1. Two quotes/provocative statements that Ravitch makes in Chapter One are:
- "What should we think of someone who never admits error, never entertains doubt but adhere unflinchingly to the same ideas all his life, regardless of new evidence? Doubt and skepticism are signs of rationality...It is doubt that shows we are still thinking, still willing to reexamine hardened beliefs when confronted with new facts and new evidence." (pg.2)
This quote stuck out to me because of it's last sentence. "Doubt shows we are still thinking..." Often, I associate doubt in a negative way. If you have doubts, then you run the risk of losing your beliefs and confidence. However, Ravitch is saying that doubt isn't a bad thing, but that doubt is a place where you can go to reform and reshape your opinions. Going back to the idea of ignorance that we discussed in class, I feel that Ravitch is suggesting that when we have doubts, we are able revaluate our opinions and make sure that we truly believe what we are standing for. In the world of education, ignorance can be see by many as lack of education. I feel that when people are provoked and they are pushed to think critically, it is then that they truly learn and are able to form their views for why they believe what they believe.
-"The new corporate reformers betray their weak comprehension of education by drawing false analogies between education and business." (pg.11)
Although this quote was discussed in class, I feel that it sparked a lot of conversation, and really got the wheels turning for me in terms of this book. People who are not involved in education are being put in charge of creating laws and rules for education and are running it like a business. Business and School are two totally different entities and should be treated as so. In class today, people had great things to say about why a business model doesn't work for schools, and I do agree. However, if not that model, then what model? Yes, a change needs to be made, but what change is big enough to put education back on track and will help each student reach their fullest potential? I do not have answer, but am interested to learn what model and reform could help our school systems and help school districts support each of their students.
2. When Ravitch describes a well-educated person, she describes what I would envision qualities that all of my students would have one day. I especially love the last part of her quote, "The well-educated person has learned how to explain ideas and listen respectfully to others,"(pg.16). Not only is it important to be able to have an opinion, but it also important to respect other's opinion and learn that not everyone is going to agree with you. Along with this, it is important for the educated person to know that life is not fair. Even though it is important to be educated in the realm of academics, arts, and politics, I feel that a well-educated person can think on their feet, work well with different types of people, and can truly be open to knew ideas.
In today's world, I do not think that a well-educated person exists solely in the classroom. I think those people are found on the athletic field, in the art room, and even at home with their families. A well-educated person needs to be well rounded, and have life experience to build off of. Not everything can be learned in a classroom from a teacher. Sometimes, life needs to be experienced on a different level.
3. I really, really enjoyed our class discussion today about the Corporate Model. I think that as teachers, we need to be aware of the way education "works" and how the state of CA and nation of America hope to see the Corporate Model as a success in the world of education. I loved how we started to talk about how the purpose of education is not a business prophet, or even a product. Sara C. had the argument that in a way we are making products. As teachers, we want to produce good citizens and make the best products that we can!
However, I wish I would have said that I do not think we are making products, I think we are creating a society. With each student that walks out of our classroom, yes we want them to be good citizens, but as a collective group, they are the next generation and we need to give them the tools to make good choices. We are teaching them life skills that will help them to create the world that they want to live in. So yes, in a way we are making a final 'product', but I believe that as teachers and as schools we are preparing students to be leaders.
4. Going into my job this fall, I will be working with grades K-5. I feel that I have a gap when it comes to 2nd grade curriculum. Even though I have subbed often, 2nd grade is one that I do not know much about. In order for me to truly understand the grade level, I need to get a grasp of what the children are like in 2nd grade, and take a look into the mind of a 7/8 year old. One way I plan on 'minding the gap' is to go on different 2nd grade teachers blogs! This is a very informal way for me to get a feel for the projects and topics discussed in 2nd grade. Also, it is a way for me to get ideas about how to present 2nd grade curriculum in my own classroom.
Another way for me to 'mind the gap' for 2nd grade is to really take a look at the expectations and standards that are being set. Common Core ELA standards would be a great place to start. This is something that I can bring to my 2nd grade team, and talk to them about how they want me to implement these expectations. Common Core is also a good place to look because I know that I will be teaching what is expected.
Lastly, a book that I could use that would really give me insight to setting up a successful 2nd grade classroom is written by Margaret Berry Wilson and titled Every 2nd Grade Teacher Needs to Know. At my first placement, I saw this book in multiple classrooms and it seemed like a great resource.
5. Throughout my experience thus far in finding research, I have learned that art in elementary school really can be valued. In both my articles by Gluschankof and Bresler, I noticed that they really went through and analyzed children's art and musical experiences. It showed me that even Kindergarten students have talent to contribute and it should be valued and celebrated.
Although I haven't yet found any research that has truly motivated me and pushed me to go one way or another with my topic, I do love how there is research out there in regards to art and music for children. I think that art is a huge part of teaching students how to think for themselves and I am excited to see what else I can find in regards to chanting and how the brain responds to that kind of teaching.
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Hilary Khun
Michelle Graffis
Sara Carver
Whitney-
ReplyDeleteRe: #1- How funny, I also chose the first Ravitch quotation. I agree with everything you say. Do you feel that others view doubt as a good or bad thing?
Re: #4 - I like your approach, you are being very proactive! I haven't heard of that book, maybe I should pick it up since I am changing grade levels next year.
