Nesley Bravo

Final Reflection and Theory of Teaching

Your education is the only thing we can give you, explained my parents for the hundredth
time. It is the only thing no one can take away from you. Long and behold, from days of
walking off with my pink, swinging lunch pail to now sitting in lectures scribbling away notes,
that philosophy has become one of my own.
As the light bulb surges on from a Jimmy Neutron brain blast, knowledge is the source of
that power. Knowledge is power- the result of an education. Education is not just a mandate that
forces students into school from the age of five to 18. I believe it is the key to a brighter future,
to advantages in life. The light bulb can lend to lowering child delinquency and to selfexpression. A brain blast can occur while sitting at a desk, while folding the laundry or in a
lab. Knowledge is everywhere; it can be applied anywhere and only does good. It is a source of
power in higher careers and in the development of citizens.
I believe education- specifically a progressive education that focuses on non-traditional
subjects like culinary and that cares for students beyond their grades, harvests not only students,
but human beings as a whole. Teachers and their teachings are not only viewed and used within
the classroom. Through the novel, Annie John, Jamaica Kincaid portrays how despite Annie John
being an amazing student within the classroom, she wasnt a good person outside the classroom.
Students cannot just be taught how to be good students, but as citizens who should not steal or
lie. Teaching involves stepping outside the classroom and supporting the student as a person. The
success of this method is seen through the film, Lean on Me. Principal Joe Clark travels to a
student Kaneesha Carters home, when he finds out she has been kicked out of her home. As a

result he helps her mother find a job and reunites them. The magnitude of Clarks influence is
expressed by Kaneesha, Mr. Clark is like a father. He's like a father to some of us who don't
have fathers.
The importance of non-traditional classes is emphasized by the apparent influence of it in the
film, To Sir, With Love. After realizing his students could not be taught valuable lessons through
textbooks, and needed lessons on survival, new teacher, Mark Thackeray began his classes with,
What do you want to about talk today? His approach lends to the teachings of Paulo Freire and
the solution of delinquency. Thackeray created an equal ground of communication for his
students. He wasnt the teacher in the discussions. He created thought and students working
with each other as Freire thought to be important in ending oppression in the classroom. With
lessons on how to cook and trips to the museum, Thackeray created citizens whose actions were
informed, as Freire hoped for. Thackerays approach transformed his students from teenagers
with poor hygiene, with no manners or idea to survive on a low income, to clean adults hoping
for a higher education and with an idea of how to survive without resorting to violence or crime.
I believe for this type of teaching method to be the most pertinent in developing human beings. I
question what the point is in developing students who know arithmetic and history, but do not
know manners or the ability to use sound judgment.
The opposite of Mark Thackerays open-forum approach can be seen through the novel,
Hard Times by Charles Dickens. Classrooms were described as vaults. Expressions such as
God forbid were replaced with Fact forbid. Students were described to have a metallic
laugh as if they were robots and curiosity was seen as vulgar. The forbiddances of selfexpression and creativity led young Louisa to say, I was tired father. I have been tired a long
time (Dickens 9). At a ripe age, Louisa already sounds so old and worn out- less human. Self-

expression is a natural part of being human. If we are bound to facts or the banking method,
we will become machines. I believe a responsibility of teaching is to nurture humanity and their
needs.
As a mentor for the Dream Project, I have heard stories of students who have ran from
persecution in their home countries and only learned to read four years ago. I have heard of
students who went days without eating because of poverty. Despite it all, they are still pursuing a
higher education. They instill in me a reminder of how thankful I should be for my own
education. They play a significant part in why I want to make sure all students are given an
opportunity to an education, especially an education that will support them in every aspect of
life. If I become a teacher I plan to teach with Freires methods and to use progressive strategies
like Mark Thackeray and Joe Clark. If I take part in educational research on child delinquency
and create an organization I hope to do so like Hull House. Unlike Annie John, I pursue to instill
the importance of education in students minds like my parents did for me and to help develop
well-rounded human beings. I want students to feel the light bulbs go off in their heads, to know
Jimmy Neutron brain blasts are possible through an education.