Financial Aspects Liberal Arts and Equity with Consideration to Elementary Education - Case Study Example

Financing, Liberal Arts and Equity Financing, Liberal Arts and Equity Education can be defined as a means of deliberate transfer of knowledge, skills, values and customs from one generation to another. The elementary level of education comprises of students who are above the age of 5. Therefore, as a professional educator at the elementary level, there are three vital considerations that are supposed to be evident. They include financing, liberal arts and equity in the elementary school (primary education). This paper will discuss financial aspects, liberal arts and equity with consideration to elementary education. This essay will also include the challenges that the educator faces resulting from teaching diverse students and how to deal with the challenges effectively. School financing is one of the most debated issues in education reforms. For instance, funding of the American schools is done by the federal governments. In the 20th century, school financing strategies have been under extreme scrutiny. This is because these financial strategies have improved and sustained positive educational outcomes. The issue of equity and productivity in most elementary institutions is vastly correlated with the school finance. Researchers have focused on developing the knowledge especially in the elementary education. In America, school financial decisions are primarily related to with the federal government in various states (Steinberg, 2009). State court decisions prove that adequacy is continually becoming the latest equity standard to which elementary education is focused. Also, states that lack court mandates are seeking answers regarding the issue of adequacy in educational institutions. This significantly attributes to some of the school reform movements in the American state (Smith, 2002). In the recent world, liberal arts education can be defined as subjects that are essentially taught to citizens of a country. This includes literature, science, philosophy, psychology, history and mathematics among other subjects. Most educationists refer to liberal art studies as subjects that are not related to vocational, technical or professional curricula. In the United States, liberal arts are taught in institutions of higher learning. On the contrary, the studies present a low student-to-teacher ratio. Liberal arts should receive additional focus in both secondary and post secondary education (Smith, 2002). This is because the course aims at molding the learners all-round in regard to life circumstances. Unlike other courses, liberal learning introduces students to a variety of subjects that enhance the learner’s future. Most researchers argue that it is rather unfortunate to devote oneself to specific skills in the learning procedure. Moreover, post secondary education should be able to help learners to discover their passion in life. By doing so, the learner can perfect in his or her career dream. Successful liberal arts education enables learners to develop the capacity of judgment and innovation. In America, the institutions of higher learning offer innovative and rigorous liberal arts studies (Smith, 2002). This depicts that liberal arts education equips the learner with the knowledge to solve potential difficulties in the society. For example, liberal students are taught how to avoid breach of peace by preaching peace and harmony in the society. Research clearly shows that in the United States, liberal studies significantly accentuates to issues regarding freedom in the society (Smith, 2002). Most of the liberal arts graduates are considered as highly innovative individuals, due to their ability to face tremendous challenges in the contemporary society. This shows the effectiveness of liberal arts education. In the developing world, liberal arts students are in a capacity to sustain a creative future. This is a clear depiction of how valuable liberal arts education is to the society. Therefore, liberal arts should be given maximum attention both in secondary and post secondary education. According to the Association of American Colleges and Universities, liberal education aims at empowering the learners in dealing with real-world circumstances (Association of American Colleges and Universities, 2007). This is associated with the broad knowledge and the in-depth study of life related issues. This proves that the current liberal education in the United States includes a general education curriculum that centers for multiple disciplines (Association of American Colleges and Universities, 2007). As a professional teacher in the elementary school, I would most probably teach language, arithmetic and science. In relation to formal education, curriculum can be identified as a number of courses that are offered in any educational facility. These subjects are considered as the core subjects in almost every educational setting. In the Unites States, different states have different curricula taught in the numerous educational institutions, in the state. Language, arithmetic, and science give vital information to learners in any discipline. Furthermore, these three elementary disciplines are responsible for molding the student just like liberal arts education (Steinberg, 2009). Normally, multiculturalism in education can be identified as a teaching approach that values diversity (Steinberg, 2009). The diversity is based on the method, content, students and cultures in the discipline among other issues. In this case, being a multicultural educator in the elementary school suggests that one has to be able to embrace the cultural diversity of the students. In order to modify the curriculum to embrace a multicultural approach in learning, I had to develop certain values and techniques. This involved personal development, developing cultural and ethnic literacy, multicultural, social competence and having a positive attitude towards the students (Steinberg, 2009). These techniques are discussed into details in the subsequent paragraphs. Personal development as an elementary teacher entails the value of multicultural education. This involves having a positive self-concept and self-understanding in issues regarding ethnicity and culture. As seen in America, elementary educators infinitely stress on personal development benefits as an incline motivation to success in the tutoring career. Additionally, one has to explore and engage diversely in terms of culture. This encompasses languages, historical events, social, economic and political conditions (Smith, 2002). Personal attitude is also vital for any educator in an elementary school. This is because multiculturalism enables the learner to identify with the diverse community, just like the educator and the learners. Lastly, social competence is also related with multicultural education. This idea enables the student acquire information related to communication, contextual analysis and interpersonal relations. All these issues are liable to embrace a multicultural approach to learning in the elementary school (Smith, 2002). In every aspect of life, there are a variety of challenges that individuals face. This is no exception to a professional educator in an elementary school. Some of the most common issues that I am likely to face as an elementary educator are outlined below. 1. Technology. 2. Improving communication between the learners, teachers and their guardians. 3. Helping the students in their research. 4. Creating engaging projects for several learning techniques. 5. Knowing where to begin in the elementary education. These five challenges are considered as the most prominent difficulties that elementary educators are likely to face from the diverse students. This is also based on the fact that educators especially at the elementary level make a significant impact on the learners (Harvey & Goudvis, 2000). Therefore, they face a variety of challenges other than the ones stated above. In conclusion, elementary educators are able to curb these issues through an array of methods. The most reasonable methodology of solving these issues is through encouraging multiculturalism in the education setup. This can be beefed up by imposing strict disciplinary actions to students who do not adhere accordingly to the set regulations. Since the children as viewed as the leaders of tomorrow, they should be able to portray a decent picture to the learning institution (Smith, 2002). This serves as credit to the educational institution in question and learners in general. References Association of American Colleges and Universities (2007). What is a 21st century liberal education? Retrieved from http://www.aacu.org/leap/what_is_liberal_education.cfm Harvey, S. & Goudvis, A. (2000). Strategies that work: Teaching comprehension to enhance understanding. Chicago: Stenhouse Publishers. Smith, B. (2002). Liberal education in a knowledge society. New York: Open Court Press. Steinberg, S. (2009). Diversity and multiculturalism. New York: Peter Lang Publishers. Read More