a conservationist ethic in education - amps.docVIP

A Conservationist Ethic in Education?David Tyack.? Phi Delta Kappan.? Bloomington:May 2006.? Vol. 87,? Iss. 9,? p.?710-712?(3?pp.) Subjects: Public schools,??Conservation,??Ethics,??Education reform Author(s): David Tyack Document types: Commentary Document features: Photographs,??Illustrations Section: CENTENNIAL REFLECTIONS Publication title: Phi Delta Kappan.?Bloomington:?May 2006.?Vol.?87,?Iss. ?9;??pg.?710,?3?pgs Source type: Periodical ISSN: ProQuest document ID: 1036316131 Text Word Count 2160 Full Text?(2160 ? words) Copyright Phi Delta Kappa May 2006 [Headnote] Since the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reformers have focused on innovation, on change in the name of making things better. Mr. Tyack reminds us not to forget that some things are worth preserving. AMID the fervent policy talk about what is wrong in public education and how to fix it, there has been little attention given to what is right and how to preserve it. Reformers typically have justified changes by an imagined future rather than an examined past. They have generally lacked a conservationist ethic aimed at keeping good schools good. In the 20th century there has been no shortage of innovators in U.S. education, many of whom have wanted to reshape schooling from the ground up. They have mobilized followers by highlighting the faults of public schools. Rarely, however, have they stopped to appraise what their reforms might do to healthy schools and programs. Over and over again, reformers have called for progress through guided change. In a society that often equates novelty with progress, it requires determination and wisdom to balance innovation with conservation. It is easy to become so obsessed with what is not working in education - the cacophony of dirges over bad schools - that one forgets what makes good schools sing. Good schools require healthy relationships of trust, challenge, and respect - qualities that take time to take root. Schools dont