In these final sections of the manifesto, Godin discusses that in our current school system group work is not valued and students rarely collaborate with one another. Students are expected to complete tasks on their own and then students are assessed individually on their performance. However, I don't feel that he is making a completely valid argument. Many schools today are using the Common Core Standards and one of the goals of these standards is to teach students 21st century skills including collaboration. Since the transition to the Common Core Standards, I have seen a lot more collaboration amongst students integrated into classrooms. I have seen collaborated amongst students demonstrated in several ways including "partner talks", reading buddies from different grade levels, class discussions, etc. He also mentions that a teachers role should no longer be to share content because content can be easily excessed through resources like the internet. Instead he feels the role of the teacher should be to motivate and encourage student to want to learn the content. I don't really agree with this point. I think having a teacher interacting with me and guiding me through content material is much more engaging then reading content material over the internet. I'm sure many students feel this way too. Therefore I think it equally important for a teacher to be responsible for teaching the students content as it is for teacher to teach the students to want to learn the content. Another big point Godin makes in this section is that teachers don't focus on teaching students willpower, determination, and motivation. I think Godin is right here. These are difficult concepts to teach and usually come naturally based on ones personality. However one way I think teachers can teach these concepts are by modeling them in the classroom. In this section, I really liked the tips that Godin offers for a frustrated student:
"1. Grades are an illusion
2. Your passion and insight are reality
3. Your work is worth more than mere congruence to an answer key
4. Persistence in the face of a skeptical authority figure is a powerful ability
5. Fitting in is a short-term strategy, standing out pays off in the long run
6. If you care enough about the work to be criticized, you’ve learned enough for
today" (Godin, 119).
These tips are really encouraging because so many students (including myself) get hung up over grades and think they determine their intelligence and the ability to be successful in life but there are so many other factors that contribute to this.
Lastly, I also really liked how Godin ended his manifesto.
"When we teach a child to make good decisions, we benefit from a lifetime of good decisions.
When we teach a child to love to learn, the amount of learning will become limitless.
When we teach a child to deal with a changing world, she will never become obsolete.
When we are brave enough to teach a child to question authority, even ours, we insulate ourselves from those who would use their authority to work against each of us.
And when we give students the desire to make things, even choices, we create a world filled with makers" (Godin, 188).
I think these statements are so true and in order to be a good teacher one must teach these concepts in addition to academic content.
Godin's main argument throughout the whole manifesto is that the school system in place today is not effective and must change in order to produce successful human beings. He argues that the school system in place today stems from the industrial age and the purpose is to produce obedient and compliant works that able to complete different tasks. He states that this kind of school system does not promote student to achieve their goals and dreams. In my opinion, this argument is a little extreme. I think Godin is right that schools put an emphasis on obedience and compliance of students but I think that kind of order is essential to foster environment where students can learn. Students can't learn efficiently in chaos. In order for students to learn, there must be structure and expectations for the students. Obedience and compliance should be included in these expectations. As a teacher my goal is to get my students to WANT to be obedient and learn and not FORCE obedience on them. However, this is always a challenge as some students are just unmotivated and don't want to learn. In the end I didn't agree with a lot of Godins arguments but his piece did open eyes to a different way of viewing the education system and taught me the importance in fighting for changes I truly feel are necessary.
"1. Grades are an illusion
2. Your passion and insight are reality
3. Your work is worth more than mere congruence to an answer key
4. Persistence in the face of a skeptical authority figure is a powerful ability
5. Fitting in is a short-term strategy, standing out pays off in the long run
6. If you care enough about the work to be criticized, you’ve learned enough for
today" (Godin, 119).
These tips are really encouraging because so many students (including myself) get hung up over grades and think they determine their intelligence and the ability to be successful in life but there are so many other factors that contribute to this.
Lastly, I also really liked how Godin ended his manifesto.
"When we teach a child to make good decisions, we benefit from a lifetime of good decisions.
When we teach a child to love to learn, the amount of learning will become limitless.
When we teach a child to deal with a changing world, she will never become obsolete.
When we are brave enough to teach a child to question authority, even ours, we insulate ourselves from those who would use their authority to work against each of us.
And when we give students the desire to make things, even choices, we create a world filled with makers" (Godin, 188).
I think these statements are so true and in order to be a good teacher one must teach these concepts in addition to academic content.
Godin's main argument throughout the whole manifesto is that the school system in place today is not effective and must change in order to produce successful human beings. He argues that the school system in place today stems from the industrial age and the purpose is to produce obedient and compliant works that able to complete different tasks. He states that this kind of school system does not promote student to achieve their goals and dreams. In my opinion, this argument is a little extreme. I think Godin is right that schools put an emphasis on obedience and compliance of students but I think that kind of order is essential to foster environment where students can learn. Students can't learn efficiently in chaos. In order for students to learn, there must be structure and expectations for the students. Obedience and compliance should be included in these expectations. As a teacher my goal is to get my students to WANT to be obedient and learn and not FORCE obedience on them. However, this is always a challenge as some students are just unmotivated and don't want to learn. In the end I didn't agree with a lot of Godins arguments but his piece did open eyes to a different way of viewing the education system and taught me the importance in fighting for changes I truly feel are necessary.