Toni Rago

EDUC 275
Summer 2014
Purpose of schooling...
The first essay written about the purpose of schooling contained many of the same beliefs
I still carry. The first essay indicated money as the limiting factor for a better education,
including teachers doing the best they can with the resources they have to teaching beyond the
curriculum. I still hold these values to be accurate within the following essay. The missing
pieces from the aforementioned essay are cultural diversity and the impact it is having on the
education systems today. The United States culture is multiculturalism. The existing order of
the schools in todays society cannot keep up without the funding of supporting these students.
Funding for the schools comes from the federal government, state funds, and local taxes, the
majority of the funding from local taxes. Therefore communities with more assets generate more
taxes for the schools, creating more funding for schools to use on resources for the students
(Huetra, 2009). The purpose of schooling has adjusted to a more positive outlook but without
the funding the schools have a hard time meeting all of the students needs.
Today schools are making improvements for inclusion of race, gender, sex, and special
needs. These differences, in the past, were seen negatively and therefore wrong and needed to be
segregated from the rest of the student population. Education can still be seen as luxury for
students. Students in inner cities or who live in a home where completing homework or getting
to school is a challenge have other hurdles to jump over than those students who have a system
in place to allow them to excel in school (Gorski, 2007). Schools that are in undesirable areas
around the country have a harder time retaining teachers and drawing them to their schools.
These students are not receiving the same education as well funded schools in high
socioeconomic areas. This really seems unfair and still segregated because of resources. The
purpose of education the youth is still in place only with an uneven playing field.
The purpose of educating youth has roots back into the Roman Empire. The Romans
believed they could civilize the worlds people(Spring, 2010). They believed that the were
human and everyone not under Roman law was not. Having people educated and under their law
was to civilize them (Spring, 2010). This idea was carried on through the civilization of the
Native Americans. Justifying enslavement of Native Americans, Morcillo wrote, they should
be civilized by good customs and education and led to a more human way of life (Spring,
2010). It would seem from these historical events that the idea of education was to bring people
considered lower or less civilized up to the dominating culture. Later in history education was
seen as a luxury only for the deserving or privileged. Discrimination evolved education into
segregation and limited opportunities for minority populations. Education was to educate youth
but it was distributed unevenly between students of a different race or sex than the white male.
Education was used as a form of control over those different than the big decision makers in the
United States. People have fought hard and long to have education be equal for all students. The
United States has come a long way since these terrible times but large portions of the education
system is in dire need of adjustment.
The purpose of education should be to prepare children for success during life
after graduation. An education system where money is the limiting factor and all students are
supported for success in the classroom.
As a future educator I must have goals. The goals must consist of the support of the
students in all aspects of their education. I must be aware of accommodations or extenuating
circumstances the students require for their success. Using the resources of other teachers and the
principal creates a team that focuses on students learning (DuFour, 2004). If the school
provides an environment where teachers are working together to create better teaching strategies
for the classrooms the teamwork and success will be seen in the students (DuFour, 2004). Goals
also must include being creative with my limited resources to reach all learning styles of the
students. Evaluating myself and the lessons must occur often to reflect upon the pros and cons of
the lesson. I must alway be trying to better myself and my teaching. Inclusion must be a central
idea in my classroom. I will not have students of low socioeconomic status, disability or sexual
orientation looked down upon or discriminated against.
As teachers our greatest references are the students. We can learn so much from them
and they have so much to teach their peers. If it is appropriate to visit a home environment to
learn about their culture or to talk about the struggles their students is having can be a great
learning experience and also gives the teacher a better understanding where the students is
coming from and accommodations that may need to be made for the students success (Huetra,
2009). Sometimes students have to help with the family after school or do not have a computer
at home. These situations would cause the student to fall behind because they do not have the
resources to complete assignments (Gorski, 2007). Also having a classroom that is managed in a
way for inclusion will teach students how to be inclusive themselves.
Classroom management is one of the most important aspects of what occurs within a
classroom. Building relationships with students, having clear expectations and goals and
awareness of high-needs students are a few of the ways to produce a thriving learning
environment (Marzano et. al, 2003). Students do well with structure and boundaries. This
environment depends solely on the teacher to put these expectations in place for the students.
Inclusion from the teacher to the students. Doing this give students a voice in how the
class is conducted. Having them write some test questions or decide what are proper
consequences in the event of a misbehavior gives students a sense of community and
accountability (Willis, 2006). Inclusion of their needs as human beings can help their learning
and memory. Stress is a good element in small amounts but if the stress is too high has adverse
effects. The amygdala functions well under minimal stress but will shut down and does not
allow short term memory turn into long term and no learning has occurred (Willis, 2006).
Another aspect of being a good teacher would be to notice the intrinsic students. Because they
are quiet does not reflect their cognitive ability. Not allowing the introverts or anyone feel
something is wrong with them will come from my environment and teaching (Cook, 2012).
Society has ideas about extroverts are the ideal personality(Cook, 2012), and in my classroom
everyone is equal. Having activities that support all of the students strengths will have a greater
effect on all the students. Learning in multiple ways creates different ways for the student to
retrieve the information (Willis, 2006).
The schools continue the existing order, from no fault of their own, because they
do not have resources to support all students. Schooling can transform the existing order by
educating their future educators on the struggles the students have today. Evaluating what the
educator can change in order to turn their classroom into a thriving student centered atmosphere
will support the students to question ideals and misconceptions of this world. From the previous
essay an idea of recycling and compost is a start for students to become aware of their
environment and the accountability. Also interventions to prevent school violence. It is
becoming a growing need to eliminate school shootings, bullying and other types of violence.
Adolescent brains are not fully developed and will cause irrational and impulsive behaviors.
These behaviors cause students to bully and the introduction of social media poses another
threat. The children do not have immediate feedback when they put something on the internet
of the harm they are causing. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs are being input in
some schools with positive outcomes (Goleman, 2011). With resources limited, teachers should
be aware of this intervention and try to implement it into their teaching. As teachers we need to
pay attention to behavior and watch for warning signs for struggling students.
Teaching as many aspects, it is not just educating students on academic material. In
today's society students need to be supported emotionally, culturally and physically. We as
educators are in a role model position and can have great impacts on students. We have to be
aware of all of needs of different students and support them as best we can.












Works Cited
Cook, G. (2012, January 24). The Power of Introverts: A Manifesto for Quiet Brilliance.
Scientific American .
DuFour, R. (2004). What Is a "Professional Learning Community'"? Educational Leadership , 6-
11.
Goleman, D. (2011, May 12). Daniel Goleman. Retrieved June 16, J2014, from Emotional
Intelligence, Social Intelligence, Ecological Intelligence: http://www.danielgoleman.info/stop-
that-bully/
Gorski, P. C. (2007, October). The Question of Class. Teaching Tolerance , pp. 30-33.
Huerta, G. C. (2007). Educational Foundations: Diverse Histories, Diverse Perspectives.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Marzano, R. J. (2003, September). The Keys to Classroom Management. Educational
Leadership, pp. 6-13.
Spring, J. (2010). Deculturalization and the Struggle for Equality. New York: Mcgraw-Hill.
Willis, J. (2006). Research-Based Strategies to Ignite Student Learning. Alexandria: Associated
for Supervision and Curriculum Development.