Journal #3

Living in an evolving society raises many questions for teachers. Questions that one might think would be simply answered but when truly thought about are not that simple at all. Such as what should we be teaching in the classroom? Excellence has always seemed to be the “logical” answer but we have come to find that there is an error in this system. Excellence without equity in some cases has proved to be ineffective in our improvement as a society. Equity is essential to growth because without it truly all you have is ignorance. “Equalance” is the balance between the two. As teacher we must teach our future to be one that values diversity. We must not squash creativity for academics because we would be doing a great injustice to many children. We as teachers must not only incorporate and mold ourselves to these changes but also help some of them along the way by believing these things and then teach them.

1.)How can I as teacher practice “equilance” in my class room?

By always remembering that diversity is not a problem but rather a value to our society. Remembering that change is not always easy but without it we would never improve. Knowing that every child deserves an equal opportunity to succeed and that sometimes that is only achieved by treating the differently, equally but differently.

2.)When do we know that we have arrived?

When creativity and the value of diversity not only in ethnicity but in all realms is valued the same in the school system and taught in balance with excellence and academics. We are not creating monster filled with knowledge but creative intelligent people who can contribute to society and to themselves.

References

6:15 – 7:30 "Restructuring for caring and effective education: The possible futures of education" Richard A. Villa (President, Bayridge Consortium Inc., San Diego).