Learning in the 21st century is overwhelming... It cannot be
contained... We have the internet with its many configurations and those who
blog- oops- to dispense information, not all of it truthful, necessary and some
of it harmful or inappropriate....It cannot be ignored!
At the beginning of life, learning encompasses many things that
challenge the young ‘plastic’ human mind, on many fronts... We learn in the park, at the mall, in the
yard, in the home and in a host of other informal settings from people close to
us: family, friends and ‘mother’ nature...The internet has forced public
education, willingly or unwillingly, to re-format itself in light of this new formidable
ally...The elementary school curriculum has been in existence since the
beginning of public education. It is a strict plan of action outlining the
steps and objectives of all subjects to be taught and the timeline in which it
must be done. ... The curriculum has been painstakingly written by ‘others,’ unknown
to the teacher. ... In these rapid fire times, why not let the curriculum simply
be a long term goal rather than a complicated plan of material to be covered?... In elementary school, igniting the passion of learning is critical towards lifelong success. So much has changed today in the way education is delivered
that simplifying its delivery could make life easier and less stressful for all,
with far fewer behavioural problems in the process...
Are today’s teachers spending too much time creating
literary masterpieces called report
cards in language deemed complicated and
foreign to many parents but expected by
the Board??..Is too much time being utilized in this non-productive way?... (From my vantage point, one report can take
one hour or longer to complete. If the ‘net’ is busy or has collapsed, it takes
longer.)... What was wrong with the 1950’s “Can do better” or “Working to
her/his potential” or “Excellent achievement”... Right after getting an “E” in
arithmetic in my grade three report card in 1956, my child like mind woke up...
I received an “A” in the subject next term and completed the next three years-(4-5-6)
within the span of two. .. Mathematics, French , Latin and Music became subject
favourites of mine in high school. English composition and literature were
my worst subjects, then... Today, my favourite book is a cherished, (chewed lovingly on
the corners), hard cover standard college dictionary, published by Funk and 'Wag'nalls. (published in 1963.)... Strange, how things evolve...
Keeping the learning objectives of the curriculum or course
of study in mind and informing the department head of the next ‘wayward’ trip
into learning, the teacher could, perhaps, accomplish more with her class...
The class would realize the rewards of staying on task for the next ‘journey
into space’. ... Could the teacher accelerate
the teaching of certain units, to push the limits of the class’s endurance to
facilitate higher order thinking and the creation of spare time for a learning change of pace in the
classroom?..( bread making?, dancing?
music appreciation?)... Could ten months of learning be condensed into eight or
less?... Imagine the mandate, then? ... Enlisting
the help of stronger students to mentor weaker ones could strengthen the whole
‘organism’- (the class)... (Learning would then be a total fun and hilarious experience
as more mistakes would now be made as an expected outcome of this new teaching/learning strategy.)
A qualified teacher knows the limits of her mandate, of her profession
and of her class on any given day- just like a parent knows her child!!...The
internet has taken the facts out of the classroom... The time has come to place
the thinking platform - center stage - into the education directive and let the professional
teacher do what he does best and was hired to do - teach!!...
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