Brain drain... Never again #WillWe

Since 1906 there has been research published and discussed on the "summer slide".  "William F. White, a mathematics instructor at the State Normal School, in New Paltz, New York, wrote an article for American Education, a periodical for teachers, titled “Reviews Before and After Vacation.”  The Cost of New York's Summer Slide,  Rebecca Mead "@Rebeccamead_NYC. As we head toward another summer, learning loss may never  be more critical than now.  In 114 years since White's original research what have we done to address the issue?  The overwhelming majority of public schools still function on a nine month calendar.

COVID19 has shown us that the American education system is capable of reaching students when they are not in school.  Will we get better at connecting to students with the intent of learning versus being in a school, without question.

Let's look at some numbers and consider what this current situation can do for students.

The infographic suggests almost three months of Math skills are lost over the summer.  Two months of Reading skills are lost according to research.  We will use months to look at impact:

2 X 10 = 20 months

20 months = 2 + years of school

Two years of learning are lost by the time students get through their sophomore year.

How have we addressed this learning loss?

There are lots of options.  Summer reading lists, reading logs, asking parents to read to their children, playing learning type games, and the list goes on.  While these all are good options, they rely on a basic key ingredient, an adult that has the time and the resource faucet to help.

Let's not forget summer school as an option.  Although teachers are considered 12 month employees, summer school is an extra financial burden on districts and will be tougher  to provide as the economy is reeling from COVID19.

We know we have an issue, we have known we had it for over 100 years.  Are we willing to address it as a result of this current crisis?

We have options to consider moving into the summer of 2020.
We, teachers,  can connect with all students on regularly scheduled times throughout the summer! Will we?
We, teachers, can still teach throughout the summer and still allow children and families a "break' from school.
Will We?
We, teachers, can still connect with students while continuing our own education and recharging with family.  Will we?

Our students need us more today than ever before.  Are we willing to look at the 100 plus old problem and peel away the excuses and address it?  It's time! If we aren't willing to address why we won't change now then when will we?   Is public education about students or about protecting what has been?

The next time we see a student struggling with a problem, just tell them not to worry about finding a solution, we have 100 years to think about it.

I encourage us all to ask the tough questions, and ask what #willwe do to lead!


Summer Matters.net.  @SummerMatters2U

https://www.oxfordlearning.com/summer-learning-loss-and-how-to-prevent-it/ . @OxfordLearning

http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2005863-1,00.html . @TIME @DavidVonDrehle .      

https://www.brookings.edu/research/summer-learning-loss-what-is-it-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/ 

@BrookingsInst