so their should be no time limit to speak. However, many teachers go off way too long without an idea as to how long its been since they made their point. Reality - based on the laws of physics and the ten commandments. We cannot use transporter technology to travel from our beds to our classrooms, but we are permitted to dream of a parking space in front of the building. We cannot waste time demanding capital punishment for our students but alternative settings or immediate consequences are legitimate discussions.

One thing we can do to prepare is to fill out a questionnaire. The purpose here would be to set out guidelines and allow participants to prepare their thoughts and answers. I believe the questionnaire would include the proper setting for the symposium, what a school should look like....not just limited to in class processes and complaints about administration.

...to be continued.

So how do we get started?

I would need to ask a number of people to come up with a questionnaire to send out to more people, all of who would be potential participants. This does not mean the formation of the questionnair is limited to those committed to attending the symposium. But the creation of the questions should be be favored toward more experienced teachers and teachers who think in terms of their own job, not just being parents to the kids.

One the questions are agreed on the questionnair is sent out to the potential particiapants. this is where they are told about the symposium and given an opportunity to express themselves in whatever detail they like. Also, this will allow them to craft their thoughts and responses.

The opinions should be compiled and ideas for the discussion should rise to the surface.

I envision a "wiki" in which all topics and ideas are set out in wiki formation and people can add to them, edit them, leave opinions.

The symposium has to be moderated, recorded and improved upon. Follow up symposiums should include specific aspects of education life.