Blog Post #4

According to Kumashiro (2010), a “good student” is someone who can follow instructions well; someone who can sit quietly for long periods of time; someone who gets along well with others. If a student does not fit into these types of behaviours in the classroom, then they are deemed as “misbehaving”. The commonsense way of learning or behaving limits students from reaching their full potential of learning new knowledge. Students learn in various ways. It is a naive way of thinking that there can only be learning in classroom that oppresses student’s views and opinions.

Painter’s (1886) book, A History of Education, though written years earlier, still holds prominence in education today. It puts forth the notion that the British model of of living and learning is superior to others such as those from China and India. China proposes a “fossilized tradition” (pg. 9) of education that is out-dated and incapable of change. The privileged become the educated who then become the government and power. Men, at their birth, are by nature radically good (pg. 12). The Chinese education system is limited to a narrow circle of ideas (pg.14) and traditions of society.

The caste education system of India proposes what type of learning happens based on more of a social class. Painter (1886) suggests that education practiced in these schools is very defective, and the children make but little progress (pg. 19). There is no physical education as the system does not believe in any physical exertion among the students. The pace of education is slow and depends largely on the mood of the teacher.

There are still pieces of these two systems within our Canadian school systems. Educators are focused too much on what a “good” student should be and how to mold students into a certain way of being. However, this is not always intentional. The way we have been “educated” is imprinted on how we educate others, both in large or small capacities. It is our job as educators to allow students to imprint their ways of learning into our classes so that we can inspire individuals to remain unique in their own ways.

Kumashiro (2010). Against Common Sense, Chapter 2 (pp. 19 – 33) – “Preparing Teachers for Crisis: What It Means to Be a Student” 

Painter (1886). A History of Education