Journal 3

Journal 3

“Restructuring for caring and effective education: The possible futures of education”

This presentation was a moving and encouraging one. The theme of the presentation was centered on the question: What is the goal of education? The speaker asked the question and took several answers from the audience. It was an intimidating question in that it asked one to defend the whole idea of education. I answered the question for myself. I though, and still think, that the goal of education is to enable a child to be successful at whatever they endeavor to do in life. The presentation continued with the discussion of whether education should emphasize excellence of equity. Again the question was asked of the audience. The speaker delved into the possible outcomes of catering to one, and then the other. There were positive and negative aspects of both, but the final assessment showed that to emphasize to only one or the other ends up with dire consequences. It was decided that the only logical, efficient, and ethical course of action was to include both in the act of teaching. One of the latter and more important points made in the presentation addressed the best possible method of interacting with children with special needs. Evidence shows that the best way to see kids with special needs is to just see them as normal. It has been the case that, too long have special needs kids have been seen as different, and therefore should be treated differently (with such strategies as separation of these students from the “mainstream” kids). The best way to teach special needs kids is the same way to teach mainstream kids; look at them as being completely normal and include them in every aspect of the educational system that everyone else is.