June Caruthers: For the Love of Learning As I walked into what was unmistakably the office of a former elementary school teacher, Ms. Caruthers greeted me with a warning. “I just came back from a Methods of Teaching Social Studies class and I may need a moment to shake myself out of that mindset,” she shared with a smile. Since I enjoy social studies, I assured her that was no problem. I looked around the room, filled with books, old educational posters proclaiming ideas such as “Every Civilization has GRAPES: 6 Factors to Analyze World Civilizations and Cultures” and “Take APPARTS Primary Sources,” a slew of shiny awards from the Student Oklahoma Education Association, and various pictures of loved ones and found it as interesting and inviting as she is. During our time together, Ms. Caruthers not only shared milestones in her impressive career, she also defined the characteristics of a great teacher and provided personal insight on how to improve education today. At the end of the interview, the recurring theme was clear: June Caruthers exemplifies a teacher who is devoted to her students and to the intricate process of learning. For Ms. Caruthers, the process of learning began long …show more content…
Caruthers’ answer to my next question was a clear extension of her commitment to seeing students—and all people, I think—as fellow humans. When asked to identify what she sees as the biggest problem in education today, she was quick to answer: strong and thoughtful leaders who really care about the children we are trying to educate. She expanded by noting that there are more and more students who do not have money or stable backgrounds, “far more of us who are very working class, having to work very hard for our money,” and reiterating that we need people in leadership positions who kept in mind all students’ backgrounds. Ms. Caruthers has the same advice for teachers, administrators, and public officials: “You have to come back to ‘I’m doing this for my
But I have to wonder, it seems that every-other president and every-other governor refers to himself or herself as the education president or education governor, yet they fail to deliver the necessary funding to maintain a high level of education for all of his or her constituents’ children. Why is it that class and culture is the determining factor for who receives a quality education, this social injustice must be remedied? My Awakening Much like Mike, I have had some amazing academic mentors that were not afraid to get down in the trenches with me and ask what I was trying to say. I had Ms. Lewis my freshman year of high school, she would sit down with me and rip apart my paper and rework it as necessary. During my senior year of high school, I had the privilege of taking a U.W. English class, that was a seminar format where the instructor would frequently conference with us, and he gave me the tools to continue my education.
The first four weeks of CR510 have prompted this student to reflect on her years of teaching in the public school setting. Having experienced many similar complexities to the ones in the text, this student is sympathetic to the challenges facing those in the education system and is eager to find opportunities to offer a better solution for all involved. CR510 has strengthened this student's belief that a third party neutral can provide valuable benefits to educational systems at all levels. Gorton and Alston (2012) pointed out in Chapter One that effective leaders “provide direction and meaning, generate and sustain trust, display an eagerness to take action, and spread hope”, through motivating and empowering others to reach the desired goals (pp. 1). 7-9).
Wallis, Claudia. “How to Make Great Teachers.” Time Online. 13 Feb. 2008. Web. 16 March 2011.
It is known that many important and influential people held slaves during the time in which our country allowed to do so. It’s less known, or strategically forgotten in our history that it was incredibly common for slave owners to have sexual relationships with their slaves, consensual or otherwise. On the website, American Heritage, Annette Gordon-Reed wrote an article in which she makes a good point, “Speaking of love in the context of a master-slave relationship is even more difficult, given the moral and political implications…” Elaborating on her point, how consensual can it be for a person that “owns” someone’s life, to have a sexual relationship with an individual that is there against their own free will? When does
Throughout the history of western civilization, women have fought for their rights to be treated as equal citizens. The problem of gender inequality has been prevalent for centuries. The movement for equal opportunity has gained traction in different eras but is still far from complete. Today, we are faced with an America that has made a choice. It has made a choice for division, for stagnancy and for retrogression. Women have been subtly told that their value does not rest in politics, nor in business, nor in leadership. After the results of the 2016 election cycle that subtly is gone. The America of today is different from the America of yesteryear. The underlying notes of sexism are no longer hidden. A society that was once working towards
Teachers play a critical role in the fundamental values children develop during their years of education. Teachers serve many roles in the classroom that affect a child’s behaviour and attitude for the rest of their lives. They fulfill the main role of educating students placed in their care, but beyond that expected service teachers also mentor and nurture students, become role models and they create a warm and inviting classroom environment for the children to learn and develop their character in. Today, Michael Johnston is state senator in Colorado but prior to his duties Michael was a teacher and principal in high schools and universities in Mississippi and Colorado. Johnston has a strong
There are certain traits that many great professors possess, and one of the most important traits is having good communication skills. Other elements that contribute to a great teacher are integrity, positive personality, and being able to inspire your students. In the case study, Equity in Academia, Melinda Wilkerson should keep her job at the university so she can continue to encourage and educate her students. Wilkerson is a model example of a professor because she has a good understanding of ethics, uses a human relations approach to her teaching and uses feedback to continue to improve her communication with her students. The use of communication skills used in Wilkerson’s classroom are what make her a great professor.
