This is your opportunity to state your opinion(s) about the issues we heard debated today!
15 comments:
Anonymous
said...
One issue that really stuck out to me today was the issue of evolution versus creationism. I personally disagree that evolution is taught in school as only a theory. I have had teachers who tried to stuff evolution down their students throats as the only means that the earth and universe could have come about. I personally believe that evolution is not a true a theory and that God created the heavens and the earth. People stick up for atheists and agnostics who say they don't want their children to be taught about creationism because it introduces the idea of God. Yet, everyone is just fine to tell Christians that there is no God. It is just as disrespectful to their beliefs. I also disagree with some of the points on the handout that supported evolution. One of the points that I totally disagree with is the one that creation does not agree with science. Will cited many scientific facts that would support creation, and many of the facts about evolution could go either way. My main point is that if creation is not taught in schools, neither should evolution. If evolution is taught, it should be taught as a theory and not as a fact.
The issue that sparked the most interest with me also, was the creationism vs. evolution. I personally do not think either should be taught in school. I believe that that subject should be something that parents choose to talk to their children about or something they take their child to church to learn. It is mainly a matter of religion and what you believe in. I can understand teachers teaching religions of different cultures and saying what each one believes in, saying creationism or evolution, or others. They could briefly say what each is and what cultures believe in it, but it should not be a whole unit or anything like that. Just a brief moment. It would be very hard to not step on toes trying to teach it without putting in personal feelings or offending other cultures and religions. I can agree with students taking it in college, when they choose to, but I do not think anyone should have to learn about it in elementary through high school. Parents raise their children to believe a certain value or religion and they may not want their child to learn other ways. That is the parents right and teachers need to respect that.
On the issue of Creationism and Evolution, it is important to be respectful of religions that believe in Creationism. But I think the reason it is appropriate to teach Evolution and not Creationism is that Creationism is distinctly religious while Evolution does not deny or confirm any religion. Darwin himself stated that Evolution does not contradict Christianity. But teachers can present the theory of Evolution in a way that makes it seem that way. I think that is where the problem is.
I belive that religion and science are two very sensitive topics to talk about in the classroom and I think parents should be imformed about what is being taught to their children and they should have the right to say if the learning material being presented to their child is suited for their child's learning experiences. I do not believe that religion should be taught in schools--I do believe that students need to know that there exist different kinds religions from their own. I think too many "Christian Americans" think that everyone has to believe in their religion or be exposed to their belief system. There are so many more religions out there than just Christianity and some of the religions do not support the ideas or views of mainstream Christians. So I definitely say leave religious teaching to ones own religious preference and do not think that every one must believe in your God or your way of life.
I must go along with everyone else on the issue of creationism versus evolution. This arguement is just as important as the issue of religion being taught in schools as the idea that God created everything, including al life on earth, is the basic principal in religious thought. One can not discount either belief as fact or fiction because both side's beliefs, in science and religion, compels them to have strong feelings on the subject. I totally agree with Tameka on the idea that teaching evolution and not creationism is wrong. There are facts to support both sides of the arguement and both sides should be considered in the discussion in schools. As Bridget said, Darwin may not have denied any religion, but the idea of evolution denies what the Bible teaches and if that is not denying a faith, what is? I believe if one concept is going to be taught, then both should be taught and give the student al the information and allow them to decide what he/she believes in. Teaching one side of an arguement is wrong regardless of the subject.
The issued that really stuck out to me was Inclusions. Once again it has came up about kids with disabilities want to be pushed to the side. I understand that it may take more time to educate a child with special needs than a normal child, but we can not keep leaving them out because they have to be prepared for the future as well. The statement that was made on the handout about general education students are uncomfortable with students who are different, to comment on that statement that is not true normal students really admire special education students. It is something wrong with all of us, and if every student is pulled out of class because of certain issues then who will the teacher teach. We as educators need to realize that when we go into teaching we are going to have all diffent kind of children in our classroom.
The issue that stuck out the most is the issue on inclusion. I am a firm believer that all special education children should be included into the general education classroom as much as possible. This is technically called their least restrictive environment. It’s not to say they are in the general education classroom all the time, but for as much time that is helpful to them. This may mean that these exceptional learners are only in the general education classroom for half a day, but at least it gets them into the classroom.
Special education students grow so much in the general education classroom. They develop life-long friendships, gain self-esteem, and can increase their knowledge in every aspect. Overall, it’s the most rewarding experience for everyone involved.
