EDF 1005 Reflection Paper #8

Jackie Lawrence
EDF 1005
Reflection Paper #8

In 1983, the National Commission on Excellence in Education released a report called “A Nation At Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform.” This review marked the beginning of the three waves of reform that America’s school system encountered. The Commission addressed the fact that American students were being surpassed by International students on standardized test scores. They also lacked essential skills necessary for the workforce and even basic reading and math proficiencies. This first wave of reform made a significant impact on education. People woke up and started recognizing the magnitude of our problem. In the late 1980’s, educators such as Theodore Sizer believed the curriculum was the main reason students weren’t succeeding in the classroom. He suggested that topics should be fewer, so true comprehension about certain subjects could be reached. This second wave also focused on poor teaching performance and emphasized the need for teacher autonomy along with improved professionalism in the classroom. The third wave of reform in the early 1990’s aimed to incorporate more full service schools, which provided a better education for the underprivileged. These schools operated for longer hours and gave students a chance to stay off the streets, bettering their education and lives in general.
Even though the text states that the first wave of reform never ended, I believe it is the third wave that plays a main role in today’s contemporary society. When I was young, there were innumerable after-school clubs, activities, and sports available to me. We had monthly dances, decent cafeteria food, buses that ran three times a day, and a plethora of guidance counselors and security guards. Our many seminars and pep-rallies raised school spirit and produced a strong sense of belongingness. I was a Washingtonville Wizard, that’s for sure. I ran for the varsity cross- country team, participated in the band, the Spanish club, the yearbook club, and the Honor Society. Honestly, if these outlets were not available to me, I probably would have ended up a complete lost cause. Programs such as these keep kids off the street, too busy to indulge in negative influences. Furthermore, I had no sense of just how diverse my school was because of these programs. I never saw my classmates as being black, white, poor or rich. To me, they were only jocks, nerds, stoners, or cheerleaders. Thus, I think the third wave is the most significant in establishing schools that are student-friendly and foster a healthy attitude of acceptance. If successful multicultural education is today’s goal, then the third wave of reform will most likely get us there.