Behaviorism in the Schools

According to "Education, the Practice and Profession of Teaching" by Robert F. McNergney and Joanne M. Mcnergney, behaviorism is the "philosophical orientation based on the belief that human behavior is determined by forces in the environment that are beyond human control rather than by the exercise of free will." Is it a crazy idea for teachers to believe in behaviorism? Better yet, is it a good idea to base your methods of teaching around the idea of behaviorism?

In my opinion, because behaviorism helps students learn efficiently and helps them reach their full potential, behaviorism is not such a bad idea. I believe that we all work and learn to achieve the goals in our lives, whether it be earning money, learning at school, be successful, etc. Behaviorism helps us achieve these goals by providing a strict environment in which people are forced to learn from their mistakes. Students should not be given repercussions and should not be allowed multiple chances. In life when you make a mistake, you often don't get too many chances before there are serious consequences. I believe that same idea should apply in schools too. Students should have to become reliant on themselves and not solely on their teachers. The teachers should also be able to rely on their students that they will get their work done in a timely and proper manner. Behaviorism helps "manipulate the learning environment and present stimuli, using conditioning and social learning to shape student behavior" which in my mind is a good thing because it pushes the students to do their best.

Using the teaching methods listed in the book, things like "programmed instruction that provides feedback on their performance, behavioral contracts, reinforcement, etc" are good ways of helping the students achieve their goals and learn to their best ability. If a teacher helps them along the way, encouraging them and basically doing the work for them, the student will never learn. Having things like a behavioral contract can help give the student the extra boost or push they may need to succeed. When I was in high school, I was a pretty poor student. I never really did my work, goofed off, often missed classes. I believe that my teachers were just a little too caring and empathetic, rather than being a little harsher and strict. If I had had someone who enforced behaviorism, I may have been able to succeed on my own. Instead I relied on the teacher to give me extensions on things, help me and give me answers, etc. which was not beneficial to me. I only saw positive results in the grades I began getting, not because I was actually putting in the effort. I scraped by and was able to pass high school because my teachers let me coast and just basically gave me the grades I needed to pass. Looking back, I am not only extremely disappointed in myself but also in my teachers. I can understand wanting your students to do well and succeed, but I feel as though if they had pushed me and maybe given be a behavioral contract or something similar, I would have taken school more seriously. However, obviously I do not blame my teachers because in the long run it is the students decision whether or not they buckle down and learn in order to succeed.

Inclusion in the School Systems

If I were to think of one topic discussed in the reading this week that is the most controversial, it would definitely be the idea of inclusion. Inclusion is a word that describes the commitment to educate and teach each specific child, no matter what circumstance, in the school or environment that the student attends. Inclusion also involves "bringing the support services to the child, rather than moving the child to the services and requires only that the child will benefit from being in the class, rather than having to keep up with the other students."

I believe that there are many ways in which a student with disabilities can receive the inclusive help that they require. Schools should set up tudor programs in which a student is able to be given the special attention they need in order to keep up with the lessons and learning material in their classes. Another solution could be something like having an aide that would follow the student around to make sure they can focus and stay on task. When I was in middle school there was a student who had a few different learning disabilities. Our school made sure he was set up with a teacher aide who followed him from class to class, helping him understand the lessons we were learning and helping him complete the assignments. It was really good for this student because he was able to stay on task and buckle down with his work. If this student was not given the extra help he needed, he probably would have fallen behind and failed out of his classes.

A lot of people believe that there should just be separate programs for students with disabilities so that they can learn things separately from the other students. While this can be a good method of doing things, so that the students with disabilities don't feel badly about themselves if they can't learn at the same pace as everyone else, it can also be disheartening. Inclusion helps this because by have inclusive programs and setting up ways for the students to be included, they can feel normal and won't feel out of place. It can help boost their confidence as well.

Overall, I believe that inclusive education is a good thing and I am glad that it is offered in schools nation wide. Students should all be treated equally, regardless of their social, emotional, physical and intellectual characteristics or differences. Services should be offered in all schools around the world for students with disabilities, because they shouldn't be held back by any physical or mental issue they may have.

