From Summer to Day 1

Today was the first day of school, but I can’t get this Summer’s learning out of my mind.  I have been focused on one day in particular - August 1, 2019 (RABBIT, RABBIT my Canadian friends).  On this day, I worked with a small group of innovators from my district to talk about a new vision for school.  Our group has been brainstorming, researching, reflecting, and discussing our thoughts on what school could be. We have crafted a draft for an Instructional Vision that is unlike anything I have seen in public schools.  

On this Summer Day, as happens most days when I get the opportunity to work with them, it was the young people that are part of our School ReDesign Team that owned the day.  We met that morning with design teams from across NYC. We discussed many topics, but when asked to share why our team is doing the work of rethinking school, a rising High School senior from our team dropped some knowledge everyone needed to hear.  

“We ask ourselves the question, ‘If coming to school was voluntary, would you show up?’  And you know what, honestly, I probably wouldn’t. I would only come to school part time.  I don’t know why I’m learning most of what I am learning in school.  Did you know that this past year, I finally figured out that the comma goes before the but in a compound sentence? If my writing had been considered over all these years I’ve been in school, you think someone would have caught that before now, like in Elementary school!  What we do in school isn’t working. We need to do it differently.”

A parent from another district asked, “Well, what would you do instead of school?”

“I would do this [pointing around the room].  Real work that has meaning. Looking at real data about our schools and talking about how to make them better.  And thinking creatively about what classes and schools can be like. Just because it’s always been done 'that way' doesn’t mean we have to keep doing it 'that way'.  Why can’t I be part of the discussion about CEP Goals (yes, friends, he really said that). I get inspired by this kind of work. I want to be a teacher and change school.”

:::Me whispering to him:::  “You’re hired!”

​He joined a panel of students from grades 6 to 12 to deepen this discussion, and boy did they.  Here are a few more nuggets of knowledge from students in our schools:

• Relationships matter
• We need choice, we are not “cookie cutter” kids
• We need agency, but REAL agency to govern our own learning with teachers as facilitators
• We need the opportunity to question each other and share ideas
• We want respect for our individuality
• Stop telling us “you just need a 65 to pass” - raise your expectations, we can do more than you think
• Reduce the testing and see us as equals and partners
• Find a balance with us and take away the fear of making mistakes

Today was the first day of school, and I couldn’t stop thinking about my Summer student ReDesign Team members and their message - We Can Lead Our Learning.  

This profession gives all participants - teachers, students, school leaders, para-educators, parents - a chance for a fresh start every year.  I miss that newness, that energized (and sometimes anxious) feeling that comes with new students and a new school year. I visited many of the schools in my district today.  I needed to get some of that Day 1 hype, even if it was only from the sidelines.  
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In my visits today, I saw students excited and scared for their first day - some couldn’t wait to leave Mom and run to greet their friends while others cried and wouldn’t let go.  I saw older students with bright smiles having brighter discussions sharing their vision for what school could be. And our students have grand visions. Are we listening to what they have to say?

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