EdTechTrek

Having just read a recent post by Scott McLeod over on Dangerously Irrelevant, I felt compelled to ask the same questions that he raises… that being, why are districts compelled to enforce the same level of filtering on their teachers as they do for their students? The result of this is that so many potentially useful resources and related learning activities go unrealized. I do understand the vicious cycle that precipitates all of this, though. I don’t think anyone is intending to treat teachers like children, yet that is the perceived result. From an administrative point of view, I think all employees are simply not trusted to avoid situations that could bring about embarrassment and even litigation for individuals, schools, and districts. I also believe that is true… that there are always “bad apples” mixed in with the great apples of any basket. The problem is that policy tends to err on the side of caution rather than risk. The result is that all employees get treated like children… except for the I.T. folks who control the filters.

Although ‘how things are’ make sense to me, they do not appear ‘right’ to me. I cannot for the life of me understand why teachers cannot have control over filtering and enable or unblock sites they deem professionally worthy. Just as we have consequences for poor choices that students make, we should also have the same logical consequences for the poor choices that teachers [may] make.

On one hand, we criticize and admonish teachers for not quickly adopting new tools and implementing them in innovative ways, yet in the other hand, we put so many roadblocks in their path that – for most – are just not worth the time and frustration. If the administration is not going to advocate for teachers, then who?

Perhaps scissors and other sharp objects should also be off limits to teachers. After all, they are potentially dangerous. Heck, how about just removing the power cords on those interactive whiteboards while you’re at it. Oh, and put that software on all of the teachers’ computers so that if any changes are made to the system, they will all be undone on a reboot. After all, it’s all about minimizing risk and need for intervention/support.

…of course, we could always expect and assist teachers in being the professionals that they are.

(image by Scott McLeod)