TECH OR TEACH?: Happy trails to Mr. Michael Kennedy, a veteran teacher seeking greener pastures after 38 years of teaching in Vermont and Minnesota. In cleaning out his classroom and clearing out his head, he leaves us with a "bucket list" of 10 things every school system needs and 10 things that need to be removed. We appreciate the candor: "I was once a curriculum specialist... Lots of ego and little substance" (take a guess which list that falls under). Mr. Kennedy's lessons learned also highlight a classic tension between teachers and technology. While he's against "blocking the Internet, YouTube, and so forth," he draws the line at the BYOD movement: "Nobody should have [cellphones] in the buildings. They are toys and distractions," he declares. Considering that text messaging and touchscreens have replaced the conversation and people-watching we once did so avidly in public, Mr. Kennedy makes a valid point (especially when you're teaching critical reading and writing skills). Yet we're also reminded of Mr. Tom Whitby's take (featured last week) on what constitutes technology: "I do know that what astounds me with these tools is thought to be expected by students. They sleep with their Smartphones. Just ask them." We're left asking if and where technology has a place in time-tested, proven pedagogy?
