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Thursday, October 11, 2007
‘Eager’ Students: Where Do They Come From?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I just left Venetian Hills Elementary School in southwest Atlanta, where I spent a few hours this morning trying to find out what made the campus a national “Blue Ribbon School” this year.
Once in “Needs Improvement” status for failing to meet federally mandated standards, nearly all of Venetian Hills’ students — more than 90 percent of whom are eligible for free or reduced price lunches — now pass state reading and math exams.
Last school year, 97 percent passed Georgia’s reading exam and 98 percent passed math — up 3 percentage points and 9 percentage points, respectively, from the previous year.
Since Principal Clarietta Davis took over the failing school six years ago, she’s introduced a slew of new curriculum programs (Success For All in reading and Move It Math, for example) as well as more intensive tutoring for struggling students.
When I asked fifth-grade teacher James Davis Jr. what set his school apart from all the others, he said it was the eagerness of the students: “They have a high regard for learning,” he said. “It’s why I look forward to coming to work.”
After I left, I started thinking about that statement and wondering: Where does a student’s interest in learning come from anyway?
I mean, is a motivation and desire to learn something that’s innate like athletic ability? Or is it something that can be taught?
