As I am reading this book the one thing that hit me first is that schools were created to compensate for the failing FAMILY institution. Every group I have read about in this book talks about how they think education can save our society. We are now in 2011 with some of the same issues, still believing that education is this magic pill that will save us. The problem with this idea to me is that a person can learn ideas but they still have a choice to not live by those ideas. Every reform starts from top down. I believe the person and what they desire in life is what matters, at least to them. You can't have a country without people but you can have people without a country. This idea of ultimate control to be able to determine out comes by manipulating the educational process is not reality. Every person has the ability and right to make their own choice. I don't want to spend the rest of my life trying to control others put rather given them my love and support. I give my children advice but I always tell them no matter what road they choose I will always love them even if it is a life style I don't agree with. I find that the more I genuinely listen to them the more they listen to me because we have a mutual respect for one another's choices. I always tell my children "The Greatest gift of any human-being is choice. The power to choose whatever life you desire. Now reflect on your life and decide do you like your choices." Like Mann said" Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." A person is only a child for a very short period in their lives and even while they are still a child they begin to make their own decisions. My kids are very young but have decided that they like certain foods and dislike others. Yes, I try to convince them to eat their vegetables and even make them eat a small amount but that doesn't mean when they get older they will eat them. So it is best for my wife and I to first model certain behavior and continue to search for healthy foods that my children like. That is the beauty of being born, each individual decides their own journey. As a parent and teacher I want to serve and cheer my children and there dreams.
Steve
Ps. I am really starting to like blogging it is very cleansing process and to read others blog helps me understand myself better!
Right on! I agree with your insights about the school and family relationship. Wouldn't our responsibilities in the classroom be much more simple if we didn't have to deal with the family issues, the psychological deficiencies, the messed-up thinking of a number of parents, students who have little or no parental support, or students who haven't been trained to be respectful of themselves and others? Educational work would then be a panacea!
ReplyDeleteBut I wonder if this has ever been the case, or is it just an illusion. True, our society today has many challenges and the fact that we have special counselors, psychologists, etc. on our staffs at a substantial cost, bespeaks of this fact. I have always believed in the power of the family and I do believe that parents are a child's first and perhaps most important educators. But even great parents still have problematic children/students from time to time and the human factor questions: why?
One of the most important issues I see in the whole sphere of education today is a societal lack of responsibility and lack of ownership. Since the 1960s, I believe the USA has become a society of people who think they are entitled to something, rather than working toward a goal. Not everyone suffers from this "disease," but many do--generation after generation. The "blame game" goes on and on and it matters not where you come from, you can find this attitude in East Cleveland as well as Sagamore Hills, Solon, and Avon.
American citizens need to remember that educational success--as well as any true success--is based on hard work, practice, admitting mistakes and trying to better yourself. No one is ever going to motivate you if you can't motivate yourself. Just like an athlete feels good after a good workout, or a student rejoices in the satisfaction of a diploma for hard work, so too does a large part of our society need to get back to the basics and remember that anything worth doing is worth doing well.
Great Blog! You really hit on the head with this one. As we have already discussed these are issues that need to be discuss in order for education to prosper.
ReplyDeleteStephen, I enjoyed reading your ideas on education and choices. Teachers also have choices to make. They can create a classroom where everyone feels included and valued or they can create a class of intimidation and fear. I grew up with the latter choice. So, I guess that is why I try to create a second home for students. I try and approach issues with an open cultural mind and make sure all my students feel a sense of value with abilities and ideas to share. Teaching students from a multicultural view seems to help support this milieu. Teachers need to accept the home of each child as a vehicle to share their cultures so that each child can respect other styles and points of view. I am glad you are enjoying blogging. I know several teachers that use it as response to reading assignments and all say that it gives a voice for the quiet kids. I guess we all want others to hear and validate our thoughts. Deb
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