Education is one of the most beautiful opportunities we have. Teachers, especially, have the privilege to innovate and create to challenge the students who sit before them. The teachers who make an impact value forming positive relationships. Simply stated, teachers LOVE their kids as their own. I don’t think this reason for becoming an educator has ever changed; teachers teach because of the indescribable fulfillment it brings.
While many educators have these beliefs in common, one thing that differs is how we think about learning. These differences have been around for decades. In the video “Progressive Education in the 1940s,” we see that educators, such as the infamous John Dewey, challenge traditional methods with progressive methods such as “learning by doing” and preparing our students for the future by preparing them a creative, innovative environment (danieljbmitchell, 2007). It is stated in the video that “the world is moving at a tremendous rate. No one knows where. We must prepare our children not for the world of the past, not for our world, but for their world: the world of the future” (danieljbmitchell, 2007)
Generation after generation, ideas of innovating the learning environment have been challenged, but the question remains: Why haven’t we changed if we know that this is best for our kids? From my own personal experience, I think most teachers who reside in the traditional classroom methods have enough success to continue on. As Seth Godin (2014) says, “People who like this stuff. . . like this stuff.” If they have never experienced what teaching in a progressive way feels like and have never reaped the benefits from it, they see no reason to change. If this is the case and we truly want to make the shift in education from traditional to progressive, then we must begin with our WHY. Simon Sinek (2010) argues that “people won’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” It is profoundly important that leaders in education provide reasons WHY educators should consider changing their approach to education versus telling them what they should or should not do (Harapniuk, 2014).
While this step is only the beginning of transforming the education system, I believe it is easier said than done. Nevertheless, when more and more leaders take this into consideration and truly implement it, I do believe it could have the greatest impact education has ever known.
Danieljbmitchell. (2007, August 1). Progressive Education in the 1040s [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opXKmwg8VQM
Godin, Seth. (2014, September 16). People who like this stuff...like this stuff. Seth’s Blog. https://seths.blog/2014/09/people-who-like-this-stuff/
Harapniuk, Dwayne. (2014, September 16). People who like this stuff...like this stuff. It's About Learning. https://www.harapnuik.org/?p=5198
TED. (2010, September 17). How great leaders inspire action | Simon Sinek [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp0HIF3SfI4
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