Education - Specifically, History
Inspired by: http://catandgirl.com/view.php?loc=70
So when you go into a History class, it's generally not up to any discussion the lens through which you view history; warfare, politics, culture, economics, etc... Whatever the teacher's dominant lens is is generally the one that you learn history through, although a very good teacher can circumvent this and give you several lenses (I've had two or three, all British, who could accomplish this not-easy task). Sure, a Freirean schooling model would compensate for this, but that's not too common, and also, what if several people in the class want to view history from different angles? Common sense says, "well, then, let the class guide it to all the angles," but what if people want to concentrate on one angle?
Here's an alternative model for High Schools and Colleges:
What if when we select courses, we select not based upon "level" of the course, or on the topic, but on the "lens"? Imagine your high school Juniors having their pick not of required A, B, or C level (translating to "smart," "mediocre," and "just drop out now and save yourself the hassle") U.S. History, but instead of "U.S. History through Literature," "U.S. History as defined by Warfare," "U.S. History and the evolution of Civil Rights," "U.S. History as driven by Economics," or "U.S. History as reflected in Music," or "U.S. History as defined by Philosophical Schools of Thought"?
Perhaps Freshman Year History would be an exploration of which lens you feel is best to explore History through.
I dunno, you're all nerdy. Any thoughts?
-*Nick
So when you go into a History class, it's generally not up to any discussion the lens through which you view history; warfare, politics, culture, economics, etc... Whatever the teacher's dominant lens is is generally the one that you learn history through, although a very good teacher can circumvent this and give you several lenses (I've had two or three, all British, who could accomplish this not-easy task). Sure, a Freirean schooling model would compensate for this, but that's not too common, and also, what if several people in the class want to view history from different angles? Common sense says, "well, then, let the class guide it to all the angles," but what if people want to concentrate on one angle?
Here's an alternative model for High Schools and Colleges:
What if when we select courses, we select not based upon "level" of the course, or on the topic, but on the "lens"? Imagine your high school Juniors having their pick not of required A, B, or C level (translating to "smart," "mediocre," and "just drop out now and save yourself the hassle") U.S. History, but instead of "U.S. History through Literature," "U.S. History as defined by Warfare," "U.S. History and the evolution of Civil Rights," "U.S. History as driven by Economics," or "U.S. History as reflected in Music," or "U.S. History as defined by Philosophical Schools of Thought"?
Perhaps Freshman Year History would be an exploration of which lens you feel is best to explore History through.
I dunno, you're all nerdy. Any thoughts?
-*Nick