The idea I want to put forward is this: The Ridgewood Public Schools need a Council of Elders comprised of RHS alumni. As an example I propose something along the lines of a collegiate Alumni Council which offers advice to their presidents and trustee members. In this case the purpose would be to provide a forum for alumni to discuss with public school officials current policies and practices. These discussions would be grounded in the longer historical perspective which the Elders possess. The Council would serve as a sounding board which could assist current RHS administrators in making informed decisions. As an example of how it might work, the Council of Elders might weigh in on how the current debate regarding the Mathematics curriculum compares with previous debates on the same subject. There are plenty of other examples of how the current generation is attempting to re-invent the wheel so to speak, and could profit from a little prospective.
What I am offering is not some new idea. There are plenty of groups seeking to increase the level of grassroots citizen engagement in order to build more vital communities. This would be a prime function of the RHS Council of Elders. Who knows, it might even make Ridgewood a more enjoyable place to live in, and one that people no longer fell compelled to leave once their children have graduated. I think the technology exists to make this idea happen, though what is currently lacking is the experience to use if effectively and in a non-threatening manner. There are plenty of avenues available for criticizing, for instance, via the PTA, the newspaper, and various blogs, not to mention the good old fashion phone call or face to face meeting. What I would like see is advice offered as a guide to action and conduct; nothing which would sound too paternalistic or patronizing. Time will tell whether this is a practical suggestion but I did want to go on record as saying I think it might be useful one day.
Posts
I don't think any of the education "professionals" would ever allow a group of people that haven't been trained as "educators" to horn in on their superior judgement about how to keep the union strong, I mean best educate the children.
ReplyDeleteKurt,
ReplyDeleteI can always hope that one day the education professionals will see the light and understand what a waste of time and money it is to argue the same old chestnuts every generation. It's not that I don't want them considering the best way to teach Math, only that they consider the collective wisdom of previous generations in their deliberations.
Maybe this is all too much to ask.
As an aside, I am checking out some very cool collaboration tools from Cisco Webex that one day might make my proposed consultations a little less intimidating on both sides.