The worth referred in this title is teaching.  A community of teachers struggles with mandates that increasingly conflict with their values and their philosophy of learning.  They lament “the good old days of being able to teach what you know your kids need and be developmentally appropriate.”  This case also brings to the fore the issue of parent involvement in both their children’s education and their participation in school planning.

Discussion Questions

1. How can students learn without test anxiety?
2. In what ways have teachers’ attitudes about high-stake testing affected students?
3. Does emphasis on teaching according to the district’s pacing guide limit access to creative, enriched learning experiences that encourage high-level thinking and discussion opportunities?
4. How can two-way communication with parents be developed at a school site so parents feel comfortable voicing their concerns?
5. How can a school help parents, who are committed to participating in the school improvement planning process, learn how to constructively participate in the process?
6. How effective are pullout programs (conferencing, tutoring, etc)?
7. Does success for a teacher at one grade level guarantee success on another? Should administrators have the authority to move teachers grade to grade?

By
Peggy Gordon

TNLI Affiliate:
Miami (FL)

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