Food 4 Thought

 

From John Dewey's Experience and Education (1938): "What avail is it to win prescribed amounts of information about geography and history, to win the ability to read and write, if in the process the individual loses his own soul?" (p. 49). If the experience of "doing school" destroys children's spirit to learn, their sense of wonder, their curiosity about the world, and their willingness to care for the human condition, have we succeeded as educators, no matter how well our students do on standardized tests

The Brotha Newz View- As an educator, my goal is to get students to think. Regardless of whether they ever agree with my opinions or not, getting them to challenge their preconceived mentalities is my most important task. I approach each school day with the goal of introducing them to an aspect of life they may have never explored. We (teachers) are all pressured by state testing, parents, and administrators to teach to the curriculum. While this has its' value, content can be of no service if the knowledge is not applicable. The applicability lies in the content's ability to plant a seed of motivation towards the upliftment of society. Textbook knowledge should not restrict the amount of independent thinking students do for themselves. While I know I have much room for development in the content part of my knowledge, I still believe that a balance between content and abstract thinking is necessary for the complete success of our students. 

I want my students to walk away from my class as independent thinkers, that have a desire to make a positive contribution on society. Some students may never work in a field that will require them to draw upon historical knowledge. However, they will all live in a world that is in need of more humanitarians. Social Studies (the class I teach) should develop the student's social awareness first and foremost. Once this is developed, the content will serve as a mechanism to examine the past and present and move forward towards a more conscious future.

" As educators, we have the responsibility to educate and inspire the whole child—mind, heart, and soul. By focusing on the following essentials, we can put more joy into students' experience of going to school and get more joy out of working inside one" (Steven Wolk)

Word.