How do we deal with public education? This is a very good question in my opinion. Why is it that we are still talking about all of the challenges for teachers in public education that seem to be quite similar to the same ones from the past? Why does it seem like public education issues are spinning its wheels and not getting anywhere?
This is not to say that teaching in the public school system is a bleak and dismal experience, and yet, it has been on my mind a lot lately since we have been learning about the struggles that teachers have.
These hurdles are not limited to the classroom, but also with the administration, no child left behind, parents, testing, being politically correct, meetings and goal teams, transitions, pull-outs, and what seems like a million little things to think about as a teacher these days.
It’s quite overwhelming for a person like me who is pretty liberal-minded and attended more free thinking and creative schools. I have to try extra hard to follow the rules so to speak, and not to sway too far from what’s considered the norm.
I have also found that in my experience that it can depend upon the school you work at, and the actual culture of the school itself. It might be the “luck of the draw” to find a school where you are a perfect fit.
However, the movie that we watched by Sir Ken Robinson has literally changed my entire perspective of how public education is, and can be. It was an awesome film about the history of public education and how it is still based on the Industrial Revolution and economics. I like the way he pointed out that students are divided into age groups, and that if you really look into it, that there are more effective ways to group students.
He also talked about how creativity is linked with intelligence, but that the creative arts are being eliminated from the public schools. I thought it was interesting also how he said that learning happens best in groups and that students learn best from each other.
As a creative person, I am going to remember these cool pointers and try my best to always work in art into my curriculum everyday. Even though we are still restricted to follow certain institutional standards, we can try to incorporate some of his great ideas into our classrooms.
For the most part, I found working in groups this semester wast not a bad experience. It's great when it works and awful when it doesn't. It might take some amount of luck in collaboration groups, and in job placements, too.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I will try and work creativity into my curriculum, even if I'm dodging issues with administration wanting me to teach in certain ways. I think we can infuse creativity into any part learning, we just have to dig a little deeper to find ways to do so.
ReplyDeleteIt is odd how we have been spinning our wheels, as you say, for decades now. Education is still the way it was many years ago...and I dislike how children are being numbed by medication and shuffled through the education system! It's sad, but I think good teachers can make a difference, or at least make learning fun! Every child is different, and there is no one way to teach them. Hopefully these talks have helped you feel more enouraged to become a great teacher. It can be done, and I think that we can bring our own individuality into the classroom so as to inspire our students.
I agree that it does seem overwhelming the amount of concerns and issues a teacher has to deal with on a daily basis! What keeps me going is the fact that I love working with students/children and I know that they are the main focus regardless of lack of resources or support I may have. The kids are my focus and I will do everything in my power to get through to them in a positive and engaging way. I love the point about how kids are seperated by age groups; I think mixed age classrooms are great! I have had the oppurtunity to observe classrooms with different ages in them and the children get so much from each other, socially and academically. Seperating children by learning style would be much more affective; but who will be the one person or school to test and discover that? Sometimes it just takes one idea or thought to get everyone to see the results and change their beliefs....
ReplyDeleteThe video really opened my eyes! I like how Sir Ken Robinson actually offered solutions to the problems in public education. It's easy to complain and do nothing, but Sir Ken Robinson definitely offers some interesting criticisms and insights. We must encourage students to be creative in all aspects of their lives. Creativity sparks insight, innovation, and different ways of solving problems. In our education system, we want everyone to conform to the same standards. They try to encourage the idea that one size fits all. We both know it just doesn't work that way. If we encourage creativity in students, our students may develop a passion and find meaning in their lives.
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