Life Long Learners
Throughout history, schools and the students within them have changed drastically. Now, more than ever before, one can find many students of very different ages and races with very stark differences in their ethnic and cultural beliefs. Because of such a variety of learners, it is necessary for knowledge to be colorful as well. The gaining of knowledge always follows the constructs set by those who attain it. The gaining of knowledge is neither absolute nor relative; it’s both. Every student, regardless of standing or background, is entitled to the building blocks of greater knowledge. In turn, each student is not limited to this learning foundation; he or she will inevitably be involved in learning pertaining to his or her personal preference, and should be encouraged to do so. With these two types of learning, absolute and relative, and observing the vast variety of types of individuals, the quantity and quality of the acquisition of knowledge is greatly increased.
Schools exist to encourage and fuel these possibilities. Public education is a tool which is used to expand the minds and knowledge of each and every learner. This tool not only provides knowledge but it also enriches the lives of all who take advantage of the opportunity. Public education additionally molds a well-rounded society of learners. Throughout my public school experience I often found myself interested and involved within the classroom. No matter where I went from the cafeteria, to Biology class, I couldn’t avoid learning. To this point I have been a learner and will continue to learn and become a life long learner. I have attained absolute knowledge in subjects such as Calculus and Geography from public schools, and I continue to broaden this learning through college. Learning about how to live and about the very different people around me has also been a skill I have naturally attained by going to school with many different students who look, speak, and act very differently. I have learned to be both a scholar and a gregarious adult. Through public schools, I hope to reflect the skills I have gained and to pass such things on to my students. Public Schools and all their teachings are the vehicle of which I hope to be a part to pass on this knowledge.
That broader conception of school allowed those schools to better support the students and address social issues that prevent students from accessing their full potential. This conceptual shift can only be spurred by a clear vision of “good education”—which then caused an improvement in their community’s education
-- Public eduction is one of the most significant and unfinished achievements in American history. The main point of the first video was to show the viewer how far public schools have come and how far they still need to go.
Now that public schools were commonplace in America, they needed to be altered to increase knowledge of students leaving them. Through reforms and political events, schools became not only a place for learning math and English, but also a place to learn other skills that will help students obtain jobs once they graduate. School was becoming essential rather than optional.
Education has always been in existence in one form or another. As each child is born into this world regardless of who or where they are born, life lessons immediately begin. He/she will learn to crawl, walk, and talk by the example and encouragement of others. Although these lessons are basic in the beginning they evolve as the child grows. However, the core learning method of a child does not change. Learning from others, they will watch, listen, and then act for themselves. Thomas Jefferson believed that an education would lead men and women to the ability to be self-governed and become positive contributors to society (Mondale & Patton, 2001). Today, we can see how true this is by the examples of others. Those that are given the opportunity for education are more likely to find jobs and develop skills that not only improve a community, but influence the economic growth of their nation (Ravitch, Cortese, West, Carmichael, Andere, & Munson, 2009, p. 13). On the other hand, if an education is not provided to individuals, they can become a hindrance to that nation’s growth.
Education was provided to the children from higher classes to become more intelligent to be able to lead and be ahead of those that were in lower class systems. However the government created the public education system to allow children to have the same opportunities as any other kid in the country rich or poor. Yet, did the government really provide this experience for children to become more intelligent than those whom were rich, or is there more to the real meaning of public education? In “Against School”, written by John T. Gatto, looks into the “real” intentions of what the purpose of education is. Gatto looks beyond the meaning of children acquiring only knowledge from education, but comes to a point where he believes that educations
In Funds of Knowledge by Moll, the author argues for the importance of using local knowledge for learning in the classroom. Education in the United States has become more focused around curriculum and standards, and students are left without the chance to learn about different cultures and things they can relate and connect to. The first sentence in chapter seven states, “The typical approach to culture embodied in most multicultural curricula taught in public schools today is static, normative, and exclusive” (Moll). Most students in the system do not have the opportunity to share their background and knowledge in order to gain meaningful learning experiences, but rather are taught about the same, old traditions when it comes to multicultural
Going to school is something that children do at a young age. The idea of school is ingrained into children at as early as six weeks of age in a daycare. As the child grows older they enter elementary school, middle school, and then high school. Within the schools there are students, administrative staff, nurses, volunteers, and of course teachers. Then questions are asked. What really is the purpose of school? How can a teacher gain student’s attention when they are thinking about things outside of school? How are the students different from one another? What determines between a good and bad teacher? How can character be successfully be integrated into schools? These are a few questions that were addressed in the book You Can’t Teach Through
I believe that the aim of education is to create well-rounded citizens in a democratic society. This means that students are not only being taught just the academic standards by also being taught social skills. The students will be able to be a citizen that will improve their society and be a person who is diverse and who is open to the differences in people. With this comes a couple of barriers, such as the desire to learn new things in both teachers and students in the classroom is lacking and the worker-as-machine model.