It seems like quite a few people had your first quote on their minds after reading the first two chapters of the books. I mentioned on another blog that sometimes this plays a big part in the political arena: if in light of new information, you change your point of view, you're often thought of as weak. But here, Ravitch sees it as a learning experience, which seems to be the most honest, realistic way of looking at things.
ReplyDeleteAbout your 2nd quote: I agree, it is a difficult question to answer. Another layer of organizational structure begs the question: should the emphasis on education be left up to the federal level, state level, or local level. In my opinion, local districts know their population best so it makes sense to give them the most funding and control over what it taught and how their learning and general education system is structured.
Sounds like your class had an amazing discussion!
Hi Whitney! I love your response to question #2. I too feel that a well rounded education comes from not only the classroom, and the classroom teacher, but inquiry (the speark hopefully set by a teacher) and outside experiences, such as sports, leadership activities, local teams and clubs. Family and friends are also a huge influence and set of people to learn from on a daily basis. Being well-rounded and ready to learn, having an open mind and being willing to be a life long learner, that is an educated person.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoy your line in question #3, "We are not creating products, we are creating a society..." This is very much like we began discussing in class, and why a business model just doesn't work for the education system.
#1: I picked the same first quote as you! I loved it for all the same reasons as well. It takes a critical thinker to succeed in the education world, and that includes the (scary) idea of doubt. As you said, allowing doubt to shape our opinions is a key factor in the education world. We have all seen how many different reforms have been attempted in the history of education. While some of them did not work out as hoped, if we only believed the first way we learned of something we would never be open to any kind of reform at all. Regarding your second quote/point: ugh, good question! I forgot how easy it is to criticize someone's idea, while not having a solution myself...
ReplyDelete#2: Creating students who have quality characteristics is a HUGE part of my teaching philosophy (and I believe many other people's). Education is so much more than the content knowledge you learn in the classroom, and I love that you included the other fields that someone can learn from - art, physical education and sports, etc.
#3: You made such a good point when you said we (educators) need to give students the tools they need to make good choices. This ties nicely to talks about the well-educated person. They need to not just know how to add, but how to break down a real-world problem into pieces they know how to work with and think about it using the skills we gave them in school.
#5: While I also begin to research the arts in education, I have had the same hopeful experience of finding quite a few articles about the attitudes towards art. Students and teachers alike feel very positive about the experiences and effects of using art in the classroom. Go arts!
Hi there Whitney! I really enjoyed reading this blog! That quote on page two, stuck out to me also as I was reading. I had never thought of it that way, but it's so true. The mere fact that we are constantly changing ourselves and are opinions, is proof that were are still thinking, and evolving. In my experiences with education, I feel that I have encountered more people than I would like to admit, that have only seen things their way. And ironically, they were all older, more experiences teachers. I don't know if the experience made them more knowledgeable, or more stubborn?
ReplyDeleteWhen it came to your definition of what makes a person well-educated, I couldn't agree with you more. Education isn't talking about a person being well versed in academia, but how much the person is developed mentally, emotionally, rationally in the real world.
Whit!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you, I really loved our class discussion about the Ravitch book. I think we really dove into some tough topics like our discussion on the Corporate model. I think this is one of the many problems with out education system. We have leaders, reformers, and legislators who are not in the classroom currently or have never been in a classroom. They have no direct connection or experience to schools themselves. They seem to have an agenda that they want to complete; they want high tests scores. They want to create "products" that are test smart. This corporate model has made it nearly impossible for teachers to focus on any life skills, such as cooperation or respect, because they have to focus so much on teaching to the test and creating the best products possible. I hope with the implementation of the Common Core standards we can see a shift in legislators' focus.
I like your first quote. I too never really thought about doubt much until reading this quote. I really like how Ravitch makes us think of doubt in a positive way and not in a negative way. Ravitch says, “Doubt and skepticism are signs of rationality” (Ravitch 2). I love that thinking, because it allows us to be skeptical. It allows us to have doubt about educational practices, like No Child Left Behind. It also allows us to think one way and change our minds when an educational practice does not work. Education may not be a science and what works for one teacher may not work for another. I believe that flexibility must be built into the equation somehow.
ReplyDeleteAs you mentioned, using a business model to reform schools will not work. I don’t even really know how the business model became to be so revered, except that big corporations and foundations bring money to the table and pay for their ideas to be heard. Business and political leaders care about children and their future but how can we get them to rally with educators, not against them? Teachers, I believe, do have ideas but no one person has the total answer, or we would have all students finishing high school in America. For every child, there could honestly be an individual educational plan and that is part of the challenge. How do we educate all children with their unique needs in one big classroom?
I can really appreciate the first quote and Ravitch's way of thinking. I am a believer that in order to grow, your thoughts and actions will inevitably have to change or evolve. If society decides not to embrace change, that leaves room for negative patterns in history to repeat themselves. Even as educators, as we become more familiar with our content area over the years, we should be learning and growing along with our students. We should be able to make personal or real life connections with our content and teach our students to do the same.
ReplyDeleteI can also appreciate your regard for multiple intelligences. It is very important to acknowledge different people's expertise and strengths in areas outside of the classroom. These do count! With that said, what is the role of the education system in cultivating and developing individual students' intelligences? How can teachers capitalize on everyone's strengths?