Throughout the article “Can Failing
Schools Be Turned Around?”, two different articles compared their views on
whether or not low income areas could be successful. As a future educator, it
is important to consider both sides of this argument because I could be in the
position one day where I can one day help students of these situations.
Personally, I believe that it is highly possible to help students of poverty
succeed as long as you have the right resources and motivation. I agreed more
with the yes side of this argument. Karin Chenoweth, the author of the yes side
of the argument, discussed strategies to help these students get engaged and
actually learn. It is important to remember that these students did not grow up
in a house with a bunch of books and go and explore because most of these
children’s parents were unable to afford taking them to museums and learning
outside of the home. Although it is hard to motivate these children, there are
definitely ways. As a teacher, you have to learn to motivate and engage the
students, from there the teaching is easy. If the students do not understand
the basics, you’re going to have to go back and find ways to teach the students
what they have missed. I really liked this author’s suggestion of taking them
on field trips and seeing things that they haven’t seen. This is such a good
idea because if you experience something, it is more likely to stick with the
students. Although sometimes it is hard to get the funding for field trips,
they help the students gain vocabulary and background knowledge that they need
to move on. This is really important for them because they should not be stuck
only learning what they know in poverty. If they see what the outside world has
to offer, they will quickly become more motivated. I also liked the idea of
using videos for helping students obtain knowledge. Since we live in the age of
technology, most students will be excited to use the technology and therefore
will retain more. If you can obtain a video that will help the students gain
knowledge and keep them interested, they will definitely retain the knowledge.
Also, I thought it was an interesting point about teacher collaboration. If the
teachers do not all reinforce the rules, the students think that they can walk
all over the teachers. I feel that if the students are in an uncontrolled
environment, they will not succeed. Organization and structure is definitely
good for students: regardless of if they are in poverty or not. I do not agree
with the no side of the argument because I felt as if they were just giving up.
I do not think that it is right to give up on any student: regardless of the
situation. Although it is challenging to help these students succeed, it is
definitely not as challenging as finding a cure for cancer. If oncologists can
help their cancer patients get rid of cancer, then a teacher can help a student
of poverty learn to read, write, do math, and succeed. Sometimes we just need
to work a little harder and dig a little deeper to accomplish this. It wont
happen over night, but it can definitely happen.
Janine, I completely agree with your reasonings. I also believe that impoverished students should not have to suffer due to their low-income status. These students definitely deserve and need to discover the world through technology, videos, and field trips. I think that teachers need to put in the time to improve on themselves in order to have their students improve. It is just as vital for a teacher to be motivated to improve on his or herself as much as it is for a student. I also disagree with the no side of the argument because closing down failing schools will not only hurt students education, but also demotivate teachers and this will make matters even worse.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article analysis, I agreed with many of the same ideas you have. Most of the ideas that are mentioned were also mentioned in my analysis. One good point that you mentioned was if a doctor can help with cancer, a teacher can help a child succeed in life throughout there educational career. The vast majority of the problems that we have in our schools today comes down to the teachers and the way that things are handled. Without organization as well as plans to get things on track, students will have a hard time learning and moving forward in life. Education is the key to success. Take advantage and want to make a change even if it means putting in the extra hours. In the long run it will pay off not only beneficial for the student but for yourself as well. As an upcoming teacher I have taken many opinions into account and formulated my own so that when the time comes I can have a successful career teaching in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteWell, I believe differently in this situation, but you have some valid points. The fact that students are in poverty does not mean they have a lesser chance of learning, but that they will have less of a chance to do something with what they learned. The curriculum of any school could be wildly different than another's, and this is where some of the technology can play a part. Depending on the schools funding and curriculum, they might use technology differently or not have it at all. The points about how the kids life at home is a very large factor, but that is solved much more intrusively than just teaching differently. I feel that if schools are going to reaffirm their constitution as a successful and healthy learning environment, everything must be at perfect equilibrium. This is hard to create and stabilize in a poverty stricken area. Its not impossible, just very improbable. The fact that there are many failing school districts and they still have not been fixed, is a problem. Though through time and effort change might come about, but at what cost? That's my slightly depressing view on the subject.
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