Strickland Roadmap for Academic Reforms--Translated by the Gadfly

October 29, 2008

Governor Strickland's office recently shared his "Roadmap for Academic Reforms," which appears to be the forerunner or prelude to the governor's long-awaited plan for renewing and strengthening K-12 education in Ohio. The present document, regrettably, is not only devoid of specifics but also brimming with catchy buzz phrases and trendy eduspeak nostrums. As a public service to readers, Gadfly has provided the following translation:

Exciting 21st Century Learning Environments:

Governor's proposal: Our schools must become collaborative continuous learning organizations that build a culture of strong relationships, professionalism, collaboration, and common purpose for all students.

Gadfly translates: Our schools will be leaderless, directionless centers of feel-goodism.

Governor's proposal: Our schools must become a place where everyone feels safe, not just through metal detectors, but through high expectations, strong discipline, positive behavior interventions, a nurturing attention to the needs of each person, and a collective sense of responsibility by parents, educators, and community for our students to be competitive in the 21st century.

Gadfly translates: Our schools will not have the intestinal fortitude to rid themselves of misbehaving students or ineffectual teachers.

Governor's proposal: Strategies to enhance creativity and innovation in the classroom must be encouraged and developed as an integral part of Ohio's educational system to prepare our students for the 21st century.

Gadfly translates: Students may not learn proper grammar, spelling, or arithmetic but they'll be rewarded for doing things their own way.

Governor's proposal: Schools must become a place that acknowledges and recognizes the importance of