Dependence Of Teachers Essay

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“This authority-dependence of students is matched by the authority-dependence of many teachers, who follow the traditional syllabus and resist democratic transformation” (Shor, 1993, p. 28)

This quote taken from the book Paulo Freire: A Critical Encounter, resonated with me because I believe I am a student dependent on the authority and I am observing the authority-dependence of my teachers. To put this into context I am a student enrolled in the UBC teacher education program, specifically the social emotional learning cohort for elementary teachers. From day one we have been advised of the pitfalls of the education system. We have been guided to examine the system, the purpose of school and the hidden curriculum with a critical eye. We have …show more content…

Most of the courses have us sitting and listening to instructors in traditional classrooms or uncomfortable auditoriums. Classes are typically in session for three hours and only a few utilize the brain break activities they recommend we use when we become teachers. It is a case of do as I say, not as I do. All of the courses have a syllabus that dictates what is due and when it is due. While this demonstrates organization it denies democratic flexibility. I encountered an apparent example of an authority-dependent teacher blindly following the traditional syllabus. My group is assigned to do a presentation on a paper in the syllabus. The article contains a significant amount of academic language and it was incredibly difficult to read. The entire time I was reading it I kept asking how this is relevant to becoming an elementary teacher? When we brought our concerns to the instructor we learned that the instructor had not read the article and indicated no involvement in designing the syllabus. Do not misunderstand me, this instructor knows the subject and is attempting to have us inquire, reflect and collect practical information. It is just ironic that the instructor had no involvement in the information being taught. This did not send the right

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