I want to make a living doing things I love.

And sharing that love with my students.

I don’t want to be one of those people who wakes up at 5:00

every morning and thinks

“God no, not another day of doing the same thing…”

I want every day to be something new and exciting.

Creativity should not be tedious.

-Libby Rowe

            The purpose of school transcends the theories on education, the various belief systems laid down by centuries of philosophers, and the belief that learning takes place exclusively within the allotted time for each class. School should be in the experience of living. I believe that the ideal Model of Education is the Student-Centered Model, where the students’ needs, interests, and personal backgrounds play a major role in creating the curriculum—an idea that ultimately contradicts the standardization of education. A student-centered model would require a uniquely defined curriculum each academic year in order to service the needs of each new set of students. While it is necessary for guidelines to be set in place for the sanity of the teachers, there also must be enough room to expand upon ideas and to make room for the various possibilities of each individual child. Specifically, acts like No Child Left Behind don’t acknowledge the fact that every student learns differently. We are a nation built upon diversity, and it is so important to support that truth, especially in the school systems.

            A large part of education is also the social aspect. I believe that schools (ideally) should provide students with a well-rounded environment in which they can socialize as well as expand cognitively and spiritually.  As Dewey believed, “education gives meaning to interactions” as well as experiences. The Authoritative approach to teaching best supports this belief. As an Authoritative educator, guidelines are set and understood while simultaneously maintaining an environment of mutual respect between teacher and student. The Authoritative style is undoubtedly the most nurturing of the four teaching styles; the Authoritarian, the overly permissive, and the completely detached educator. Students thrive in an environment where they feel supported and understood. Not in an environment where they feel pressured or inadequate, or where they receive little to no attention at all. This is the greatest obstacle for any teacher: finding the balance in genuinely getting to know a child, while also setting realistic expectations. A great way to start each school year is by setting up classroom rules, and having each child contribute their own. Most importantly, though, I believe these rules should be positives rather than negatives. Instead of saying “No shouting out answers” or “No running” it should be “Raise your hand when you have an answer to a question” or “Use walking feet”. This way, each child will feel as though they are an integral part of the classroom, right from the beginning.

            All in all, I do not feel that school systems are meeting children’s needs. I’ve seen this is the disintegration of art programs throughout America—a devastating side affect of such acts as A Nation At Risk and No Child Left Behind. We are limiting every child’s potential by not exposing them to the best, and most well-rounded academic environment possible. Personally, I have never been one for math or science. I have known people along with myself who struggled all throughout elementary, middle, and high school trying to crack the codes of logic, and still come up wanting. Speaking from experience, (which is the best credential I can offer) I would be lost without art. Each subject in school is its own language; math, science, writing, music, movement, and art. And each child has their own unique capacity for each language. In providing equal opportunity in every subject, we are giving kids the chance to recognize their own strengths and, hopefully, the opportunity to pursue their passions.

Libby Rowe

    Some promising news caught my eye this morning. According to The New York Times, Obama has plans to reform Bush’s controversial bill No Child Left Behind. While details were not given as to what kind of reforms would be made, it was mentioned that the focus will largely be on the way in which schools are evaluated.

    If all goes well, this will be a welcome change. As an aspiring art educator who has seen, first-hand, the dwindling of Art in schools I can only hope that whatever changes are made will be for the benefit of expressive programs. Who’s to say how this will turn out, and we probably won’t see the effects until the year 2014. Hopefully, though, they’ll be in favor of creating well-rounded individuals who are no longer measured simply by test scores. 

Link To The Article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35177505/ns/politics-the_new_york_times/