Dear Blake Families:
I hope that this past week has been a good one and that you were able to find the time to relax and rest - it certainly was well-deserved. We had a great week, starting off with a weekend in the Berkshires and then taking advantage of the beautiful weather with a 'staycation' in the Metrowest - catching up on reading, gardening, exercise, and a few meals out. Our week ended with an impromptu trip to Agannis Arena for Sesame Street Live - Grayden's excitement at the opening act was worth more than the price of admission!
As noted above I was able to catch up on some reading over the past week, and I have attached two articles that you may find of interest. While in the Berkshires, staying 'connected' is a bit of a challenge, with limited wireless and mobile access points - this is certainly an inherent advantage, but as you could imagine, a challenge for me as well. The 'unplugged existence' provided for me a concrete reminder of the importance of recharging to attain a healthy balance. Upon returning to the 'connected world, my inbox had an e-mail from Kelly Campbell with the link to the attached article 'Powering Off', espousing the value and importance of 'powering off'. I found this article of value on a personal level, but also found meaning as we think about what we want for our students, as we continue our work, incorporating technology in a thoughtful manner into the curriculum for our students. I still have 'room to grow' in this area, but I believe that the article will help me to work to find more strategies to 'power off' in a healthy manner.
The second article is a blog posting by Diane Ravitch entitled 'What Do Teachers Want?', from Bridging Differences, a blog she shares with Deborah Meier that is hosted by Education Week. Meier and Ravitch are both education scholars, and they often have opposing views on education, and their blog is in a 'journal/letter' style format. Some of you may recall the headlines Ravitch made in the news with the release of her 2010 book, The Death and Life of the American School System, as she publicly reversed many of the beliefs she had argued and stood for throughout her career. Ravitch's posting is in response to results from the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher and another survey from the Gates Foundation, entitled 'Primary Sources 2012'. Although the opinions presented in her posting may not be ones that we all share, I do believe that it is important to stay apprised of the 'current educational debates' and varying viewpoints that exist and provides great 'food for thought'. I found the survey highlights of particular interest, and though the context and particulars may not directly mirror those at Blake and/or Medfield, the idea of eliciting feedback, reflection, and input from all constituencies (staff, students, parents, and community) affirmed much of the work we have been doing this year. Whether or not one agrees with Ravitch's stance/approach, I have always been impressed by her willingness and desire to continually learn, challenge her own convictions, and be open to change. It brings to mind a quote I recently came across from the economist, John Kenneth Galbraith: Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof. This mantra is one that I hope to keep at the forefront of my thinking at all times.
Over the next couple of weeks, we will continue in this vein as we will build off of the parent/guardian survey, asking students to complete a similar survey so that we gain a comprehensive check-in'. These data sources, along with input from staff, will help guide the work we will explore, as we begin to think about goals for the 2012-2013 year and beyond.
Please click here for Important Dates and Announcements.
Best wishes for a great week.
Take care.
Nat Vaughn