Reflections on Remixing Education

Education in America is frequently the topic of critiques and ever-churning reforms, with many outcomes never changing in any sustainable way. I’ve been part of this system for my entire life, first as a student and, for the last 15 years, as an educator myself. I’ve studied it, I’ve experienced it, and I’ve done my fair share of criticizing. Along the way, I’ve realized that as much as I often want our systems to be torn down and completely rebuilt, that’s not realistic and, in fact, could be harmful to many of the positive traditions, structures, and policies that have been created. Like textbooks, our systems are outdated and in need of new, more effective practices, but rather than throw out everything, I propose we remix the positive old practices with the promising new ones, making something entirely new and vibrant—-just as turntables do (plus, “remixing” is not as overused as “reforming,” “reinventing,” and “reimagining”).

My name is Chris, and I’ve been a high school teacher, middle school assistant principal, adjunct college professor, and educational nonprofit administrator. I have a Master’s in Educational Leadership and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Urban Education. These are my reflections on what a more healthy, holistic, and effective education system could look like based on my experiences and relevant research. They will include a mixture of personal, philosophical, and political, but most of all, my goal is to prod and provoke any reader to imagine something different and sustain the hope to achieve it.