The elementary school I've been visiting since September reminds me of a type of school defined by Jonathan Kozol at his lecture; one that cannot "afford" to allow its students to get distracted, and places emphasis on discipline, and getting through its designated lesson plans. It has no playground or grass outside for the children to run through during recess: instead, they play in an empty area of the parking lot. Inside, the hallways are dingy and barren. Children are taught to file through the halls without making a sound; those who do not do so are quickly taken aside and reprimanded.
My classroom did nothing to detract from my opinions. Though some student works hang from its walls, the majority of the classroom is covered in rules and standards. From each corner hangs a different list of standards. How to walk in the hallway quietly, how to succeed, etc. In the front of the room is a chart with a list of every student's name. Under each is a color. Green is good, yellow is slightly bad, orange is the final warning, and red means a note is going to be sent home, and priveledges lost. It does not take much to lose the status of green, and once a student does, the only way to regain it is to remain quiet until a certain incriment of time has passed.
Although the teachers within this school have been nothing but kind and courteous, the school itself bears a strongly off-putting vibe. It greatly values discipline, and lacks the emphasis on fun and creativity my own elementary schools bore. Teachers are encouraged to be strict, and "tough." The first day I attended the class, the principal herself came in to scold the children for being unruly, and the worst second grade class in the school in terms of discipline. In later weeks, I myself have been encouraged to exemplify a greater toughness with my own students.
My impression of the school's sense of values has only increased from visit to visit, as I've gradually been exposed to more classrooms and examples of "tough" educators. The students, rather than being intimidated, seem to be resilient, still doing anything to get away with dancing and chatting amongst themselves. They only begin feeling remorse when they receive a negative note to send home: that's when the tears start.
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Ashley,
ReplyDeleteWhen reading this post I couldn't help picturing convicts instead of students in some of the aspects you were describing their school. It makes me sad and a little angry now that I am seeing more and more that not everyone went to the same kind of friendly, happy-go-lucky elementary school that I had the privelege of attending. In fact, I think that that kind of elementary school is becoming less and less common. I also see the connection that you were making to Kozol's speech about the school that couldn't "afford" allowing its students to get distracted. You mentioned the chart with every student's name and the different colors....it's kind of interesting that it doesn't take much to go from green to yellow, but i wonder how much harder it is for a teacher to be convinced to change the yellow back to a green.
When you described the classroom, I thought of Kozol's article and the "rubric for filing" that he mentioned hanging in one of the inner-city schools he had visited. It seems ridiculous that administrators are expecting such silly things from these children...honestly, when will they ever encounter an employer that asks to see their "Rubric for filing" to make sure that he or she can lead the line "confidently" and that they had the class "stepping together." It's absurd that so much focus has been taken away from what really matters, such as making sure that these kids grow up believing they can BE SOMEONE in their lives, and put into silly rubrics and standards that I'm almost positive the teachers aren't even sure what to do with, let alone the kids that are expected to follow.
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a horrible place for these children to go to school. I can't imagine a school where there's no color on the walls and nothing to encourage learning in the classroom. I can’t understand where the administration of this school sees this has helping the children. That’s like encouraging small children to just be mindless drones who have no imagination and fun. In my school we do have that same color system where green is good and the children are rewarded if they are able to keep their names under the green and they’re punished if their names are put under the red circle. But there should be a certain limit of discipline for these children. Yes there does need to be discipline to a certain degree but children need to be encouraged to have fun as well and to think outside the box. Having things such as posters and learning charts, and the children’s work posted throughout the classroom only encourages and enhances their learning experience. It sounds as if these children are being boxed in and aren’t encouraged to question what they are learning and to think outside the box. This intense form of discipline might even be the reason that the children are more resistant to learning. I’m sure the kids you tutor were happy to get a break from their rigorous curriculum by learning from someone new. Good luck with the rest of your experiences. ☺
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteWhen I read this i felt as though you were teaching in a correctional facility! How does a school like this expect their students to ever want to succeed? If their lives are filled with rules how are they ever going to express how they really feel.
This school seems like it goes against everything we have been learning and reading in class. To strip away all creativity and create guidelines for every aspect of life ruin any chance of a child feeling comfortable at school which in turn ruins the chances of having an open and accepting classroom. Like Ira Shor wrote, a teachers job is to train intelligence not to stock memory. Students need to be able to critically interrogate what they are being taught and they need to feel open to express that opinion.
I'm shocked at what this school is like! I do not understand what the administration is trying to teach with such intense discipline and lack of creativity. The world today does not need a slight change it needs a tremendous change that could easily start with the students we will teach and come in contact with. That is why these students are lucky you are there! Hopefully you are able to bring some light into their colorless education and help create a positive change.
-Gen:)