Socially Just Conditions for Learning - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages In the sphere of education it is especially important to focus on social aspects, because teachers are responsible for upbringing and educating of new globalized citizens. Therefore, sociological implications of pedagogical practices should be correlated with political and cultural regulations of the country. Socially just pedagogies are focused on education of students with disabilities, from socially unfavorable families and environment. As far as we know it: “Educators … should reject forms of schooling that marginalize students who are poor, black and least advantaged. This, points to the necessity for developing school practices that recognize how issues related to gender, class, race and sexual orientation can be used as a resource for learning rather than being contained in schools through a systemic pattern of exclusion, punishment and failure (Rossi, 2004). Consequently, we can see that now it is time to change social aspects of pedagogies for tolerant and multi-faceted educational practices. Teachers should take into account a student’s will for knowledge, improve and advance it and not to oppress him because of social stereotypes or perverted social patterns (Ukpokodu, 2007). Children impairments Children with physical or cognitive impairments are often criticized by classmates and in this case a teacher should be a “trigger” of tolerant and correct behavior in relation to a child. There is a marginalized disposition of students with disabilities and modern researches and studies are focused on reconceptualization of the students’ “inclusion” in the educational process (Chubbuck, 2009). A fundamental nature of impairment and disability should be promoted as a form of social artifacts. Another important measure to be taken by the modern teachers is to interpret pedagogical doctrines within social and globalized contexts. To begin with, teachers should realize the fact that their students, which are generally positioned as skilled and productive individuals, may be not “able”. Moreover, concerning students with disabilities, it should be noted that they require more help, patience and tolerance from their teachers. In accordance with the study conducted by Christensen, Young, & Marchant (2007): “An inclusive society, therefore, is not a society of equals in a principled way, but a society in which everyone has the qualities to meet her needs in an entrepreneurial way” (p. 82). Modern approaches of teachers to education A people-centered approach is the most relevant step to be taken by teachers in the beginning of educational practices change. A teacher should be positioned as a mentor, helping to bridge an inner emotional gap within a student with special needs. There are two important questions for each teacher: “what do my students see?”, “what are their real ideas in the educational process?” Consequently, education in the modern globalized context is moving from telling students what is true to asking students what it true. Children have their own opinion. They have their own voice and it should not be suppressed in the educational process. A socially just teacher is a mentor, who has an ability to listen to his students and take into account their ideas (Keeffee and Carrington, 1996). I can further claim that a teacher’s socially just practices are being developed under the influence of childhood impressions. In my ...Download file to see next pagesRead More