I remember signing up for sociology, not having the slightest idea what it was. I figured it would be interesting since I had been told one learns interesting things in college. However, besides that broad piece of advice, I entered a class not knowing even facts as simple as the definition of sociology. Little did I know, I did not have to worry. On the first morning of class I was seated towards the front with my notebook and pencil at the ready. Maggie Hunter entered the room and it was evident that she was excited to teach and also open to learning from us. Her verbal language and physical language were the two things that made the most significant impression on me as they gave the message of commitment and openness. Immediately, as a result of the energy she brought to the learning space, I was inspired to learn as much sociology as the course could give me.
Walking into a classroom in which the student can become inspired as a result of a teacher’s excitement and knowledge of their subject is an amazing and unique experience. This desire to learn and delve into the deep corners of a subject is a result of both the teacher and the student playing their part. The teacher, however, (very much like a parent) sets the tone for the interaction. As students become older, they are expected to play a larger role in their education and have to be more adamant about fulfilling their desire for knowledge. When children are younger, however, the teacher greatly impacts the child’s outlook on learning and, if the student is lucky, will inspire a sense of curiosity in the student. What's more, teachers have the job of imparting knowledge into minds of all ages. Teachers and students have the possibility to form tight connections based on ...
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...the public school versus the teacher that teaches in the private school may have different obstacles or objectives and, yet, they still have the potential to influence or change a student based on the relationships they cultivate. These relationships are important for both the teacher and the student as the level of openness and understanding makes way for new knowledge and new ideas. Being open as a human is not always easy and when not discussing the transcendentalists, being open can often be looked down upon or seen as too “wishy-washy”. However, in education, to be open to the other and for both the teacher and the student to acknowledge that they have the ability to learn a lot makes the learning process more successful and powerful. To be a student who is affected by a teacher is unforgettable. To be a teacher who affects a student is also unforgettable.
This Social Problems class introduced me to the practice of identifying and studying social problems. For the future, I now know such terms as ‘subjective concern’, ‘objective conditions’, and many more. I could easily hold a pertinent conversation with any sociologist regarding a certain social problem, and hold my ground. This subject has tied in well with many other areas of my others classes as well. This class has also prepared me for future sociology classes in high school or college, and possibly a career in sociology somewhere down the line.
Student who embrace transcendentalism and can believe in their capabilities, choose not to conform, and examine their belief system and ways of thinking throughout high school will be more successful throughout the rest of their lives. Society can be the most destructive thing during high school and embracing transcendentalism would allow student to form and accept their unique identity. The formation of unique beliefs and ability to be outspoken with opinions is necessary for all high school students.
The poem “Students,” by Tom Wayman and the story, “Crow Lake,” by Mary Lawson presents two teachers who cope with the same difficulties of teaching. Although the teachers are faced with identical circumstances, their resolutions for the problem vary. Wayman, in the poem, and the narrator in the story both fails to make connection with their students, however, Wayman understands his students’ behavior while the narrator refuses to communicate and simply gives up on teaching.
Transcendentalism could be considered to be one of the first revolutionary movements in United States history. They weren’t violent protesters but instead people who challenged the social norm and encouraged non-conformity. The effects of the Transcendentals and their influence are still felt today in writings and in movies such as Dead Poet’s Society. The movie Dead Poet's Society focuses on a group of highschoolers in an overbearing high school and their teacher, Mr. Keating. Mr Keating is a believer in the Transcendentalist movement and challenges normal teaching practices. His students take inspiration from Mr. Keating and take the Transcendentalist tenets to heart. But incorporating the tenets of Transcendentalism into your everyday life is not worth the risks that it poses. It can lead to being cast out from
However, the teacher’s role in shaping, molding, and nurturing young minds plays a significant role in the classroom. That is, teacher should connect and invest relationship to students in a certain level to encourage learning in the
When I First signed up for this class I can honestly say I had no idea what sociology was this was just one of those classes I had to take to get into Saint Martin’s. The first day of class I wasn’t sure what to except but as Carlos introduced the class to sociology I was excited to learn some new things but I had no idea what was in store. The information in this class has opened my eyes to so many different ideas of what today’s society truly is and how we are trained not to see it. I feel like a blindfold was removed from my eyes in the duration of this class and the events of this year have been perfect modern examples of what we were learning in class. I can’t imagine going through the past couple of months without being in this class
Teachers help us expand and open our mind by giving us skills throughout students’ early life to help students when they are older. By learning information from teachers, students become better people, in a couple of ways. Besides inquiring knowledge from their teachers, students learn to work with one another, open their mind to other peoples’ thoughts and ideas, respect one another, and learn different techniques for life’s issues.
