Progress

I would like to discuss the topic of advancing and progressing in a classroom. One group in class pointed out the quote on page 44 that says, "Students should be encouraged to question and challenge tradition and status quo, but if this is to be more than a nihilistic exercise they must have faith in the past and in the possibility of progress." This situation applies to a class I am taking right now at Westminster. Many of the students feel that our teacher is not doing enough to advance our learning because the teaching is stagnant and habitual. Our homework is usually the same, tedious work of reading and summarizing. The professor lectures throughout the class period but does not give us time to practice or do any of the material in class. None of the information is being transferred and absorbed into our brains. We have asked the teacher to give us different assignments, but the teacher is reluctant to change her ways. We want to challenge the status quo of the classroom, but the teacher is not encouraging the progress. We are not trying to deconstruct or change her teaching altogether, but we would like for the opportunity to learn differently. We recognize that her style of teaching works in some situations, but we need other ways to learn, and thus her teaching would progress and make a difference. As the article we read over the weekend says, "There you are in a classroom with kids who are real, living, breathing, dynamic, unique. And then these rationalizations become an expression of your values: following orders over taking this kid's needs seriously; using the boring teachers' guidelines above engaging kids in a project that grabs and propels them. To teach takes commitment, strength, struggle, a willingness to grow and develop." I know it must be hard to give up control and look towards focusing on the student's needs, but I hope to keep it in mind when I become a teacher in the future.