In response to the post on Eduwonk about the documentary “Whatever It Takes” (whose trailer I posted here), Eduwonkette takes on the Hollywood meme of “find[ing an] inspirational principal/teacher and tell[ing] an uplifting/touching story about how kids from tough backgrounds beat the odds.”

Eduwonkette has two main problems with this way of storytelling: (1) it’s almost always the case that these heroic tales leave out some critical details; and (2) we do teachers and schools a great disservice by clinging to the teachers/principals as heroic, self-effacing figures storyline.

On the first point, she examines the backstory of the school profiled in “Whatever It Takes”.  She points out that the Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics is not quite the unscreened, representative school one might assume.  While this doesn’t take away from either the good work of the teachers or the struggles of the students, it simply reveals that any condensed version of a story can ignore important context.

On the second point she refers the reader to a New York Times op-ed, Classroom Distinctions:

The most dangerous message such films promote is that what schools really need are heroes. This is the Myth of the Great Teacher.

Films like “Freedom Writers” portray teachers more as missionaries than professionals, eager to give up their lives and comfort for the benefit of others, without need of compensation…“Freedom Writers,” like all teacher movies this side of “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” is presented as a celebration of teaching, but its message is that poor students need only love, idealism and martyrdom.

(…)It is as if all the previously insurmountable obstacles students face could be erased by a 10-minute pep talk or a fancy dinner. This trivializes not only the difficulties many real students must overcome, but also the hard-earned skill and tireless effort real teachers must use to help those students succeed.

(…)I don’t expect to be thought of as a hero for doing my job. I do expect to be respected, supported, trusted and paid.

(…)Every day teachers are blamed for what the system they’re just a part of doesn’t provide: safe, adequately staffed schools with the highest expectations for all students. But that’s not something one maverick teacher, no matter how idealistic, perky or self-sacrificing, can accomplish.

On Friday, a press release went out announcing the launch of the website for The Teacher Salary Project.  This website is an interactive forum to continue the conversation on teachers’ salaries that began with the book “Teachers Have It Easy: The Big Sacrifices and Small Salaries of America’s Teachers,” written by Daniel Moulthrop, Dave Eggers, and Nínive Calegari.  The site also serves as a first step towards a new documentary project to be produced by Eggers, Calegari, and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Vanessa Roth.

Roth, who has been making award-winning documentaries for over a decade, says, “The exciting part of this project from a filmmaking perspective is that we’re not asking the education community to just sit back and watch our film, but to be real partners in shaping the stories we tell and the effect we have on education reform.”

The documentary will tell the stories of the men and women who do the heavy lifting in education, the ones closest to our children — the 3.2 million teachers who spend every day in classrooms in every corner of the country.  The film will follow 3-5 teachers at different stages in their careers, all of whom are struggling with the conditions in which they’re teaching. Weaving in commentary by policy experts on every side of the debate, the film will bring awareness to the real and imminent crisis in our educational system. In keeping with the storytelling styles of Eggers and Roth, the documentary will be a character-driven film, which will tell moving and compelling stories that explore this urgent issue through humor, warmth, provocative questions, and the energy of the teachers who fill the screen.

The result will show how devastating the effect of poor teacher conditions are on schools and children. Where teachers are underpaid, staff turnover is constant, schools are unstable, and students are taught by substitutes and poorly trained teachers, the results are predictably awful. By contrast, in schools where teachers can afford to build a life as an educator, the teachers grow and gain mastery, the schools attract the best from around the country, and test scores and college admissions soar. America can dramatically change its education system within a generation. Focusing on attracting, supporting and retaining the best teacher force in history is the first step in doing so.

Check out the site to learn more.  And if you are a teacher, you should look at the casting call to be a part of the film.

TEDster Natalie Markoff forwarded these great photos from a chocolate class she helped organize with Vosges Haut-Chocolate and 826Chicago.  Katy Klassman, the Director of Sales at Vosges, designed and taught the class.  Another chocolate class is slated to happen at 826NYC later this year.

What a delicious and fun way to engage children!

Yesterday I mentioned the poster available that benefits 826NYC.

Today I came across a posting on Gizmodo that alerted me to some great posters for sale at 826LA.  Inspired by their retail outlet, The Echo Park Time Travel Mart – “Whenever you are, we’re already then!” – these posters proclaim the wonders of five different places and times.  Each costs $19.99, with proceeds benefiting the center (as all of their shop merchandise does).

Michelle Rhee, Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public School system has been a flash point for controversy since her appointment in June 2007.  Preliminary test data was released on Thursday showing significant achievement gains throughout the school system this past year.  It is hard to determine how much of this gain can be attributed to Rhee.   Some principals credit her with the increases in test scores while critics look to the work of her predecessor, Clifford Janey. (HT DCist)

Here are some details of the gains:

The math proficiency level for elementary school students increased the most, by 11 percentage points. In 2007, the scores climbed by three percentage points. Elementary students’ reading scores rose by eight percentage points, compared with one percentage point last year. Students in secondary schools gained nine percentage points in reading and math, compared with one-point and four-point growth, respectively, last year.

The number of schools making adequate yearly progress in reading and math under the federal No Child Left Behind law rose from 31 to 47.

Photo credit: flickr/Mr. T in DC

Learn more about Rhee from her recent interview with Charlie Rose, part of his continuing look at education in the US.

Insound, an online seller of band merchandise, just announced Insound 20, limited edition t-shirts, shirts and hoodies from 20 great bands (including Built to Spill, Grizzly Bear, Death Cab for Cutie, Jose Gonzalez, and more).  The work is designed exclusively for Insound by Jason Munn of the Small Stakes. (HT Listening Post)

But most relevant to this blog, there is one additional poster and shirt available from which all profits benefit 826NYC.

The “Insound 20 (+1)” poster lists all of the artists involved in the Insound 20. The poster run is limited to 200 copies so get one while you can!

Photo credit: The Small Stakes

Dave’s wish, exemplified in his talk at TED2008, is all about using imagination, fun, and creativity to inspire and educate kids.  The stories on Once Upon a School are a fantastic testament to the fact that there are many ways to achieve this goal.

The Maker Faire Education Day operates with the same enthusiasm for creativity and learning.  “Maker Faire inspires, educates, and entertains curious and creative learners of all ages. Maker Faire celebrates arts, crafts, engineering, green design, music, science and technology and brings together communities who embrace the DIY (do-it-yourself) spirit.”  While the Faire has always drawn participants of many ages, this past May they held their inaugural education day.   The day before the Faire officially began, students from sixth grade up had a chance to Meet the Makers and get a behind-the-scenes look at the Faire as it was prepared. Students also solved an engineering challenge with Nate Ball, host of the popular PBS show Design Squad.

Read more about it at Edutopia.

Photo credit: Maker Faire

When participating in a Field Trip at 826, everybody must take an author photo – a close upshot of each participant wearing thick black rimmed glasses.  Check out the photos from the TED Field Trip at 826NYC.  Very attractive!

Photo credit: Joe Pacheco