A New Direction to Fill the Relevance Gap - Book Report/Review Example

A New Direction to Fill the Relevance Gap Introduction Nasr’s book titled ‘Whole Education’, which was published in 1994 offers readers in the education sector a new perspective of looking at the modern education. This author has the conviction that the education system in place does not play the critical role that education should play in a society. According to him, the education system has many failures. This is the reason why he highlights that there is an existing relevance gap in the education system. Many schools have registered challenges in different aspects that ascertain the existence of a relevance gap. The fact that students lack motivation, schools register high levels of indiscipline, poor academic performance, dropping out of school, and lack of proper concentration within the classroom are some of the signs that indicate the failure of the education system. With these aspects defining the education system, it becomes impossible for the education system to deliver the expected change in the society. Education is expected to empower students beyond the school and prepare them for life after school. The author writes this book because of the conviction that the education system needs to take a new direction if it is to deliver anything positive to the society. This paper will offer a review of the book and a personal reaction to the book. The author introduces the book by offering a detailed description of the new concept concerning whole education and what it entails. In a bid to enlighten the reader on the relevance of this concept, the author begins by having a look at the 2000 educational goals defined by the American government. He highlights six goals of which only 2 of them have a direct connection to the curriculum. Nasr believes that the other goals lack specificity. This serves as a national perspective of the failing education system, which needs remedying. The focus of the author is in the high school education. After describing the existing problem, Nasr mentions that a new mind-set is the only potential solution to the existing problem. In a bid to enlighten the reader further, the author dedicates the second chapter to the description of ‘Whole Education’ and traits that define it. In this chapter, the reader encounters different aspects that Nasr perceives as the defining characteristics of whole education. Notably, each aspect mentioned in this section is briefly explained so that the reader can see the relevance of the point to the concept of whole education (Nasr, 1994). After introducing the reader to the concept of whole education, the author tackles the relationship between whole education and the leaner in the next chapter (p. 13). The reason why the author considers what whole education will mean for the learner is because learners are the central defining individuals in the education system. The entire education system focuses on the learners and how education can impact their lives. Under this chapter, the author discusses aspects such as students' rights, their responsibilities, and how to protect the self image of students. Nasr advances to discuss other aspects including the students worth to others, their goals and objectives, their social life, and their use of time. The relevance of each of these aspects is given and in depth discussion with the author demonstrating how whole education can have an impact on each specific aspect. The author uses this chapter to make the reader understand that a new mind-set in the education system can play critical roles in the lives of students. Since they are supposed to benefit from the education system, the system in place must be designed in a way that allows them to experience maximum learning. If an education system does not have any positive impact on the lives of students, then it needs reconsideration. In the chapter that follows, Nasr advances to depicting how teachers will be affected by adopting a mindset towards whole education. Different aspects that define the teaching profession are discussed in the chapter and their relevance to the whole education perspective explained. The first aspect discussed under this chapter is that of the teacher’s vision while practicing the teaching profession. The second critical aspect described involves planning, which is an activity that each teacher must embrace in order to achieve the effective schedules of lessons. The planning involves the identification of goals and the learning objectives and allocating time to each of the objectives (p. 23). The planning process should also entail the identification of effective strategies for offering instructions. The author recognizes the values of teacher student relationships and discusses how teachers can strive to maintain favorable relationships with students under the whole education concept. The importance of assessment, professional growth and scheduling are other aspects brought out by the author. Evidently, the teaching profession will have a more positive impact on students if teachers adopt the whole education mindset. In addition, Nasr discusses the concept of whole education and the curriculum. In this chapter, different components that define the education system are described in details. The author then considers how the integration of different components can serve to create a curriculum that is fit for whole education (p. 35. Without doubt, the author acknowledges that developing a new curriculum is likely to develop challenging and highlights them in this section. Language is viewed as a critical aspect in the education system. This is the reason why the author dedicates an entire chapter to the discussion of whole education and the language arts. The use of language as well as different language skills are covered in this section. Moreover, the author gives attention to other aspects such as the objectives of teaching language, the most effective methodologies of teaching languages, and how the concept of the whole education should work on improving the language arts (p. 43). Nasr recognizes that whole education is likely to have an impact on the social sciences. Therefore, the author dedicates a chapter to the discussion of these two. The scope of social sciences is highlighted and the book presents the main reasons that should motivate the teaching of social sciences. The chapter also ventures into discussing the integration of social sciences and the general effects of whole education on these subjects. In a different chapter, the author shifts the focus to life sciences and how the adoption of whole education is likely to impact how they are taught and viewed (p. 55). The issues of integration of life sciences with whole education are also tackled. Nasr also dedicates a chapter to the discussion of whole education and mathematics. As with other subjects, the objectives of teaching mathematics are discussed and its perspective under the whole education concept described. Liberal arts are the last subject to be discussed in relation to whole education (p. 63). In the chapters that follow, Nasr focuses on how whole education and the school administration can have a positive correlation. This chapter presents details of how the school environment should favor the introduction of whole education. The roles of principals are given much attention as well. The community is not left out because there is a chapter on whole education and the community. The last main chapter of the book discusses how the implementation of whole education can be carried out so that the concept can have the highest level of impact. The author seeks to reveal to readers the relevance of whole education to the community and the potential benefits that may result from adopting the concept. The steps presented in this chapter toward the implementation of the whole education concept can be used as guidelines of restructuring the education system (p. 103). Personal Reaction to the Book The book by Nasr Raja is an intriguing read which serves to give a revelation of the ensuing problems in the education systems. The author provides relevant background information concerning the inefficiency of the education system. Such information helps the reader realize the need for a change. Nasr identifies an existing relevance gap confirming the views of many that the education system in place during that era lacked relevance. An effective education system is supposed to transform the lives of learners and offer them an opportunity to interact with the world as scholars. Such an education system should focus on the entire well being of the learner and not on a few aspects unfortunately, the education system that Nasr defines did not meet these objectives as expected. It had little impact on the learner and it did not seek to integrate voices from different groups (p. 16). These are the reasons why Nasr is justified when he points out the need for a new mindset in the education system. The author gives significant interest to the learner and the concept of whole education. This is an effective approach because learners are the most critical part of the education system. Notably, the definition of whole education offers a satisfactory introduction to readers who are new to the concept. I found the discussion on whole education and the teacher very impressive. The author tackled it in depth and presented the emerging responsibilities of teachers if the whole education is to be adopted. I like the authors focus on the role of teachers in ensuring that maximum learning occurs in the most favorable environment. The views of the author are interesting and offer critical guidelines and significance of developing a new education system when considered from a professional perspective (p. 25). The book goes into depth while describing how whole education and its implementation in schools can alter the way in which different subjects are taught. It is remarkable that the author dedicated chapters to discussing the concept of whole education and the school administration. This is because, school administrations must give their approval if whole education is to be adopted in American schools. The fact that the community is not left out indicates the author understands that education should deliver not only to the individual, but to the society. Therefore, it is evident that the author of the book developed and organized ideas and thoughts in a favorable manner for the concept. To be understood by the readers. In my opinion, the book can serve as a guideline that highlights the purpose of adopting an effective education system. The concept of whole education appears to be an effective perspective and direction that policy developers in the education system can consult. Different ideas communicated in the book are clearly described, which is an effective strategy used by the author to ensure that readers of the book become conversant with ideologies presented. Although whole education cannot be implemented according to the specifications presented by the author, there is a possibility of developing an education system and curriculum that can have positive impacts on the students, teachers and the society. Reference Nasr, R. T. (1994). Whole education: A new direction to fill the relevance gap. Lanham, Md: University Press of America. Read More