Talking Point # 5 Schooling: Wrestling with History and Tradition

Premise:

• public schools
• diversity
• ideologies and myths
• white privilege
• poverty (school)
• bi cultural
• democracy
• equality

Argument:

Jeannie Oakes and Martin Lipton argue that school's society is constantly changing. The theme of American public schools is, democracy. However, there are four ideologies surrounding the myths that makes up American culture and schools. These ideologies are responsible for preventing society to recognize the possibilities of democracy. Even though society has not recognized yet , they are new teachers who are seeking these possibilities to enhance democracy in American public schools.

Evidence:

"Today, more teachers than ever...seek new ways to enhance the democratic tradition." (pg. 4)

"I did anything possible to make students realize that they have a voice." (pg. 5)

"I must try to create a democratic classroom, where students actively construct their own knowledge. Finally, I must be a teacher who helps students discover their possibilities and urge them to claim their role as transformed members of society." (pg. 9)

"Theodore Roosevelt...United Sates had room for only one language, English..." (pg. 11)

" student's language differences must not prevent them from learning academics comparable to their English-speaking peers." (pg. 12)

" four related ideologies-revolving around the myths of merit, scientific efficiency, competition, and progress--that characterize American culture and schooling and prevent society and schools from realizing their democratic possibilities." (pg. 18)

Comments:

This article was very interesting, especially the beginning. It gave me a brief history of education development. One thing I enjoyed very much were the short stories from first-year teachers. All the teachers that wrote their short stories had a theme in mind; "democratic classroom." This is a theme all the teachers keep in mind. However I believe some teachers interpret it wrong, especially the older teachers. Older teachers are accustom to to the traditional ways of teaching. However, new teachers are taught different methods to make sure every child is educated. New teachers are more likely to survive the rapid changes in school society because they are expose to these changes, early in their studies before becoming a teacher.