Like any good consumer before I began reading Saber-Tooth Curriculum, I decided to read the reviews. Almost all were excellent and kept repeating how hilarious this book was. When I finally sat down to read it, I kept thinking how on earth is this going to be humorous. Maybe the humor was above my head and I missed the punch line. Luckily that was not the case!
I enjoyed this book and was amazed that while it was written in 1935, it still applied today. The lecture that Peddiwell tells Mr. Wayne, about the paleolithic tribes education system is present today. New-Fist had created a system that was successful for their time, but when the fish ran dry, the small horses died out and the saber-tooth tigers stopped coming, the education system became outdated. Instead of adapting to the new world around them, tribe members insisted that they must continue with New-Fists education plan. This choice would be at the cost of their tribe.
This rang true for many principles in our education system today. Immediately someone in class chimed in about how cursive writing was an example of this. My first thought was “NO!!!” Working in a parochial school, teaching and using cursive plays a huge part in our school community. I love cursive and use it often, but immediately I saw that my fellow classmate meant. What’s the point and why are we forcing it down our students throats?!
Is it for their benefit or is it because we have always done it that way?
I have asked myself this question several times this week. Every classroom decision I have made came about after reflecting on this question. I need to remember to incorporate the main idea, of living and learning. In order for my students to be successful they need to see the link between both living and learning. School and life are not two separate things for them. I need to make sure that my lessons and my students are using the PICKLE everyday to be successful.
I found myself highlighting lines in the text just because they made me laugh! :) I really like your example about teaching cursive/penmanship in elementary school. I love and write almost exclusively in cursive myself, and I have many students that have taught themselves cursive because they think it looks cool. But you're so right: just because it's always been that way or because we like it, doesn't mean it should be a part of our curriculum. I've found myself asking the same questions in my class, too. "Am I teaching this because it's authentic/useful/interesting or because this is how I was taught/how I've taught this topic for the last 5 years?" I've found myself altering lessons and activities to be more student-led in the process.
ReplyDeleteHi Mel! I liked your example of how cursive writing not being taught anymore as an example of change in the education system. Like you, I had to practice my handwriting all through elementary school. Handwriting was even given a report card grade! When I taught high school, 9th through 11th grade students were given the PSAT. I had to proctor the test each year. It would take forever to get started on the test because there is a section that students have to hand write, in cursive, that they will not cheat, etc... Almost every student would raise their hands and say that they had no idea how to write in cursive. It got to the point where I would just tell them to print and connect the letters with loops.
ReplyDeleteAs a naysayer on the topic of handwriting, I too am guilty of holding onto some relics of the past. Namely the importance of the multiplication table and Latin. But, we do need to look at what skills we really need and how skills of the past can, or cannot, fit into that vision. On this note, we definitely need to try and break free of the "Because that's the way I learned" mentality. Finally, connecting learning to living is of utmost importance. We've all heard "how am I gonna use this?" If we don't have an answer, we may need to rethink what we're teaching and the way we're teaching it.
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