Just Retired

I just retired from teaching after 38 years. I've seen it all. Not only did I teach 28 of those years in the United States but also 10 years in Canada. I taught 14 years in high schools and 24 years in middle schools. I have taught lower level(special education and learning lab) classes and worked the last 11 years as a gifted and talented specialist. I have designed new courses and developed numbers of curricula ideas. I coached in both countries for awhile and have worked as a consultant. I also have traveled Europe for 38 years and have studied education systems in many other countries.

I think this qualifies me to write this blog. I see so much good in the school system but I also have seen so much 'wrong'. I would like to get other educators, parents and students' ideas on what they think is RIGHT and also what they see as WRONG with education today. This is why I entitled this blog "If I Ran the Schools". Hasn't everyone wanted to do that some day.I feel I could address, with your help, topics such as: respect, dumbing down, discipline, unfit parenting,
parent involvement, reinventing the wheel, differentiation, teacher training, money, waste etc. There is so much to address here.

Over the next while we will address these topics. No school system can 'get back' at me or at you. Write in with your ideas and suggestions for topics to be covered. It will be an open forum and you can remain anonymous if you so desire.