Farewell Desks, Here Come the ‘Starbucks Classrooms’

CAT Tracks Editor's Note:

Needless to say, I am not a believer.

Oh, I'm sure there are a few individuals out there who can teach something in a "Starbucks environment"...

...but for every one of those individuals, there are at least 9 who are simply ceding their classrooms to the children and whatever happens to be on their minds at the moment, which is unlikely what the teacher would have them be doing.

Communication? Collaboration? Determination? Perseverance?

Well, since "learning" didn't make the "to do list"...

...maybe my concerns are unwarranted.

Students will definitely work on their 21st Century skills...

...how to "hang out", read and update their social media pages, while ignoring the real world around them.

Talk about "24 islands".

On the bright side...

...this could solve the teacher shortage!

I mean...

Starbucks doesn't seem to have any trouble finding employees to take the orders of its customers. Since that is apparently the desired role for teachers in the 21st Century, well, who needs four years of college?

And, I gotta admit...

..."barista" is a more concise descriptor than "guide on the side".

Hey, teacher...

...since according to my iPad, fall has officially arrived, I think I'd like a pumpkin spice latte today. Hop to it!

Guess those "education reformers", Pink Floyd, had it right back in 1979: