Educator
By: Tasha • Research Paper • 669 Words • January 9, 2010 • 849 Views
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As a future educators of public school systems, it will be challenging to create and achieve a democratic society. Even more so creating equality of educational opportunity. Many public schools have become holding tanks for children rather than an institution of learning for students. Many teachers feel hopeless and helpless in changing this attitude of public schools. The main reason is the equality of funding between public school systems. A public school educator of a predominately white public school system has a better chance of creating a democratic society and achieving equality of educational opportunity than a teacher of predominately black public school system. This fact is largely due to the income of the area in which the system is located. With lack of funding, there is a lack of resources which causes a lack of knowledge. But teachers of these types of school systems can create equality of educational opportunities and with that achieve a democratic society. Teachers can achieve this with service learning, connecting the three Cs (care, concern, and connection) to the school system and renewing democracy.
The first example of achieving a democratic society is service learning. Service learning gives students an opportunity to solve problem that they may encounter in everyday life (Kielsmeier 3). Service learning involves students in community activities and volunteer work while still maintaining the teaching curriculum. Subjects like social studies can be easily taught through service learning. Service learning also challenges existing teachers by demanding more involvement and responsibility . More teacher simply become more involved in within the community in which they teach. Most importantly, service learning is the American way of learning and embracing democratic practices (Kielsmeier 7) Service learning is the responsibility of every American. As a public school teacher it is our job to educate our students about service learning. It is a way of teaching and learning that engage students into active service that will turn them in to responsible citizens in a democratic society.
Another example of achieving a democratic society is connecting the three C's: care, concern, and connection. In a democratic society, school need to become sanctuaries in which education, affection, safety and trust go hand in hand and the three C's flourish (Thompson 18). Teachers must understand that caring is good but we must care for reason and realize that it will come back and make society better (Thompson 19). Schools expand moral education beyond the home promoting individuals capacity for self-government and helping to insure the survival