Issue 94 Reform, Reform, Reform! (Education) June 7, 2013

               Have you ever heard of a man by the name of Doctor Ben Chaves?  He runs a charter school in Oakland California, successfully taking a once failing school and turning it completely around creating the American Indian Model of education.  For the following ideas, I take them from Dr. Chaves.

Part 1:   The first idea (not really an idea for Dr. Chaves is already doing it) is self contained classes.  It mimics the arrangement in elementary schools with one teacher teaching all subjects to a group of students, but at the secondary level of education level.  This allows a teacher to spend more quality time with students to have a relationship and allows the teachers to recognize a student’s potential and intelligence.  There is no ability for a student to cut class for there is no class change between classes, save not coming to school and running out during bathroom trips.  Also, you increase the time spent in the classroom by not having to transition from class to class.

Part 2:  Dr. Chaves also employs a looping system, where a teacher will follow their students at teach them at the next grade level as well (P.E. has a separate teacher though).  An example of this would be students being taught by the same teacher from grade 6 through 8.  The purpose is to create a stable and secure learning environment and even a kind of family like relationship.

            Under Dr. Chaves’ model, students only rotate out for P.E. allowing teachers to prepare for the next lesson or other work.  School runs from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm except on Fridays when school lets out at 12:40 pm which removes lunch and P.E. from the schedule that day.  The early release is designed to allow for special appointments and what ever personal matters to be addressed. 

Part 3:   A student would receive one hour of detention after school if they are late to school, miss school work, break school rules and misbehave in general.  If two detentions are given in a single week, the student will receive Saturday school from 8:30 to 1:00 pm.  Also, under the American Indian Model, a school has only one secretary, one administrator, 3 sixth grade teachers, 3 seventh grade teachers, 2 eighth grade teachers, 1 P.E. teacher, and one resource teacher who works’ about 75% of the time.  Obviously the number of teachers will vary based on the number of students, but you get the concept that it eliminates most of the bureaucratic structure as teachers fill in the rolls of guidance councilor and other roles.  At the same time other positions are no longer required due to the nature of the system.  A school uniform is also used in Dr. Chaves’ model.  The most controversial aspect of the model is that Chaves pays his students for perfect attendance with sixth grades getting $50, seventh graders $75 and eighth graders $100 with exceptions due to funerals, hospital or being sick.

Part 4:   Dr. Chaves has some simple suggestions to improve education.  One is to not fund or start programs, or hire people if at any time the money supporting that program may disappear.  He is specifically talking about government grants to schools.  The second suggestion is to make education competitive to attract the best teachers, a.k.a. pay more (contracts under the American Indian Model are yearly).  Third, never hire a person based on race or ethnicity (some believe they will be role models because they share the same skin color) for this is racist.  People who are smart, hard working, and reliable who want their students to achieve are good role models (Dr. Chaves is Native American by the way).  Fourth, instill a golden rule, “If you act like a winner, you’ll be treated like a winner.  If you act like a fool, you’ll be treated like a fool” (142 Chaves).  Example, if a kid says I want to play for the New York Nicks you tell them you want to own and run the team.  Instill the mindset of a winner.  Fifth, deter crime and bad behavior by encouraging students to stop and look at who is watching.  It embarrasses them from bad behavior.

 Part 5:  Dr. Chaves’ final suggestion would be the creation of a single public school board modeled on the one that oversees the University of California’s school system.  It consists of a single board of twenty-six regents that would oversee the organization and governance of all public schools across the State.  Dr. Chaves believes that a single governing board for k-12 public schools “there would be less nepotism and local politics bogging down the school system” (21 Chaves).  He also suggests that elections to this school board should occur at the same time as a Presidential and Gubernatorial election to ensure large turnouts.

Conclusion:    I like Dr. Chaves’ suggestions and practices.  They seek to rid the system of unnecessary bureaucracy, streamline the system and create a stable environment for learning.  If you want to learn more, read Dr. Ben Chaves’ book Crazy like a Fox.  It is time to make education competitive again.