I thought the corporal punishment was a good debate. Both sides had resourceful information related to their topic. The con had some staggering stats about how a child who is spanked is more likely to hit their spouse. This was a shock to me because I have always thought that corporal punishment teaches respect and discipline. However, I do still agree with corporal punishment in schools when done under the right conditions, just as the pro stated.
Violence appears everywhere in the media- on the television, radio and other means. I like war and action movies, but I feel that parents must be cautious of what their children watch. I don't think we should get rid of the shows that are violent and controversial. It is the parents duty to now what a child does in their spare time. Instead of turning on that violent video game, make the kid go outside. By going outside, the kid will burn off some energy and calories. This will make it easier for the kid to sleep at night and lose weight- killing two birds with one stone. Based on the information given by the debaters, violence decreased by 50% in a group of kids who turned off those violent movies and games. Think of crime being reduced in the US by 50%, that would be great. It all comes down to the parents though. It is not the government's job to monitor what your child watches. It is the parent's responsibility!
All of the debate issues impacted my thoughts in someway or fashion, but the one that I thought of first was the debate about inclusion. I've commented on this topic before, but I do think inclusion is a good idea, just not full inclusion. There are some students who require those special needs that a regular class will not provide, and it is important for every student to learn where they are most comfortable. Another topic that I wanted to commment on was that of evolution vs. creationism. I personally believe that God created everything, but at the same time we must understand not everyone believes this idea. In order to make everyone content, then either both theories should be presented (and presented as a THEORY, not fact), or neither should be taught at all. Finally, I wanted to comment on the violence in the media and television. Yes, there are lots of violent shows and videos, but that does not mean to eliminate them. Parents have the authority to control what goes on in their child's life. If you don't want your child to play violent games, then don't buy them. These days they have television programs where different shows and channels can be blocked to where the child cannot access them. So the violence really should not be a problem.
The issues and debate that stuck with me most was the one pertaining to inclusion. Giving yhe special need students a chance at participating in class with theor peers can be an advantage. However, depending on what the disablility, some children may not be able to handle being in class with nondisabled students. For example, behavior problems, artistic students and serverly retarded students. This situation could cause distractions to the nondisabled students and for the teacher. I am for giving students a chance but we must be honest with ourselves and know that not all are equipped mentally to handle the challenge. This doesn't mean that their rights are being overlooked, but their rights to an accomodating educationis being given.
The issues that interested me were Violence in Schools. A agree with both Tameka and Sparkle on their views on how violence affects the schools. Tameka's view dealt with violence in the media with T.V., video games, and music. As a parent myself I have to admit the my son watches to much television and plays his video games longer than needed. Tameka reveal that her sources states that we should limit the amount of time down to 2hrs per day and that is something that I will do in my household. Parental control is important because we as parents need to monitor the amount of time a child watches tv and also what type of music is being listen to.
The discussion that I found the most interesting was Jatasia's Pro side of standardized testing. There is so much negative publicity of this issue it was good to hear some positive things about it. I think we all know what the negatives and the positives are, but it was great to hear some statistics and facts of how standardized tests are being used to better our educational system. I know our system of education in the US is not perfect, but I still think it is the best in the world. The reason we are able to include all students in education are becaus of things like standardized tests. They can show us where our students need some extra help and where they are performing adequately. Other countries just don't educate "slow" students. They send them to a trade school or something and they don't get the opportunity to have the education that everyone in the US can have.
First I would like to comment on my own presentation of being pro discrimination. During my research there were some points that held a good deal of validity. Those very same points I presented to the class,however, I do not believe that discimination should be tolerated under any circumstances in regards to education. As teachers we must always be aware of the students well being and growth as people, not just whether or not they are performing to their potential.
The second I would like to comment on is alternative teaching vs. traditional programs. I don't feel that many alternative teaching programs lack vital information that is necessary to the ever changing feild of teaching. I agree more with the con side. Potential teachers should go through ther process of teacher observations and student teaching. This may very wel be one of the reasons that there is such a high rate of teachers leaving the field after their first few years of teaching.
I was interested mostly in the debate about inclusion. I believe that the child should stay in the general classroom for many of the reasons that the pro side argued. The child can gain so much more by staying in the classroom, as well as his or her fellow classmates and the teacher also. A child will gain a sense of self and acceptance and pride staying in the classroom. The other students will learn how to respect the child as he or she will need a little extra attention and the teacher will learn patience and caring and a sense of willing to want to help the child. The pitfalls of having inclusion, I think are not that heavy. Inclusion is a way for everybody to gain something. I understand what Elizabeth is saying about how an unruly child could cause distractions to those that are not; however maybe this is something the unruly child can learn from. Learn from the peers how to maintain control and respect for the classroom environment.
