I am going to respond to the quote from the article, "Students will float to the mark you set." In class we discussed standards a lot. If the teacher sets a low standard for a student, the student will probably have no reason or motivation to exceed that standard. Mr. Eagan also mentioned how a teacher should set a standard higher then what is expected of the student so that the student will aim to reach that standard and unknowingly exceed the the expectations of the teacher. For many students, I think that is very smart.
Another question to ponder is what standards will a student set if there is nothing set for them? For me, I would probably set my standard too high because I am a perfectionist. For others, they may set it too low seeking the easy way out. There is a handful of people who get it just right but the point is, that is not the case for everyone. A teacher's standard is a crucial part to the success of the student.
Even though it is the student’s responsibility to try their best and learn the material taught, it is the teacher’s responsibility to make sure they walk in with an open mind and teach the material in more then one way. In class we talked about the teacher’s approach in a regular class versus an advanced class. In a regular class, when the students don’t live up to what the advanced students can handle, the teachers tend to give up. The teachers see these students as“average” or “slow”. That doesn’t mean the potential for that student isn’t as high. The students may just need a different approach to learning. They may need it explained a little more.
At the same time, students can’t just take advantage of the school system and take the easy way out. There are students who need the extra help. There are also lazy students who take advantage of the system so they don’t have to do as much work. A common thing students may think is that by taking this route the teachers are going easy on them. This should not be true. If it is too easy, you are in the wrong class. Students really need to be honest with themselves and others when it comes to their learning capabilities. Teachers need to set the right standards for students to reach. If all teachers and students work together then the school system would be perfect. Is that even possible?
I agree that teachers have a lot to do with the standard each student sets for themselves. I also believe that the upbringing and culture in the student's life plays a large role as well. For example, if the student is raised to be an extremely hard worker, they are likely to work hard in school and set the bar higher for themselves. If the parents have not put enough emphasis on the importance of doing well in school, then the child will have to learn this on there own, or HOPEFULLY with the help of a motivating teacher.
ReplyDeleteThe standard I feel is more based on the students than it is the teachers. The teachers will only do as much as their students demand. If a class is thriving and wants to gain more knowledge and skills, the teacher will notice. If the teacher isn't motivated and doesn't have the same drive as the students, then the administration should become of aware from students. It all comes down to how much students want to learn. A teacher will only go as far as his students, the bar is set by the ones who must meet it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the tone of the class is set by the teacher.The students know when a teacher doesn't expect anything from them and the students in turn expect nothing of themselves.
ReplyDeleteI’ve experienced this first hand in high school, there were teachers who allowed students to just come to class and behave however they wanted not bothering to teach. I believe that if teachers like that had run their class the way normal teachers do then their would've have been academia taking place instead of free time everyday.
I do agree that the teacher should set their expectation a little bit higher than what the standard is so as to trick the "lazy" students. Melo has made a good comment also by saying that "the teachers will do as much as their students demand." The teacher can not be motivational if the students don't put effort into the material. A teacher can only withstand a students negative, unwilling to try, attitude for so long. I believe that by high school it is the students own responsibility to find the motivation, determination, and want to succeed in life. They need to have the urge to be someone important in life and not just a waste of space.
ReplyDeleteI believe it would take a lot of effort from students, parents, and teachers.Generally people seem lazy and don't want to put effort into anything. If teachers can't even motivate themselves to put their heart in teaching, how are they going to motivate kids to put their hearts in learning? I feel that a teacher who teaches both a regular class and an advanced one can't help but to react better to students who want to learn. Can you blame them? I'm not saying it's right, but who would want to teach rude, lazy students that just brush you off anyways.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of this completely. Teachers should teach in a way that their students can understand and they should have goals set for there students as well. Yet, students nowadays take education for granted and they need to set their OWN goals. Teachers today pretty much hold their students hands and that is not how it should be at all. We need to understand that "Knowledge is Power". Also, students are only going to school to make money because our generation is full of greed. Students don't realize that being intelligent is such an amazing trait to have you can set any goal you want it you KNOW THINGS. We are very dependent on someone else teaching us, when we have all these resources to learn on our own! It is really sad actually. I have noticed that students pack up 10 minutes before the class even ends, while the teacher is still talking. Like they have somewhere more important to be?!
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I think a teacher can only do so much. There could be an amazing teacher, but if the student doesn't want to learn or put in effort then the teaching capabilities and the standards the teacher set are pointless. Personally, I don't put in as much effort as I should. This doesn't mean that the teacher isn't doing what they should. However, if a student does care then the standards teachers set are very important. I've had teachers that didn't care about anything and didn't expect anything out of their students. Usually in these classes the students don't do to well. Most students just need a push, and if that push is given the student will probably have a higher chance of succeeding.
ReplyDeleteI agree to a certain point about the lazy students who just want an easy way out, however there are exception to this being bad. For example if you were in all honors classes (we had 6 classes a day at my highschool) then you would literally have to much work to do to keep up with all of your coursework. So I think it is neccessary to take the easy way out at least part of the time (maybe 2 easy classes a semester) because it bolsters your grade to get you into a good college and also because it makes you able to obtain a higher grade in other/harder classes.
ReplyDeleteI completley agree with Joe it is not only a teachers job to make sure their students are learing the information at hand. A teacher can only do so much for a student. Especially in college our teachers arent here to hold our hands they are here to present us with information that is our job to understand and expand upon.
ReplyDeleteI agree on the idea that teachers can only do so much. If a student wants to slack and not "try" then that is their own fault. Most teachers put forth everything they can do to help students learn what is needed. However, if a teacher obviously fails to provide information and help then of couse it is there own fault. People have to look at both sides not just one.
ReplyDeleteBrittany sets up two very important standards of education here. One is that teachers should set high standards, and expect students to meet them. The other is that students need to own their education and expect (indeed, seek out) challenges. It's tough for a student to know what he/she needs out of education, especially if that student is not exposed to varying approaches to learning. In Mike Rose's article, he points out that it was not until a teacher tried something different in his teaching (and that this approach happened to resonate with him on a personal level) that he saw the value of education.
ReplyDeleteThe reality that many of you pointed out so well is that this type of educational experience is so rare! I see it as an exchange of knowledge between teacher and student, and most of the time, either the student or the teacher will not connect in this way. For example, some students learn better from sitting in a lecture, but the teacher in a particular class may not be great lecturer, so prefers hands-on activities. That student may feel left out. The teacher will then feel like the student doesn't care, starting a cycle of mistrust. Equally, another student may learn well from hands-on approaches and connect well with that teacher, but dislike another teacher who is better at lecturing, etc.
What I think all students (and teachers, for that matter) need to do is find the approach that works best for them and stick with it. Teachers need to be sensitive to students needs, however, as do students with teachers. So it's a complex way of approaching education.
Just some unformed thoughts at this point. Thanks for the conversation...keep it up!