EDMUL 205
Kassie Markovich
Dr. Burgess
02/23/11
Within the classroom there will numerous cultures interacting with each other. Our society has shown to be favorable of some, such as working class white culture, and less favorable others, like the lower class Southern culture. In 2000, Coon defined culture as “the totality of socially transmitted behavior, patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought characteristic of a community or population.” (68) By this definition we see the strong bonds that hold people to their way of life. To promote healthy development for every cultured child, respect for differences and appreciation of commonalties in the classroom will be promoted thorough the following values.
I value independence because it allows me the opportunity to pursue a life that’s most personally fulfilling. Because I’m not subservient to anyone, that will always be an option if I want to change my mind. Because the choices I make are mine, I can feel pride when I succeed. If I was doing everything because I had to, I don’t know if I would appreciate my life as much. In the same way I like that independence allows me to fail. I’m the type of person who learns through trial and error, so the ability to make my own decisions even when they’re wrong is imperative to my personal growth.
I believe this value is important to incorporate into the classroom to promote intrinsic motivation. I know that when I was in high school everything I was told to do seemed like more work than it really was because it wasn’t my choice to complete the assignments. When a class was student centered, almost everybody loved coming to class because they took what was important to them out of the experience, and so worked harder. This type of motivation is important in promoting a sense of identity and goal within the student. In my classroom I want to help my students find what is important to them so that they can give back to the community in a meaningful and personal way.
I also value romantic relationships. Though I understand not all partnerships are romantic, I find comfort in the fact that our society puts an emphasis on this type. In choosing someone you love that you want to share your life with, there is a deep bond that is keeping the two people together. This allows the relationships to be more personally meaningful than practical. I also think this type of relationship would be more fulfilling long term. To have someone who feels connected to you and is your constant support can be very beneficial to one’s mental and physical wellbeing. Also, the sense of using someone for survival isn’t present in this type of relationship. Relating back to the value of independence, this relationship allows you to make decisions based on the health of the relationship instead of the economy.
I think this value is becoming more imperative as we see bullying increase towards minority sexual preferences in schools. As I stated earlier, romantic relationships and independence are related. If someone chooses to be with another person solely because they find a personal value in that person then that should be respected regardless of gender. When bullying intervenes it can hurt the student’s sense of identity and self-worth. For this reason I will promote an environment where students show respect to everyone’s personal decisions, including matters of dating.
I value innovation because of its place in the arts. A progressive spirit influences the constant change found in music, visual art, technology, and so on. In the past sometimes styles would stay stagnant for hundreds of years but now artists are free to create in any way that moves them. Innovation also influences a developing future. This attitude to not settle is the reason we’re moving away from a linear society into a technologically spatial environment. To grow up with the old perspective and experience the new is very exciting. I also like the idea that it’s okay to hate what’s out there today. If someone doesn’t like the music that’s being written, it’s perfectly acceptable for him to pick up a guitar and change that. Innovation allows the opportunity for everyone to feel comfortable in society.
To promote this value I want to make my student’s classroom experience very hands on. Instead of immersing them in a primarily theoretical world of books I will give them assignments that allow them to turn the lesson into a real world experience. For example, I could give them a project that promotes communication skills to solve a current societal problem, but the way they solve it will be left to their creativity.
Stemming from innovation, I value rebellion. This value is what led to this society’s counterculture movements. Rejecting values of the past they spoke out against mainstream society and created subcultures entirely unique, such as the new wave, hippie, and punk movements. Not only does this spirit lead to developments that likely would have never happened if discontentment hadn’t been it’s guide, it does so in an authoritative way, establishing it’s presence. Rebellion also leads to progression in such extreme ways that it causes you to see things ‘up side down.’ Extremity can be good in pointing out the good and bad of a former system. Finally, rebellion is a medium used to stand against injustice. This outlet helped the recognize civil rights and make apparent the injustices of the Vietnam War. Having the option to stand in opposition is valuable when needed to preserve basic rights, such as equality and freedom of speech. Though rebellion doesn’t last forever, and I wouldn’t want it to, it is a temporary force that can be used for the betterment of society.
A way to make rebellion recognized as an option to students is to promote independent study. By this I mean making the students aware that not everything you read, even in the classroom, is necessarily the truth. Also, making sure the classroom environment is one where questions are always welcome and outside research is encouraged is necessary to the development of independent thought. Furthermore, helping the students value their basic rights will hopefully make them more protective of their freedom.
I value equality because through it women have been trying to find ultimate personal fulfillment in their place in society. This value has led to many progressions for women’s rights that continue to develop today. This value is also doing the same for the varied racial groups in this society. This is not only important because of the personal well being of every member of society but also because our society is and will continue to be so varied. Recognizing this fact is needed to establish a place of peace and unity. Finally, the adolescent period is gaining more attention because of a focus on equality. This age group is being recognized for it’s significance in human development and is starting to be treated with respect towards their need for independent choice and exploration.
In promoting equality in the classroom I know I can personally take this value only so far if I want to maintain equality between the students overall. Though, I would like my classroom to be a collaborative environment where we learn and share ideas together. This will not be teacher focused but student focused so they can realize their own capabilities in leadership and while respecting the positions of their peers. Also, having the students work together will help them see past stereotypes associated with their image because through dialogue they will likely share personal experiences that will help them to see each other as individuals.
All of these values are intended to show respect and encouragement for one another as we all try to develop into the person we desire to be. No one is exactly the same and to expect a universal attitude and behavior pattern is to expect the impossible. This will only lead to unnecessary stress that could have personal development. As an educator it’s my responsibility to make the classroom a safe environment for all of my students as they are trying to discover their self-identity.
Works Cited
Cushner, Kenneth and McClelland, Averil, and Safford, Philip. Human Diversity in Education, An Integrative Approach. New York: McGraw Hill, 2009.
