Philosophy of Education
How does this relate to my life?
Orr (1991) talks about the six myths of education. One of those myths being that education makes you a better person. In my profession you cannot advance without a Master's Degree. I don't agree with this at all. Recently there was an Extension Educator position open and there were many qualified applicants that could not apply for this position because they did not have this title. Why is this degree so important? Should experience count for something? We hired someone with a Masters degree who has no experience with 4-H.
Capitalism creates wealth for a few, and poverty for a growing underclass (p.4). With today's economy I believe this more and more. The big 3 motor companies are going bankrupt, but their CEO's are making millions of dollars and they will not feel the effects of bankruptcy like the middle class people will unless the government bails them out. Why do these top executives make so much money? Why do they deserve so much luxury? Orr speaks of real truth in these areas. Tom Petters could be an example of an educated person doing risky things. Orr states that so much corrption comes from very educated people doing risky things.
Critical Pedagogy
This has caused me to look at how I teach my afterschool classes and the youth in my 4-H program. Am I doing this the right way? Am I bias in any way? Am I offering equal access for all? McLaren (2003) states that schools need to empower and self-transform their students. Do I do this in my programming. McLaren has made me stop to look at the school in which my son attends. Is there hegemony in this school? Do our 30.7% Hispanic population have a chance for success after leaving our school? Our children are the result of the institution that teaches them. Are we focusing so much on math and science scores that we are missing out on developing the whole person?
Critical Technology
Computers are a great tool, but can also be very dangerous. More and more youth today experience Cyber-Bullying. Monke (2004) sates that we must help our young people develop moral and ethical strength to avoid abusing the enormous power these machines give them (p. 349).
In my work life technology is very important. However, I did not learn how to use the computer until I was in college. There is not technololgy that I would've learned in elementary, high school or college, that would prepare me for my job today. Of course technology is more advanced today then it was then, but it is always changing and as Monke (1991) states, "Everything a child needs to know about computers in the workforce can be learned in one year in high school." I believe that comment is true!
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6 comments:
Hi Deb,
Reading your post, I also find it interesting how many businesses want to have a government bailout but are making millions of dollars. If I heard correctly on the news, the head's of the auto companies said they would be paid only $1 for a year to help with the crisis....how much money are they making that they can go a whole year and make only $1 ---- I can't imagine!!!!
You are absolutely right. I had heard that they made 28 million dollars. I am not sure if that is correct, but your are absolutely right. If I didn't get a pay check I would be in big trouble, and yet they can afford to not be paid an entire year.
That was an interesting comment about the 30% of the student population that are Hispanic. Do you know if the graduation rate is the same or not of the other students? So much is about culture and yet, schools try to make everything so "one size fits all" for fear that it's described as racist. Would online schools work for migrant populations that move often? Would we be better off providing laptops and internet connections? That's just one example. I'm sure we could find others.
I found Monke's comment about being able to learn in a year everything you really needed to know about technology very interesting. There certainly are some skills like basic keyboarding that I'm glad my kids learned early, but Monke is probably right. I have a female friend who was a computer programmer in the late 80's. After staying home for 6 years to raise kids, she found her degree to be pretty useless. She ended up changing careers.
I believe there are technologies that are very useful in education, but thinking that your kindergartner really needs to know how to use a computer still seems ridiculous to me.
Melissa,
The graduation rate has dropped in our school to 97% from 100% mostly because of the Hispanic population. When they do quit school you know they are headed in the wrong direction. Selling drugs for a living is a fast growing crime in our area. There seems to be many "drug" busts and most of them are hispanic.
I don't know if online classes would work. I do not think they would be committed or disciplined enough for that type of learning.
We have found in Sleepy Eye that one size does not fit all. The more we can learn about their culture, celebrate their holidays, learn more about them, and welcome them into the school, the better they will be. They can't feel like strangers. They must feel like they are equal and i think our school is working hard to achieve this.
Hi Lisa Lo,
That is really interesting about your friend. What a shame she had to change her profession because the technology she used was so outdated. TEchnology does change so fast and I do agree that key boarding is an essential skill to be taught, but I would think that Monke is pretty right on about teaching technology at an early age. They need more hands on - they need more one on one and more experiences than just using a computer.
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