The Game of School: Why We All Play It, How It Hurts Kids, and What It Will Take to Change It by Robert L. Fried is a great tool for identifying challenges in school systems and planning school reform. This book explains in great depth the problems faced by students and educators in schools today and ends with a call to action for solving these problems. Some major concepts that arise frequently throughout the book are time being wasted, students feeling powerless and the prioritization of test scores over authentic learning. Time is wasted by everyone in school and is wasted in various ways, for example students are given busy work and teachers rush through a curriculum while students learn nothing. Students, while they are the most important stakeholders, feel as though they have no control over their education. This is
John Taylor Gatto addresses his belief in his article “Against School” that schools have become “laboratories of experimentation on young minds, drill centers for the habits and attitudes that corporate society demands.” Students are bored of their teachers, teachers are bored of their students, “who, then, is to blame?” “We all are.” It is our duty as citizens in our society to make sure we are pushing and challenging ourselves every day instead of waiting for another to make it happen for us. The government has become routine enough to allow the few students they believe are capable to continue on their tradition, thus allowing the majority of students fall into useless stereotypes and groups. Students have the ability to manage themselves.
Anyon article discussed students of different social class background is exposed to different types of educational knowledge. Anyon used four distinctive schools; working class, middle class, affluent and executive, located in New Jersey. The education the students received reflected the social class level. In the working class school, the principle had did not know the history of the school building. The teachers did not motive or believe in their student’s success. The school knowledge was based on facts and simple skills. Students was just given information without explanation or failed to make their own choices. The common theme was active and passive behaviors amongst students. The middle class school, the ethnic background and school
In this forum I will be discussing the quote from Mark Twian, "I have never let my schooling interfere with my education". In researching this quotation, I was unable to verify that Mr. Twain was in fact the author. The TwainQuotes website states, "This quote has been attributed to Mark Twain, but until the attribution can be verified, the quote should not be regarded as authentic". The actual author of this quote, however, is not important. I like the quote. This quotation accurately sums up the problems of our education system. Education is more than schooling. In reading the other works for this assignment, there is a reoccurring theme. A persons' education comes from more than just school; one must have a desire to learn, a love of learning and a need to improve themsel f in order to achieve success.
The United States’ school system is based on compulsory education laws which required children from 6 to 16 years of age to assist public or private school, for a certain number of years (“Compulsory Education”, 2015). In the past, these laws were put in effect to increase literacy rates and to avoid child labor practice. Unfortunately, there are many people against mandatory public education in America. This is the case of a former New York City teacher, John Taylor Gatto, who in his article “Against School”, he expresses why he believes that the school system is ineffective in helping students to develop their full potential. For Gatto, the system is intended to incapacitate students cultivate leadership skills and turn them into ordinary thinkers with a lack of passion.
In the “Against Schools” article, author John Gatto describes the modern day schooling system and its flaws. He uses several rhetorical strategies in trying to prove his point. He successfully uses all three types of rhetoric in writing this article, which includes ethos, pathos, and logos. He establishes these strategies very early, and often throughout the article. He believes one issues with today’s schooling system is boredom, and that there is a distinct difference between what it means to be educated and schooled. He uses his experience as a public school teacher in his effort to exercise this opinion that he has, which establishes his first rhetoric strategy.
A child’s education is affected by various elements such as gender, race, environment, economic factors, privilege, and more. These elements shape the outcome of a student’s educational experience and learning. They also determine what and how students will learn. In order to create an appropriate learning environment, there should be a sense of community. In other words, the common goal should be helping students succeed and reach their maximum potential. This includes not only increasing test scores, but also classroom motivation and excitement. Schools should be truly committed to the expanded opportunities available to each of its students while continuing to evolve academic and personal growth.
Kohn’s student-directed learning theory is an approach to the classroom management which may be particularly effective in the modern classroom environment. Student-directed learning will keep students motivated and teaches them to cooperate with each other sharing responsibilities and functions within their community. Kohn believes that the ideal classroom emphasizes on curiosity and cooperation above all, and that the student’s curiosity should determine what is taught. "Skillful educators tap students ' natural curiosity and desire to become competent. In a learning environment, teachers want to help students engage with what they are doing to promote deeper understanding" (Kohn, 1997c).
