Hello. My name is Irene E. Hunter. I serve as the principal of the Great Gate City Elementary School in the Birmingham City School System. I would like to talk to you today on some ways we can address student failure. Failure is not an option. We must look at failing students as our own failure as teachers. Let us look at these rhetorical questions. When a child doesn't understand what we have taught, do we give up on him? Do we label him a failure? Or, do we look for other ways to help that child understand?
In his article, "When Is Student Failure the Teacher's Fault?" Bill Page says teachers should regard student failure as their own failure unless they have tried "everything that a professional teacher would reasonably be expected to do." Mr. Page, a classroom teacher, examines teaching methods, teacher priorities, and professional expectations.
What kinds of things should a professional teacher be expected to do?
A professional teacher should use more than one method of instruction. He or she should use both the lecture mode of instruction and the inquiry method. Curriculum should be differentiated to meet the needs of all students.
A professional teacher should encourage his or her students. He or she should encourage every student in the class-many times and in a variety of ways.
A professional teachers should should teach to a variety of learning styles such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.
A professional teacher should be concerned about student attitudes toward learning as well as the content he or she is teaching. Emphasizing a student's weaknesses or failures creates a negative attitude toward learning.
A professional teacher should go beyond basic levels of knowledge and teach all students to think critically.
A professional teacher should be careful to examine his or her own prejudices or biases and should work to treat all students fairly.
A professional teacher should accept responsibility for student learning and should develop techniques that help more students.
Each teacher should be willing to accept the personal responsibility to improve-to use the knowledge, research and procedures that we already know-to assure that all students achieve and succeed.
Always remember, if a child can not learn the way the teacher is teaching, the teacher needs to teach the way that child can learn.
You may view the article, "When Is Student Failure the Teacher's Fault?" online at teachers.net gazette in the July 2008 issue.
