Greetings, Group 3! I enjoyed all of this week's readings, especially Nel Noddings and Prakash & Waks. I did see a connection, however, between all of the readings, the Four Conceptions article and Schiro's Curriculum Theory in particular. The following are my thoughts on each reading.
I thought John brought-up an interesting question near the end of class on Thursday: can the ideologies be combined or blended? At the end of chapter 1, Schiro explains, “many educators exist whose behavior is a combination of the characteristics of more than one ideal type”. (p. 13) My inventory chart shows a strong tendency toward not only the Learner Centered position, but the Social Reconstruction position as well. That said, I agree with Dr. Beach’s response, that not all of the ideologies mix well. I see the Scholar Academic and the Social Efficiency positions as near polar opposites. Almost all of the dots on my inventory chart are at level three or four for Scholar Academic and Social Efficiency. I am interested to know, however, why one of my ratings is a “2” in Scholar Academic and why one is a “1”. Does anyone else see any anomalies?
I usually have a tough time with charts, but I found Table 1.1 on page 11 to be helpful. It confirmed some of my questions about the four ideologies. While reading through Schiro’s explanation of the Social Efficacy position, I though of B.F. Skinner and the behavioral-emphasis model, which I believe depends on behavior modification and reward systems in order to achieve the desired outcome. Posner and Joseph seem to confirm those correlations I was trying to make. Concerning the Learner Centered position, I immediately thought of theorists like J. Dewey, J. Bruner, and P. Freire, who I imagine strongly oppose the Scholar Academic view of education as, “a hierarchical community of people in search of truth within one part of the universe of knowledge”. (Schiro, p. 4)
Before reading the first chapter of Walker and Soltis’s Curriculum and Aims, I would have guessed that curriculum was merely a list of courses or a lesson plan written-out in great detail. The authors state, however, that, “there is more to the curriculum than its written version”. (p. 2) I agree that the term “curriculum” should include, “the purposes, content, activities, and organization of the educational program…”. (Walker and Soltis, p. 1) I believe that Nel Noddings would agree, as she speaks of stretching the curriculum to include the whole person, including domestic and spiritual education.
Walker and Soltis assert, “the curriculum is inherently a social creation, a collective design” and that those who design and implement curriculum, “have a moral and professional responsibility to consider and respond to the views and interests of all the interested parties”. (p. 6) Do you all agree with this statement? Are there some cases, perhaps in charter schools, where it is counter-beneficial to consider all viewpoints?
Noddings’ Education and Democracy in the 21st Century is, in a word, refreshing. The clarion call seems to be for cooperation over competition. In the preface, she states, “Cooperation and connection must displace competition and overspecialization”. I agree wholeheartedly with Noddings statement, and I agree that I should involve more quantitative activities in my Spanish grammar and literature classes (scary for me). However, might there need to be even greater specialization in some fields? Should dental hygiene and pre-med students be tested even more rigorously. I’m okay if my dentist doesn’t know where Tulsa is, I just need him or her to do an exceedingly excellent job at cleaning my teeth. On the other hand, I think political science majors should be well-versed in several fields, qualitative and quantitative. What do you think? Do you agree with Noddings?
It seems clear to me that Noddings has “had it” with the current national standards testing models. I agree with her suggestion for opportunity-to-learn standards as opposed to mere content standards tested by the ACT and SAT. In her appeal to a more democratic 21st century, she states, “When we consider opportunity-to-learn standards, we can agree that all students should have an opportunity to prepare for college”. (p. 5) Earlier in chapter one, she makes the rather bold statement, “our long-overdue rejection of racial and gender bias does not mean that there are no legitimate differences on which to base our expectations”. (p. 4) Do you agree with this statement? I agree because our society is becoming less and less homogenous, and I believe that different backgrounds and environments foster different strengths - both mentally and physically. I think that, in this first chapter, that Noddings is saying that it would be anti-democratic and a dis-service to students and communities to ignore these differences. Do you agree?
Concerning Prakash and Waks’ Four Conceptions of Excellence, I appreciate the varied explanation, first as a straightforward exposition of views of excellence, second in terms of their compatibility, third as inherently linked - the latter conceptions building on the former ones, and finally as viewed through a political lens. Please correct me if anyone see’s a different set-up.
Do you agree with a particular conception? I agree most with the second and third conceptions of excellence, disciplinary initiation (or rational) and self-actualization (personal). My reasoning is that it seems to support and ever-increasing heterogeneous and global society and potentially conflicting views (religious, ethnic, etc.) while still promoting what I see as rigorous assessment. I disagree with the excellence as proficiency (or technical) conception because I see achievement in STEM and high scores on standardized tests as only a part of a whole education. I see “extra-curricular” activities as vital to social development and relatability in a global, heterogeneous society. From what I’ve read of Nel Noddings, I see her as a proponent of the social responsibility (social) conception.
Under which conception do you think home-schooling best fits (if at all)? I’m thinking that home-schooling fits in with the self-actualization conception, but I’d like to hear other opinions. 