Different individuals have different kinds of intelligence. It is not hard to tell this even at your family. You can tell that, for example, while your mom is good at solving math problems, your dad is capable of creating beautiful wooden objects, your sister is a great singer and showperson, your brother is an exceptional athlete, and you happen to be good at science and cooking!
Many social changes have shaped the world in which we live, and there have been many attempts to make everyone equal. This can at times be very evil. There have even been, in some nations, intentional ratial shaping of populations. Some community leaders have openly opposed the idea of diversity in society and have hence supported policies that tend to discriminate, to standardize, to arrange, to racially segregate and to put individuals in within strict social, or socio economic roles, or structures that fit their fascist ways of thought.
Many social changes have shaped the world in which we live, and there have been many attempts to make everyone equal. This can at times be very evil. There have even been, in some nations, intentional ratial shaping of populations. Some community leaders have openly opposed the idea of diversity in society and have hence supported policies that tend to discriminate, to standardize, to arrange, to racially segregate and to put individuals in within strict social, or socio economic roles, or structures that fit their fascist ways of thought.
Education has not been left alone by those "unifiers" or "equalizers", and thanks to that, it is very obvious the equalitarian character of education. Every student has the right to get a good education ( which is outstanding ). Every child must be given the same instruction, the same training. If possible, they have sometimes the resposability to wear the same uniform and behave the same in accordance with a set of social rules, protocols or conventional ways that have been created by society or even, by the school administration. Everything seems sound and perfect. Nevertheless, these numerous attempts to make education an equalizing means have some devastating effects on some students, as well.
It is very often the case that very talented, gifted students fall in the cracks of routine and boredom of schools that ignore their potential. Some gifted students ebb in schools that, though knowing what some students could potentially achieve, decide to ignore them and feed them the basics of everything and leave them to degrade intellectually very slowly with teaching practices that lack of cognitive stimuli. This needs to be changed. I believe in an education which is inclusive,not uniformative. I believe in an education that liberates, not an education that makes you captive of illogic philosophical concepts, or turns you into a religion slave.
I will always support science and despise senseless speculation and religious dogmatisms. I do believe different children represent different challenges for educators, they represent different needs, differnent talents, and different interests.
Why to try hard to make of a thousand students, a thousand copies of an "ideal" model? We are not creating cars in a production line. We, as educators and parents, are shaping lives, we are kneading the future of our species, we are feeding the minds and caring for the welfare of our future generations. We all have the moral and most imperative duty to empower every individual with the kind of education that they, not only, deserve and need, but the kind of education they, our students, find more relevant, more appealing, and more interesting!
I want to share a video that might help you see what I mean. I mean instruction needs to be differenciated. Students need to be empowered so they can help build a better world for everyone. Because, not everyone is created equal, and as we are different individuals, we can provide others what others lack, and we can get what we lack from what others have gotten plenty of. I introduce you to Marko Calasans:
It is very often the case that very talented, gifted students fall in the cracks of routine and boredom of schools that ignore their potential. Some gifted students ebb in schools that, though knowing what some students could potentially achieve, decide to ignore them and feed them the basics of everything and leave them to degrade intellectually very slowly with teaching practices that lack of cognitive stimuli. This needs to be changed. I believe in an education which is inclusive,not uniformative. I believe in an education that liberates, not an education that makes you captive of illogic philosophical concepts, or turns you into a religion slave.
I will always support science and despise senseless speculation and religious dogmatisms. I do believe different children represent different challenges for educators, they represent different needs, differnent talents, and different interests.
Why to try hard to make of a thousand students, a thousand copies of an "ideal" model? We are not creating cars in a production line. We, as educators and parents, are shaping lives, we are kneading the future of our species, we are feeding the minds and caring for the welfare of our future generations. We all have the moral and most imperative duty to empower every individual with the kind of education that they, not only, deserve and need, but the kind of education they, our students, find more relevant, more appealing, and more interesting!
I want to share a video that might help you see what I mean. I mean instruction needs to be differenciated. Students need to be empowered so they can help build a better world for everyone. Because, not everyone is created equal, and as we are different individuals, we can provide others what others lack, and we can get what we lack from what others have gotten plenty of. I introduce you to Marko Calasans:
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ReplyDeleteEvery kid has different needs that need to be targeted accordingly to help them excel in whatever field they feel comfortable at. We, as adults, must ensure to the kid is exposed to rich experiences so they grow, learn and advance to the maximum of their capacities!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting post to read on MLK Jr Day...and I think Dr. King would have agreed with you. While his initial fight was for civil rights, he expanded in his last years to economic rights, and education was a part of these rights. I was fortunate to be in Virginia when my daughters started elementary school...because they had teachers that recognized their gifts and a state that provided an excellent program for gifted students. They both tested into the gifted program in the second grade, and the additional knowledge they gained through that program (like typing in the third grade and scientific reasoning in the fourth grade) propelled them to where they are today. I shutter to think how they might have turned out if the state had mandated that they study what everyone else was studying.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent post indeed. It is time for educators (especially those in charge), to start thinking outside of the box in educating our children. Many students drop out of school because they are not challenged and are forced to do what everyone else is doing.
ReplyDeleteMath and Science, just like technology, are geared to change our world and right now I'm a bit disillusioned as a parent because of the programs that some high schools offer their students. My son is yet to have a 'Math' class and we are heading into the 3rd Quarter. This is based on the school's policy and not on fulfilling the needs of the child. I believe that Math is a subject that should be practiced daily, having some formal instruction at least three times per week. This will indeed produce students who know how to use their 'critical thinking' skills effectively.
The 'Gifted Program' is a welcome reprieve to some parents and their children, and I'd hope as an educator that more teachers will recognize their students differences as gifts and not as hindrances.