Columbo/Gatto

To begin reading with Columbo, gaining an understanding what thinking critically does consist of, helps me "try" to see the perspectives in which Gatto shared in his article. Columbo provided for me, a better understanding to how critical thinking has different aspects. He provides his basic definition on what critical thinking is and the basis from which he believes it is derived. I must say that reading him first gave me the insight on how to deal with authors like Gatto, with patience and an open mind. Culturally, as Columbo mentions, I would definitely say that my opinions and perspectives on how I see education, in particular, public education, as a necessity and a path, an opinion based on how I was raised and see things. Growing up in an inner city and moving to a rural area, I see the differences in education and how even an individuals attitude towards teaching differs.
I believe my childhood experiences are reasons for my passion in the subject. I think Gatto was bored enough to compose this silly article. While it is his opinion and it seems the article was well written, I feel his personal experiences and crummy career played a role on his biased opinion on what public education is really trying to do. I don't see public education as factories. No one cares, and I will speak for myself, about how he got screwed while he was on leave. He referenced a lot of his work on authors and educators from other universities. I disagree that our system is like Prussia. Once again, I am completely impassive about how many activities or jobs James Bryant Conan had and his negativity in general to education. I just don't like this guy.

Gatto/Freire Reading Response

As I read Gatto and Freire and their opinions on education, I began to re-evaluate my experiences as a student in the public school system. I came to the conclusion that while I have had to develop in a sub-par school in need of renovation and an update to the faculty-student relationships, I have not had the experience that Gatto or Freire predicted. My teachers were, for the most part, willing to teach in a method not unlike the Socratic Method of asking and answering questions. I would often speak during these sessions and our class would not always come to any one conclusion and we would have to compromise on a solution together (unlike Freire's belief that all conclusions to a class lecture and their meanings are determined by the teacher).
I think that this is because Oregon attracts a more dedicated group of teachers from all over the country due to the higher standards that Oregon sets for a teaching degree. Because of their dedication too teaching, they might approach an issue in a variety of ways in order to help the students understand and question the information that the teachers are providing, including the discussion of the material by the students. Because of this, we don't have to worry about the quality of our education in Oregon as much as in other states; we only have to worry about how dedicated we are to leartning.

Ryan C.

Muriels Reading Response

Reading Response:

In Paulo Freiere's Pedagogy of the Oppressed he continually bring up the comparison between "problem posing education" and " banking education". Banking education is the simple act of a teacher mindlessly feeding her students facts she believes to be relevant. The information is then stored by the student simply to be regurgitated at a later time, while they never really understand why the answer is what it is.

On the other end of the spectrum problem posing education encourages students to really think about the why instead of simply the what. Education should be full of questions, experiences, and inspiration. Problem posing education allows that and changes the student teacher relationship to where both parties are equally learning from each other. Theoretically the student should be able to arise just as many thought provoking questions within the teacher as the teacher does the student.

I personally agree with most of Freier's thoughts on education throughout this article. Within all the articles we have read, and even some of the classes i have attended my first week of college, it seems they are really pushing the idea of critical thinking as appose to the generic way of learning. It is obvious critically thinking students will be quite successful in school while enjoying the process of learning.

Gatto

Kelly Dickens

“He told me that I was never to use that term in his presence again, that if I was bored it was my fault and no one else’s. The obligation to amuse and instruct myself was entirely my own, and people who didn’t know that were childish people, to be avoided if possible.” -Gatto
This spoke to me because it’s the plain and simple truth. People of all ages rely far too much on modern technology to be entertained, instead of being outdoors having adventures and exploring, we sit around watching T.V., playing video games, talking on the phone etc. And, when these things fail us, what do we do? Complain of boredom. I’ve done this many times as I’m sure everybody has. I agree with Gatto when he says we need to learn to manage ourselves and be challenged. There are so many things out there that can help us grow and expand our horizons, but, for whatever reasons, we choose to ignore this or simply never discover it.
One thing I don’t agree with Gatto about is that all public schooling is bad. Without school, how would we have made it to college? People wouldn’t know how to read, write, or do math. And what then? If, by some miracle, someone came up with a better way of getting an education, I’d be all for getting rid of public schooling. But, until then, it’s probably not a good idea to keep children out of school.

