A lot of great conversations about de-streaming lately. A lot of teachers taking up one side of the issue or the other. Some teachers pointing their fingers at colleagues...some ignoring obvious issues with de-streaming if not properly implemented . A thread...1/8#etfo #osstf
I’m an elementary teacher, so de-streaming in HS doesn’t affect me. Elementary is effectively a de-streamed environment (notwithstanding programs like immersion, contained, etc.). I think when it comes to this issue, it’s helpful to look at how elementary fares.2/8
Elementary does a lot of things well for our students. However, the system fails many of our students daily,and not at all for a lack of trying by ed. workers. Too much depends on having communities with vast resources or administrators (in-school or otherwise) who give a damn3/8
Streaming, as I understand it, has many positives and many teachers who believe in it fully...same can be said for de-streaming. As someone who grew up poor and struggled in school, streaming was vital for me...but that was me; it’s different for everyone.4/8
For my oldest son, elementary fails him on the daily. He is gifted and in the 99th percentile. He’s the kid that doesn’t cause any trouble and goes unnoticed which is great for over-burdened teachers dealing with many personalities in a classroom...not so good for my son.5/8
Typically, my son can do the work and absorb lessons at a scary pace (blows my mind he is my son😜). This often leads to boredom, and to be honest, is making him lazy. The system, frankly, can’t serve my son and barely attempts to. For my son, he will need academic streaming6/8
My point is, educators shouldn’t be wasting their time calling their colleagues “racist” or otherwise engaging in put-downs for sharing honest points-of-view.7/8
As for the “we must do better” crowd with regards to de/streaming: who’s we? Most teachers I know “do better” well beyond what the system even comes close to providing. So, by “do better” lets aim that DIRECTLY at policy makers and administrators at the board system level.8/8
@threadreaderapp unroll
