I anonymously observed a staff development day recently.
The focus was on everything but academics. Instead, it was the usual mishmash of social and emotional well-being.
This led to a decision to lower school-wide standards.
“Students can take a break and leave the classroom anytime they like.”
“Removing deadlines will help all students succeed.”
“Yoga pants are fine for school-age children.”
“At the teacher’s discretion, students can now listen to music during class.”
No surprise, the school was also dirty and cluttered.
I don’t think that anything I observed, however, is rare. One of the benefits of running SCM is that I hear from teachers from all over the world.
Lowering standards has accelerated rapidly since the pandemic.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in helping students if they’re struggling mentally. Creating tough, smart, mature, motivated, and kindhearted souls is baked into everything we recommend here at SCM.
Social and emotional well-being is important, without a doubt. I just disagree with the way schools are going about it.
Lowering standards removes purpose. It weakens pride in excellence. It encourages students not to care and feeds the growing malaise and troubling misbehavior infecting our schools.
It makes everything worse, not better.
The response to finally coming out of the pandemic, and all the immaturity and lost learning as a result, should be a raising of standards. It should be urgency and detail and the pursuit of excellence.
It should be belief in students and their capacity to overcome obstacles and use the challenges of the past as a springboard to greater determination and success.
The best thing for mental health is having purpose. It’s having goals and aspirations bigger than themselves and high standards to strive for. When you take this away from students and ease their way you leave them rudderless.
You remove the deep satisfaction in doing well. You weaken the value of school, leaving it and them bereft of meaning and fulfillment.
The result is that students will look for purpose elsewhere – whether online, in gangs or drugs, or in extreme misbehavior born of frustration and emptiness. Those that don’t find it struggle with depression, anxiety, and a gnawing sense of nihilism.
There is a legion of school leaders and teachers who are lowering standards and patting themselves on the back.
They peacock around, high on their own warped perception of empathy, pretending to save the world and reveling in their self-importance. So sure of themselves they are.
But all the while they’re crushing our students. They’re snuffing out their motivation and any joy of learning. They appease and excuse those who disrupt and bully, and leave scores of students afraid, silent, and demoralized.
So what should a professional development day look like?
It should be focused on how to elevate standards, improve teacher content knowledge, teach compelling lessons, and effectively manage a classroom.
That’s it.
Doing our job as educators and being experts in just these areas is far better for our students’ mental health, not to mention their future, than a thousand hours of psycho-babble that may make sense to the uninformed but do NOTHING to actually help students.
PS – My new book Inspire will be available October 4th.
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The standards have been being lowered for the last 50 years! The educators who attempt to have standards are those who really love their students…they are not just collecting a paycheck. Teaching is a calling of the heart. I was trained and hired to teach reading, writing, math, social studies, and science….not CRT or transgender. Bettendorf Iowa had 27 (yes, that’s right…27) teachers resign at the middle school due to the administration…fights, cursing, kids walking out of class, teachers getting hit. Twenty-seven left…and the Board is keeping that administrator. No wonder the kids are uneducated, unruly, undisciplined.
Right on Lori! Right on!
💯 100%❗️❗️❗️
Everyone has their theories, but they don’t talk to the TEACHERS??
The frustrated teachers will tell you what’s going on AND how to fix it! Dealing with what had become acceptable behavior in the school 🏫 So many things happening, you couldn’t teach anyway! Being put down by society while you are trying everything through the pandemic 😷 Children that were allowed to shutdown (some, for 2 major developmental years) and now everyone expects teachers to fix this with no additional guidance or support.
There is not a high school in the world that teaches CRT – are you referring to teaching about the civil rights movement or slavery throughout history?
There is not a high school in the world that teaches ‘transgender’ – are you referring to teachers that teach basic common decency and respect towards all?
It sounds like your school turned into hell because no one could utilize basic classroom management skills and you had no support from your admin.
You are not teaching the Critical Race Theory (CRT) because, it is not taught on the elementary and secondary levels. It is not even found at the undergraduate level. By the way, multiculturalism and diversity are not CRT. The general public is being misled by certain individuals for their own political gain.
Have you ever been to a communist country before? I did, and I actually grew up in one. Guess what, you don’t have to teach students empathy and respect by instilling them with divisive propaganda after propaganda. I came to America for its freedom and Liberty. Why did I start feeling as if I was again living in a socialist country for the past year, and my children are get brainwashed in schools like I did in the socialist dystopia that I came from? Leave the kids alone and teach them to love people for who they are. Stop dividing them!
