T & C Chapter 3 - Wisdom of Practice

It honestly amazes me how blind policy makers can be to a very simple concept in their implementation of school reform. That there must be enough room in the implementation to allow for those on the ground to regroup and adjust the policies in alignment with the required goals. Even if teachers are consulted in the development of the policies, there should be flexibility for the teachers implementing the policies (some in different situations and under different circumstances from the ones who recommended and developed the policies) to adjust to ensure alignment with the goals. With the number of pitfalls that past reform strategies have had, it is surprising that this is not already the norm in reform. It makes what McLaughlin and Talbert call an

"integrated reform strategy [of] seeking policy coherence at the classroom core, in the everyday interactions of students and teachers around the content"

T & C pg 83 appear to be an unattainable utopia. Something so simple should not be so out of reach.

T & C refers to this as letting the teachers use their "Wisdom of Practice" to alter what is necessary, in the implememtation of policies.