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Cari Simon

Dr. Vinje

EDUC 212

13 December 2021

The Purpose of EDUC 212

As an educator, it is important to be engaged in the world of today while also

understanding the things that have shaped the present-the past. In EDUC 212, I learned many

useful facts and stories that will help me be a better teacher since I know more about the history

of United States education.

The first thing that we talked a lot about was the history of The United States education

system. I was surprised by how little I actually knew about the history of education. I knew about

segregation, but besides that, my understanding of schooling was that of a feminine teacher

wearing flowy dresses and teaching all the kids in the small town, regardless of age, all in one

classroom.

One major issue we examined was boarding schools in Canada, I believe, where

indigneous people were separated from their communities. Within these boarding schools they

were forced to assimilate to ‘American’ customs and were vigorously punished for speaking

their native tongue or representing their culture in any way (Native American Boarding Schools

Documentary). In this documentary, an individual recounted hearing about a fellow student

being kicked down multiple flights of stairs and another student getting their hands forced onto

an extremely hot pot and held there until the flesh was in terrible condition. These terrible

actions weren’t really addressed while the school functioned, but afterwards, when society

realized that the school was a grave site, repercussions were needed.
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Another issue that occurred that I had not realized was that schools are super political.

The whole reason we are so focused on science, technology, engineering, and math in today’s

world is because of the race to space competition between The United States and the rest of the

world, specifically Russia (Politics and Policies). I think that when I heard that churches and

states were separated, I also included schools in that and thought that politics should not be

included in schools. It does make sense to me now though because typically states down south

are red states and teach positive parts only about the Civil War if it is mentioned at all.

The violent behaviors towards these communities started because people did not know

how to make education fair and equal with people of diverse backgrounds. This caused a deficit

view of students, in which students were treated as less than their peers solely because of their

background (Multicultural Education). I guess like most things in society today, I did not realize

how much of it was affected by the bad decisions of the past.

I think the most shocking thing to me was that teachers and principals who did literally

everything they could to keep students alive and in school could still get fired solely based on

academic success policies. We watched the Oyler school documentary and it was heartbreaking

to see that a man who put in so much effort was still going to get fired even though scores had

improved and student’s family members were dying daily (Oyler documentary).

I knew we were working with diversity, but I was still disheartened to see that the school

that I did my clinical hours at had so many kids who faced food insecurity that the school had a

grocery store in its basement, open to the community. It has donations from the community

stores that are then sold at a discounted price for the families in need, while also providing coats

and winter apparel to those who need it.

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I also found new information with the different types of schooling. I knew about public

schools and charter schools, and barely that, but that was all. I did not realize someone could

attend a school that focuses on self actualization (Love Them First Documentary). I am still

baffled that people would send their kids to school in which they learn to read when they want to

and so some of them do not begin reading until ninth grade.

All of this history is important because if I teach kids incorrect methods of helping them

it could end up being detrimental instead of helpful. These kids will also be creating their own

versions of reality which will lead to them struggling in the ‘real world’ without offering them

the space to make mistakes with minimal repercussions.

A thing related to my teacher identity which I learned while in my clinicals, was that

growth is not linear and that progress is more important than perfection. I had multiple students

who struggled deeply with arriving on time and actively participating. I found it helpful to talk to

them and acknowledge their emotions as valid and usually tough emotions for kids their age. My

teacher also showed that it was okay to make mistakes, you can even make them into lessons for

the kids (Evaulating Classroom). I feel like this strengthened my social emotional learning skills

and made the kids have a better connection to me afterwards. By focusing on what was going on

outside of the classroom, I somewhat became a non-teacher support figure, like a parent in some

ways. I allowed for kids to express themselves instead of bottling everything up which made for

a better learning environment.

My beliefs changed because I always thought of the phrase ‘a good teacher will never tell

you their political opinion’ when it came to politics in the classroom, as in, do not mention

politics at all while teaching. Instead focus on showing how to be a good person despite

differences while managing to teach the core content.Then as I was taking this class, Dr. Vinje
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said “almost every reason for school is a political gain ploy” (Sara Vinje). Which completely

shifted my brain because I had not thought of it like that, even though she was right.

One of my favorite changes is how discipline is structured around future decisions

instead of shallow goals that are accidentally easily repeated. Before this class, I knew I did not

like the discipline approach that is specific, short-lived, and shallow, but I did not have an

alternative approach prior to this class. Now, I know that the discipline strategy being used leads

to healthier development when it focuses on the future decisions and stopping negative patterns

from forming (Classroom as Communities). I think it is far more responsible to help kids break

out of cycles and guide them to a healthier life (Classrooms as Communities). When we

acknowledge that students hsve needs beyond just memorizing facts it helps the student so much.

As a future educator, I am committed to the students not just their academic sucess, but

their overall roundness of a person. For this reason, I do not see myself working in a school that

has a lot of community wealth or fantastic parenting. I plan to work in urban area schools were

kids have a plethora of issues that are going unlistened to. I also really enjoyed teaching fifth

graders so I would not be opposed to be working upper level elementary education. This might

be me thinking too highly of myself, but I see myself a lot in the principal from the oyler

documentary; I am willing to put in the effort to have a strong and happy community even if my

title could be at stake for not working in a perfect school (Oyler Documentary).

I am fully committed to myself and to my students so in order to teach them best, I am

hoping to take some classes that have to do with urban schools and how to best teach students

who are struggling with really heavy issues, while teaching the students who are exceeding in my

class and in life. I plan to use the bandaid method to explain to my future students that I am not

picking favorites, some just need a bandaid for their hand, but sometimes a bandaid can not fix
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everything and you need an ice pack as well to make someone feel better. This is a method I

learned from clinicals and it has stuck with me this whole time and has made the students far

more okay with teachers spending more time on certain students on one day instead of equally

divided attention (Evaluating Classroom).

Each morning we also had a random question pre provided by one of the kids and we

took the time to listen to each student’s response to the question. Another way we were inclusive

is we would have sticky note conversations with students as a way to check in and make sure

they are doing okay (Evaluating Classroom). The kids do not even notice us putting sticky notes

on other pupil’s desks, but if they did, they know that it is not favoritism, it is the teacher trying

to balance the other fields so every student can start the school day ready to learn or get back on

track.

Now that I have had clinical experience in a 5th grade classroom, I am certain of my

profession. I can not wait to be a teacher. I believe that I will be a good teacher because I know

the history and brutality that occured throughout education and its effects in today’s place in the

classroom.
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References

Evaluating Classroom

Multicultural Education

Native American Boarding Schools Documentary

Oyler documentary

Politics and Policies