Introduction
Kozol’s On being a teacher and Epstein’s Why high school must go contain critical analysis of the contemporary state of schools and further paths of their development. Kozol and Epstein are assured that contemporary schools are not effective, and reformation is required for enhancing the effectiveness of the teaching-learning process. Rethinking the concepts of teachersâ professional behavior, the role of middle schools and the main goal of the educational system, in general, is beneficial for developing teachersâ professional skills.
Kozol’s On being a teacher
Kozol emphasizes the importance of reforming the existing public schools in his work On being a teacher. The author gives preference to awakening students and preparing them for adult life instead of making the educational institutions âseemingly immutable sanctuary of some of the most conservative values of the social orderâ (p. 3).
The author shares the opinion of the Board of Education of the state of Arizona, asserting that the main obligation of present-day educators is to achieve studentsâ recognition that âour nation is the envy of the civilized world ⊠the last hope of mankindâ (p. 4). The views of Massachusetts educator Horace Mann who focuses on the negative effects of political indoctrination and class stratification at public schools are in painful accord with the Board of Education. Quoting Mannâs words concerning the importance of protection and insurance, teachers should make sure that students understand their meaning. Another outstanding person whose words concerning liberal education might be quoted for supporting the educatorâs position is the twenty-eighth president Woodrow Wilson. Kozol (2009) denies the mythical objectives of public schools and draws the parallel to a âconsumer fraudâ pointing at the phenomena of âfalse labels, dangerous content and half-empty boxesâ as the main drawbacks of the present-day educational programs (p. 7). The author describes the wide discrepancy between the sweet educational goals and the results achieved.
Kozol (2009) sheds light upon the devastating effects of omitting the first-person singular forms ad emphasizes the importance of providing the students with an opportunity to develop their skills of self-presentation. Analyzing the outdated concept of professional behavior, the author recommends educators to be more natural during their classes though not going to the extremes of irresponsible behavior: âTeachers also have the right to laugh, the need to cry, to demonstrate anger, pain, anxiety or fear, right in the classroom just as openly as they might do in their own homesâ (p. 13). Another important question raised by Kozol is the lack of opportunities to express oneâs extreme ideas: âthe bias against extremes is paralyzing in its impact on the teacher and the student bothâ (p. 16). Teachers should choose the appropriate words for articulating their point of view and not be afraid to choose the words of passion if the substance in question requires it.
Kozol (2009) shifts the emphasis from lesson planning and proclaiming mythical goals of public schools to natural professional behavior of educators able to use the first person pronoun singular and share their true feelings with their students.
Epstein’s Why high school must go
Epsteinâs interview with Botstein covers the views which are far from the mainstream, describing the devastating effects of contemporary high schools on teensâ personal development pointing at the necessity of their reformation. The main idea of both educators is that the main goal of high schools should be the preparation of students for their adult life instead of protecting them from their realities.
Botstein defines a high school as an infantilizing structure, not able to provide the students with opportunities to learn when they have the greatest capacity for it. He offered an idea of an early college, aimed at taking teens from the eighth grade and giving them a college education. After successful implementation of this idea at the Bard High School Early College in New York, the Gates Foundation invested about 40 million into replicating versions of similar early colleges. Botsteinâs book Jeffersonâs children include 24 maxims, one of them concerning the reflection on the exercise of authority was discussed during the interview. The educator emphasizes the importance of studentsâ ability to differentiate between the legitimate and illegitimate authority and teachersâ ability to confess that they do not know something and to be self-critical while communicating to learners. Botstein points at the devastating effects of the problem of age segregation distorting the studentsâ views and depriving them of an opportunity to learn the real rule of adult life. âWe donât teach them that the real rules of life are not the rules of Hollywood, not the rules of pop culture, and not the rules of high schoolâ (Epstein, 2007, p. 662). Botstein asserts that a new kind of cross between the college teacher and school teacher is required for enhancing the effectiveness of school education, emphasizing the benefits of narrower college specialization. âThe college teacher brings real love of the subject and real competence in the subject area and membership in a community thatâs defined by liking to do certain thingsâ (Epstein, 2007, p. 663). After graduation from high school, most students are not ready for studying at college. The school environment should combine the best of college educatorsâ competence and high school teachersâ willingness to spend time with adolescents. Botstein asserts that due to the weak sides of the state system in general, âthe education establishment is routinely committing a kind of crimeâ (Epstein, 2007, p. 663). The solution to abolish the middle school and concentrate on elementary and secondary levels offered by the educator might seem to be extreme though he provides strong arguments for supporting it. Botstein is assured that the middle school increases age segregation which devastating effects have been discussed during the interview. He considers colleges unwilling to take responsibility for secondary education to be the main opponents to these measures.
Having analyzed the current state of affairs at high schools, Botstein emphasizes the importance of reformation of these institutions offering a cardinal measure of abolishment of the middle school.
The reason for the choice of these
Both Kozol’s On being a teacher and Epstein’s Why high school must go contain innovative ideas for enhancing the contemporary educatorsâ proficiency and increasing the effectiveness of the teaching-learning process at schools. I share the authorsâ opinion that an effective system of education should be aimed at preparing the students for the realities of adult life. My choice of these works was caused by my desire to be in the know of the latest researches in the sphere and further implementation of these principles in practice.
Developing new concepts of a contemporary teacher and natural professional behavior, Kozol influenced the contemporary views of what a good educator should be. The fact that reading his work would be beneficial for developing skills of both young teachers and experienced professionals are undeniable. Though the views of Botstein and his offer to abolish the middle school level entirely might seem to be extreme, despite all the opponents, his views are rather influential as well.
The importance of these to me
Kozolâs and Epsteinâs works influenced my views concerning the effective teaching-learning process. It is important that contemporary researchers are not afraid of violating the outdated rules and narrowing the gap between the mythical unachievable educational goals and the school realities.
Kozolâs innovative approach of drawing parallels between the system of education and customer fraud impressed me greatly, it was interesting to view the schools from a new perspective. I think that implementing the principle of natural behavior in class would be beneficial for both reducing educatorsâ stress caused by controlling their emotions and building bridges for learners at the same time. After reading Botsteinâs interview, I became firmly convinced that protecting the students from the realities of adult life is senseless. I suppose that a contemporary educator should strike the right balance between teaching the real rules of life and cultivating belief in universal values.
Conclusion
The materials of Kozolâs and Epsteinâs works are aimed at raising the teachersâ awareness of the real goals of the contemporary educational system. Pointing at discrepancies between the mythical goals and methods for achieving them, researchers try to show possible ways for enhancing the effectiveness of contemporary schools. Implementing the principles of natural behavior, using the first person singular pronoun and teaching the true rules of life, educators would be able to prepare students for their college studies and adult life.
Reference List
- Epstein, R. (2007). Why high school must go: an interview with Leon Botstein.PHI Delta Kappan. Web.
- Kozol, J. (2009). On being a teacher. Oxford: Oneworld Publications.