Education: An Experience for Everyone

I believe education is a holistic experience often presented as a fragmented and

sometimes disjointed series of subjects. In a world which is rarely as distinctly divided
as we see reading, math, and science to be in general elementary school classrooms,
we must strive to show students the interrelated nature of our world and its many areas
of study. I believe language arts is a great medium for bridging the gaps between the
subjects in elementary school. Through the use of language arts we can bring together
math, science, social studies, music, and art--allowing students to see the forest for the
trees.

When we eliminate the strict boundaries between the subjects, we also begin to
dissipate the notion that one is either a “math person” or a “language arts person” or
some other variant which often holds many of us back for years to come. While a
student may prefer, or do better, in one area, we are all capable of understanding the
main ideas of the subject areas, and I believe they are made more apparent for a
learner when one sees how they all interrelate.

When using language arts in the classroom it is essential that the literature and
texts used are multicultural and historically accurate. I believe books should act as
either a window or a mirror--giving students a view of, or reflection of, others and
themselves. It is vital students see themselves represented accurately and appropriately
in literature and so it is our duty as educators to weed out books containing exoticism,
whitewashing of historical events, or stereotypical artistic depictions of people. We must
ensure we do not present a single story of a particular race or ethnicity, and present
students with a wide variety of high-quality literature written with integrity.

I believe students should be given the freedom to pursue what interests them in
the manner which suits them best. This is not to say education should be a free-for-all,
but that as a teacher we must act as facilitators and guides for our students, rather than
fountains of knowledge from which their parched minds drink. Teaching students the
process of learning, and how to engage with subject material, does more than help
them pass a test, it gives them the tools to set forth on a lifelong journey of learning.
One way in which we can facilitate this process is by allowing students to explore topics
which interest them personally, rather than dictate the topic of each lesson each day.
This, coupled with allowing students to use their preferred method of learning, ensures
students see themselves as scholars, not just compulsory students. When this occurs it
awakens within a person a sort of motivation to grow that is unseen in people who
attend school passively. It is this internal motivation which helps people to succeed and
go on to do great things!