Neysa Miller respnding to Ken Robinson: Changing education paradigms

Neysa Miller responding to Ken Robinson: Changing education paradigms

Ken Robinson explains how the school system was designed for a different age and time.  He goes on to explain that much has changed in our society, but in contrast our school systems have been largely unchanged.  The reality is that our school systems are failing to address the needs of some students because we are not “waking them up to what they have inside”.  Instead, we are asking them to sit quietly, listen, and respond on command. In an effort to educate the masses, we are producing “production line mentality”. 

I think that Robinson’s call for paradigmic change would be received both positively and negatively in my educational setting.  Such a change in the education system would require teachers to “think differently about human learning”.  It would also require them to rethink and change their teaching style.  A few of the more traditional teachers at my school would have difficulty with radically changing the structure and mood of their classrooms.  Others teachers at my school are already teaching in ways they are conducive to divergent thinking.  I think the ability to know the needs of their students is what separates teachers from great teachers.