I grew up in Strongsville. The city has a fantastic public school system and a great high school. However my parents chose to send me to a catholic grade school in North Royalton call St. Albert the Great. Obviously at the time I had no input. So much of our educational experiences are shaped by what are parents believe is the right way. When choosing a high school came around my parents let me choose. I could choose to go to Strongsville if I wanted. Realistically though the choice was never there. I was not about to go join a public school system from which I had been absent from for all my life. So I chose St. Ignatius. This time my educational experience was influenced by MY choice of institution. It's interesting to look back and think "would I have made the choice my parents made for me". Specifically, if I knew what I know now, would I have wanted or chosen to go to a catholic grade school? I am not really sure. So many of us grow up to have a different life perspective than our parents, yet our early education is in the palm of their hand. I believe the best school choice I made was going to Ohio State, a public University. A public education brought about different viewpoints, ideas, and values that I had not experienced before.
Today we discussed what the future of education could look like. Whether realistic or not we were challenged to dream a little bit about "what if". The idea of an all public, no private, education system was discussed. I feel as though this may be better than the system we have now. Having attended private schools growing up, it is my thought that young people who attend these school more often than not do not have an elitist feel about themselves. However, there can be a sense that those in a private school are better off, smarter, and more privileged than those who attend public school. Is this really the message we want to be sending to our youth? At such an early age, kids are taught that there are those who are better, who are more privileged and who deserve a different education than is offered to a general population. Then we wonder why there are social and economic separations in society. Private schools exist as an alternative to those who are privileged enough to afford it, or be presented with an opportunity to attend such a school.
Shifting topics a bit to the makeup of a school. Today schools are as segregated as ever. There are no laws to enforce this segregation, but we have social norms, housing, and economics to take the place of the segregation laws of the past. The question that hits me is: Is the best educational situation one which has an racially and ethnically diverse student body? For instance, would it be ideal if every school reflected the population statistics in the United States? I'm not sure because no such set of schools has ever existed. This would mean that whites, blacks, latinos, and those of asian descent would all be mixed into different schools. Socially and culturally, this would teach our youth from the start that everyone is on the same playing field. While this is well and dandy, in reality by teaching equality we are teaching a fallacy. Because these students who would theoretically be educated together would then move into the world. In today's society, most communities do not reflect the diversity of our nation. Instead communities are mostly made up of people who are like each other. Whether this is do to economical situation or not, the fact is, there are plenty communities that are known as white, or black, or Slavic village or German village. With these separations in existence it only is logical that these same separations would continue into education. We cannot be surprised by the segregation of our schools today, because it is result of living choices, or lack of choices.
Through my experience in a Catholic grade school and high school, and then a public university I now ask myself the question of what is the best route? Where do I want to teach and maybe more importantly, where would I send my children to school? The idea of the best education changes from person to person. I find myself thinking that I would send my children through public school because that is more of a "real" experience than being sheltered by a private institution. Or is it that the sheltering and guidance that a private school often promises the best way to raise a child and that he or she will experience that realistic world soon enough? What education is the best? I wish I knew.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Writing Circle 1
Our first writing circle was very stimulating and provoked many thoughts and ideas. Our group was open an candid about discussing topics such as private vs public schools and the teaching profession as whole.
We began by discussing each of our blogs. We talked about how my blog discussed that the some reasons for becoming a teacher needs to be a desire to benefit the profession as a whole. We discussed how in American School, Kohl said that in his 26 years, he had never heard teachers talk to colleagues about ways to improve teaching and learning. Whether that be techniques, styles, or other things.
Stacie brought up how she had a discussion in which a person had the opinion that urban public school teachers were of a much lesser quality than teachers in suburban schools and in private schools. The idea was that better teachers move out of the urban schools and into "better" jobs. The group seemed to agree that this notion is ignorant. I believe that the best teachers teach in urban public schools. The desire and love of teaching has to be present in teachers who face adverse circumstances. A teacher who may have to walk through a metal detector everyday must truly be passionate about his or her job to deal with such adverse situations.