I felt this image was appropriate because it shows that students from different backgrounds and students with disabilities, etc can all be included and should all be treated fairly and equally.

Are the School Systems Really That Diverse?

If you think about it, the diversity of schools varies greatly from place to place. Where I grew up, the population of African-Americans, Latinos, and other ethnicities in my school was very low. The majority of the students that attended my high school were Caucasian. People always talk about how proud they are to be a diverse school or a diverse place to live, but if you think about it, is it really that diverse? There are definitely plenty of schools that pride themselves on diversity and are encouraging students from different ethnicities to attend their school, which is great. I believe schools should learn to be more accepting and diverse. While there are many schools with plenty of different ethnicities, there are still many schools that are mainly Caucasian students. I believe this is a problem because I think it conveys a message that diversity is discouraged, which is very bad. Diversity is an amazing thing and I think it should be encouraged at all times.

Schools should be more proactive about approaching diversity. Ways they can do this are:

-Creating a positive environment where the students and the teachers are very respectful of the different ethnicities of the students and other faculty.

-Hold certain functions or events for students of all different backgrounds to socialize and get to know one another

-Have a no tolerance policy. Students are reprimanded or given consequences if they are caught harassing, bullying or using slander toward or about students of different ethnic backgrounds

-Teachers should give attention to certain lessons, like if they are learning about a certain historical period, and someone is of that specific background in the class, then the student may feel included more and won't feel as alone or out of place

If teachers, faculty and students go out of their way to create an environment where students feel comfortable, special and valued, it will help create a better learning environment. Students will be able to focus and learn more information if they are not distracted by any kind of negative attention due to race or any other factor. Having diversity is a good thing, and schools should be encouraged to expand their student body and make sure everyone feels special and included.

http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/defining-your-ideal/284-cultural-diversity-at-school.gs

Controversy Over Clothes?

When I was growing up, I never had to worry about clothes being too inappropriate for school, and I didn't have to worry too much about being fashionable either. Growing up in the 90's, everyone basically had the same sense of style, and for the most part at my school, nobody really cared about what kind of clothes you wore. Everyone wore similar wind-pants and track suits, jeans, sneakers, the basics. And because of this style of clothing, nobody wore things that were inappropriate or revealing. Once middle school and high school hit, the shorts started getting shorter and the tops started getting more low cut. However, somehow the clothing being worn was still tasteful and appropriate. Was that due to the strict clothes policy we had at my school? Or was it because of the personal decisions the students made to dress nicely and appropriately? I am not sure of the answer, however these days students seem to leave their house wearing practically nothing, with no consequences.

I personally believe that schools should have very strict dress codes and should be enforcing them everyday. I have seen many kids walking out of high schools recently wearing baggy jeans revealing their underwear, short shorts, low cut tops, etc. While the dress code doesn't have to be over the top, I still believe their should be some sort of rules enforced.

Dress codes, or more specifically, uniforms can help reduce the potential for conflict and harm by:

1. Reducing conflict from other students, example: students attacking or poking fun of another student for who is wearing the better clothes, etc.

2. Reducing the way in which a gang can be spotted or ways they can identify themselves, which can cause fear and terror in the other students.

3. If students are not allowed to wear jewelry and have a strict uniform, it can reduce their risk of being robbed or having expensive items stolen.

4. Reduces bullying and other forms of harassment, including sexual harassment.

5. Uniforms can help faculty identify non-students, visitors, trespassers, etc.

6. Uniforms or a strict dress code can help unify a school and make students feel like they are in a more comfortable, judgement free environment.

Overall, uniforms do seem to  be the best option, however if you don't feel like having a set uniform, strict dress codes can work too. I believe that all schools should enforce some rules and make sure that their school environment is a safe and happy place to learn.

These pictures are examples of 2 extremes at schools. On the top is of female students who are inappropriately dressed. On the bottom are students wearing uniforms, which can be done and is a good option, however most students prefer to have a freedom and creativity and dress in their own clothes.

