Summative Field Blog

While looking back on all my blogs and the experiences that I have had at the schools we have visited, one thing has become apparent to me and that is the relationship with the student and teacher and how the administration has such an impact on teaching.  First hand I have been able to see the role of the teacher not only as a teacher, but as a mentor from grade school all the way until high school.  In elementary school the teacher is looked at as another adult figure that provides comfort and care, but also discipline as well.  In middle school we see the development grow more as the teacher becomes a coach as well or a group leader and then the personal relationships begin to develop slowly as we grow into ourselves.  Once we hit high school that is when we develop strong bonds with teachers because of how much time we spend with them.  This is where whether we are in an after school program ranging from sports to academic teams, we spend nearly two thirds of our weeks throughout the school year with these people and begin to develop a trust with them that does not just happen overnight.  As time passes, some bonds grow stronger and stronger, this not only helps with a relationship stand point but also on the educational level as well.  The student is able to trust what the teacher tells them is correct and therefore the student will listen to what he or she has to say in class which we hope results in better grades and results.
  The administration also plays a role in that they subject the teacher to a certain way of teaching and teaching things that are state tests.  In reality, how likely is it that these assessments are going to prove anything for the student in the long run.  I feel as if schools try to hide children form the real world for so long that it effects their potential in actuality.  Being able to experience what is happening at a young age is good for a person.  It makes them start making their own decisions at a young age.  While going through one of the clinical's, one of the authors said it best in that we only know the text, meaning we only know what the text says because everything besides that is not correct information according to schools today.  When it comes down to it, I believe that teachers should have the ability to be able to say what they please to a certain extent on a subject, whether or not it involves what they are teaching or not.  Certainly, it would only go so far to just get the students to question what is right or wrong and have then make up their own solutions to problems instead of always being told what to do in situations.