15 comments:
One issue that really stuck out to me today was the issue of evolution versus creationism. I personally disagree that evolution is taught in school as only a theory. I have had teachers who tried to stuff evolution down their students throats as the only means that the earth and universe could have come about. I personally believe that evolution is not a true a theory and that God created the heavens and the earth. People stick up for atheists and agnostics who say they don't want their children to be taught about creationism because it introduces the idea of God. Yet, everyone is just fine to tell Christians that there is no God. It is just as disrespectful to their beliefs. I also disagree with some of the points on the handout that supported evolution. One of the points that I totally disagree with is the one that creation does not agree with science. Will cited many scientific facts that would support creation, and many of the facts about evolution could go either way. My main point is that if creation is not taught in schools, neither should evolution. If evolution is taught, it should be taught as a theory and not as a fact.
The issue that sparked the most interest with me also, was the creationism vs. evolution. I personally do not think either should be taught in school. I believe that that subject should be something that parents choose to talk to their children about or something they take their child to church to learn. It is mainly a matter of religion and what you believe in. I can understand teachers teaching religions of different cultures and saying what each one believes in, saying creationism or evolution, or others. They could briefly say what each is and what cultures believe in it, but it should not be a whole unit or anything like that. Just a brief moment. It would be very hard to not step on toes trying to teach it without putting in personal feelings or offending other cultures and religions. I can agree with students taking it in college, when they choose to, but I do not think anyone should have to learn about it in elementary through high school. Parents raise their children to believe a certain value or religion and they may not want their child to learn other ways. That is the parents right and teachers need to respect that.
On the issue of Creationism and Evolution, it is important to be respectful of religions that believe in Creationism. But I think the reason it is appropriate to teach Evolution and not Creationism is that Creationism is distinctly religious while Evolution does not deny or confirm any religion. Darwin himself stated that Evolution does not contradict Christianity. But teachers can present the theory of Evolution in a way that makes it seem that way. I think that is where the problem is.
I belive that religion and science are two very sensitive topics to talk about in the classroom and I think parents should be imformed about what is being taught to their children and they should have the right to say if the learning material being presented to their child is suited for their child's learning experiences. I do not believe that religion should be taught in schools--I do believe that students need to know that there exist different kinds religions from their own. I think too many "Christian Americans" think that everyone has to believe in their religion or be exposed to their belief system. There are so many more religions out there than just Christianity and some of the religions do not support the ideas or views of mainstream Christians. So I definitely say leave religious teaching to ones own religious preference and do not think that every one must believe in your God or your way of life.
I must go along with everyone else on the issue of creationism versus evolution. This arguement is just as important as the issue of religion being taught in schools as the idea that God created everything, including al life on earth, is the basic principal in religious thought. One can not discount either belief as fact or fiction because both side's beliefs, in science and religion, compels them to have strong feelings on the subject. I totally agree with Tameka on the idea that teaching evolution and not creationism is wrong. There are facts to support both sides of the arguement and both sides should be considered in the discussion in schools. As Bridget said, Darwin may not have denied any religion, but the idea of evolution denies what the Bible teaches and if that is not denying a faith, what is? I believe if one concept is going to be taught, then both should be taught and give the student al the information and allow them to decide what he/she believes in. Teaching one side of an arguement is wrong regardless of the subject.
The issued that really stuck out to me was Inclusions. Once again it has came up about kids with disabilities want to be pushed to the side. I understand that it may take more time to educate a child with special needs than a normal child, but we can not keep leaving them out because they have to be prepared for the future as well. The statement that was made on the handout about general education students are uncomfortable with students who are different, to comment on that statement that is not true normal students really admire special education students. It is something wrong with all of us, and if every student is pulled out of class because of certain issues then who will the teacher teach. We as educators need to realize that when we go into teaching we are going to have all diffent kind of children in our classroom.
The issue that stuck out the most is the issue on inclusion. I am a firm believer that all special education children should be included into the general education classroom as much as possible. This is technically called their least restrictive environment. It’s not to say they are in the general education classroom all the time, but for as much time that is helpful to them. This may mean that these exceptional learners are only in the general education classroom for half a day, but at least it gets them into the classroom.
Special education students grow so much in the general education classroom. They develop life-long friendships, gain self-esteem, and can increase their knowledge in every aspect. Overall, it’s the most rewarding experience for everyone involved.
I thought the corporal punishment was a good debate. Both sides had resourceful information related to their topic. The con had some staggering stats about how a child who is spanked is more likely to hit their spouse. This was a shock to me because I have always thought that corporal punishment teaches respect and discipline. However, I do still agree with corporal punishment in schools when done under the right conditions, just as the pro stated.