In many low income communities, there are teachers that are careless and provide their students with poor quality education. These teachers are there just to make sure that they keep receiving their monthly paychecks and act in this way because they believe that low income students do not have the drive, the passion, or the potential to be able to make something of themselves and one day be in a better place than they are now. Anyon reveals that in working class schools student’s “Work is often evaluated not according to whether it is right or wrong but according to whether the children followed the right steps.” (3). This is important because it demonstrates that low income students are being taught in a very basic way. These children are being negatively affected by this because if they are always being taught in this way then they will never be challenged academically, which can play a huge role in their futures. This argument can also be seen in other articles. In the New York Times
As a leader candidate, I can understand the challenges and multiplicity of complications that administrators must face each day. However, I will not accept any remote possibility that the students must be affected by some flaws of the school organization. We all as leaders, must be strategic with people, time, and money to guide our students towards an academic success.
In “Writing to Learn: Writing across the Disciplines,” Anne J. Herrington finds different sources stating that writing is to be taken serious. Janet Emig says, "writing represents a unique mode of learning-not merely valuable, not merely special, but unique” (1) meaning that writing is far more essential than we ought to make it seem. Anne Herrington wants educators teaching in economics, history, chemistry or any other subject to guide their students into understanding why progressing their writing skills will be more helpful to them. At the end of the day, it all comes down to the educator; whether he/she wants their students to use writing as a way for students to adapt to different disciplines.
Adele-Spratt, Yvette. "Thoughts On How History Teachers Can Positively Impact Student Race Relations." Www2.css.edu. Ed. Susan E. Smith. The College of St. Scholastica. Web. 15 Feb. 2012. .
Education has always been an important piece in my family’s legacy. My grandmother was one of the first African American women to have a school named after her, and the majority of my uncles, aunts, and cousins all work within the education field. Naturally, I decided to write about two influential educators that have greatly impacted my life.
It is my belief that anyone with a desire to change the world would be fortunate to work in education. By sharing my vision with others, and building upon my skills while seeking constant growth, I strive to take an approach to leadership that fosters an effective, nurturing educational environment for the entire school community. By creating this type of environment, as well as through embracing and enhancing my leadership strengths, it is my goal to contribute to society by inspiring people to become better not only as teachers and students, but as compassionate human beings.
...sionate professors who helped shape the type of teacher I would like to be. They found ways to talk to me in a manner that motivated me to want to improve, all while honoring the work that I have already done. I would like to bring this same moral into my classroom, when a child is motivated, passionate,and self-aware of their needs, strengths, and weaknesses, they can and will push themselves to improve. Students do not solely care about how much knowledge an educator has, but they care about how much these educators truly care. We shouldn't judge a person on how educated they are based only on test scores. The most educated person may not be the most suitable person to teach children. I may lack the test scores, however, I do not lack the passion and motivation needed to be a great teacher. If we cannot celebrate small successes, the final outcome is less weighted.
Our nation’s education system strives through the hard work and dedication of its educators. Often great teachers, principles and supporting staff are drawn to the profession because they possess the desire to empower, inspire, nurture and watch young people grow - not only academically, but also emotionally. These people are there because they want to make an impact upon our society and the lives of whom the reach. Highly effective teachers are those who have taken learning to new heights by accelerating student learning, closing achievement gaps that persisted for decades, and promoting a mindset of change. Moreover, the presence of highly effective teachers in classrooms today continues to manifest as a result of the support from strong school leaders (U.S. Department of Education, 2013).