What If . . .?

I have been wondering about education lately, wondering what would happen if we gave up clinging to our current methods of doing things.

• What if grade levels were based on competency and not age?
• What if we allowed students to move ahead grade levels?
• What if all students actually read for pleasure?
• What if all parents valued education?
• What if no parent ever lied to the school to help her child escape a consequence?
• What if every parent regularly read to his children?
• What if decisions came from teachers, the people on the front lines of teaching, rather than from distant lawmakers or administrators?
• What if professional development was differentiated - each teacher researching a subject directly related to his/her teaching assignment?
• What if every teacher received training on current brain research?
• What if we included mindfulness practices as part of our daily routine?
• What if all children got enough sleep and enough to eat?
• What if every parent volunteered in his child's school on a regular basis?
• What if teachers were valued as respected professionals the way we value doctors and lawyers?
• What if the public understood that education was about more than being able to read a driver's license manual or make change from a $20 bill?
• What if all teachers made an effort to make learning interesting and cooperative?
• What if all students put half the effort into learning that they put into their sports or their video games?

What's your what if?