So, I have to write about an issue in the world of Education. I only get to choose one, so I had better make it a good one. Perhaps I will address the issue of "Balanced School Days - Are They Better?" (YES). Okay. That's that.
I'm sure I'm supposed to write more, so I'll write on the topic of aboriginal education. This is such an important and relevant discussion right now. On second thought, maybe that's not such a good idea. It is such a complex and broad topic, I would have to spend weeks just doing my research. And since I am already late in writing this, I should choose something I know more about.
A-ha! I like to think I know a thing or two about English as an Additional Language (considering I just made a presentation at WestCAST on this topic, I would hope so). Well...maybe I should exapand my horizons and write about something new.
I like the healthy movement that is going through our education system due to the realization that our Canadian youth are overweight, lazy and making poor food choices (our adult population is certainly not exempt from this). In Manitoba, physical education is now required through grade 12, and lots of schools are getting rid of pop machines and candy bars, and replacing them with juice machines and fruit in the canteen. Although, I don't have much more to add to this revolution except to ask "Why didn't we realize this sooner?"
I've got it. How to effectively utilize Educational Assistants in the classroom (and why many teachers are not). Perfect.
This is a topic that I have been interested in for many years. I remember even as a student thinking that teachers had their Educational Assistants (EAs) doing strange things. Several years later, I am finding that many of the teachers I have talked to see EAs being misused all of the time, and they are frustrated by it. I have not read any scholarly artices on the topic, but I have conversed with plenty of intelligent people, and it will be their collective opinions I will be pulling from.
I am not covering poor treatment of EAs. While I am sure this exists, this is another topic entirely. I am interested in the two main ways a teacher can misuse an EA; by either not making sufficient use of the EA in the classroom, or having the EA do things the teacher should be instead.
"I want to do it all. It's just easier to do it myself, because I know exactly how I want it done. I like my way best." - Lindsay Gemmill (This quote in no way reflects the way this young woman actually feels about things - except for when it comes to cooking, baking, cleaning the bathroom, scrapbooking, group projects and building snow forts. It was created entirely for the purpose of this blog post). Many people have a hard time delegating. Some find it more of a challenge to determine something for a helper to do than to just do it on their own. Unfortunately, I think a lot of teachers fall into this category. They have their day planned out perfectly and then BAM! What is this extra adult doing roaming around in my classroom? Do I actually have to find something for them to do? "Ummm...you can sharpen the pencils. In another room, so you don't distract the kids. That would be great." Teachers: Educational Assistants are such a valuable resource. They are there to support the work of the teacher. Work as a team. Use their individual strengths to your advantage. Help them to help you. Make sure they are being used to their full potential, but don't forget why they are there: Is there a specific student they are supposed to be working with? Make sure they get adequate time to aid that student. Listen to them: They may not be experts in their field, but they are often working one-on-one with the students, a luxury most teachers don't get. They may have noticed things you possibly couldn't have.
I can imagine that as a teacher, it is very exciting to get your very own Educational Assistant. The possilities would seem endless with a whole other adult in the classroom. Unfortunately, some teachers have EAs performing tasks they really shouldn't be, especially not on a regular basis. There are some difficult kids out there. (Ed students: If this statement was shocking to you, perhaps you should consider a different course of study). Very difficult. It would be oh-so-tempting to have these students removed from the classroom, but in a nice way. Then you could just focus on those little geniuses that are eager and able to learn. Imagine the things you could accomplish! You could have the smartest grade 1's on the planet! You could be multiplying and dividing like no one's business! But what about those other kids? The ones that maybe aren't little geniuses. The kids that can't read, and struggle to add. The ones who can't sit still, and those who think they are stupid and will never be able to learn. "Oh no problem. They are in a separate classroom with the EA working on their worksheets. The EA is overseeing everything and can come to me if a problem arises."
DOES ANYONE ELSE SEE THE ISSUE HERE?
So the Educational Assistant, who isn't required to have any form of post-secondary education or formal training for the classroom (but is most definitely a lovely person who has a deep affection for children) is in charge of the children who are experiencing difficulty, while the educated teacher, who went to school for a minimum of four years and attends ongoing professional development seminars to stay updated on how to be an effective teacher, is looking after the easy kids. Right...
Now I'm not saying that EAs shouldn't work with difficult students. Absolutely not. That is usually what they are hired for - so that the child who is experiencing difficulty has someone to help them whenever they need it. Many EAs are incredibly gifted at working with the children they do, and I know lots of teachers have to go to EAs for advice on how to get the most out of a particular student. But...those children who are frustrating, the ones you want to constantly send out of the classroom, are the ones who need their teacher the most. Sending out a whole group of children who are unable to read basic words, and expecting the EA to be able to give them all the attention they need is outrageous. The teacher is the one who is trained to teach large groups of children to read. The teacher is the one who went to school to study how to help children sound out words and draw meaning from illustrations.
Teaching is not an easy job. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I am certain that nearly every teacher out there wishes they could provide their students with the kind of one-on-one individualized instruction that they need. This is impractical, however, and the best needs to be done with the resources available. I think that utilizing EAs effectively in the classroom is an area that can be improved upon, with positive implications for everyone involved.
(On a side note, I would just like to say that our education system in Canada is pretty awesome. We have issues, that's for sure, and it's important to be aware of them so we can improve the system. Sometimes we just need to look at all of the things we do have, and be grateful for them. Like the fact that education is available for all Canadian citizens. Or the fact that educators care enough about their students to want to make their education better. How about that we are able to openly critique the way our schools run, and promote change? We still have a long way to go, but I think we are on the right track).
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