Semantics. CRT is not taught per se, but it is there. Go look at their reading materials. If it isn’t taught in elementary, why did the transgender/gay community lose their minds when FL Gov. DeSantis forbid the teaching of any sexual/transexual materials to K – 3?
As a Florida educator, I can tell you that we “lost our minds” because we were being accused of teaching topics that we were NOT teaching. There is NOT a single science or social studies state standard in K-2 that addresses human sexuality. There is a 3rd grade standard that addresses it as the reproductive system being one of of our body sytems (along with digestive, circulatory, respiratory, etc) but by no means do we teach about sexual deviations or preferences. Honestly, this was a political ploy pandering to a political group.
This summer there was lots of press about textbooks that were refused to be on the state adopted list because of supposed CRT and SEL in them. Only two elementary math series were approved! Two! Yet when pressed for specific examples of indoctrination, the Department of Education would not supply any. Our children in Florida are being used as political pawns.
I agree that we need to maintain rigor in our classrooms. The pandemic can not be an excuse for anything less. Which is what the focus of this piece is about. Let’s not let this discussion deviate from that focus into falsehoods about Florida teachers and curriculum. We are not “groomers” as accused by DeSantis and his press secretary because we disagreed with his WOKE bill. And now we have legislation where we are afraid to teach history according to facts because we might make some students feel bad.
Thank you for your reply. I am pleased to hear this. But the question remains: if you were not teaching, directly or indirectly, any of the topics for which you were accused, why was everyone protesting and complaining? If you aren’t teaching it, how could Gov. DeSantis’ legislation have affected you in any way?
Maybe there was just overreaction on both sides, stimulated by the media for viewership.
I just completed my BEd. There was nothing but inclusion, anti-racism, SEL, and more of the fluff.
I wasn’t taught any of the basics.
Right on!! Kids nowadays are increasingly less educated and more socialized. I have had students that couldn’t use periods, spacing, capitalization or correct grammar, particularly non-“textese” grammar. Paragraphs are one single, long, run-on sentence. No cursive means no signatures; everyone will sign with an “X” or a fingerprint or facial scan. Phones and earbuds rule! Have a standardized test? There are completed copies on the internet! Have a call? Pick it up immediately! Two earbuds? Share with a friend so you both are inattentive! Textbooks? Who uses those anymore? Not my school system. Temper tantrums and rude behavior? No problem! More often than not, if there is a complaint, the TEACHER is blamed. Want to get rid of your teacher? Fake a sexual harassment complaint! Treat teachers with respect? No, they are babysitters. Failing student? It is the teacher’s fault yet again. Administrators should be called “spelunkers,” because all they do is cave in!
Michael,
This SCM Article is right on target! You couldn’t have said it better. School Superintendents, Principals, and classroom teachers definitely need to take the lead and focus on the most important thing for students – high learning standards! I hope everyone reads this article and agrees with your position!
Thanks for another terrific SCM Article.
Jim
Amen! Sadly, administrators and school boards make these decisions, not responsible teachers with a calling.
Many of our best colleagues have already left.
We as teachers are also impacted by the administrations bullying, piling on unnecessary tasks, and forcing us to focus on things of unimportance in our classrooms. Their tactics are leaving teachers afraid, silent, and demoralized.
This is exactly it. I was fortunate(?) that it was an easy decision to leave the classroom to be a SAHM right now. All of that ^^^ isn’t worth the costs of daycare.
I think I will do the same. Nothing but transgender foolishness at my child’s middle, now high school. And many of the teachers cover for them if they don’t use their “dead names.”
can’t agree more…mate
I couldn’t agree more. The hardest part for me as a teacher is that I feel powerless to change the tide. I’m swimming against the current in an area that consistently blames teachers for students’ behaviours and puts teachers on leave who disagree with the distrcit’s philosophies. It’s berating and morale is at an all time low. 🙁
This article is so spot on. I hear about this all the time. I came from a school with very high expectations and I am carrying those expectations to my new school. I realize the pandemic was problematic but we cannot use that as an excuse to just let kids slide. All that money sent to the school for the pandemic has not been sent and it should be use to tutor kids who are behind and get them caught up instead of on all this woke agenda they are spending it on. I’m sick of it!
Our school system hired reading remediation teachers (one K-2 and one for 3-5) at each elementary school using pandemic money. Someone needs to check the money trail in your system.
