American Education between 1900-1950

Education between 1900-1950 was very different than that of the century before. There were many immigrants coming into the United States. They were all being able to go to school but there weren't any things in the school system that would accommodate all the immigrant children. One of the most important things for the immigrants was their holidays and the American school system wasn't doing anything that would bring the holidays from the countries of these people. The school system was "Americanizing" them. Some think this was a good idea. I don't think it is a good idea to have to make people get rid of their culture, they need something to remind them about their culture. The immigrants weren't really looked at as people who should be here. They didn't know English and they were expected to learn things in school in English. The school system should be able to accommodate all the children in their system.

When the school system was being started, there was only an Elementary school. Starting in the 1900's they were forming Middle and High schools for students who wanted to further their education. They were also changing the curriculum and all the children were having to take IQ tests to see where they would test to put them in certain places. I believe that people have the right to choose what they want to do, not let a test determine what they do for the rest of their lives. There were some kids that wanted to work in the factories than go to school. I believe that some didn't think they were good enough to go to school.

American Education in 1770-1900

The school system from 1770-1900 was very much different than what it is now. There wasn't much need for schools back then because of all the industries and the agriculture. Most of the families wanted their children to work so there wasn't much need for going to school. For those who did go to school though, there was a huge bias against gender, race, and religion. As for gender, boys were favored more. There was only one religion taught in school, it was Protestant. Many people didn't like that though because they complained and took religion out of school. That was the start of the separation of church and state. They started taking things out of the textbooks also that some people didn't like. As people started moving out west, there was a great need for more teachers and women started moving out west to fill that need. The women did not know what to expect when they went west but it was definitely a lot different from anything that they had ever seen before. The education system was starting to feminize and people were getting the education they needed. There was a man named Horace Mann who went around inspecting schools and there were many that were not safe at all for the children to be in. The seats were bad on the bodies and there were holes in the walls letting in any kind of weather. The schools we have now are much different than the "common" schools of that time period.

What is my teaching approach?

As I read the book "Approaches to Teaching" By Fenstermacher, I have been able to really get a good look at the three approaches to teaching; the Executive Approach, the Facilitator Approach, and the Liberationist Approach. I believe that I will combine these approaches when I am teaching. I do not think that one person can use only one approach to teaching and that classroom will run smoothly. There are certain activities and lessons that will be done that will need to be taught in different ways. Would you teach an art lesson using the Executive Approach? No. I think that you can start out that way when giving the instructions and directions of the lesson but I think that you will use the Facilitator Approach when doing something like this. You will be there to help the students if they need it but an art project should not be something that you tell your students how to do. This needs to be something that comes out of their brains and onto their paper. For me, I will use the Executive Approach the most but I will definitely incorporate the other two approaches periodically. I know that some of them don't really work well with others. You really wouldn't be able to be an Executive and a Liberationist. Those two are at opposite ends of the spectrum. The Executive and the Facilitator would work really well together and also the Facilitator and the Liberationsist would work good together.

The Executive Approach fits me because that is how I work. I need structure and for there to be a routine. I do not like it when things change and when things are wishy washy. Some people call me OCD or anal but it's just they way that I am. I cannot help that. I will run my classroom like this because it is how I work but I also believe that my students would really appreciate there being some sort of routine so they always know what to expect when they come into the classroom.

The Liberationist Approach

The Liberationsist Approach is an interesting one. It does a lot with giving the student the skills to think, deliberate, discern, imagine, and investigate. The Liberationist wants to liberate his/her children. This person is still a teacher but they do not necessarily "teach" their students. They give their students the skills to learn on their own. I am not a fan of this approach. I think it is too open ended and I need a lot more structure, as a student and a teacher.

For someone who wants to teach second grade, the Liberationist Approach is just not usable. I feel like the lower grades need structure and a routine. I do not see that in the Liberationist Approach. There is not structure and the students are in charge of their own learning for most things. I do not see how this could possibly make students successful considering all the material that they are required to be introduced to and to retain. I believe that there is a place for this approach but I do not believe that there is a place for it in general instruction.

Some things that I see as a good thing with this approach is the fact that teachers are giving their students the tools to be able to learn on their own. I think that is important because they will need that skill for the rest of their lives, in college especially. I think when we are looking at the big picture, the Liberationist Approach has many good aspects to it.

Over all, the Liberationist Approach is one in its own.