"Dead White Guy Curriculum"

Kyle Krol was placed in a situation similar to many new teachers in America. She was handed a curriculum and told to teach it. So many young fresh teachers (like myself) can find this staggeringly limiting to our ability and our knowledge base. Kyle was well versed in multicultural literature and modern writers, but instead of being able to teach to her strengths Kyle was forced to teach “dead white guys.”

Being a relatively huge fan of the “dead white guys” I would probably thrive in this school. I could teach hawthorn, poe, or Thoreau with ease and with pride. But I stronglt disagree with the pigeonholing that goes on with standards in America. Teachers should have the freedom to teach what they are strongest at and should be hired accordingly. Am I saying Kyle Krol doesn’t deserve a job? No. What I am saying is a principal should have seen in an interview how uncomfortable Kyle was and tried to find a candidate more suited to the class that was being offered. This is only true however, if there are schools in the area with a more open curriculum. If not, then I would go as far as to say that education in that particular area is about to die.

A good point is made that standards should be worked from the bottom up. It should not be a box but a foundation to build onto. To find ways to incorporate new authors and new cultures and still build off of the set standards to ensure teachers are teaching to their strengths and students are staying on track for graduation. If this is successfully achieved then the standards can remain strong and even be built upon until America can be at the top in education.