An Invite to #edchat for @USEdGov

To @USEdGov (US Department of Education),

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. You are a very busy department and that would have to explain why you have not responded to my many tweets inviting you to #edchat. I thought that a post might be more helpful because my tweets are probably buried in the other thousands of @ mentions you receive every day. Since #edchat is a growing community of educators discussing important educational topics, I thought it only made sense to invite you to the conversation.

I hear all too often that teachers are stuck in the past and refuse to change their methods. Too much blame is put on Unions and how teachers are happy with the way things are. Yes, there are some teachers that think and act this way. However, there are many teachers that are constantly looking for ways to improve education. #edchat is a place where teachers meet to discuss ways to improve education for everyone, not just the students in their class. These teachers are not being paid to be there and they are not receiving college credit. They are there because they want to be there. Is this something that the Department of Education would find interesting?

When I do see the occasional news story on education, they all seem to focus on failing schools, poor teaching records or how States are scrambling to apply for RTTT funds. Why is it stories on teachers working hard on their own time to improve themselves is not important to the news? In an Administration that claims to pro education and pro social media, how can it not support teachers that use social media to improve education? #edchat provides an opportunity to speak with teachers instead of to them through press releases.

#edchat takes place every Tuesday at Noon EST and 7pm EST. These two times were chose to accommodate the many teachers from all over the world. As the Obama Administration stresses the importance of a global perspective of education, why is #edchat ignored when it shares the same beliefs? I have learned so much from the various teachers that participate in #edchat. I have become a better teacher for it and my students are better because of my participation. As the Administration stressed more accountability from the teachers in this country, why would it want to miss a chance to promote forward thinking educators and their efforts to improve the educational system from the bottom up?

One of the many things I teach my students is the importance of making connections. If a person can connect to a piece of literature, it will mean more to them and they will learn from that connection. People make connections with other people and learn different things in the process. Teachers meet on Twitter, not just during #edchat, to make connections and grow as educators. I think that the Department of Education would want to participate in a discussion about improving education in this country.

Secretary Duncan I know you are a very busy person, but do you think you could find the time to join the discussion? 

Best Wishes,

Nicholas Provenzano
English Teacher
Grosse Pointe South High School
Grosse Pointe Farms, Mi
Life Long Learner

- @TheNerdyTeacher