This video (circa 2008) just resurfaced and as I watched it (and marveled a bit at my younger self), I realized: some old ideas are still good ideas.
The video was produced to share with teachers in England who were intrigued by the small schools movement in the United States (thank you Ted Sizer and the Coalition of Essential Schools). In 1995, Boston Public Schools had just begun the Pilot Schools which were public schools (not charters) that had more autonomy in exchange for innovation. No school was alike. This video raises important questions about knowing students well– teachers can’t know 150 students well. And also the importance of trust and ways that parents, students and teachers can work together for a common goal: student success!
Today, I see teachers teaching thirty-two students in a class. That’s too many kids. Even if the teacher is a total expert, that’s just too many young people to give feedback to in any meaningful kind of way.
What are some of the themes you get from this video that are still relevant today?