Interconnectedness of Knowledge, Schooling, and Society

Through this course, ECS 100: Knowledge, Schooling, and Society, I made several connections both personally and professionally between the lectures, field experiences, and assignments.  I feel like I had a good understanding of the content from the lectures, but it was through the field experiences I was able to fully comprehend and see the importance of each weekly topic, which was then solidified as I put my knowledge to paper.  There are so many things I overlooked before and took for granted because of ignorance, privilege, and hegemonic societal norms.  Up until my post-secondary education these are all things I had never questioned before, and mostly because they all benefited me as I “fit” the norms defined by colonization.  Personally, my experiences through this course have made me realize the power and importance of questioning societal norms, the benefits that inclusive education brings to everyone, how I am one layer of many needed to create lifelong learners, and who I am is reflected in how and what I teach therefore, it is important that I too am a lifelong learner of knowledge, schooling, and society.  Professionally, my experiences through this course have made me realize just how unqualified I am.  That being said I will continue to learn, grow, and strive to become the best advocate of inclusive education, a welcoming and inviting host and guest,  a creative innovator in using the limited spaces, places, and boundaries within learning environments to get the most education from our surroundings, and to consistently be an I-Thou relationship builder in school, society, and in my home.    

My summarization of the interconnection in the material throughout this course was best said by Dr. Timmons.  She said that educators need to be reflecting today (in our teaching and being) the change we want to see in our society’s future.  This made me understand that there is so much more to education than just teaching curriculum one way for all with tests to confirm knowledge comprehension later, all while students sit in rows of desks and do exactly as told in exactly the same way (just to clarify—I did/do not actually believe this, but it is what most think and how I was educated).  Education needs to be inclusive and welcoming of all differences, it needs to be taught in multiple ways through many different environments by various members of the community, so that education can meet the holistic needs of all children; this approach ensures that ALL children will get the most/best education to last them a lifetime, as well as ensuring the reconciliation of Canada and the world.  Both reconciliation and education are built on relationships where all are equal and important.