Chapter 9 of One Room Country Schools by Jerry Apps talks about recess in country schools. I believe that the first paragraph already hints at a fundamental problem in contemporary education. Apps mentions that recess is the best and most memorable thing in the school-experience of children. It is sad that getting break from school is the best thing about school. During recess, children are free and can be themselves. They can follow their interests, play, explore, discover, experiment, and have fun. Here, education is a by-product of recess. In a way, recess is an unregulated and unrestricted form of learning that provides children with freedom for self-expression and self-realization. I believe that elements of recess should be incorporated into the classroom experience. The article strongly reminded me of the free school we studied in the beginning of the semester. The entire schoolday in for example the Albany Free School seems to be a recess – perhaps recess from society?!
The article “taking sides” deals with the question whether school attendance should be compelled or not. I believe one reason that opinions concerning this topic differ is different educational purposes. For example, Mann argues that “compulsory education involves not individual benefit but societal benefit” and that “the public has a right to an educated citizenry in order to ensure the collective good.” He views compelled education as an equalizer of the conditions of men that obliterates various distinctions in society. Others argue that compelled education merely serves society and that it provides the sort of training that the economy demands. An alternative to compelled school education could be home-schooling. After reading the part about homeschooling and the article about anarchist view on the public education dilemma I’m quite puzzled. I would like to do further research about advantages and disadvantages of public education and of compelled or voluntary education. I believe we have to find a balance.
No comments:
Post a Comment