City Springs

This film shows very interesting things about methods for learning. In this case, City Springs was applying the method of “Direct Instruction” to make children of kindergarten be able to read after they go to first grade. This was a very structured school, in which the same rigid strictness that teachers should apply to students, the principal applied to teachers. The main difference between this method and the others we have seen or read is that this one is more likely to be applied in schools than the other ones. The reason is because this is what society usually expects from schools: to have children who have achieved something academically, and that can be measured by and standardized test. City Springs’ Principle tackles the problem by applying this method that implies discipline and inflexibility. Although, this method gave them results after one year, I disagree with forcing children to learn things that they are not ready for. I remember Montesori saying that children younger than 6 years old should not be taught how to read yet, and the reason is probably what we saw in the film. It is actually fatiguing for them, and very frustrating. One part of the film that really struck me was also the interview of one of the promoters of Direct Instruction method, when she said: “If you can’t get students to get still and pay attention only to you, you can’t teach.” This sounds like a really ancient method. We know that children have too much energy to stay still for a class, especially if that are 6 years old.
It is true, as the principal said, that academic success depends upon maintaining a culture of order, but I think academic success is not all a school should expect from a student. Also, this “culture of order” could be happening without trying to have 6 years old children still the whole time in classrooms.
I also remember when the teacher from the other school that had “successful students after applying Direct Instruction method was asked to give some tips, she said, “the most important is to learn your script.” I think this method actually cuts real “direct” interaction with students, because it sees students and teachers as if they were all the same. It does not give room to imagination and creativity nor for the teachers neither for the students.