Both Darcy's and Stacie's blogs were great personal stories that motivated me to want to write about my personal experiences as they relate to our learning. Their blogs pushed me to try to conceptualize the readings from class and compare them to my life experiences. Just reflecting about what I read without bringing in my personal experiences is not good enough.
Shawn's blog involved a poem that he himself told us took him awhile to understand. He discussed how his blog meant that the focus of education should not necessarily be on the check points that students hit along the way, but instead be focused on the accumulation of knowledge and life skills over the lifespan of a students education.
After discussing our blogs, our conversation mostly focused on the issues with private vs public education and the many questions that follow. We discussed how a teacher needs a wide variety of skills because the type of instruction that happens in a private school like a Walsh Jesuit or a St. Ignatius may be very different than strategies utilized in a Cleveland Public School. Not to say one is better or even more effective than the other.
I found the writing circle to be a source of guidance and a source of new ideas for myself. It was important to here other people's perspectives and thoughts and interpretations about the ideas we have discussed so far in class.
We began by discussing each of our blogs. We talked about how my blog discussed that the some reasons for becoming a teacher needs to be a desire to benefit the profession as a whole. We discussed how in American School, Kohl said that in his 26 years, he had never heard teachers talk to colleagues about ways to improve teaching and learning. Whether that be techniques, styles, or other things.
Stacie brought up how she had a discussion in which a person had the opinion that urban public school teachers were of a much lesser quality than teachers in suburban schools and in private schools. The idea was that better teachers move out of the urban schools and into "better" jobs. The group seemed to agree that this notion is ignorant. I believe that the best teachers teach in urban public schools. The desire and love of teaching has to be present in teachers who face adverse circumstances. A teacher who may have to walk through a metal detector everyday must truly be passionate about his or her job to deal with such adverse situations.
Both Darcy's and Stacie's blogs were great personal stories that motivated me to want to write about my personal experiences as they relate to our learning. Their blogs pushed me to try to conceptualize the readings from class and compare them to my life experiences. Just reflecting about what I read without bringing in my personal experiences is not good enough.
Shawn's blog involved a poem that he himself told us took him awhile to understand. He discussed how his blog meant that the focus of education should not necessarily be on the check points that students hit along the way, but instead be focused on the accumulation of knowledge and life skills over the lifespan of a students education.
After discussing our blogs, our conversation mostly focused on the issues with private vs public education and the many questions that follow. We discussed how a teacher needs a wide variety of skills because the type of instruction that happens in a private school like a Walsh Jesuit or a St. Ignatius may be very different than strategies utilized in a Cleveland Public School. Not to say one is better or even more effective than the other.
I found the writing circle to be a source of guidance and a source of new ideas for myself. It was important to here other people's perspectives and thoughts and interpretations about the ideas we have discussed so far in class.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Teaching: Evolving as a Profession
One thing that struck me about our last reading in the Foundations book was when Gatto mentioned that in his 26 years as a teacher, he never experienced a conversation among teachers that consisted of ideas about the profession, teaching techniques or different teaching approaches. I find that extremely sad. Although I can understand that teachers want to get away from the job at times and unwind, teachers that are truly passionate about the job should want to engage in intellectual conversations about improving the profession as a whole.
Hearing why everyone in class got into teaching was moving. The readings were also equally moving as I found the Why Teach? question being answered on many occasions. Going along with what I said above, I feel someone should teach because they have a desire to advance the profession. Go to conferences. Get more schooling. Teaching should be a constant work in progress to improve the quality of one's abilities. To me a teacher who gets a job right out of school and teaches high school history for 25 years is not completely dedicating themselves to the profession unless they are continually working to better themselves and the profession as a whole. In practice, this means not using the same lecture for 10 straight years, but instead reviewing the material each time to see if there is a new angle that inspires you. It also means engaging in consistent conversations with colleagues about different ideas and techniques that can be used to inspire young people.
