Stained Class, by Martha Thomases – Brilliant Disguise

August 21, 2010 Martha Thomases 4 Comments

For the past two Tuesdays, I’ve taught a free knitting class in Bryant Park, part of their summer series of activities.  Usually, the class is led by one of the owners of Gotta Knit!, who donates their expertise as a way to give back to the community.  However, for two weeks in August, Goldie goes on vacation, and I get a turn.

Regular readers of this column might remember that I teach knitting to kids and caregivers once a week at a local hospital. That’s much different.  At the hospital, most of my students are sick in bed (pr caring for someone who is sick in bed), or wired up to a series of IVs (or caring for someone wired up to a series of IVs).  These people are happy for the attention, and if they aren’t, I can still outrun them.  I work with them one-on-one, so I can give each my undivided attention.

In the park, I had a dozen students at each session.  They were seated around three small tables with umbrellas.  Some arrived on time, and some were late.  Some had knitted before, or attended previous classes.  They were disappointed that I was going to teach beginner basics, even though most of the class was there for the first time.

Standing in front of a group to teach something is much different from sitting next to one or two students.  It’s hard to get and maintain their attention,, when they can talk to each other easily.  It’s hard to make sure each student understands what you’re trying to say.

I’m describing this because I’m currently appalled by the state of education in this country and, even more, by the status of education in this country.  According to a recent survey, the United States is fast becoming less educated, compared to the rest of the world.

This is not a great place to be during a recession.  We need more smarts, not less, if we’re going to create and keep a workforce in such a competitive environment.

I wish I had a simple solution.  I don’t.  I have a complicated solution.

First of all, we need to value education.  We need to admire smart people.  This means we need to stop bad-mouthing smart people as “elitists.”  The person with the degree from the accredited university probably knows more about the subject than Joe the Plumber (unless the subject is plumbing, or dodging local taxes).

The next step, which derives from the first step, is that we need to respect teachers.  This includes (but is not limited to) paying them more money.  It also means that we listen to them when they have problems with students.  We believe them when they tell us a class is too large.

I’d like to do away with standardized tests, at least until late high school.  I think there should be a way to evaluate students, but the tests we use now are not precise.  Kids learn in lots of different ways – verbally, visually, kinetically, etc. – and the tests just measure one way.

Those of us who are parents need to do our part.  It’s not enough to pay taxes and assume our job is done.  We need to raise kids who know we love them, and who know we expect them to learn the skills they need in life.  This includes learning how to learn (in my opinion, the best thing about school).  It also means learning that other people exist, have feelings, and deserve consideration, which is more than these guys are doing.

There’s more.  I think we should expand the school year, since so few kids help with the crops anymore.  We should value the arts, instead of eliminating them for budgetary reasons.   Everyone should learn Latin and/or Greek, in addition to at least one modern language.  More PE, but less hazing.

And if, by chance, there’s room for knitting, I’m in.

Media Goddess Martha Thomases wishes her father, Real Estate God Irwin Thomasses, a happy 87th birthday on Sunday.