Are We Really Preparing Our Students for the "Real World"

In education we hear the term, "real-world" all of the time. It is embedded into our curriculum, our daily verbiage and in every classroom you walk by you hear the famous statement, "because you will need it in the real-world, that's why you need to learn it." We as educators are supposed to be preparing our students for this world we speak of in everything that we teach within our classrooms, school systems, and education in general, but are we really doing just that? I don't know about you, but I am dreading to find out what this "real-world" really looks like, because it sounds like it sucks!

In the "real-world" if you fill out a form incorrectly is it not accepted? In my experience what typically what happens is, your supervisor meets with you, explains what is incorrect, helps you fix your mistakes and then allows you to resubmit it. So, why when students turn in something that has mistakes, do we not re-teach what they did incorrectly? We simply, mark it wrong, or worse, we give them give them a zero, allowing no opportunity for growth or improvement? That doesn't really sound like the "real-world" to me?

Example: If a teacher is supposed to turn in a field trip request form 10 days in advance and accidentally turns it in late, should I not approve it, restricting them and their students from taking a trip? "It was late and I don't accept late work!" Wouldn't we do that to a student? So why is it okay for us to bend the rules for adults? Oh yeah, it's the real world, how could I forget?

When you are in your career or dream job, do you sit in silence in the staff break room with your colleagues during lunch? The answer is no. Yet, we expect our students to sit quietly everyday in the lunch room. How is this teaching them "real-world" experiences?

In my career, I am most successful when I ask for advice or guidance from my co-workers. We take time to brainstorm, collaborate, and build relationships to find the best solutions to our problems. On the contrary, our students are still sitting in rows of desks, within their own minds, and not working with their team members next to them to discover the next great invention!

During staff meetings (I am guilty of this one) we talk over or during the meeting when our superior has the floor, yet if a student did the same within a classroom they would be sent to the office for being disrespectful and rude! A teacher would NEVER tolerate this type of behavior during his/her lecture, but again, it is okay for us to do as adults?

I guess, I am just confused about the "real-world" that WE all live in? I guess we need to practice what you preach or start living up to the standard that we set for our students to follow. I mean, if we are are asking an 8 year old to do it something, I think we should do the same?...right?

Also, we must realize that the "real-world" looks different at 33 than it does at 16.

Hopefully this might peek some interest or give you some thought provoking material for this evening. Whatever it it does, please understand that everything I do or write is for the good of kids. They are our future and the best investment in the world.

Keep being awesome,

Ms. Leigh Ragsdale