Dewey’s argument that social influences are the “great educator”
and that schools are only a secondary agency is valid. Today’s schools are overwhelmed with
additional social influences and concerns that are dampening student
learning. In Jamie Vollmer’s video, The
Ever Increasing Burden on America’s Public School, he discusses how so many
social burdens have filtered in the public school system. It is somehow the educator’s responsibility
to help solve this problem.
These social influences can be problems and possibilities to
educators. First of all, one of the most
popular social influence is technology.
Facebook, cell phones, ipods, and ipads are the latest phenomena. Educators cannot keep up with the latest
technology gadget that students use. However, one of the problems that affect
education is the use of texting.
Students do not write proper grammar due to the fact that texting only
requires abbreviations, slang, and incorrect spelling to communicate with
others. This type of communication is
making it worse for students to write proper English correctly. Facebook is another example, where students
use this to bully other students by posting gossip, rumors, or downright put
downs to others. Second, the media plays
a negative role in social influence.
Popular reality shows only encourage disrespect and bullying and the
media emphasizes the negativity to increase television ratings. Students then mimic these negative actions to
their teachers and classmates.
These social influences are impacting our students therefore, as
educators, we need to take action. There
are educational possibilities out of these social influences that educators can
use to increase student engagement and student learning. The use of technology can be used for
instructional purposes that can assist the student. There are software reading and math programs
that cater to individualized instruction and mastery. According
to the Hechinger Report, “At Carpe Diem, an Arizona
charter school earning national attention for its use of technology, students
split their time between electronic curricula and workshops. In 2012, Carpe
Diem was ranked among Arizona’s top ten highest-performing charter schools.”
Also, the use of email as a
form of communication can serve the student, parent, and teacher. Many parents find it difficult to meet with
the teacher during school hours. The use
of email can alleviate this problem and assure the constant communication
between the parent and teacher. The
student can also benefit from email communication between the student and
teacher for homework assignments and research.
The media can focus on the awareness of service and positive role models
to our future. Educational
programs/networks such as Sesame Street and Discovery Channel to name a few can
inform young viewers.
How can teachers help
students that come with these social influences? Students are with their teachers more than
with their actual parents. Teachers can
encourage students by using the educational possibilities mentioned above. Teachers
make a difference based on their beliefs and attitudes. Teachers should seek to make the difference
in order to educate and prepare the future. The goal is to educate and prepare
student in becoming a productive citizen of society. Tozer (2009) states, “Teachers
are more likely to teach effectively if they understand their students well.” (p. 450).
