It is no debate that an average classroom in the United States will be highly diversified. We also know that certain standards and curricular goals are set in place and are to be accomplished. It is the teachers job to ensure that those goals are being met, but some debate that it is not within the teacher's job description to meet the unique cultural needs of those highly diverse students. Why should we make allocations and considerations for our highly diversified students if the system in which we teach makes no regards for those individuals?
If we don't make allocations and considerations for the diverse students, who will? There are laws that require that all students be treated fairly. For example the state of Alabama, "It is the policy of the Alabama State Board of Education and the Alabama State Department of Education (SDE) that no student will be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination in any program or activity on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, religion, belief, national origin, ethnic group, or disability." In my opinion if the system is not fulfilling the needs of all students they need to be called on it. We need to be aware of legislation and use it for the benefit of the students. I realize that this is a perfect world scenario but we have to do what we can.
ReplyDeleteI am in total agreement with you MKieffer. The deal is though, as we know, that class sizes are becoming larger and larger. The overlying legislation may say one thing, but what is actually possible is usually a different story. Yes, we must use what we have at our disposal to do the very best job we can do, but the system often times deters this. I am a total advocate for student rights and the benevolence of all children, but there is little an educator can do with a class size larger than 35, especially when students are not willing to cooperate (with the teacher and oneanother). I believe this is not an issue of well "the system needs to be called on it." The "system" has been called on it for a long time. It has long been known that the "system" is flawed in most ways and is actually a hindrance to student learning (especially concerning standardized tests). One can only use the legislation to his/her benefit within the surroundings he/she teaches and if the surroundings do not allow that certain legislative objectives be forwarded, then the legislation must be amended. We must all strive for excellence in the public school setting, but there becomes a point where administrative decisions must be watched carefully for the interests of the students. Often times (and most of the time), administrative decisions have little to do with actual student learning. I feel there needs to be greater strongholds on who is able to make decisions and how they are to be made. For instance, teachers are very restricted within the classroom concerning the use of technology. This (technology) use should be at the discretion of the teacher, not some over-governing board that needs to feel they serve a purpose in the school system. So, back to diversified classrooms. Well, there is really no clear answer on how to best prepare a teacher to address the needs of all students because it is not a guidebook of "what to do," but rather a "how to think" philosophy. Many people will not agree that all students are capable of being successful. This is a fundamental problem with the way some teachers think. I feel that many teacher preparation programs do not address the multicultural issues we face in society and school today. This creates a very large problem for teachers that have limited time to become prepared to go into the classroom. What usually happens is the following: the teacher finds that he/she must finds strategies to situations that were never mentioned in his/her teacher preparation programs and ultimately, the students in the end take the fall.
ReplyDeletePeter,
ReplyDeleteThis is where community involvement comes into play. The system and administration may not pay any attention to teachers griping and complaining and ralling for what we need, but if we get the parents and community members on our bandwagon-then we can all work together to start the changes that need to take place-in legislation, administrative decisions, and student rights. Teachers are sometimes the only advocates that kids have. We have to make the most of out position in the classroom and extend out reach as far as possible into the community. (Go Go Gadget Arm!)
The system will never make any regards for those individuals. There's only so much legislation can do. It takes the teacher willing to incorporate culturally relevant pedagogy in their classrooms. I honestly think that it is not that difficult, especially when there are so many resources in the community. I have come to the conclusion that unfortunately/fortunately teaching is a self-rewarding job. If you want to see your students succeed and achieve, you have to put in some work that no one will probably ever recognize. You have to work long hours that no one will ever consider. However, the good works teachers do will not be in vain. Legislation just make up rules. Teachers actually make/break students.
ReplyDeleteLandrianopoulos and Ms.Calhoun,
ReplyDeleteTeachers do bear the load and responsibility to lift up their students and ensure their success. It is unfortunate when a teacher does not see this as their obligation. This is often times the case with many teachers and I believe no teacher ever got into education to hurt children and demote the general welfare of students, but there exists other issues. With pay cuts, lay-offs, and general unappreciation of teachers by many in politics these days (and former days) it is easy for some people as teachers to lose their vigor and interest in helping students. I personally could never go against the best interest of students regardless, but many people give up because the system gives on on them. Basically, in total agreement with Ms. Calhoun, teachers make or break students, but often times teachers feel as if there is little they can do. I think everything comes in cycles and it will always rebound for the better as a whole, but if teachers do not feel the need to help students, students realize this very quickly and the cycle continues. I don't know what the answer is, but I do know it takes special people to teach children effectively. Hopefully, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
True, Peter. I wonder if courses will be developed in the future to help combat teacher burnout. Perhaps classes on how to deal with administration or how to raise funds to buy classroom supplies or even classes on how to meditate! What I mean is that it seems that teachers seem to get jaded very quickly, but perhaps if the last semester of our preservice education focused on dealing with real world challenges, then we may fare better.
ReplyDeleteLAndrianopoulos,
ReplyDeleteI believe all teacher young and old need to be exposed to the latest research so they can choose what to do with the information provided them. As far as teacher burn out, I know there are a lot of hobbies one can consider....