Over the summer I read Jon Gordon's book The Power of Positive Leadership and I came across an unfamiliar name to me in education, Marva Collins. My curiosity was sparked based upon her thriving non-traditional education process and positivity, so I did a little research. Marva Collins began her educational career as a substitute teacher for Chicago Public and after 14 years, began her own school, Westside Preparatory School in 1975. Her reasoning behind opening up her own school was to escape the bureaucracy that she felt was failing the students. Through the process of developing a new school, Marva Collins created and coined the Collins Method, an educational philosophy that focuses on mathematics, phonics, reading, and discussing the classics. But what caught the media's attention about Marva Collins was her optimism that all kids can learn. She not only stated it, but she believed it and breathed it.
Marva Collins is most noted for the statement "Kids don't fail. Teachers fail, school systems fail. The people who teach children that they are failures, they are the problem." This powerful statement resonates with me as I have spent the last few years focusing on a growth mindset with both students and teachers. I have heard the phrase "These kids can't do this work" or "The standards are too difficult for my students". While these statements may never be said to the students they can feel it when you teach and they will not succeed because they feel they can't. I have also heard "I am just a teacher, what can I do?" You may be just a teacher, but to a large portion of your students you may be the only consistent adult in his or her life. You never know the impact you will have on a child, remember that every morning before class begins.
As we head into 2017, I wish I could say that the disparities and inequalities that existed in education during Marva Collins time (late 70s/Early 80s) no longer exist, but they do. I see them throughout our county, region, state, and country. The recent events in Virginia are a prime example of this growing concern. So even though we may "just" be teachers, I will try my hardest to remain positive, support my students in anyway I can, and fight the gaps I see in our system every day. Thank you Marva Collins for inspiring me this week!
Rebekah Hornak - Director of Instructional Services