John Taylor Gatto, in his essay “Against School: How Public Education Cripples our Kids, and why”, argues that the contemporary purpose of education in public schools is to produce “harmless electorate,” “a servile labor force,” and “mindless consumers” (28). According to Gatto, he is blaming public schools by explain that the purpose of education is to shape students to certain expectations and habits without their interests. He argues that students “want to be doing something real” (Gatto 23). Also, He explains that they produce a manageable working class and “mindless consumers” (27-28). His point is that students want to learn something new that help them in their life better than actual books from school which don’t apply their interests and their experience (23). So he recommends home-schooling as option to schools (24). Gatto claims that contemporary schools “adopted one of the very worst aspect...
...her ups, and then once their ideas of education update, so can school systems, then teachers themselves. Maiers “Keys to Student Engagement” shows the raw potential that school systems already have. It also shows that students need the drive and ambition to succeed. Tristan’s article on edutopia provides ideas that are already in motion. His ideas and tips have already started to work in public high school in his community. With the guidance and vision of these three authors public school issues could cease to exist. Even though there’s a lot involved getting administrators (and some teachers) on board, it is possible, and in the near future, a reality.
The cultural diversity in society, which is reflected in schools, is forcing schools not to solely rely on content-centered curriculum, but to also incorporate student-centered lesson plans based on critique and inquiry. This requires multicultural education to a dominant part of the school system, not just an extra course or unit. Further, it demands that learning itself no longer be seen as obtaining knowledge but rather, education be seen as creating knowledge. Multicultural education should be seen as affirming the diversity of students and communities, promoting the multicultural ideas of the United States, and building the knowledge and behaviors needed for students to be a positive and contributing member of society and the global community as a whole.
The education system is probably the most utilized system on this planet. Most humans have passed through a type of school whether they wanted too or not. School is primarily a place designed for people to attend and learn. It is a place to better yourself, to learn facts, discipline, to learn social and economic skills. Yet for all that school is intended for, different people go for various reasons. Some are hardworking and academically minded, going to study with an aim of setting a good foundation for their future and having a successful and accomplished career. Others are carefree and go for the social side, to be popular with lots of friends, and in the end just to have an enjoyable time. For many it can even be an area
Education is a vital part of society. It serves the beneficial purpose of educating our children and getting them ready to be productive adults in today's society. But, the social institution of education is not without its problems. Continual efforts to modify and improve the system need to be made, if we are to reap the highest benefits that education has to offer to our children and our society as a whole.
Learning occurs when each child is developmentally ready, and this happens at a different pace for each individual child. I experience this daily in my Kindergarten classroom. Although a lot has changed in education over the course of my career, I try to focus on the constant that each of my students can learn on any given day and that I must challenge all of my students to reach his or her potential. This is my school’s motto, and we recite it daily. Education has faced many challenges over the years with politics, the economy, students’ culture, and legal issues. Politics does play a crucial role in education. Different school systems and population areas receive more or less government funding. Educational dollars can play a key role in a school system receiving the latest technology, updated facilities, educational funds for teachers, and curriculum needs. I have been able to experience this for myself by transferring schools from the city to the county school district. The social aspect of learning affects children in different ways also. Different cultures of schools are negatively and positively affected as well. Having taught in an inner-city school for 9 years, I was able to witness firsthand the downfalls and negative effects that come into play for students who come
A time approaches in every person’s life when they must come to learn new things. Speaking on behalf of all those who have attended school at some point in their life, I must say that most do not like it for its educational significance. Today’s youth undervalue the worth of America’s public school system to the point of shame. Hard-working, underpaid teachers and professors prepare to educate these ingrates as their living, and it’s exasperating for the students to not even care. I must be fair though and call attention to the fact that not everyone shares this loathe for education and schooling.