Lauran

Lauran Terragrossa November 7, 2010 Teaching in A Diverse Society Dr. Williams Chapter 10 Reflection Chapter ten discusses the budget of a school district, and how the money is put to use. This is a big issue in today’s educational system. With the fall of the economy, the budget for schools has been affected in some states. This is extremely devastating, because a lot of schools did not have enough resources already, and to have the budget cut is detrimental to the students of that district. It is unfortunate that when there is a major budget cut, the first thing to go is usually the arts. That is so sad, because students need a creative outlet and some enjoyment when they come to school. When students have the opportunity to do something they enjoy, it makes all of the not enjoyable aspects of school slightly more bearable.  When the budget of a school is cut, the students are aware of the issues it will cause for their education. In some states, the students take a stand. For example, this past April, the Newark school budget was cut, and the students let their voices be heard. One student created a Facebook post about the cuts, and expressed the idea of a protest. The students organized a massive walk out and protest that disrupted classroom routines and standardized testing, but the students got their message across. They did not want to lose teachers, because this would create larger class sizes, and most importantly, they did not want to lose the activities that they loved.  A good education is not just the academics; it’s also art and culture. Keeping school budgets intact will help to create well-rounded students all over the country.  Lauran Terragrossa November 7, 2010 Teaching in A Diverse Society Dr. Williams Chapter 11 Reflection  Chapter 11 discusses the child’s world beyond the classroom, and I found this to be the most interesting and most eye-opening chapter so far. After reading the story about Mrs. McCarthy, I found that I could really relate to her. I also was fortunate enough to attend an excellent school public school system in New Jersey, so when I observed in lower income high schools I was shocked. It truly opened my eyes to the issues that children face. For example, the teacher whom I observed, informed that one of her students had been struggling with math, when she confronted the student to offer her extra help, it turns out the student has been working a part time job at night at weekends to help pay the rent for her family. So, how are student like this supposed to excel in school, when they have bigger problems at home to deal with. It made me feel guilty for ever complaining about doing homework. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Another point that upset me was the term cultural and economic imprisonment. People, who are born into upper and middle class, have a difficult time understanding this issue. It is a horrible cycle, in which the students in this situation require an education to succeed, but their grades takes a back seat to the issues they are facing outside of school. Therefore it is extremely difficult to get themselves out. In some cases, people who grew up in an inner city neighborhood have internal struggles about succeeding. For example, if they have the option to go on to college, they feel guilty if they leave behind the people that do not have the ability to leave. Also some of the people, who do get out, suffer from ridicule by their peers because of jealously which could also lead to violence. It’s sad because it truly can be imprisonment.

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt;">Lauran Terragrossa <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt;">October 10, 2010 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt;">Teaching in A Diverse Society <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt;">Dr. Williams