Another topic that I found interesting was the story of the girl Milagros combined with the idea that Kohl said, which was that there has to be a separation between the fantasy of teaching from the reality of teaching. All of us have a vision of what teaching will be like. How we will influence the young students, and what strategies we might use to be most effective. The Milagros story is the type of "fantasy" we all think about when it comes to teaching. Our idea is that we will have these moments that inspire us and make us know that we are making a difference. While I believe that all great teachers will have this impact on students and these type of moments, they may not come often. It is important that teachers find their inspiration, their reason for teaching in other ways. There may not always be students who come back and thank you. A teacher needs to find solace in that they are constantly contributing and improving the profession. They are exploring new ideas and engaging in further education so that the "fantasy" of teaching will become a reality.
The online reading we had a quote that I found fitting. The writer said
"When I work with new teachers, I tell them that continually developing themselves is the best route to becoming good teachers. Only after they understand the importance of self-development are they ready to teach." (Moss as quoted in Foster 1997, 165).
Hearing why everyone in class got into teaching was moving. The readings were also equally moving as I found the Why Teach? question being answered on many occasions. Going along with what I said above, I feel someone should teach because they have a desire to advance the profession. Go to conferences. Get more schooling. Teaching should be a constant work in progress to improve the quality of one's abilities. To me a teacher who gets a job right out of school and teaches high school history for 25 years is not completely dedicating themselves to the profession unless they are continually working to better themselves and the profession as a whole. In practice, this means not using the same lecture for 10 straight years, but instead reviewing the material each time to see if there is a new angle that inspires you. It also means engaging in consistent conversations with colleagues about different ideas and techniques that can be used to inspire young people.
Another topic that I found interesting was the story of the girl Milagros combined with the idea that Kohl said, which was that there has to be a separation between the fantasy of teaching from the reality of teaching. All of us have a vision of what teaching will be like. How we will influence the young students, and what strategies we might use to be most effective. The Milagros story is the type of "fantasy" we all think about when it comes to teaching. Our idea is that we will have these moments that inspire us and make us know that we are making a difference. While I believe that all great teachers will have this impact on students and these type of moments, they may not come often. It is important that teachers find their inspiration, their reason for teaching in other ways. There may not always be students who come back and thank you. A teacher needs to find solace in that they are constantly contributing and improving the profession. They are exploring new ideas and engaging in further education so that the "fantasy" of teaching will become a reality.
The online reading we had a quote that I found fitting. The writer said
"When I work with new teachers, I tell them that continually developing themselves is the best route to becoming good teachers. Only after they understand the importance of self-development are they ready to teach." (Moss as quoted in Foster 1997, 165).
Thursday, June 21, 2012
About Me
1. James Shurtleff, Strongsville, Ohio, jshurtleff15@jcu.edu
2. Jim
3. Undergraduate degree from Ohio State - history major with a geography minor. Seeking AYA Licensure (7th-12th grade) in Social Studies. Interning at Brush High School in the fall.
4. I am a big sports fan and follow all the Cleveland teams. I will attend many Indian games this fall where I will be attempting to break my brother's dollar hot dog record of 15. I enjoy running and playing tennis. I also love to cook. I like trying new foods and making new recipes. I have four brothers and I am a triplet. My youngest brother will be a senior at St. Ignatius where much of the class will be teaching.
5. I have already been feeling more comfortable getting to know the group of students in this program. In order to take risks in classroom, I need to feel at ease asking questions and speaking my thoughts. Also, having other students actively participating makes it easier for me to jump in.
6. As a student, I view myself as a hard worker. I come prepared to classes and complete readings and assignments. When working on projects or papers, I sometimes procrastinate, but I do manage my time well and complete assignments on time. My active participation in class can definitely improve. Often times I have ideas and thoughts but refrain from commenting. I would like to participate more often than I do. I find discussion the most effective way of learning because many ideas and perspectives are expressed about the same topic.