Paulo Freire argues that the relationship between a teacher and a student is a system of oppression. Where a teacher has absolute and total control over their students’ way of thinking. Freire refers to this as “The Banking Concept of Education,” where teachers teach and students listen and don’t question what they are being told. In the banking concept, teachers are depositing and students are the depositories. To Freire the banking system of education is destroying creativity and individualism in student. The teachers are storing information into their student’s minds. The students are expected to memorize what they are being told and can recall when they are asked to. Student’s don’t argue or question what they are being told, they just
There has been a multitude of famous individuals that have changed the course of human history over the years. With their work being the source of inspiration of many to simply having a likeable, repeatable demeanor, there is no doubt that to be regarded in that special collective of individuals. One of the most famous civil rights leader that advocated for 13 years, Martin Luther King Jr., discertation called, “The Purpose of Education,” that brings awareness to the importance of education and its overall relevance in tepid year of 1947. Dr. King brings clarity to his opinion in the beginning of his paragraph stating, “It seems to me that education has a two-fold function to perform in the life of man and in society: the one is utility and
Students. In “Consumerism Invades Education“ Simon Benlow is dumbfounded on why people are comparing the words “students” with “customers.” He portrays a customer with fast food, it is getting easier and easier. You use to have to look everything up while ordering, now you have the “meal deal.” Benlow states “We don't have to reflect, invent, or research,” talking about education, fast food, and many other things (140). Benlow provides an example of students with his experience-----when he was in school his teacher made him/all students to be active learners------ they had to use dictionaries, research things, they felt uncomfortable, and it all came from their teachers. This experience shows how education use to be, now “consumerist students”
The significance of education cannot be stated enough, which is an investment to a better future. Getting an education is one of the most powerful things a person can ever obtain. It is crucial to the overall development of the individual and the society as a whole.When individuals do not have the option of getting an education due to the cost of the schools as well as the lack of schools itself. For those living in poverty it can be difficult to earn the same amount of education as other people who are considered middle or high class. The first time they are introduced to a formal education is in a school building. The school system lays out a foundation that develops a child 's mind, nurtures their gifts and teaches about responsibility. These key factors set up a child to become successful and soar high in life because they have learned the basis to society. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are forced to abandon their education due to health problems related to malnutrition, or work to provide support for their family. In some third world countries the lack of education is scarce and not valued as much. “Education is critical for breaking the cycle of poverty and yet over half of the world 's schools lack access to safe water and sanitation facilities” (the water project, a good education. pg2). This quote is so important because the only way to combat poverty is to have knowledge to do so. So without that power you can’t elevate and break the chain of hardship.
Many teenagers would agree the last place that they want to be is in school. This attitude is evident in both “I Go Along”, and “I Just Wanna Be Average”. However, as much as some may defy school, it is undeniable that education opens up opportunities to those of all academic levels. For instance, after attending the accelerated English class’ field trip, Sharon encourages Gene to excel in school. She states, “You’re as bright as anybody on this bus”. After much denial, and belief that he isn’t smart enough, Sharon says, “How do you know you’re not?” The short story goes out to set a positive outlook on education, and to encourage those who don’t apply themselves. This same perspective stays true in Mike Rose’s “I Just Wanna Be Average”.
Education is very important for everyone and it will only get more important. Schooling is just plain bad. It used to serve a purpose, like the heart in a person 's body, but now it is basically just boring students more and more. Nowadays at the end of the day, we all just want to go home. Many aspects of public education are problematic. For example, the usefulness in grading systems (other than IB schools) are questionable. It cages up creativity and makes the students unmotivated. Also many times the grading system is just wrong. When students write something and give it to the teacher to grade sometimes they can get a horrible grade. That is surprising for the students because it’s like they think its good and that they’re going to get a good grade where in reality they get a horrible one. As Picasso once said, “ All children are born artists, the problem is to remain an artist as they grow up." Children are not frightened of being wrong. Being wrong isn’t the same thing as being creative at all. If you 're not prepared for being wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.By the time we get to be adults, most kids have lost that. The kids ( now adults) have
Schools are the second place after home where students’ behavior and future educational success are shaped. At schools there are many elements or factors that can influence the teaching and learning process that may take place. Rasyid (2012) stated that there are four perennial truths that make the teaching and learning process possible to take place in the classroom. If one of these is not available, there will be no teaching and learning process, though the learning process itself may still take place, they are: (1) Teacher, (2) Students, (3) Material and (4) Context of time and place.