To me, a school where students learn is one that is small enough so the students don't fall through the cracks. At the Independent schools where I taught, I knew all the students and they knew me. This enabled me to exchange a personal greeting or reprimand. Students knew the teachers were watching them -- not in a creepy way, but in a way that indicated that they were safe and it would stay that way. If I saw a student who should have been in class but was a known "floater" I would say something. Although that did not always work, at least the students knew the adults had their best interests out front.
I also think a good school is one where people care about one another. A school where kids feel safe being who they are -- even if they are totally nerdy and weird -- and recognized for their strengths is one where students can focus on the learning that goes on in the classroom. Is it possible to create a school where popularity is no longer the most important thing? I doubt it. But students can learn better when the teacher set the stage for learning and expect all to grow as learners. Sometimes teachers are guilty of allowing the squeaky wheel to get the grease. What we need to do is call on the calm and quiet ones too. Allow all to have equal time.
After the Brown v. Board of Ed. decision in 1954, much has occurred to appear that schools are equal. but they're not. I think we should all pay the taxes for schools as we do, but then divvy up the pot so all schools spend the same per student. That way you can live in your own neighborhood but know that the schools your kids attend offer the same as those who live in more affluent communities. Imagine if poor schools could have access to state-of-the-art science labs and computer labs. That could really make a difference for the poor children. Poor schools need money for books. If children arrive without the background in literacy that more rich students receive at home, it should be available to them at school. This is not the case either.
I believe we need to spend more on poor districts but I won't argue that. If we could just give the same to all that would certainly help. Imagine if teachers got paid the same regardless of the district in which he/she taught. We might be able to pull really dynamic teachers into those higher need schools. Perhaps this would be the beginning of building schools where children learn.