I learn in many ways. Standard lecture and notes have been effective for me. When I do a project or group work, I think that I am more able to commit the information to long term memory because I have a picture in my mind of how I learned the material.
When I have trouble understanding information, I usually do more research on my own. Usually that involves looking up information on the internet or doing further reading. If I am still having difficulty finding an answer, I try to ask someone that understands the topic, like a teacher or fellow student.
7. There is nothing specific that comes to mind.
8. A formative memory I have as a student occurred this past spring in a Civil War discussion course where I was presented with the opportunity to teach and discuss a book that the class had read. It was a small, 10-student class. It had a significant impact because it was my first real experience tackling a topic from every possible angle from a teaching perspective. The book focused on dissent in the Civil War South. I read the novel twice, took detailed notes each time and found myself noticing different themes and ideas. Leading the discussion, something I had always been nervous about previously, was an an empowering feeling. Ultimately, I found that my classmates had different topics and ideas that had an impact on them. I came away with a better realization that educated, free-thinking individuals can assess the same information in different ways and form contrasting viewpoints on the same topic. The class taught me what it truly meant to be a historian.
9. A major issue in education right now is respect and faith in teachers. All the standards and structured curriculum from the state reflects the lack of trust in teachers' ability to teach students on their own. If standardized tests were not a measurement of success, teachers could more freely exercise their ability and connect with their students. When students fail to reach requirements, teachers are often blamed for the lack of success. There is the idea that students need to be assessed on certain information in a standardized way. The tests are far too often viewed as a measurement of how a school and its teachers are doing. Teaching for a test does not allow a teacher to express her or her abilities in a classroom. Instead it lends itself to cramming information into the minds of students. This does not create a passion to learn and it inhibits creativity and thought. If there was more faith in teachers, then the standards could be less strict.
This issue of funding goes along with these ideas. Teachers are pressured by their school districts to get as many students as possible to pass a test. When schools fail to reach certain standards, their funding can be cut back. But this makes no sense at all. A school that does not meet standards needs just as much, if not more assistance because without funding the school will fall further behind. The focus should be on improving struggling schools, not cutting funding from these schools.
10. For this course to be a meaningful experience we need to have both small and large group discussions that create shared ideas from each individual in the class. We must treat each discussion as valuable to understanding educations. We need to draw from each others' experiences and viewpoints to learn. We must engage in projects that analyze topics from a point of view we may not agree with. Readings that may anger us are also an important way to create thought.
We need to address current education issues and relate them to the issues of the past. A historical perspective on education is imperative. Content such as how education is evolving and how to deal with obstacles in education today are important topics to explore. Specifically, how do we get the best out of ourselves as teachers and our students despite certain restraints that may be placed on the classroom? What are the best ways for a teacher to continue to learn about teaching? How can teachers work together as a unit to improve education as a whole? What ways can teachers learn from each other and continue to improve the profession?
We need to be a class that engages in diverse conversations. We need to disagree with one another and voice different opinions and ideas in order for the class to reach its potential. Each person needs to have a unique perspective that shapes how others in the class view topics.
We need to avoid generalizations and standard ways of taking on learning material. We need to avoid having conversations where everyone is in agreement. While this may occur, there is often a perspective that disagrees, and these ideas need to be explored. We need to avoid holding back any thoughts that we think may contribute to the class discussion.
11. What is the most significant class in education that you have taken? What is your favorite hobby?
2. Jim
3. Undergraduate degree from Ohio State - history major with a geography minor. Seeking AYA Licensure (7th-12th grade) in Social Studies. Interning at Brush High School in the fall.
4. I am a big sports fan and follow all the Cleveland teams. I will attend many Indian games this fall where I will be attempting to break my brother's dollar hot dog record of 15. I enjoy running and playing tennis. I also love to cook. I like trying new foods and making new recipes. I have four brothers and I am a triplet. My youngest brother will be a senior at St. Ignatius where much of the class will be teaching.
