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October 27, 2005
Triage in Education
Many years ago I was reading about medical triage ... I don't remember if it was in the context of treating the wounded in war or victims after disasters, but I remember thinking it was a good strategy for teachers, too...
In medicine, triage treatment categorizes victims into three groups: those who will survive without medical attention, those who will not survive even with the best medical attention, and those who will survive only if they get immediate, proper medical attention. Medical services are provided to the third group, first.
Sometimes I think it's like that in my class. There are the students who will get the material no matter what I do. Great learners, high IQ, exceptionally motivated, whatever. Then there are those that won't get the material no matter what I do. Maybe they shouldn't be in school this term. Maybe they just don't care. Maybe business in the wrong major. Whatever. Finally, there are those students who will learn the material only if I do something right. Teach the right lecture, make the right assignment, follow up with just the right feedback. It is that third group that I most want to focus upon.
Years ago, I used that idea in seminars that I gave to fellow educators. About that same time Kurt Vonnegut published his autobiographical novel, Jailbird. In that book he wrote the very same idea. That we should apply triage to education. In frustration, I wrote to him, care of his publisher. My letter was something like this:
"Mr. Vonnegut, why did you publish my one good idea? You're already famous enough, you're already rich enough, and we all know that you're certainly creative enough. Why did you take my one good idea and publish it? I use this idea in speeches and now everyone will think I got it from you!"
Two weeks later, in a crumpled envelope with no return address (marked with the characteristic asterisk, in fact), I received the following letter:
"To Whom It May Concern: Let it be known that I stole the idea of triage in education from one David Kroenke. Little did I think I would ever be caught. Curses, (signed) Kurt Vonnegut (*)
Hand typed on a manual typewriter.
Of course he didn't steal the idea from me, but that letter has been fun all these years. My kids and some of the kids in the neighborhood have taken it to school whenever they're enrolled in the "American modern authors" course in high school! I wonder if my grandkids will use it, too? God bless you, Mr. Vonnegut! I hope the years have been good to you!
Posted by DavidK at October 27, 2005 08:50 AM | Permalink