You may be familiar with this iconic quote about teaching by Henry Adams, an American historian and member of the family that included two U.S. presidents. Of course, the idea applies to all teachers, women and men. The idea is also at the heart of Walden University’s expectations for you as a member of the program—to prepare teachers who are ready and able to promote positive change. That change might be at the level of a single child, a family, or a community. Whatever the scope may be, it means actively working from the belief that you can affect eternity. The decisions you make each day in your future classroom can have a lasting and positive influence on your students and through them, in larger ways. Pause to consider what a powerful and exciting proposition it is to be a teaching professional!
Your potential influence also means that it is important to consider fundamental beliefs you hold about education and the purpose of school. Your reading in the text this week included an exploration of the two main viewpoints on the purpose of school: to transmit society’s knowledge and values, and to reconstruct society.
As you read, you may have found yourself agreeing more strongly with one viewpoint or another. For this Assignment, you will expand on your initial thinking to support you in setting goals to meet as a teacher change-maker.
To prepare:
Review the Week 1 Learning Resources. Pay particular attention to the reading in Chapter 9 of the text, “Why Do Schools Exist?” (p. 244in the text), and any other Learning Resources that can help you reflect on the purpose of school.
Complete the exercise “Where Do You Stand?” on pages 248-249 of the text. (You may print out these pages to make it easier to answer the questions and interpret your responses. You are not required to turn in the exercise as part of this Assignment.)
Reflect on your responses and what they indicate about your beliefs about the fundamental purpose of school: to transmit culture or to reconstruct society.
Consider any functions of school that you believe are not included among the 20 points in the exercise.
Think about how your beliefs about the purpose of school will influence your role as a teacher professional and your mission as a teacher change-maker. Consider the value of critical thinking as a teacher professional and how self-directed learning will have an impact on your teaching.
To complete this Assignment:
State your views on the purpose of school. Include at least two points that are not listed in the “Where Do You Stand?” exercise, and explain your reasoning.
Explain how your views about the purpose of school relate to your ideas about the role of a teacher professional. Include ways critical thinking and self-directed learning will support your role as a teacher professional.
Working from your concept of the purpose of school, state 2–3 goals for how you can embody the
Walden goal of promoting positive change as a teacher—in transmitting culture or in reconstructing society.
Refer to the text and other resources this week to support your thinking. Be sure to cite all Learning Resources using APA style.
Assignment: Word document of 2–3 pages
Required Readings
Sadker, D. M. & Zittleman, K. R. (2018). Teachers, schools, and society: A brief introduction to education (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 1, “The Teaching Profession and You” (pp. 1-21)
Chapter 9, “Purposes of America’s Schools and the Current Reform Movement” (pp. 243-272)
Chapter 11, “Becoming an Effective Teacher”
“Are Teachers Born, or Made?” (pp. 308-318)
“A Few More Thoughts on Effective Teaching” (pp. 336-339)
These sections of your course text offer information on what defines a professional and understanding a teacher’s role as an education professional. They also explore key questions about the purpose of school and what makes an effective teacher. As you read, pay particular attention to ideas that can help you shape your concept of a teaching professional and your key purpose as a teacher.
Required Media
Laureate Education, Inc. (2017). The Professional Educator: Voices from the field 1. [Video] Baltimore, MD: Author.
Classroom teachers share their concepts of what it means to be a professional. Listen for ideas that enhance your understanding of a teacher’s role as a professional.
Laureate Education, Inc. (2017). The Professional Educator: Voices from the field 2. [Video] Baltimore, MD: Author.
Classroom teachers share their concepts of what it means to be a professional. Listen for ideas that enhance your understanding of a teacher’s role as a professional.
Week 1 Discusssion Rubic-
https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/bbgs-deep-links-BBLEARN/app/course/rubric?course_id=_16877826_1&rubric_id=_2599523_1
Week 1 Assignment Rubic-
https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/bbgs-deep-links-BBLEARN/app/course/rubric?course_id=_16877826_1&rubric_id=_2599524_1
** Make sure to cite all Learning Resources using APA style and Reference Page. Thanks
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