Comments on: The cult of educational romanticism is setting kids up for failure

By: Sherry Hutchison

Sherry Hutchison — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:42:04 +0000

I have completed all the courses necessary except student teaching in Secondary English.
I too see the “Romanticism” in education. At this point I don’t even know if I will finish as a teacher or go on to Ed.Psych. I wanted to work with kids who needed my help and it has come to a point that differentialities are out the window and creativity in teachers is actively discouraged in favor of worksheets from the textbooks. Instead of teaching kids to think and explore their gifts, they get just enough to pass their exams. I am not bitter but I am disappointed. I expected better.

By: Prof. Schwekendiek’s Teaching Blog » Blog Archive » The cult of educational romanticism is setting kids up for failure : Teachers At Risk

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:03:04 +0000

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By: Elona Hartjes

Elona Hartjes — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:48:40 +0000

Crystal,
Thank you for your insight. I agree that we need to appreciate whatever intersts and gifts a child has.

GH,
I shudder to think that a teacher would think a student “was not worth the effort”. We need to respect our students and look for ways to help them succeed to the best of their ability. As for deciding what that their potential is, we need to let our children show us what it is by giving them the support they need to blossom and grow.

By: G.H.

G.H. — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:54:50 +0000

The idea that anyone can succeed at the same level is not logical. The idea that everyone can succeed at their own level is sound. The danger with letting go of “romantic notions” comes when teachers start making decisions about which children will be able to succeed and who can do well and who is “not worth the effort” Children surprise us on a daily basis. We need to give children the opportunity to succeed. It isn’t up to us to decide who is capable and who is not.

By: Crystal H.

Crystal H. — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:30:56 +0000

I myself am also a realist. I agree with you that you should encourage children as much as possible, but not have expectations for them that they cannot reach. Parents should be content with their child’s interests and gifts as they are.

By: Elona Hartjes

Elona Hartjes — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:38:00 +0000

Mathew,
You’re absolutely right. We need to help students be aware of their strengths and help them discover what their strength are and where these strengths can take them in the world of work as well as school.

I spend a lot of my time in and out of class talking to my students about their strengths and the options these strengths give them. I try to be very realistic too about what to avoid. If they are very weak in math and hate it, I advise them it would be prudent not to get a job that entails lots of math. If they have trouble sitting still, I advise them to get a job that lets them move about. This all seems like common sense, but many students don’t know which jobs match their strengths, their likes and dislikes. I guess common sense comes from experience, experience these kids don’t have yet. That’s why we need to help them.

I’ve had senior students change their career paths because they discovered they had a strength in an area they were unaware of.

It’s actually quite rewarding to see a student gain confidence about his or her future because they know they have strengths not just weaknesses.

By: Mathew

Mathew — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:14:07 +0000

In my position I hear so many teachers give up on children. So I guess I would extend your thesis and say that although not everyone can be anything they want to be, our job is to help them find out what they can be. And every child has something that they CAN do well though that thing may not be something we ever do in school.

By: Heather MacDonald

Heather MacDonald — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:42:29 +0000

This was a really timely post for me!

I *just* began my student teaching, and have two classes which consist entirely of kids in need of modifications, and yet, the courses are still ‘academic’. Basically, we need to teach these struggling kids who have a vast range of needs and reasons for being there, the exact same material, in the same depth, as the other students without difficulty.

Needless to say, this is a challenge, and while I know that we are supposed to have this ‘romantic’ idea of every child being equally capable in everything, I just can’t buy into it. It’s the kids, as you say, who will ultimately suffer.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:46:50 +0000

Hi Elona,
What a great post that leads to such a rich discussion. This is what I LOVE about the web. As an English teacher and drama director, I spent lots of time with kids and their parents who were frustrated when they didn’t get a lead in a play. Doesn’t seem quite as significant as special ed kids who struggle with the basics, but it points to the same issue of our role as teachers. I once saw myself as lead material and sad to say, no one else did. It was good for me to have a teacher who helped me redirect my passion for theater to directing.
I tried to do the same.
Bonnie
Glad I stopped by today.

By: Michael Doyle

Michael Doyle — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:29:24 +0000

Well, where I come from, all kids are above average.

Where I come from, anyone can be President if they try really hard and click their heels three times.

Where I come from, information is going to free us from our connection to the sun, the ground, the air.

Where I come from, hands are subservient to the cortex, and love subservient to efficiency.

Where I come from, teachers can be replaced by CPUs, paper by photons, wisdom by information.

Where I come from, success is defined by income. I drive a nicer car than you.

[Ms. Hartjes, a wonderful post....I love reading your blog.]