College helped me realize there were some areas I was great in but need to work more in some areas such as writing a proper argumentative thesis. I enjoyed learning content in college because it wasn't edited, banned, or hidden due to its uncomfortable themes such as racism, gender issues, atrocities of war and mistreatment of other minorities such as the Irish. This was a journey for me as a student and I support Discovery as the type of school reform. Discovering the wonders of learning and developing their skills is the school environment students need in order for them to flourish. The quote from Why School?, "I contend that our focus on passing the test is not nearly enough any longer. I insist that the “test” doesn’t come close to capturing what our kids need to know and to be able to do at this moment of rapid and radical change, and that the longer we wait to start a conversation around doing school “differently,” instead of simply “better,” the more we’re putting our kids at risk." I completely agree the teachers, parents and students want a better education in their schools but the longer we take, the students are continuing to be at risk. I feel the students are afraid to discover and question new things in their classes because we have instilled in them to worry about test scores and grades while we spoon-fed them the answers.
I was asked last semester what the point was for the class to learn about the Industrial Revolution and I was happy he was questioning the purpose but I could tell he was trying to get out of thinking by protesting the purpose. I am open to questions but not a question that a student is asking because he/she does not want to even try to learn it. I responded with, "You may think the reason is the standards but you are actually learning about this to further expand your mind to think about how the invention of the printing press spread literacy and education and how it has impacted society today and what would society be like if there was little literacy, books and education. I want you to think past the belief that history is in the past because it is around you everywhere and I want you to think that way so you will leave school a more capable and free-thinking individual with a working brain." I just hope I as well as other teachers help guide them to change their perception of school and learning before they write off school mentally and close their minds to development.
After I looked over the six unlearning/relearning ideas, I feel I can commit to the idea of being a master learner. I have always been open to learning new knowledge, skills, strategies, ideas and anything else I encounter. I know I will be a history teacher who won't have the answers for everything but I will welcome new ideas and topics that will not only help me grow but the students as well. History is open to interpretation, it is not one-sided or narrow minded. History is a great subject to help the students think outside the box which in turn will help develop their minds and possess great skills to take with them.
I feel an issue I have with Discover Don't Deliver is like it says "unpredictable" but I feel I may come into conflict with the classroom standards and structure. I feel history is about discovery but the students cannot learn from a systematic routine of quickly moving from one history topic to the next. It is not effective to not allow them time to discuss what they understand and feel about the current topic. I understand this timeline of satisfying the state subject standards is important but I feel student-centered learning, discussions, and activities should allow the students to flourish, not have them worry about test scores, standards, regurgitating content, etc.