Source: http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/2012/08/23/10-most-talked-about-school-dress-code-controversies/#6980-1

What's So Intriguing About Being a Teacher?

Teaching seems like such a daunting task, especially when teaching younger children, so why do people do it? While teaching may be frustrating at times, it definitely has its perks and can be very rewarding. Teachers are able to help make a difference in children's lives by teaching them the necessary tools they need to succeed in life. 

Reasons to become a teacher:

• Experience the Joy of Making a Difference
  Teachers get incredible joy in seeing the difference they make as students gain new insights, become more interested in a subject and learn about themselves. Every day, teachers mold the future through impacting their students’ views and understandings. Teachers foster creativity, develop character, give students lenses with which to view the world and provide students with the skills they need to reach their potential and lead productive lives. Many individuals are attracted to teaching by a sense of service, because they want to make a clear, tangible difference in the lives of others. As a teacher, you see the fruits of your efforts everyday as you use your intelligence and creativity to help students become excited about and learn about the science in their lives.
• Have a Vocation, Not a Job
  For many people, their work is a means to an end. They work for a paycheck in order to live their lives. But those called to teach have a true vocation. To those with whom you interact most during your day of teaching - the students - you are not an employee but a friend, a mentor and a guide to the world. A teacher makes a difference in the world by enabling each of his or her students to fully maximize their talents, imagination, skills and character.
• Enjoy Interpersonal Interaction
  Teaching science provides those people who want to work in science the ability to do so while also enjoying a high level of interpersonal interaction. Teachers interact with their students, other teachers and community members regularly. Many students decide to pursue teaching over other science careers for this personal interaction.
• Benefit From Variety
  Many people cringe at the idea of doing a job that involves repetition of a specific task over and over. Teaching is a job that offers a great deal of variety. Each year, teachers get to work with a new group of students with unique personalities, experiences and ideas. Teachers can introduce new topics into the courses, change the way they teach a particular topic or design new classes to teach to keep things new and exciting each year.
• Be a Lifelong Leaner
  You will never learn a topic better than when you start to teach it. Students always ask the most interesting questions, prompting you to dig deeper and learn more about the aspects of science they are most curious about. Teaching science allows you to be a student of science throughout your career as you incorporate new research findings, technologies and science events into your classroom.
• Laugh Every Day
  Adolescents are both easily amused and very amusing so working with them provides many opportunities for laughter. Sometimes it will be silly jokes you will make up as you teach that will make your students laugh. Sometimes it will be funny statements that your students share with you that make you laugh. A day of teaching when you do not laugh at least a couple times will be quite rare.
• Have a High Level of Autonomy
  While required classes have mandated curricula that teachers are expected to follow, it is the teacher who decide what will happen in the classroom each day. Teachers teach their curriculum in very different ways depending on their knowledge, personality and beliefs. Not many jobs provide an individual with so much room to be creative and autonomous each day.
• Spend More Time With Your Family
  One of the great perks of a teacher’s schedule is that it matches up with a child’s school schedule. While you will likely bring some work home with you, you will be able to be home with your children in the afternoons. If you teach in the same school system that your children attend, you will have the same vacation schedule and will be able to spend your summers home with your children. Speaking of vacation….
• Enjoy Lots of Vacation
  While some schools have moved to a year-round schedule, where teachers’ vacation is divided up throughout the year, most teaching jobs allow you to have a couple of months off in the summer where you can choose to get another job, teach summer school, or just relax and revamp for the next year. In addition to summers off, teachers typically get two weeks off during the winter and one week during the spring.

Being a teacher is a good decision because you are not only teaching kids things each day, but you are learning new things from them as well. I am extremely excited to be a teacher because it is thrilling and it definitely has it's benefits. To me, being a teacher is an ideal job. The reasons listed above are only a few of many reasons someone could think of to why you should be a teacher. Teachers are vital in today's society, and without them students would not learn anything. Teachers are helpful in many ways, and they 

http://www.unc.edu/uncbest/teacher.html