When I first began to participate on the editorial board, I was
shocked to learn that I agreed with the majority more often than
not. Agreement was particularly frequent on matters related to
education; a board-wide passion for excellence in education ensured
that we almost invariably agreed unanimously about school
issues.
When I first began to participate on the editorial board, I was shocked to learn that I agreed with the majority more often than not. Agreement was particularly frequent on matters related to education; a board-wide passion for excellence in education ensured that we almost invariably agreed unanimously about school issues.
Almost.
I disagree with the editorial of Saturday April 21, calling for GUSD to require that all high school and middle school teachers use Edline to post assignments, attendance and grades for their students.
At present, about 70 percent of GHS teachers use the system. I expect that percentage will grow naturally as old teachers retire and the tech-savvy generation fills the ranks.
But if a teacher is doing her job, then she is preparing lessons, teaching lessons, assigning homework, giving tests, grading homework and tests, returning corrected work to students, assessing who is and who is not learning and providing extra tutelage to the latter.
This is more than a full time job. I would allow the teacher who is thus giving her 150 percent to continue to do so without nagging her to do one more peripheral thing – and, in my view, posting assignments, attendance and grades on a Web page is peripheral to teaching and learning.
I feel particularly strongly about forcing English teachers to use Edline. Math teachers have it relatively easy. When we grade homework, there is a right answer. Any other answer is wrong. We can grade relatively quickly, though if we have extra time, we might indicate to a student where exactly he went wrong, and if we have even more extra time we might spot-check correct problems to see that the student is actually solving problems rather than cheating from a solutions manual.
But pity the poor English teacher. If she actually expects to teach her students to write effective prose, she cannot just scan an essay. She must read it, copy-edit it, mark it up with lots of red ink. There are no short cuts.
No, I would never require an English teacher to use Edline. She already has too much to do, if she is good and conscientious.
On the other hand …
The rest of this column is addressed specifically to teachers who do not currently use Edline, so all school administrators, school board trustees, interim superintendents and editorial board members may now turn to the funny pages.
On the other hand, teachers who are not currently using Edline, let me mention that using Edline could be a real timesaver for you.
Last September, I began working for a large homeschool co-op which is in the process of changing itself into a small private school.
Two weeks before school started, I was appalled and incensed to learn that I was required – yes, required – to create a Web page and post all assignments weekly.
Let me explain that I resist technological advances. I do not own a cell phone, a microwave oven, a VCR, an answering machine or a television. I drive a stick shift car. My home phone has one of those twisty cords anchoring the handset to its base.
My kids have to reset my watch for me every year at daylight savings time.
I fretted and fumed and complained and made half-hearted efforts to comply with creating a Web page, all of which attempts failed miserably, then I complained some more … until my friend told me that she had successfully posted her Web page.
My friend is an English teacher. I am a mechanical engineer, and I can do anything an English teacher can do (except edit an essay, or discuss “Crime and Punishment.”) So I got serious, re-read the directions, and posted my Web page. It was actually pretty easy.
The discipline of posting my week’s assignments every Monday has been good for me. The parents know what the students are supposed to be doing. I never have to answer calls or e-mails asking what the assignment is supposed to be.
So, be bold and insouciant. Give Edline a shot. You may find it is as easy and as convenient as using a cell phone.