Ironic would be the first word that came to mind when reading Colombo’s Critical Thinking, Challenging Cultural Myths. Ironic, because here I was sitting in a a seemingly traditional classroom, being assigned a reading that encouraged me to challenge traditional thinking. I enjoyed the article right away because it opened up with a sentence I immediately could relate too; “beginning college can be a disconcerting experience.” Sure enough, I had some disconcertion going on.

I particularly liked what Colombo had to say about myth and culture. I’ve always viewed culture as something rich and distinctly unique to humanity, but I never thought of it as having negative connotations, as well. Colombo stated that through culture, comes rigid customs that take a true critical thinker to break and question why those customs are the way they are.

It is within our traditional education system that we learn to obey these myths and customs and are rarely challenged to question them. This takes me strait to Gatto. The soul of Gatto’s argument is that our education system is full of flaws. it’s boring, ridged, and and encourages mediocracy. Friere shared similar views and even went as far as to say that oppression in our schools is caused by the love of death and destruction, rather then creation.

The key points of these three articles run parallel. The connections between them are blatant and obvious, and Colombo, Gatto, and Friere share very similar views. As for buffalo gals, however, the connection did not come quickly. To be honest, it didn’t really come at all. Though, I did connect it to our discussion about what separates humans from the rest of the animal kingdom. We made assumptions that we are the only species capable of language and deep emotions, but it could be that we’re just looking at it form a different perspective. Just like how gal saw coyote as a person, and horse saw gal as a colt. It all depended on perspective, and our perspective could be completely off. Buffalo gals was humbling in that way, and even though I didn't find a direct way to connect it to the other readings, Buffalo gals did spark a lot of critical thinking

3 readings

In reading Columbo, Friere and Gotto I came to the conclusion that education is the most important thing that you can do for any other human being. I don't want any one to end up like me goin back to school at my age. Going to one dead end job to another not know what I want to be when I grow up. It is embarrassing to know that our country is 15th. in math and science in the world and 11th. in reading. Even though I heard that on the "Steven Colbert" show which is a syterical, comedy news show in gives real news stories with a comedic twist. I dont think any thing is wrong with memorizing facts. I will email my original writing to you which gets to the point better.

Definition of nature:
I wanted to look in the dictionary or on line to give the "official" definition , then mine however dictionary.com was rather lengthy so I choose the ones which most agree with my personal definition so first we'll go with dictionary.com.
1. the material world, esp, asa surrounding humankind and existing independently of human activivtes.
2. The natural world as it iexixts without human benngs. As mountains trees etc.
3. A primitave, wild, condition; an uncultivated state.
4. The original, natural, uncivilized condition of humakind.
Definition of human.
1.or or pertaining to characters of or having the nature of people.
2.Consisting of peopole: the human race.
3.Of or pertaining to the soccial aspect of people: human affairs.
These are the ones from the dictionary which most fit my dedinition. My point and most likiley the point of the instructor is that the 2 words are intertwined and can hardly be descrived or defined as one without defining them together and using "human" in describing "nature" to describe "human"

Reading response by Molly Hilken

“Do we really need school? I don’t mean education, just forced schooling: six classes a day, five days a week, nine months a year, for twelve years. Is this deadly routine really necessary? And if so what for? Don’t hide behind reading, writing, and arithmetic as a rational, because 2 million happy homeschoolers have surely put that banal justification to rest.” –Gatto

I agree with Gatto in the aspect that we need an education and maybe the school system as it is today isn’t quite as necessary as we are raised to believe. I feel as though high school would have been more beneficial to me if I had gotten educated through experience rather then “schooled” by sitting at a desk all day, five days a week. But at the same time reading, writing and basic arithmetic are vital skills that we need to learn somewhere, if not in a structured schooling system then where? While homeschooling, as Gatto mentioned, provides children with an education outside of the typical structured learning setting it does not teach them the valuable social skills that children learn by having social contact on a daily basis in a classroom. These social skills are absolutely necessary for life as adults. While these home schooled children benefit from learning independence and creative thinking , some of them may lack being properly socialized.