Every student learns differently
this is a fact that is universally recognized. The problem seems to lie in the
fact that we do not wish to nurture what a student excels in because it may not
be deemed central to the student. We can however use these skills that a
student picks up quickly to help them understand different topics and ideas. Relying
on student’s interests to make them more involved in their school work can
change the way they think, a student can find new interests and understanding
from being able to follow something that they are truly passionate about. But
this may not always work for students, since everyone does learn at different
speeds and styles. The most important thing for any student to achieve is to “focus
on gaining skills, making progress, and acquire a deep understanding as an end
result.”(Boykin 80) This type of mastery goal for a student can increase who
they perceive the world around them. Learning is a very communicative and
social process, since learning allows for ideals to spread it must also retain
real life value to a student. We are constantly trying to make sense of everything
in the world around us, and this is especially true for children and young
adults.
But this is where the
construction of schools greatly falters. By not allowing for the connection
between the knowledge that is given and reality makes it seem useless. A
student may cast aside the information because they feel it will not help them
in the real world. By involving the world around them you can make the world
seem much more manageable and not quite so big. This greatly enhances a student’s
Vocational development, although you may meet with counselors and talk of the
future students may not have any idea on the future because they are harbored
in such a secluded atmosphere. This disconnection from reality makes entering society
much harder. The main point of school is to allow students to make sense of who
they are and how that fits into the world around them. There is much more than
Vocational development that apply to this ideal. Cognitive, Civil, Social, and Emotional
development are deeply engrained into allowing a student to succeed. The
overall atmosphere of public school however hinders these developmental stages.
This may be due to the regimentation and
blandness that most public schools seem to offer. But this does not mean that
there is no hope and schools do tend to at least minimally agitate these
developmental stages.
Where schooling
fails a teacher is able to pick up the pieces. As a teacher you are able to
change the course of a young person’s life. This should be done through fun and
meaningful activities that cater to what a student wishes to learn. As a
teacher you are there to create the yearning for more knowledge and are able to
open up pathways that a student may not have regularly been exposed to. As Wolk
describes it “teaching is an act of love.”(55) And good teachers show this love
by nurturing the curiosity of a student and truly inspiring them to the great
wonders of the world that they live in. Teachers may change a student’s
perspective on themselves and the world around them which is one of the most
important and satisfying element of teaching. Everyone is different and as a
teacher you must be able to find strengths and weaknesses in students and you
must work within these strengths to create a meaningful experience for the
student.
The question of
what knowledge is important is very difficult to answer. We live in a very fast
paced ever changing world and new information is constantly being exposed. I
agree with Boykin that “Alphabetical code, word reading fluency, calculation proficiency,
basic problem solving, measurement, and estimation.”(5) I also feel a general
understanding of genetics and basic science and chemistry are important. But
what truly matters is that a student is able to adapt this knowledge to their surroundings
and use it in real world problems. True knowledge lies within someone’s ability
to apply that knowledge.
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