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Purpose Of Education In The Central Dauphin School District

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The question of what the purpose of education is a littered debate between readiness for the future workforce and growth as an individual. Neither answer is incorrect; education may prepare students for a career, college, or technical school while it can also be argued that education enlightens and builds an individual’s character, philosophy and citizenship. While observing a fourth-grade class in an elementary school in the Central Dauphin School District I have seen both perceptions of education go head-to-head. The district focuses on preparing students for the future workforce while my mentor teacher has adopted a progressivist view focusing on the whole child. The difference in the belief of education’s purpose causes tension between the administration and teachers which can be seen in the classroom in a variety of ways. …show more content…

The district, like most schools, is focused on standardized tests as they are the key to receiving sources of funding. Part of a teacher-focused essentialist view on education is a strong emphasis on a core curriculum centering around science, math, reading, and writing. Essentialism focuses on, “accuracy and thoroughness from each student” teachers are expected to push “for an overall higher standard for all students” in the core curriculum (Figures, 2012, n.p.). This philosophy is great, however, because the district is pushing it at the teachers through rigorous testing for their students and copious amounts of paperwork for teacher accountability there seems to be a disconnect between pushing all students to strive and creating a learning environment that fosters

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