Empowering Education

“Empowering Education” by Ira Shor                                                       By: Ruby Lazo

1. “Piaget urged a reciprocal relationship between teachers and students, where respect for the teacher coexisted with cooperative and student-centered pedagogy.”

It is crucial to students that they are able to develop a fair, equal, respectful relationship with their teachers. For a student to reach optimal learning, teachers must first be able to focus in on their students learning styles, interest, weaknesses and strengths.

2. “The teacher leads and directs this curriculum, but does so democratically with the participation of the students, balancing the need for structure with the need for openness.”

In this article students had a voice when it came to their education. Rather than the teacher taking over the classroom, students incessantly participated in their education.

3. “What students bring to class is where learning begins. It starts there and goes places" Learning first begins from outside the classroom. It is important to a students learning that they are able to relate to the material. Students are interested and care about what’s going on around them. Change starts with education.

This article focused deeply on classroom structure as well as inquiry-based learning. In this article, the classroom environment allowed children to feel safe to ask questions, learn from one another and explore different ideas and opinions.

I could really relate to this article because I went to The Met high school. The Met high school really focuses on empowering students to ask questions, share ideas and advocate for themselves and their education.

I was recently talking to someone from AmeriCorp who worked with students in an after-school program. We began discussing how classrooms are producing people without thoughts. I know this sounds silly but its true. 

In classrooms today, students are taught through test-based curriculums, where they quickly learn that the only thing that matters is the right answer. Through this style of teaching, students’ ideas and thoughts aren’t challenged. They begin to stop questioning, to stop critically thinking, to stop analyzing and to stop thinking. 

Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrom

“Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome.”          By: Ruby Lazo

by Christopher Kliewer

1. “The challenge is to erase negative attitudes about people with developmental disabilities, get rid of the stereotypes and break the barriers for people with disabilities”.

Throughout history society has held many misconceptions when it comes to people with either physical or mental disabilities. Because of these misconceptions we have allowed ourselves to disvalue and shun, truly capable, bright and gifted people.                    

2. “Dialogue cannot occur… between those who deny others the right to speak their word and those who’s right to speak has been denied.”

This quote pertains to the significance of having a voice in society. Those who have been oppressed and deprived of their right to have a say in their communities must reclaim their natural rights as citizens and individuals. For there to be true change in society, it is essential that everyone’s voice is heard and represented.

3. “[Community] requires a willingness to see people as they are – different perhaps in their minds and in their bodies, but not different in their spirits or in their willingness and ability to contribute to the mosaic of society.”

A true society entails for everyone to be equal. Communities are made up of many different people and we must learn how to accept and value differences to create an idyllic community.                     

The article “Citizenship in School” really reminded me about the harsh inequalities people with disabilities have to deal with. I am always reading or discussing the social inequalities that come with class, race and gender but a lot of times I forget about all the other isms that live within our society.

I think a lot of us forget just how able people with disabilities are. We fall into the traps of ignorance once we believe the stereotypes and derogatory names that are the foundation to discrimination and hate. We must not judge people based on the labels we give them or even their inabilities, but rather on their talents and who they are as a person.