This video touches on two different topics that I think cripple our schools today. The first being the force fed curriculum and values placed in our school systems today. Sir Robinson mentions the top regarded subjects in education systems across the world. The top being the literacy, math and the sciences while the bottom is the humanities and arts. What if we held equal value to all these subjects and helped our students make connections between the two? A child might better understand the emotion behind a work of literature from an English text book if they can relate it to a musical piece of literature they express through an instrument. If they understand what it's like to create a piece of art using their voice or a paint brush, wouldn't that help them understand the creativity of the pen? If they understand the complexity of how every single movement of a dance combines to make a whole, could that help them understand the different pieces of a math problem or chemistry equation? We force what the school systems value on our students, while stifling their own set of values and beliefs.
Both my parents have taught in the public school systems for over 30 years. Both of them taught music, and the arts are not among the most highly valued subjects in the southern parts of the United States. Both of them have told stories of times when their classes and resources have been cut, or when they have faced threats to the programs they poured their lives into developing so their students could grow in a whole new dimension. The focus of schools systems is centered around the school system itself. They have set programs in place, and developed organizations that focus on making their schools look better, rather than focusing on the students that compose the schools. If we concentrate our attention on the kids sitting in the classrooms and turn our backs to the goals of accomplishing a certain standardized test score that will boost the schools rating, each child would have a chance to grow through many different mediums. Their development would expand throughout many viewpoints rater than the one that tells them they are stupid if they cannot complete a certain math problem. I imagine that if we re-evaluate our outlooks on education, the change in the students lives would be something to see...
food for thought,
~ Miles Bubbett
Hi, Miles! I was assigned to your blog this week. You are doing a great job! I can tell you really think about this stuff. I just loved this video by Sir Ken Robinson. I agree with you that all subjects should be held at the same importance. I personally would love to incorporate the arts into my classroom; there is so much a student can learn. Dance is my thing, and I see that you love music. Maybe you can go into a school system and do some reform! We need more creative teachers in our school systems. This is off topic, but might I add, I've only seen one male in an elementary school my entire life. His class happens to be one of my most memorable experiences. I think there needs to be more males go down the same path as you. Good luck to you! I can't wait to see more of your post and ideas.
ReplyDeleteMiles,
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right that schools are not encouraging creativity. Creativity within the curriculum is a key to success. I believe all students should be taught to think outside the box and be challenged in their beliefs. As teachers we should teach our students that there are other ways of learning, and we should definitely encourage them to seek out these ways. The entire school system is so concerned with test scores now that students are at a complete disadvantage. We have to help our students find their creativity once again. By the way, if you could include all parts of the blog assignment into one post, it is easier to comment. Thanks, and keep up the good work.