What It Means to Partiipate in Education: Hannna Arendt and Maxine Greens - Coursework Example

ritiсаlly Соnsidеr Whаt It Mеаns Tо Раrtiсiраtе In Еduсаtiоn - Наnnа Аrеndt Аnd Махinе Grееns Name of Student: Name of Course: Name of Instructor: Date of Submission: Сritiсаlly Соnsidеr Whаt It Mеаns Tо Раrtiсiраtе In Еduсаtiоn - Наnnа Аrеndt Аnd Махinе Grееns Participation in education is the extent to which various stakeholders in education get involved in educational matters. The involvement ranges from governance, formulation of policies and administration of educational matters among other crucial aspects related to it. The level of participation of the stakeholders influences the levels of success achieved on education (Angus, 2007). With key measures of success being the academic performance of students, the normal growth and development of students and the identification and exploitation of talents amongst others, the stakeholders can always assess their level of contribution to education. The following essay will give an in-depth discussion as to what it means to participate in education. In order to do so, the essay will analyze specific stakeholders in education. One of the key stakeholders in education is the parent. The parent has a biological and social responsibility to nurture a child to adulthood in the best ways possible. Ideally, the parent has a very big influence on a child’s education. For this reason, the participation of the parents in education is always encouraged. In the wake of heightened economic crisis which have led to many people devoting much of their time to work, many parents have abandoned their role in education and left it to the teachers. The parents have a fundamental role of contributing o the achievements of their children and also contributing to the development and governance of educational institutions (Shaeaffer, 1994). There are various ways in which parents can participate in education. one of the ways is by providing the children with a good environment to learn. This role can be associated to parenting. It is the role of the parent to provide his or her children with the most appropriate environment as to support education. This includes the provision of appropriate housing, provision of medical care and good nutrition (Shaeaffer, 1994). Additionally, a parent is supposed to exhibit good parenting so as to influence the psychological and physical wellbeing of his or her child. Key to parenting role is to take a child to school. Since schooling is a basic right for any child, it is the role of the parent to take his or her child to school at the right time. Secondly, parents should participate in education by communicating with the teachers/ schools (Shaeaffer, 1994). The parents have the responsibility of evaluating how his or her child is performing in school in addition to cooperating with the teachers on how to improve performance. On this role, the parent should help his or her child with homework and also assist him or her to develop his/ he talents. Thirdly, the parent should also volunteer in matters related to education for instance in school or class events (Shaeaffer, 1994). This goes further in enabling the schools provide good education to the students. Fourthly, the parent has a role in decision making n the educational institutions. The level of involvement of the parents in decision making influences the course taken by institutions with respect to core processes in education (Chan & Chui, 1997). For this reason, parents should be actively involved in the governance forums available for instance in the board and parent teachers associations of the institutions. Lastly, parents ought to collaborate with the local community so as to make significant impacts on the schools and also the community itself (Shaeaffer, 1994). Another key stakeholder in education whose active participation is warranted for is the teacher. The teacher’s role in education cannot be underestimated. There are various ways in which a teacher ought to participate in education. One of the ways is by performing his or her teaching roles actively. The main role of the teacher is to disseminate knowledge to students in the best means possible under the limits allowable by the law. For this reason, a teacher who actively participates in education is one who ensures that he/ she exploits all the available avenues to ensure that knowledge is disseminated to the students. This role of the teacher becomes important in instances when special education is involved (Hurst, 1992). On this point, it is important to note that students with special needs require special skills from teachers which at time differ from student to student. In such an educational environment, the teacher’s participation in learning influences the success of learning to the students. Secondly, a teacher is supposed to be actively involved in decision making in the educational sector (Sarafidou & Chatziioannidis, 2013). On this point, it is important to acknowledge the fact that teachers normally have a firsthand experience on what is occurring on the ground. It the teachers who interact most with the students in the education environment hence have full knowledge of the various aspects affecting education, for this reason, their input in the decision making in educational institutions is very important. Additionally, a teacher who is involved in the decision making in the educational setting is more likely to be more motivated as compared to teacher who is not. This is owing to the fact that when a teacher participates in decision making is part of the decision which is made, hence owns the vision and mission of the education institution in which he is involved in (Johnston & Germinario, 1985). For this reason, teachers should be actively involved in campaigning for matters which are considered crucial to the educational sectors by participating in national, local and school based decision making forums. The other main stakeholder in education is the student. Ideally, the education setting cannot exist if the student is not available. The participation of the student in education ensures that he or she is part of it; hence the realization of the goals and objective of education (Wilson, 2009). The level of participation of the students in education is dependent on the educational level of the student. This is specifically so in such aspects such as decision making in education institutions. In institutions of higher education students are more involved in decision making through the student councils and organizations. The involvement of the students in decision making is based on the fact that they have a higher level of maturity as compared to younger students; hence need to be involved in the management of pertinent issues affecting them (Kotzé & Plessis, 2003). On the other hand, younger students are less involved in decision making since their immature perception on pertinent issues may be wanting at times. Apart from their involvement in decision making students are also supposed to participate in their major role in school. The main role of students is to learn. Therefore, they should devote their time and strength to ensuring that they gain knowledge in school and also participate in other activities such as games which are meant to develop their personal abilities and talents. The government is also another main stakeholder in education. Ideally, the government is responsible for provision of quality education to all. This is the main role of the government in which it should participate in actively. The government should provide the educational infrastructure such as schools, laboratories, playing fields and also the resources needed such as teachers and financing. Secondly, the government should be actively involved in the formulation of legislation and polices which govern education in their respective countries (Leader, 2003). On this point, it is important to note that various countries are faced by varying problems which require varying legal solutions to solve. Taking an example of Kenya in Africa, the establishment of the free primary education act in 2002 was aimed at ensuring that all the children in the county had access to basic education. This is because lack of education was a key problem to the county. On the other hand, the Education to all education acts in the United Kingdom was meant to ensure that the disabled children had equal access to education as compared to their colleagues. The government also participates in education by engaging in activities aimed at coming up with the educational system and the curriculum to be followed in schools. These two should be set in accordance to the culture, vision and educational demands of a country. Lastly, the government participates in education by providing administration. Administration ensures that all the processes in the education sector go as planned. Such people as regional education administrators are critical to the administration of education in the country. Lastly the community is also a key stakeholder in education. The community is comprised of all the entities which have both a direct and indirect relation to education. The community has role of both supporting educational institutions and also providing checks and balances to them. On the first point, the community is should participate in giving aid to the education institution around them. Such aid may include finances, volunteer work and development of facilities among others. The community via industries and business is also responsible for providing attachment and internship positions to students so as to give them industrial exposure. On the later point, the community should participate actively in ensuring that the governance of schools is done in the most appropriate way (Chan & Chui, 1997). On this point, it is worth noting that the community should take note of ill practices in the educational sector and act as whistle blowers; sending an alarm to the relevant authorities when they notice things which are not in order. From the discussion above, it has come pout clearly that participation in education involves the commitment of the various stakeholders to the vision of achieving the goals and objective of education. Therefore there is a need for the collaboration of all the stakeholders involves since the role are responsibilities are centralized to the student; who is the main stakeholder of education. Active participation therefore entails the selfless commitment of various stakeholders to the achievement of vision and mission of education. In conclusion, this essay has been able to give an in-depth discussion of participation in education. The essay has taken the approach of discussion the roles of various stakeholders in education; hence giving an insight into what their active participation in education is. The essay has identified five main stakeholders namely parents, teachers, community, government and students. From the essay, it was identified that each one of them has specific roles and responsibilities towards success in education. However, participation in education is when the stakeholders commit themselves in various issues which are geared towards providing a better environment for education; the selfless commitment to educational matters. Since all the stakeholders are united in their activities by the student who is the main stakeholder, they must work together in unity to ensure that there achieve the common goals of education. References Angus, L., (2007). Democratic Participation and Administrative Control in Education, International Journal of Educational Management, 3 (2); 20- 27 Chan, B., & Chui, H., (1997). Parental Participation In School Councils In Victoria, Australia, International Journal of Educational Management,11(3),102 - 110 Johnston & Germinario, (1985). Relationship Between Teacher Decisional Status And Loyalty, The Journal of Educational Administration, XIII (1), 91- 106 Hurst, A.,(1992). Widening Participation in Higher Education and People with Disabilities, Personnel Review, 21( 6), 19-36. Kotzé,T., & Plessis, P., (2003). Students As “Co-Producers” Of Education: A Proposed Model Of Student Socialization And Participation At Tertiary Institutions, Quality Assurance In Education, 11(4),186 – 201 Leader, G., (2003). Lifelong Learning: Policy And Practice In Further Education, Education + Training,45(7), 361 – 370 Sarafidou, J.,& Chatziioannidis, G., (2013). Teacher participation in decision making and its impact on school and teachers, International Journal of Educational Management,27(2),170 - 183 Shaeaffer, S., (1994). Participation For Educational Change: A Synthesis Of Experience, UNESCO: International Institute for Educational Planning, 1- 194 Wilson, L., (2009).Pupil Participation: Comments From A Case Study, Health Education, 109 (1); 86-102 Read More

