Students' Response
(by Terry Damlos)
Recently while in a traditional school I asked a group of fifth graders
to describe a perfect school...how they would like to experience
school. I was amazed at their responses...most of them mentioned things
like it would be clean, children would "behave," everyone ould walk in
straight lines, and some said no homework. Not even one student
mentioned things like choosing what we want to learn, or having fun.
These reponses differed immensely from when I asked children in my
program Open Doors the same question. These children reponded with
doing what we are doing now...choosing what we want to learn, working
together, going on adventures, having guides assist us.
When I reflect on what makes the difference in these responses I surmise that the students in the traditional school have not experienced anything different than the typical public school, so don't realize that there are different ways to "do school." Even at 10 and 11 years of age they seem to have forgotten that inner guidance and curiosity that leads them to knowledge.
Choices are few for many children in traditional schools. They are told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. At one traditional school where I taught there was a 65 page guide of rules for children which even included how much soap to use when they wash their hands. Children have lost touch with their inner guidance. They depend on others to tell them how to do things...then when choice is placed in front of them they do not know how to repond. I am grateful that are more and more people are seeing this and responding by creating New Education programs.
When I reflect on what makes the difference in these responses I surmise that the students in the traditional school have not experienced anything different than the typical public school, so don't realize that there are different ways to "do school." Even at 10 and 11 years of age they seem to have forgotten that inner guidance and curiosity that leads them to knowledge.
Choices are few for many children in traditional schools. They are told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. At one traditional school where I taught there was a 65 page guide of rules for children which even included how much soap to use when they wash their hands. Children have lost touch with their inner guidance. They depend on others to tell them how to do things...then when choice is placed in front of them they do not know how to repond. I am grateful that are more and more people are seeing this and responding by creating New Education programs.
Posted by Zahra Lightway on Sunday, January 23, 2011
Under: New Paradigms In Education
Reacties
Een reactie posten