Is education finished?
December 11th 2007 09:32
As a high school teacher, the process of educating my students technically ends when Term 4 wraps up some time in December every year.
The thing is, even with the kids gone there is still much to do in wrapping up the year. Writing reports, checking marks, entering all the information into a databank, rechecking that everything is spelled and entered correctly and other not-so-interesting tasks must be completed on top of the usual cleaning out of desks, filing of useful resources and giving back of lent items.
Does this time represent the winding down and eventual end of education for the year? Is the Education of the year 2008 finished? I don't think so, personally. The reason for this is that whilst we may not be at school, my students and I are still developing, still learning, still growing.
Education does not just happen in the classroom. Over the summer break, regardless of the country or the school, students will lose some of the content knowledge and skills taught in the previous year. Most students and teachers I'd say. However, what will be absorbed are the experiences, skills and knowledge that really make a difference to or an emotional impact on the teacher or student concerned. God knows that in 20 years I won't remember whether a student achieved an A or a B but I will be able to remember the time that someone told a ripping joke, had a tantrum or turned up to class dressed as a carrot (full costume, very funny).
Education or the process of learning is something we all develop year by year. It is not confined to curricula or lessons or chunks of knowledge, especially with the dominance of the Internet in daily life. Having said this, it is still common practice for students and teachers alike to believe that learning only happens in 50 minute pieces, not over the year as a sustained whole.
Talking with family, going out with friends, seeing new movies and going to gigs all add to our developing social experience. Watching TV shows that aren't just about dodgy fridge repairmen, reading a novel by an author we haven't yet discovered and seeing heart-wrenching films about topics we'd sometimes rather turn away from can all add to our Education, our learning, our personal development. We do not need a classroom for such things.
Education does not finish at Christmas time, it merely goes on holiday with us. Hopefully the next year we retain some of the experiences, skills and knowledge we have gained from the past.
The thing is, even with the kids gone there is still much to do in wrapping up the year. Writing reports, checking marks, entering all the information into a databank, rechecking that everything is spelled and entered correctly and other not-so-interesting tasks must be completed on top of the usual cleaning out of desks, filing of useful resources and giving back of lent items.
Does this time represent the winding down and eventual end of education for the year? Is the Education of the year 2008 finished? I don't think so, personally. The reason for this is that whilst we may not be at school, my students and I are still developing, still learning, still growing.
Education does not just happen in the classroom. Over the summer break, regardless of the country or the school, students will lose some of the content knowledge and skills taught in the previous year. Most students and teachers I'd say. However, what will be absorbed are the experiences, skills and knowledge that really make a difference to or an emotional impact on the teacher or student concerned. God knows that in 20 years I won't remember whether a student achieved an A or a B but I will be able to remember the time that someone told a ripping joke, had a tantrum or turned up to class dressed as a carrot (full costume, very funny).
Education or the process of learning is something we all develop year by year. It is not confined to curricula or lessons or chunks of knowledge, especially with the dominance of the Internet in daily life. Having said this, it is still common practice for students and teachers alike to believe that learning only happens in 50 minute pieces, not over the year as a sustained whole.
Talking with family, going out with friends, seeing new movies and going to gigs all add to our developing social experience. Watching TV shows that aren't just about dodgy fridge repairmen, reading a novel by an author we haven't yet discovered and seeing heart-wrenching films about topics we'd sometimes rather turn away from can all add to our Education, our learning, our personal development. We do not need a classroom for such things.
Education does not finish at Christmas time, it merely goes on holiday with us. Hopefully the next year we retain some of the experiences, skills and knowledge we have gained from the past.
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