I was so disappointed this year with the welcome address to teachers for our district. She lit candles and wished us well. It was complete nonsense. I’m not a babysitter. I am a professional and an educator. It was demeaning and unfortunate. I agree with you on every point. I wish the groups running our schools would wake up and get some wisdom.
Hear, hear. Thank you Michael for voicing what many of us know and believe.
I am in total agreement with this brief critique of American education. I am a retired college professor who went into K-12 system recently to substitute teaching in SC and Georgia. I was swiftly removed from a full time sub position because I did not “fit into” the culture of the school. I was considered too demanding and too “smart” to work with their high school kids. Parents were calling principal about my teaching strategies and high expectations for behavior in class. Thank you for echoing my recent observations of our educational systems. I would love to collaborate with some like-minded scholars.
We need more teachers like you in our schools! Please don’t give up substituting.
Thank you, Dr. Tichenor!! That is precisely my situation. College professor to K-12 to answer the need for more STEM teachers. I have all the teaching certs, including certs for teaching non English speakers. I thought AP and Honors classes could use some rigor, but I was badly mistaken. I hear community college has a need for real teachers, and the students are serious about learning.
And most importantly, if the board of education, school principals, and other ot those school staff with influence do NOT support these management strategies, NOTHING will change no matter what a teacher does!! We need to go after those at the top who are prioritizing artificially generated numbers supporting how their schools are meeting and exceeding the education “standards.” I am new to this site and hope to find writing about this particular subject. Thanks again for allowing my response.
I completely agree! If you ever start a blog, I will follow it.
Thank you for everything you are writing! You are spot on.
I’m a resource teacher and see many different classrooms, what I’m observing is the absence of classroom management. It’s mind boggling to me…letting elementary students take control of the room. In my observations, I find it’s the teachers under 30, who are newer to teaching, that are not strong in it. Of course, I’m not saying ALL of them are like this but in my school that’s what I see. It makes me wonder what are they learning in their college classes?
As a first year teacher, who just graduated in May, it seemed as if the emphasis was on writing lesson plans, seven page lesson plans. And very little on classroom management, which I thought would have been more important as you cannot teach a lesson no matter how well written to an out of control class.
Thank you Michael for putting my own thoughts into words. I too noticed that there is a lot of focus on behaviour and not enough on academics. Non idem est si duo dicunt idem…
Well said! Some good food for thought- let’s ponder and percolate and make professional changes.
A familiar meme I have seen currently circulating in education is “Relationships before rigor, grace before grades, patience before programs, love before lessons.” What I am seeing is relationships INSTEAD OF rigor, etc. I agree that relationships are important, but can’t we build relationships THROUGH or WITH rigor? This year’s students are some of the worst prepared, nonmotivated and dependent kids I’ve ever seen!
I absolutely agree that relationships, grace, and love are fostered THROUGH high expectations. I tell my kids that I have high expectations for their behavior and academics BECAUSE I love them. Setting parameters for all behavior is an act of love.
Students actually respond to challenges, not coddling. Well they do, but not in any positive way.
My middle school started this year with an extra day for 6th graders to come and learn the “lay of the land” which included lessons on how to behave in every area of the building- halls, cafeteria, gym, restrooms, classrooms, etc.
The kids responded and I have been able to actually teach my subject while injecting small SEL and behavioral lessons throughout.
It’s only been two weeks but it is a marked change from last years lax attitude of the pajama-clad kids. No more free agents- these students are now part of the learning team!
I retired from public school and have been a principal in a private Christian school for 10 years. This article needs to be the required reading for teachers and principals before they go back to school Monday! We have very high standards at our school and as a result, our students have very challenging academics, homework, and are expected to display honorable character at all times. We incorporate the Smart Management Classroom Plan into our reading, training, and it drives our classroom management.
I too agree with Michael’s article. I am seen as a “mean” teacher because I have high expectations for achievement as well as behavior. If students are to compete in an ever-competitive and technical world, education is a must. In 2018, Business Insider wrote: “When it comes to education, the nation fares even worse. The latest findings from the Pew Research Center have the US in 38th place out of 71 countries when it comes to math scores and 24th place when it comes to science.”…. and that’s pre-pandemic ratings. It’s alarming 🙁
Our school custodian shared with me that she overheard two 4th grade students stating I was “mean”. Yep, I have expectations and they will be met.
Wow! This article hit a home run for the education system!! It really resonated with me. Just think of the greatness being created in American schools if we did what was suggested in Michael’s article today. Change is needed for educational greatness in our country. Time for new leadership at the helm.
