I also enjoyed the discussion present in a couple of the articles about the necessity of teaching the middle school student how to become a good citizen. However, I also thought it was interesting how much what it means to be a good citizen can vary depending on who is doing the defining. For the Carnegie foundation, a good citizen is one who accepts responsibility, is a "doer not just an observer," who will understand the genesis of the United States and its basic values, and will participate in "appropriate ways" in the government. Although, on the surface, these all sound like good things, I think what is significant to this is what it does not mention. What are the values of the United States? What does it mean to participate in "appropriate ways?" What is a "positive sense of global citizenship?"
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Indeed the fox is now guarding the henhouse
I enjoyed Lounsbury and Vars's use of the metaphor of the fox now guarding the henhouse to discuss the ways in which the consolidation of the corporate and political elite means that the corporate elite are setting public policy that will, in the end, help sustain their own interests, not the interests of the average middle school student, and certainly not the interests of poor middle school students. Related to this is the current emphasis on standardized tests and mandated assessments that claim to provide a better education for all, but instead, really create a pedagogy that contradicts the teaching of critical thinking skills and manufactures a crisis that is used to push for a specific political agenda: for the use of vouchers and for profit management of education. Consider the following quote "is it too extreme or an exaggeration to suggest that high-stakes testing may be lobotomizing an entire generation of young people?" Yes, it is a little extreme, but there is also a kernel of truth there.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
the questions you raise at the end of the post are the million dollar questions. Being a "good citizen" is different to everyone so how do u know?? I don't think you need to get your kids to march in the streets or anything but you should at least get them to be aware of the issues present in the world. Making a certain type of "good citizen" is too hard, instead you should just get your kids to see the importance of good citizenship and let them make their own definition.
ReplyDeleteI also would like to comment on what Simone called your "Million Dollar Questions." Individual values and values of communities as a whole will differ across the U.S. and the world, this is nothing new. I think that the values of the U.S. are changing constantly, especially in today's evironment. But, if a teacher can get their students to participate actively and positively in the classroom, I think the "appropriate ways" question is answered. I liked Simone's comment stating that the kids don't have to go march in the street, but if something simple like reading a current events article or having the students write to the Governor or other political official about a topic that they are concerned about gets them involved positively, then the students are contributing to society and are thinking about their futures.
ReplyDeleteWhich article about citizenship did you read, Cheryl? There were various projects on engaged citizenship and moral and civic education while I was working there.
ReplyDeleteBeing a good citizen includes more than just being politically active or aware of social and international issues in the world. I believe that being a good citizen involves helping someone who tripped with a bag of groceries outside your apartment, being nice to everyone around you (maybe just be saying Thank You or Excuse Me), being open to others around you and having a cultural appreciation. These are the reasons teachers have students work in group projects or work with other students besides just your group of friends. A good citizen is also a good person. We definitely need more good citizens in the world leading examples as just good people. For example, I was at the Nomad yesterday and there was as EXTREMELY drunk woman sitting at a table alone, falling asleep. She had $50 bills falling out of her pocket. A girl in the bar came over and told the woman to hide her money. When it came time for this woman to leave, the girl helped her walk home. I believe this is a good citizen, a good person just trying to help someone who needed help. I hope to teach students to go out of their way to help others in this world.
ReplyDelete