At first I didn’t know what to really expect from taking an online sociology class for class. To be completely honest, I thought I would be reading a lot of boring articles and then writing about them. It turned out that I was wrong. I was able to see what sociology pertains to and how it relates to our lives. It’s funny to think that almost everything in your life is controlled by someone else. Your interests, hobbies, and even clothes aren’t really solely your decision. You may be thinking “no way I am being influenced and I make all of my decisions consciously” but in fact that is not the case.
Mr. Keating, the new English teacher at Welton Academy, is the epitome of transcendentalist values. He devoutly embraces the idea of nonconformity, a key aspect of transcendentalism. At the start of the first English class, he instructs his students to tear out the introductory portion of their textbook because he disagrees with the content. This captures the attention of his student immediately differentiating him from the other professors at Welton and their orthodox teaching styles. Emerson, a famous poet who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century, said, “Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist.... Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Further emphasizing the importance of individuality, Mr. Keating takes his student out to the courtyard and asks them to walk in their own exclusive speed and style, independent of how everyone else is walking. When inquired by Mr. Nolan, the Headmaster at Welton, as to what exactly he was doing, Mr. Keating replies that he w...
My first class in my link was sociology, initially I wanted to take psychology, but I still wanted to learn the sociological aspect to define people’s actions. I passionately enjoyed taking sociology, because it helped me study people and understand who they are by observing their actions. I enjoyed learning from Professor Parker, sociology is a hard subject to learn, however Professor Parker had the patience to explain all his lessons slowly and carefully for his students. As well as providing extra help by continuously responding back to e-mails students have sent him over the semester with meaningful help. The hardest lesson I had in Sociology is writing a clear thesis. Professor Parker has continuously helped me develop clear thesis statements, and I believe without his help I wouldn’t have been able to write many of my essays. I do still need extra practice until I’m a professional at writing thesis statements. Howeve...
Teacher Ethics “Ethics are defined as a set of principles of right conduct; the rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession” (Dictionary of the Human Language, 2000). Teachers are often put in situations that require more than just knowing the basic school rules. It is within these situations, that the ethical dilemmas occur. There is not always a right way to deal with the many daily problems that face educators, but there are ways to handle situations that are better than others. Teachers should follow and refer to a code of ethics to help teach in the most appropriate and ethical way as well as a guide to help deal with dilemmas.
Parent involvement is one of the most influential aspects of student motivation. The parents are the initial teachers of the child before the child goes to school and encounters education through a teacher. If a parent is completely engaged in the learning process with a child, there can be growth between the child and the parent simultaneously. The parents set an example for the child, so that the child understands that help is in the classroom and at home. Alma Wright, a first and second grade teacher, believes that parents in the classroom are a good way to stimulate children. She says, “Their active participation is a positive influence. The school is open for parents to share their talents and motivate their children” (Drew, Olds, and Olds, 1974, p. 71).
I think all students yearn to learn. We as future teachers need to motivate students with learning, exploring, investigating, discovering and inquiring. Together you will be learning and teaching.
Teachers hold a very sensitive role in the modern civilized society. Regarded as social engineers, teachers possess immense knowledge on various issues that affect our daily lives as a community of human beings. Though in many countries including the developed ones, teachers are poorly remunerated they make invaluable contributions to their communities, to society and to the world at large, engaging in yeoman services with selfless love and dedication that could only be considered priceless. This paper serves to explore some of the social contributions that teachers make to the modern civilized society.
I believe that teaching is the most important profession in the world. How else can we continue to develop in such a technical world, or in any other way, for that matter? Without the transfer of knowledge to young minds, we will stagnate and wither as a world. Teaching is hope for better, more successful futures. Learning is hope for becoming better individuals, for gaining intelligence, and for implementing practical experiences in our future. Since we always tell our children that they should plan for their futures and work to realize those goals, the teaching profession should “practice what it preaches” by helping young people to reach those goals. Teaching reading during the past five years has been rewarding beyond my imagination. I have watched non-readers become readers, I have watched scores and student confidence improve, and I have been part of that change. What a reward!