Is it Easy or Right?

"... Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy"

Albus Dumbledore from Harry Potter and the The Goblet of Fire 

This quote has been running around in my head since I watched the Goblet of Fire movie with my son a few weeks ago.  This struck me in a couple of ways recently.  First I think about the recycling survey we just did at school.  I truly believe recycling and composting  is the right thing but I know habits are hard to change.  A second way it struck me was that it is as a great line to use with some kids in my class before they go out for recess.  In other words, watch your behavior kids. The final way this quote struck me is with Web 2.0 ideas and there use at school.  Schools change slowly.  I came across this blog article and it hit the right notes.  These are my questions too. 

"Like:

• Is it better for our kids to be grouped by chronological age, or is it just easier for us?
• Is it better for our kids to separate out the disciplines, or is it just easier for us?
• Is it better for our kids to give every one of them pretty much the same curriculum, or is it just easier for us?
• Is it better for our kids to turn off all of their technology in school, or is it just easier for us? 
• Is it better for our kids that we assess everyone the same way, or is it just easier for us?
• Is it better for our kids for us to decide what they should learn and how they should learn it, or is it just easier for us? " Will Richardson 2011

My addition would be:

Is it better for our kids to use textbook instead of the Web 2.0 tools or just easier for us?

Is it better for our kids to write a daily journal on paper instead of a blog or is it just easier?

Coming back to Dumbledore, we will not know for awhile if avoiding Web 2.0 tools at school is a right choice or an easy choice.  It takes time to see how things develop but if a tool engages children and they read more or tell others or can explain more because of that tool then maybe we should consider the tool.  

Reference:

Richardson, W. Will · Easier vs. Better. Will. Retrieved November 3, 2011, from http://willrichardson.com/post/11927962621/easier-vs-better