Talking Points #10

Shor - "Education is Politics"

1. “People are naturally curious. They are born learners. Education can either develop or stifle their inclination to ask why and to learn. A curriculum that avoids questioning school and society is not, as is commonly supposed, politically neutral. It cuts off the students’ development as critical thinkers about their world. If the students task is to memorize rules and existing knowledge, without questioning the subject matter or learning process, their potential for critical thought and action will be restricted." (12)

I felt that this quote was very powerful. It was something that was very true and that we needed to be made aware of. If students are discouraged while pursuing their education it will naturally harm them and stifle their desire to want to learn more. Education is such a big part of someone's life and that is where they learn to grow as individuals. If they don't get the proper education or opportunities, they will be stuck in neutral.

2. “The teacher brings lesson plans, learning methods, personal experience, and academic knowledge to class but negotiates the curriculum with the students and begins with their language, themes, and understandings. To be democratic implies orienting subject matter to student culture – their interests, needs, speech and perceptions – while creating a negotiable openness in class where the students’ input jointly creates the learning process.” (16)

I feel that this quote is very reflective of what teachers should be doing. Although teachers may walk into a classroom knowing which lessons they plan to teach and how they want to go about doing so, the teacher must keep in mind they he/she must curve the teaching style/subject to what the students need. Teachers should also connect what they are teaching in the classroom to subject matters outside the classroom as well, the student should feel that the material they are learning are important and that it relates to them. If students feel connected to the material they are more likely to try harder when it comes to work. This will also create an open and receptive class, students won't be afraid to share their viewpoints and opinions with everyone.

3. "In school and society, the lack of meaningful participation alienates workers, teachers, and students. This alienation lowers their productivity in class and on the job. I think of this lowered productivity as a performance strike, an unorganized mass refusal to perform well, and informal and unacknowledged strike." (20)

I felt that this quote was relevant because it is something that is seen everyday but probably something that is overlooked. I feel that when students and adults feel that they belong, or have a group that they can connect with, they are more at ease and more prone to fulfill their obligations. People who feel that they are alone, are more likely to keep to themselves and not try their hardest when it comes to their responsibilities. They will more than likely feel like they don't need to or they won't see the point in it.

This reading was enjoyable for me because I made connections to alot of the quotes to the real world. The reading told me that teachers need to bend the way they teach and to consider the life style of students into what their lesson will be about. Teachers need to show students that they are willing to work with them so that both parties will be happy, and that having an open classroom is important so that students will be encouraged to share their opinions and views. When students participate in class, they will be more successful in their education, students and teachers should work together to make sure that everyone in the classroom is comfortable.