REEP

I drove to meet friends in New Orleans last weekend.  From Houston, this is a six-hour trip, one way.  The traffic congestion in Houston took a while to clear but eventually I was on the open road.  Mmmm… I really like the open road.  You have a broad view of where you are and where you are going (unless you are behind a big SUV).  The horizon stretches out before you, you are the master of your destiny and you are going somewhere…

Driving on a longer trip instills a different mindset for me than my usual commuter and errand runs.  If something goes wrong, I’m not near anyone I know.  So, I make sure that I have enough gas.  I check my tires for air.  If there is a major item that needs repair, I address it before I leave home.  I have a general game plan for my route.  And, I set the pace, the starts, the stops and I enjoy the destination.

As I make my way, I get to know other drivers.  Sometimes I find a small group of cars who are running the same speed and we form a loose camaraderie.   Other times, I drive along independently.  As I drove, I was struck with the idea of how this matches education.  Do we have a commuter mindset or a long-haul mindset when we think about the education system?  Are we even conscious of the difference?

Many educators lament the tests and accountability as the downfall of public education.  One friend recently forwarded the blog apology from a teacher in New York State to her students.  As I was partially educated in NY (grades 7-12), I read it.   Ruth Ann Dandrea wrote:

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