5. I have already been feeling more comfortable getting to know the group of students in this program. In order to take risks in classroom, I need to feel at ease asking questions and speaking my thoughts. Also, having other students actively participating makes it easier for me to jump in.
6. As a student, I view myself as a hard worker. I come prepared to classes and complete readings and assignments. When working on projects or papers, I sometimes procrastinate, but I do manage my time well and complete assignments on time. My active participation in class can definitely improve. Often times I have ideas and thoughts but refrain from commenting. I would like to participate more often than I do. I find discussion the most effective way of learning because many ideas and perspectives are expressed about the same topic.
I learn in many ways. Standard lecture and notes have been effective for me. When I do a project or group work, I think that I am more able to commit the information to long term memory because I have a picture in my mind of how I learned the material.
When I have trouble understanding information, I usually do more research on my own. Usually that involves looking up information on the internet or doing further reading. If I am still having difficulty finding an answer, I try to ask someone that understands the topic, like a teacher or fellow student.
7. There is nothing specific that comes to mind.
8. A formative memory I have as a student occurred this past spring in a Civil War discussion course where I was presented with the opportunity to teach and discuss a book that the class had read. It was a small, 10-student class. It had a significant impact because it was my first real experience tackling a topic from every possible angle from a teaching perspective. The book focused on dissent in the Civil War South. I read the novel twice, took detailed notes each time and found myself noticing different themes and ideas. Leading the discussion, something I had always been nervous about previously, was an an empowering feeling. Ultimately, I found that my classmates had different topics and ideas that had an impact on them. I came away with a better realization that educated, free-thinking individuals can assess the same information in different ways and form contrasting viewpoints on the same topic. The class taught me what it truly meant to be a historian.
9. A major issue in education right now is respect and faith in teachers. All the standards and structured curriculum from the state reflects the lack of trust in teachers' ability to teach students on their own. If standardized tests were not a measurement of success, teachers could more freely exercise their ability and connect with their students. When students fail to reach requirements, teachers are often blamed for the lack of success. There is the idea that students need to be assessed on certain information in a standardized way. The tests are far too often viewed as a measurement of how a school and its teachers are doing. Teaching for a test does not allow a teacher to express her or her abilities in a classroom. Instead it lends itself to cramming information into the minds of students. This does not create a passion to learn and it inhibits creativity and thought. If there was more faith in teachers, then the standards could be less strict.
This issue of funding goes along with these ideas. Teachers are pressured by their school districts to get as many students as possible to pass a test. When schools fail to reach certain standards, their funding can be cut back. But this makes no sense at all. A school that does not meet standards needs just as much, if not more assistance because without funding the school will fall further behind. The focus should be on improving struggling schools, not cutting funding from these schools.
10. For this course to be a meaningful experience we need to have both small and large group discussions that create shared ideas from each individual in the class. We must treat each discussion as valuable to understanding educations. We need to draw from each others' experiences and viewpoints to learn. We must engage in projects that analyze topics from a point of view we may not agree with. Readings that may anger us are also an important way to create thought.
We need to address current education issues and relate them to the issues of the past. A historical perspective on education is imperative. Content such as how education is evolving and how to deal with obstacles in education today are important topics to explore. Specifically, how do we get the best out of ourselves as teachers and our students despite certain restraints that may be placed on the classroom? What are the best ways for a teacher to continue to learn about teaching? How can teachers work together as a unit to improve education as a whole? What ways can teachers learn from each other and continue to improve the profession?
We need to be a class that engages in diverse conversations. We need to disagree with one another and voice different opinions and ideas in order for the class to reach its potential. Each person needs to have a unique perspective that shapes how others in the class view topics.
We need to avoid generalizations and standard ways of taking on learning material. We need to avoid having conversations where everyone is in agreement. While this may occur, there is often a perspective that disagrees, and these ideas need to be explored. We need to avoid holding back any thoughts that we think may contribute to the class discussion.
11. What is the most significant class in education that you have taken? What is your favorite hobby?
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