I am a first year SCM teacher and am seeing the fruits of hours spent reading many of Michael’s books, articles, and watching his videos. I am wrapping my brain around the SCM strategies too. They are so effective and I know my classes will go to the next level of excellence this year. Just having a blast using this classroom management system.
I’ve only been teaching for 6 years, but even in that time I’ve noticed myself continually lowering expectations, and this year I’ve committed to raising them again. It’s amazing how much students are capable of when we give them the chance. Thank you for this reminder!
I do think we need to be careful not to let the poor attempts at social-emotional learning (SEL) turn us away from teaching from a place of kindness and respect. I love your approach because it includes both the need to have these high expectations (which can be seen as strict) but also to not create friction with students (to be incredibly kind). I worry from reading through the comment section that in our frustration with the many problems in education outside of our control, we are letting ourselves become more jaded and less kind in the pursuit of high expectations.
A beautiful reply, Rebecca.
Attendance… we will start week 4 next Monday… Every single one of my students have already been gone, two of them are meeting with parents before dropping them. Parents and grandparents do not seem to think the kids need to come.
It is rather demoralizing to the ones that do come. Friday, I had 50%. Insane… and our district does not seem to have any ideas. Truancy is not addressed.
Bravo! The lowering of standards has been a long time coming and accelerated a bit when students were allowed to bring cell phones to classes. The pandemic accelerated this even more. Along with the lowering of standards and expectations has been an increased power giveaway to children (cell phone policies, for example). The permissiveness of letting them leave the classroom whenever they want, the lack of dress code enforcement, allowing students to interact with adults as if they are peers, etc. might be seen as small things. But these small things add up to bigger and bigger things. Combine all this with the amount of time kids spend on devices, often unsupervised. Behavior was challenging enough before the pandemic, but has become exponentially more challenging since kids returned to the classroom. One can try to fight this permissiveness, but unless all teachers are on board it’s a losing battle (my personal example of this was kids wearing hats in school). SEL should not be the purview of teachers who already have more than enough on their plates. This may be my last year, depending on how things go.
This is one of the most ignorant articles I have ever read on this site. This is completely tone deaf to the issues children are facing after the pandemic. We have had social/emotional learning for decades now because teachers and school systems know that traumatized children do not achieve to the standards that they are held to. So yes it is being ramped up because it is what children need, but standards are not being lowered. The big corporate testing companies want standards raised because the can charge more and they always will strive to raise them for profit. I strongly encourage you to volunteer frequently at your local school and see what school is all about. You clearly have no idea.
As the replies indicate, this article is far from “ignorant.” Perhaps you are just lucky at your school, Wendy. I have taught at three high schools in my area, and the only one that maintained standards, and full time attendance (which might be in agreement with your comments), was the parochial school. Far from being “traumatized,” the students treated the pandemic shutdowns as one big vacation, where they honed their cell phone skills and little else. It is hard to teach students online when you have been relegated to a tiny window at the bottom of the screen while they play Fortnite or scan social media, and they have dragged this into the classroom when they returned. Frankly, they should have to repeat the last year at minimum to offset the deleterious effects of remote “learning;” they have forgotten how to study. Add to this the rising incidence of a no textbook classroom, as well as the decline of rigor (read it: homework) and the path to failure is being built. As MIT learned, removing system wide standardized testing, such as the SATs, simply does not work. Students will rise to the challenges of rigor, and they will slide backward when that rigor is removed. Best wishes.
Amen!!
Thank you for your article Michael. Totally agree with everything you have said. We are seeing examples of the same thing happening in our schools in Australia. That’s why I am on Long Service Leave this year as the whole environment and gradual lowering of original standards, was creating a very stressed out teacher. Where did it all start at our school? Abolishing a sensible ‘No mobile phone policy on school grounds’.
This passage is on target and can drive improvement:
Lowering standards removes purpose. It weakens pride in excellence. It encourages students not to care and feeds the growing malaise and troubling misbehavior infecting our schools.
It makes everything worse, not better.
The response to finally coming out of the pandemic, and all the immaturity and lost learning as a result, should be a raising of standards. It should be urgency and detail and the pursuit of excellence.
It should be belief in students and their capacity to overcome obstacles and use the challenges of the past as a springboard to greater determination and success.
The best thing for mental health is having purpose. It’s having goals and aspirations bigger than themselves and high standards to strive for. When you take this away from students and ease their way you leave them rudderless.
Agree with Michael. My other responses were deleted. I would love to know why via PM.
My mistake: they were out for review. Thank you for this opportunity to vent!