NOTE: This is something I wrote for one of my classes. I thought the information was interesting, so I decided to share and (as always) would like to know your thoughts and opinions ; )
In short: Humanistic Education puts the development of character before academics in order to create happy, well-adjusted individuals. Webber and Plotts site two major ideals of Humanistic educators: 1) children have an innate ability to learn independently and creatively and 2) schoolwork should be relevant to students' daily lives (p. 122, 2008).
The question being asked is: Do you feel it has application in schools today?
My answer to that is: Absolutely, education of character has always been applicable within the school system; but you are not asking the right question. "To what degree should Humanistic education be taken to in schools?" is a more appropriate question to ask.
Today, teachers are not "just teachers" - we are confidants, we are investigators, we are alternate parents. What was once relegated to the church has come to the schools. As American society turns a more agnostic/atheistic eye, the development of character, morals, and values, rests in the hands of parents, peers, and educators.
However, before we can tackle the extent to which we develop character and moral standing in our classrooms, we must determine the purpose of education. Is it to develop model citizens? To ready them for the workforce? Teach to the test and ensure nice statistics? Social development? Cultural transmission? The list is endless. Perhaps we should teach students how to THINK, how to CHANGE, how to ADAPT, how to be ACTIVE and PREPARED rather than making sure the numbers look good. Once you determine the purpose of education, then you can determine to what degree your curriculum focuses on character development.
Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
Thursday, February 4, 2010
CONFORMITY IN THE CLASSROOM
As I've been reading a chapter on the Psychodynamic Model, I've come across some interesting tidbits of information. I'd really like to know what you guys have to say about any or all of the following (either individually or all in conjunction with one another):
In the early part of the 20th century, conformity in the classroom came to be viewed by some educators as detrimental to a child's natural development.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:
Basic Needs -- Deficiency Needs: safety, hunger, satiation, affection, security, and self esteem
Meta-Needs -- Growth Needs: justice, goodness, beauty, and unity
Only a very few, select people are characterized by autonomy, spontaneity, democratic values, creativity, and a resistance to conformity. They are able to transcend rather than tolerate the environment, which is the final step in becoming full human.
Carl Rogers:
Learning should be self-initiated and congruent with personal experience
Classrooms should offer a climate for experiential learning and teachers should facilitate the learning process
Karen Horney:
A Neo-Freudian who focuses on anxiety and the basic need for conformity. She feels that conflicts such as arrogance, hostility, and anxiety can be avoidable if a child is reared in an atmosphere of security, warmth, love, trust, and respect.
What's your take?
In the early part of the 20th century, conformity in the classroom came to be viewed by some educators as detrimental to a child's natural development.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:
Basic Needs -- Deficiency Needs: safety, hunger, satiation, affection, security, and self esteem
Meta-Needs -- Growth Needs: justice, goodness, beauty, and unity
Only a very few, select people are characterized by autonomy, spontaneity, democratic values, creativity, and a resistance to conformity. They are able to transcend rather than tolerate the environment, which is the final step in becoming full human.
Carl Rogers:
Learning should be self-initiated and congruent with personal experience
Classrooms should offer a climate for experiential learning and teachers should facilitate the learning process
Karen Horney:
A Neo-Freudian who focuses on anxiety and the basic need for conformity. She feels that conflicts such as arrogance, hostility, and anxiety can be avoidable if a child is reared in an atmosphere of security, warmth, love, trust, and respect.
What's your take?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)