Violence appears everywhere in the media- on the television, radio and other means. I like war and action movies, but I feel that parents must be cautious of what their children watch. I don't think we should get rid of the shows that are violent and controversial. It is the parents duty to now what a child does in their spare time. Instead of turning on that violent video game, make the kid go outside. By going outside, the kid will burn off some energy and calories. This will make it easier for the kid to sleep at night and lose weight- killing two birds with one stone. Based on the information given by the debaters, violence decreased by 50% in a group of kids who turned off those violent movies and games. Think of crime being reduced in the US by 50%, that would be great. It all comes down to the parents though. It is not the government's job to monitor what your child watches. It is the parent's responsibility!
All of the debate issues impacted my thoughts in someway or fashion, but the one that I thought of first was the debate about inclusion. I've commented on this topic before, but I do think inclusion is a good idea, just not full inclusion. There are some students who require those special needs that a regular class will not provide, and it is important for every student to learn where they are most comfortable.
Another topic that I wanted to commment on was that of evolution vs. creationism. I personally believe that God created everything, but at the same time we must understand not everyone believes this idea. In order to make everyone content, then either both theories should be presented (and presented as a THEORY, not fact), or neither should be taught at all.
Finally, I wanted to comment on the violence in the media and television. Yes, there are lots of violent shows and videos, but that does not mean to eliminate them. Parents have the authority to control what goes on in their child's life. If you don't want your child to play violent games, then don't buy them. These days they have television programs where different shows and channels can be blocked to where the child cannot access them. So the violence really should not be a problem.
The issues and debate that stuck with me most was the one pertaining to inclusion. Giving yhe special need students a chance at participating in class with theor peers can be an advantage. However, depending on what the disablility, some children may not be able to handle being in class with nondisabled students. For example, behavior problems, artistic students and serverly retarded students. This situation could cause distractions to the nondisabled students and for the teacher. I am for giving students a chance but we must be honest with ourselves and know that not all are equipped mentally to handle the challenge. This doesn't mean that their rights are being overlooked, but their rights to an accomodating educationis being given.
The issues that interested me were Violence in Schools. A agree with both Tameka and Sparkle on their views on how violence affects the schools. Tameka's view dealt with violence in the media with T.V., video games, and music. As a parent myself I have to admit the my son watches to much television and plays his video games longer than needed. Tameka reveal that her sources states that we should limit the amount of time down to 2hrs per day and that is something that I will do in my household. Parental control is important because we as parents need to monitor the amount of time a child watches tv and also what type of music is being listen to.
The discussion that I found the most interesting was Jatasia's Pro side of standardized testing. There is so much negative publicity of this issue it was good to hear some positive things about it. I think we all know what the negatives and the positives are, but it was great to hear some statistics and facts of how standardized tests are being used to better our educational system. I know our system of education in the US is not perfect, but I still think it is the best in the world. The reason we are able to include all students in education are becaus of things like standardized tests. They can show us where our students need some extra help and where they are performing adequately. Other countries just don't educate "slow" students. They send them to a trade school or something and they don't get the opportunity to have the education that everyone in the US can have.
First I would like to comment on my own presentation of being pro discrimination. During my research there were some points that held a good deal of validity. Those very same points I presented to the class,however, I do not believe that discimination should be tolerated under any circumstances in regards to education. As teachers we must always be aware of the students well being and growth as people, not just whether or not they are performing to their potential.
The second I would like to comment on is alternative teaching vs. traditional programs. I don't feel that many alternative teaching programs lack vital information that is necessary to the ever changing feild of teaching. I agree more with the con side. Potential teachers should go through ther process of teacher observations and student teaching. This may very wel be one of the reasons that there is such a high rate of teachers leaving the field after their first few years of teaching.
I was interested mostly in the debate about inclusion. I believe that the child should stay in the general classroom for many of the reasons that the pro side argued. The child can gain so much more by staying in the classroom, as well as his or her fellow classmates and the teacher also. A child will gain a sense of self and acceptance and pride staying in the classroom. The other students will learn how to respect the child as he or she will need a little extra attention and the teacher will learn patience and caring and a sense of willing to want to help the child. The pitfalls of having inclusion, I think are not that heavy. Inclusion is a way for everybody to gain something. I understand what Elizabeth is saying about how an unruly child could cause distractions to those that are not; however maybe this is something the unruly child can learn from. Learn from the peers how to maintain control and respect for the classroom environment.
Post a Comment