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; text-align: center;">Chapters 5-8 Summery <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt; text-indent: 0.75in;">Chapter Five is about schools in the global community. I was amazed to learn the differences of the school systems in other countries. The government plays a major role in education in England, Mexico and Japan, however not in the United States. Each of the school systems has similar structure, but differ almost everywhere else. They all start out by teaching the basics in education such as reading, writing and math, but as the students continue on to higher levels that is where changes begin. English schools prepare students for a career as they continue on to secondary schools, in Mexico the percentage of students who continue to middle school is low, and in Japan the schools get more intense and require a lot of focus. The school systems reflect the current state of each country. For example, the Mexican school system is in shambles, they do not have the money to pay teachers to accommodate the large number of students in the country. They are also lacking the resources to purchase supplies for the schools. Without a proper education, the country will not be able to grow and succeed. It is a cycle that does not seem to have an end in sight. On the other hand, Japan puts such a strong emphasis on the educational system; therefore their country is thriving. England places a high standard on education, and succeeding, therefore there is a high graduation rate and a strong economy. The way the educational system is run, is very important for the growth and success of a country.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt; text-indent: 0.75in;">Chapter six discusses how theories and philosophies are used in the classroom. Having a philosophical view can help with decisions in everyday life, and problem solving in the classroom. Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Axiology are important for education. A good teacher should constantly be challenging their students to think about what is real?, how do we know? and, what is of value? By asking these questions we are teaching our students to think critically and not to take everything at face value. These questions are also important in the classical European philosophies such as Idealism and Realism. Idealism in the classroom teaches students to have a broad understanding of the world, and curriculums focus on broad topics. Realism in the classroom focuses on critical reasoning and scientific research. I think a combination of both of these philosophies is an effective way of teaching students. I also think that Contemporary philosophies such as Pragmatism and existentialism should be combined to give a broad perspective. To understand what is real, but also focusing on the creation of ideas would help to create well-rounded students. When these educational theories are put into action, contemporary theories of education are formed. Perennialism is based on the educational philosophies of idealism and realism, Essentialism believes in the core of common knowledge; progressivism is based on the cognitive, social, physical and moral aspects of a student, and last is social Reconstructionism. This is the educational theory I agree with most. This theory is based on the fact that society is in constant need of change, and the way to do that is to use the school system. Finding the problem and encouraging change is the best way to improve our country. By teaching this to the new generations will inspire them to make transformations.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt; text-indent: 0.75in;">Chapter seven discusses learning and teaching in the classroom. The chapter starts out with a story of a teacher who taught the battle of Little Big Horn, and certain parents did not agree with what he taught. He told the story for what it was, and parents believed he was ruining the image of American history. I believe that teachers have a moral obligation to accurately teach multicultural views. If history is taught accurately, it will instill the need for change, and the correct way to do things. That is where schools for social change come into play. This states that the purpose for schools is to change society. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt; text-indent: 0.75in;">A curriculum is how schools decide what they will teach. Some schools follow the Curriculum for social Conservation, this is a structural way of learning, where a set of facts are discussed and that is what the students are expected to learn. I believe that is an old fashion way of teaching, and I agree more with Curriculum for Social change. This is designed to help students to become productive members of society. This is much more effective for today’s world. Activity curriculum, Core Curriculum, and Humanistic Curriculum are student based learning that allows the students to apply what they are learning into the real world. Student centered learning is much more effective than a teacher lecturing. It allows students to apply what they learn in reality, because they have to demonstrate what they learned, not just by taking a test. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt; text-indent: 0.75in;">In order to teach in an effective way, a teacher has to develop how they will implement their curriculum. Teachers have to design instructional objectives and understand the different learning styles of their students. This can be difficult when students are on different levels. Mastery learning is one approach used in this situation. Teachers can incorporate critical thinking skills, individualized, cooperative, and teacher directed learning into their classroom to decide which method works best for their students. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt; text-indent: 0.75in;">Chapter eight discusses the organization of schools and how they are governed. The Bill Of Rights contains amendments that pertain to the educational system. It is important to have these amendments because they protect the rights of students, and governs the responsibilities of schools. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt; text-indent: 0.75in;">The local board of education is a major part of the school systems in each state. The members have been elected locally, and they bring forth their ideas of how the schools should be run. The power of the board is not with individual members, but with the entire board. The role of the boards of education vary from maintaining schools, to assigning students to specific schools, but the board’s responsibilities differ from state to state. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt; text-indent: 0.75in;">Each school has their own administration, and the principal is responsible for overseeing their individual school. The principal is the chief administrative officer and the superintendent representative for the school. The principal of a school usually manages the curriculum and instruction in their school. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt; text-indent: 0.75in;">Another form of administration is school-based management. This involves the teachers in the administration. I believe this to be an effective way of running a school, because it increases teacher loyalty. It allows teachers to feel like they are apart of the big picture, and that they have a say in how the school is being run. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt; text-indent: 0.75in;">There are many different settings for students to learn, such as, Neighborhood schools are schools within a community. It has been argued that students learn better in neighborhood schools because they are already acquainted with the values expressed in the community. However these schools are not very diverse. Home instruction is another non-traditional way of teaching a child. There is some controversy with home instruction. People argue that home schooling does not provide a proper education, and children are not around other students their own age, therefore they cannot develop socially. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in -0.25in 10pt; text-indent: 0.75in;">Education and Globalization is a current concern. People are questioning the problems of governance, organization, and administration. There is alarm that the present form of school organization, might not be adequate to help children live in the twenty first century.