Trouble Makers- Carla Shalaby

 “Our schools are designed to prepare children to take their assumed place in the social order rather than to question and challenge that order. Because we train youth in the image of capitalism instead of a vision of freedom-for lives as individual workers rather than solidary human beings-young people are taught academic content that can be drilled and tested rather than understanding literacies and numeracies as forms of power, tools for organizing, fodder for the development of their own original ideas.” Trouble Makers- Preface

This quote questions the essential goal of education in the modern world. It implies that obedience is frequently given priority in schools over critical thinking, with the goal of preparing students to fit into existing societal institutions rather than inspiring them to confront or question such structures. This viewpoint brings to light a serious worry: rather than fostering true understanding and empowerment, education could work to support capitalism and social structures. By portraying students as “individual workers” instead of “solidary human beings,” the educational system runs the risk of undervaluing the growth of critical abilities like empathy, civic involvement, and teamwork. Students' ability to understand reading and numeracy as tools for empowerment and social change is limited by the emphasis on rote learning and standardized assessment.

“Isolation, humiliation, and exclusion are commonplace school responses to misbehavior, and these responses happen with such frequency in all kinds of schools that they are considered acceptable and seen as inevitable.” Trouble Makers- Preface

The passage draws attention to a crucial problem in learning environments: the normalization of harsh reactions to misconduct on the part of students. It implies that punishments such as exclusion, humiliation, and isolation have grown commonplace and frequently eclipse more positive methods of behavior control. This viewpoint puts into doubt the efficacy of these kinds of approaches. These answers have the potential to increase student's feelings of disconnection and hostility rather than to promote understanding or growth. They might result in a vicious cycle of misbehavior and punishment that doesn't deal with the underlying problems that motivate the acts of the students.


“ Everyone is ready to catch children doing the wrong thing. Unquestioning  deference to authority is the requirement and the expectation of  school, where adult directives replace children's own desires.” Trouble Makers”- Introduction

This quote talks about an issue that we discussed in class, which is the issue that education systems are looking to punish the children rather than educate them in some situations. If a student is acting up instead of teaching the students that the way they are acting is wrong, teachers will just put them in a corner or and isolate and yell at them. A student could be trying to express themselves, but then get in trouble for expressing themselves and the way they feel. It's critical to think about how educational systems may strike a balance between promoting autonomy and authority. Encouraging students to voice their opinions and question what is accepted may result in a more engaging learning environment that promotes creativity and individual development. Appreciating children's viewpoints has the potential to change the educational climate from one that just enforces conformity to one that embraces creativity.

Comments

  1. Raine BeausoleilDecember 11, 2024 at 8:35 AM

    I like how you expanded on these quotes and your selection of them.

    ReplyDelete

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