Hello everyone! My name is Rigaud, and I am one of your fellow students as well as a math teacher working at Providence Public Schools. I am exited to be part of this course and use my personal blog to share my reflections and written assignments throughout the semester. I value feedback on my writing and enjoy reading and learning from the perspectives and ideas of others.
Shalaby
In today's society, I feel like this article shows that schools are not always helping students the way they should. First o all, it made me understand that many schools focus more on rules and control than on truly understanding the students. Also the author explains that so-called "troublemakers" are not actually the problem; instead, they are reacting to deeper issues within the system. Moreover, the idea that some students feel invisible really stood out to me, since many are only noticed when they do something wrong. After seeing the video where each student had time to express their opinion and be sincere about what they think about the school system, I understand how frustrating it can be for kids not having the opportunity to express themselves. As a result, students may lose motivation and feel disconnected from school. However, I believe change is possible if school start listening more to students and giving them a voice. Overall, education should focus mor...
About Privilege, Power and Difference by Alan Johnson.
ReplyDeleteReading Alan Johnson made me rethink what really causes inequality in society. One line that stood out to me was when he says, "The trouble is not difference but privilege." This reinforced my thoughts that differences between people are normal and expected in any society, and that they are not the problem by themselves. The real issue is how privilege turns those differences into unfair advantages. Many advantages exist because of the way social systems were built from the very beginning, and this continues as a process that passes benefits from one generation to the next.
Another part that stayed with me was Johnson's statement that "Privilege is not something we earn or deserve: it is something we are born into." At first, this was uncomfortable to think about, but it also felt honest, It made me realize that success is not only about effort, but also about access and opportunity that some people automatically have. Overall, this reading pushed me to think beyond individual behavior and focus more on how power and systems shape people's lives.
About The Broken Model
ReplyDeleteI agree with the author's critique of the traditional education system and how it limits creativity and independent thinking. When the author states that "Schools were designed on the model of the factory" it helped me understand why conformity and obedience are still emphasized today. The system was built this way from the beginning, and it continues to shape education across generations.
I do recognize that nowadays there are efforts from school districts and teachers to make schools places where students can become more independent thinkers and less subordinate. Many teachers try to encourage discussion, creativity, and critical thinking. However, the system itself is still very strong.
About "what counts" as Educational Policy? By Sharon Lynn Kagan and Jodi R. Cohen
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kagan and Cohen's argument that educational policy should not be limited to what happens inside schools. Too often, people think that improving education only means raising test scores or changing curriculum standards. However, as the authors explain, we must rethink what really "counts" as educational policy has been defined too narrowly and that we must look beyond schooling alone, it helped reinforce my belief that children's success depends on many factors outside the classroom.
One idea that really stood out to me is the connection between poverty and learning . The authors emphasize that children do not enter school on equal footing and that "achievement gaps" are already visible before kindergarten. This supports my belief that differences in academic performance are not about intelligence, but about unequal access to resources. When Kagan and Cohen discuss how policies related to health, housing, and income directly influence children's ability to learn, it made me realize how interconnected education truly is with social conditions.
I also found their discussion of Head Start very convincing. The program was not just designed as a preschool, but as a comprehensive support system for children and families. The authors highlight that Head Start addresses "the whole child," including health screenings, nutrition, and parental involvement. I agree with this approach because a child cannot focus on learning it they are hungry, sick, or living in unstable housing. Education must consider the full reality of a child's life.
Overall this reading strengthened my belief that improving education requires addressing broader social inequalities. Schools alone cannot close achievement gaps if poverty, health disparities, and unstable living conditions remain unaddressed. Kagan and Cohen make a strong case that educational policy must include social policy. This article helped strengthen my thoughts that children's differences in achievement are not natural or inevitable, but often the result of how systems have been structured over time.