As I venture into this vast world of philosophical thought and diverse teaching, I find myself running into a lot of difficult questions. How do you teach something that's both worthwhile and educational to the students? How can you teach good morals if you are forced to teach toward tests like the MAP? What are morals?
Teachers and professors alike have been attempting their futile efforts of pouring wisdom and knowledge down the throats of students for a very long time and I wonder which methods are most effective. It seems as if the attempt to shove ideas in front of students and make them think a certain way is the only True way to teach. Kids come into the school environment with only the ideas their parents or close relatives have given them (some come in with their own creative ideas as well) and are pressured to act a certain way and become a certain thinker.
Like this picture I found from above, it appears that the rainbow of creativity and great imaginary ideas are crushed underneath the powers of the teacher hammering their own perspectives into the students head. This falls onto, in my opinion, the art of behaviorism. If someone is disrupting a class, the teacher silences them or makes them seem a fool. The kid's creative ideas are promptly halted and the teacher may never hear a witty remark or brilliant idea from them again. They have been forced to act a certain way.
Why in our society do the most energetic people get put down so much in the classroom and in work environments? Why are those who sit alone and don't interact with other students deemed the weakest link and subject to failure? Why do teachers focus on having the perfect student instead of admiring those who talk out of turn or do something different that may or may not benefit the class? Why does this country, which states that difference is the way to be, attempt to create a society of people who do the same things? How can we help those who are different learn and keep their own identity?
These are the questions going through my head as I think about essential questions. What are your answers?
Teachers and professors alike have been attempting their futile efforts of pouring wisdom and knowledge down the throats of students for a very long time and I wonder which methods are most effective. It seems as if the attempt to shove ideas in front of students and make them think a certain way is the only True way to teach. Kids come into the school environment with only the ideas their parents or close relatives have given them (some come in with their own creative ideas as well) and are pressured to act a certain way and become a certain thinker.
Like this picture I found from above, it appears that the rainbow of creativity and great imaginary ideas are crushed underneath the powers of the teacher hammering their own perspectives into the students head. This falls onto, in my opinion, the art of behaviorism. If someone is disrupting a class, the teacher silences them or makes them seem a fool. The kid's creative ideas are promptly halted and the teacher may never hear a witty remark or brilliant idea from them again. They have been forced to act a certain way.
Why in our society do the most energetic people get put down so much in the classroom and in work environments? Why are those who sit alone and don't interact with other students deemed the weakest link and subject to failure? Why do teachers focus on having the perfect student instead of admiring those who talk out of turn or do something different that may or may not benefit the class? Why does this country, which states that difference is the way to be, attempt to create a society of people who do the same things? How can we help those who are different learn and keep their own identity?
These are the questions going through my head as I think about essential questions. What are your answers?
3 comments:
I really like the way that you incorporated the picture into your post. I think that it is a good illustration of bringing creativity forth in a classroom and how teachers affect this act. By silencing a disruptive student, we are keeping the classroom disciplined, but also telling the student to stop acting like an individual. This is where a talk at the end of class may be necessary.
I've been waging an internal war ever since I started working towards my teaching certification, and it sounds like you and I have the same questions. The personal side of me wants students to truly "be themselves" in my classroom so that I can appreciate the diversity and individuality that they bring. But the teacher side of me (and I sort of hate admitting this) just wants my students to come to class, do what they're told, and provide the right amount of participation and feedback. I was talking with my practicum teacher today about finding that perfect balance. She said she gave up trying to find the balance and just decided to be a classroom dictator instead. Why do so many teachers come to that same fate? Is it because it's easier??
There are many teachers out there who want their students' work(s) to be what they want and not what the student wants. I am in this sort of situation this semester. I have to tell you that I am learning a lot from this experience. Our role for being a teacher is to open our student's minds. By only accepting what we want specifically, we do not do our job. I mean there are many ways to look at a certain thing (I showed this in my lesson last week). People focus on different aspects of the same picture, piece of literature, piece of music, etc. If a teacher does not open to this concept and thinks that thier way is the only right way then we are inhibiting the growth of the student's mind.
~Emily
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