Education History Meta-Reflection

Our study of the history of education in America, Europe, Asia and the ancient world revealed many similarities to me. The emphasis on citizenship has been constant throughout history as philosophers and educators saw education as a vehicle for a better society. The importance on classic works and critical thinking has also stood the test of time from ancient Greece to modern Europe and America. The course helped to put education in perspective for me by providing a larger picture. It is easy to become discouraged about the direction our schools are going with an emphasis on standardized testing and state standards but education has stood the test of time and will continue to evolve for the better.

In my own practice, I plan on emphasize citizenship more in class. While our schools are becoming more diverse, as C.S. Lewis pointed out, we all share certain morals in common and those can be reinforced and celebrated. Our school already has a strong moral code called the “KR Way” which provides a good framework for discussion on citizenship. I also plan to incorporate more history of science in my curriculum. It is important for students to know how we got we are. Scientists such as Newton, Einstein and Galileo make rich examples of ordinary citizens, without many advantages, achieved great things through hard work and preparation. There are valuable lessons to be learned in the history of education which I better appreciate now.

I leave this class with two questions: How will the current educational trends be viewed in 20, 50 or 100 years? How can I continue to incorporate the rich history of education into my own developing pedagogy? This class has given me the tools and a few good books to begin with. I am grateful for the opportunity to talk about these issues with colleagues and apply them to my classroom. It has certainly been valuable.

What I Learned About the History of American Education

I found great meaning in the lecture on Horace Mann and the Common School Movement. I was amazed at the number of Mann’s propositions make up the foundation of American education today. After studying the elitist, specialized schools of Europe and Greece, the idea of educating all students in multiple subjects and the public paying for it is revolutionary. While Horace Mann did not develop all of these propositions on his own, he did what all good teachers do: steal what works, combine it to fit your environment and create something unique. This reading made me appreciate the school system we have today despite its problems with funding and bureaucracy at times. The reading on the colonial teacher’s life also had meaning for me. It portrayed the teacher’s life as “poor, difficult, and often ridiculed.” (Education in America 3). While at times, I my life as teacher is difficult, poor and at times ridiculed, I can appreciate not having to start a fire every morning, teaching more than the same 12 children every day and not digging graves after school is out. Thanks in part to Mann, teachers have more schooling, women make up more than half the profession and teachers are well-respected in society.

What I Learned About the Goals of Education

I was reminded this week of the importance of self-realization in education. Self-realization is the act of finding out who you are. Students in high school take a variety of classes to determine which subjects they enjoy, show an aptitude in and want to pursue post-high school. As a science teacher, I frequently feel discouraged when students don’t seem to enjoy my class. I take it personally that I am doing a poor job of teaching or not engaging their interests enough. It is a good reminder that some of my students may not enjoy science and that is not a bad thing. In some ways, helping a student realize they do not enjoy science is just as important as showing a student they can excel in the subject. I still attempt to relate science to other areas students show interest in but that can be a difficult task. Being reminded about the self-realization goal of education takes the burden off of me to make every student enjoy my class. The truth is, science may not be for them and I have to not take that personally.