Continuing Change Continuing

The change in education is simply amazing. The growth at we see in very interesting. The American school system coming from basically a barn were people met to teach the basics that student needed to know in many cases how to write their name. As time progressed into the 1900s there was a mass influx of immigrants into the US. Over 22 million with an estimated 3 million children that are now ready to enter the school system. That number shows that the immigrant coming did see some education as being important. but with those students and parents that did see education as power there were still plenty that did not believe the same. Most children had jobs needed to help support their families. It is interesting to me the connection between education and money. During these times if money could be made school was not needed, but during the depression when jobs were not available education was. Before the depression education was centered on giving students the skills needed to be a good worker. We were in a way training for corporate labor. But as ideas changed and the depression happened education changed, it was more for creating educated people. Seeing the federal government bad and push for less child labor and requiring students to attend school until 16 were major things for the time. Education was growing to be see as more important and necessary. But still there were problems. Racial obstacles and the idea that some are better than others and deserved better education were a major dilemma in the growing idea. I.Q testing hindered the equal education of all by unfairly classifying, and the always difficult task of changing longstanding opinions still needed to be defeated. The changes seen in the American education system were great and were in the direction of making education what it needs to be. From the 1900’s on the growth seen is still not complete.

The needed struggle

The education system is a very interesting monster. The leaps and bounds that were made, for the idea that education was a needed thing for all people. To the vast changes that happened within education just from 1770 to 1900, shows the true nature of this beast. At its beginning education was limited to those with money. It then evolved into something that was more supported and wanted. Fast forward a bit and education is looked at as an important thing that people need, yet there is a big issue with religion and who has the power. A little farther and race is a big issue. The separate but equal idea was a joke and only those in the majority were happy with that idea.

            Education has grown incredibly from the idea of the common school where the basics were taught. It progressed to a power struggle, someone always had a better idea and a better way of doing it, but those with the say thought what was happening was good enough. Students in the beginning were taught the basics that were needed for them to survive, now students are asked to learn complex ideas that benefit all not just the ideal group that is supposed to need that knowledge.

            I fear that I am rambling on at the fine details that is the common school education ideas in comparison to today.  But in all honesty the ideas behind the common school were only need to know knowledge is covered is a very good idea but it limits possible growth. The beginning of education was a very troubled time because there were a lot of problems that needed to be solved. But from this rough time it has evolved to a system that is available to all and that will provide students a great start to becoming successful adults. As it was intended to do from the beginning help students become better functioning adults.

The early education system in America was troubled, but it was needed so that what is actually needed and best could be found.

My Idea on Approach

After looking at all of the teaching approaches and trying to decide what is best I have come to the conclusion I cannot be only one type of teacher. I see great positive effects like getting to know students and being more friendly with the facilitator approach, I see a good idea in opening students to knowledge and leading them to learning that the liberationist has the options to do, and I see the great classroom control and structure that the executive approach has. If stuck in one I cannot see reaching all students and helping them get the best education possible. I will need the structure and specific learning goal drive that the executive approach calls for, but I will also need to get though know the students and understand who they are so that I will be able to reach them at a more effective level. I might want to use the ideas of the liberationist to open the ideas of learning to some students and help them see that they are in charge of their education. I will want to blend ideas of the teaching approaches to make sure that all of my students are getting the quality education they deserve, but an education that will work for them. At the end of the day it will not matter how I feel about the material and how it is best understood. All that will matter is that the students are learning and in a way hat works best for them, as long as they succeed I am willing to work the way that is the most effective for that particular group.

Liberationist?

The journey of learning is continued with this idea of liberation. I really like the idea of the control and structure that being an executive teacher gives. I like the idea of getting to know the students in the classroom more that the facilitator approach allows. But the idea of liberating students so that they work and find meaning of the lesson using higher thinking skills. I cannot see that working well. I see a teaching method that is allowing the few students with great support and outside learning options get an upper hand on those students that do not have the same options and experiences that will help develop those thinking skills prior to getting educated by a teacher using this approach. How can I use an approach that is not ideal or give the same equal opportunities to all students? It may be that I am set in the idea of being an executive controlling teacher but I cannot see a better way. Although I do not like this approach I can see some advantages or benefits. Working to get students using higher order thinking skills is good. In life we need utilize higher thinking skills to be effective at our jobs or in furthering our education which is important. I see working and learning about issues being a great help to society. To fix mistakes we need to learn to see what we are doing and evaluate different methods, I can see a liberating approach work with this type of lesson. Before I would use this idea in my classroom I will need to do more research on how it works best, and how to connect it to all students. I struggle to think of situations that I could implement this approach in a time were education is all about how students do on tests. Maybe it is a lack of understanding on my part but I am not a fan of this approach.