Secondly, parents should participate in education by communicating with the teachers/ schools (Shaeaffer, 1994). The parents have the responsibility of evaluating how his or her child is performing in school in addition to cooperating with the teachers on how to improve performance. On this role, the parent should help his or her child with homework and also assist him or her to develop his/ he talents. Thirdly, the parent should also volunteer in matters related to education for instance in school or class events (Shaeaffer, 1994).

This goes further in enabling the schools provide good education to the students. Fourthly, the parent has a role in decision making n the educational institutions. The level of involvement of the parents in decision making influences the course taken by institutions with respect to core processes in education (Chan & Chui, 1997). For this reason, parents should be actively involved in the governance forums available for instance in the board and parent teachers associations of the institutions.

Lastly, parents ought to collaborate with the local community so as to make significant impacts on the schools and also the community itself (Shaeaffer, 1994). Another key stakeholder in education whose active participation is warranted for is the teacher. The teacher’s role in education cannot be underestimated. There are various ways in which a teacher ought to participate in education. One of the ways is by performing his or her teaching roles actively. The main role of the teacher is to disseminate knowledge to students in the best means possible under the limits allowable by the law.

For this reason, a teacher who actively participates in education is one who ensures that he/ she exploits all the available avenues to ensure that knowledge is disseminated to the students. This role of the teacher becomes important in instances when special education is involved (Hurst, 1992). On this point, it is important to note that students with special needs require special skills from teachers which at time differ from student to student. In such an educational environment, the teacher’s participation in learning influences the success of learning to the students.

Secondly, a teacher is supposed to be actively involved in decision making in the educational sector (Sarafidou & Chatziioannidis, 2013). On this point, it is important to acknowledge the fact that teachers normally have a firsthand experience on what is occurring on the ground. It the teachers who interact most with the students in the education environment hence have full knowledge of the various aspects affecting education, for this reason, their input in the decision making in educational institutions is very important.

Additionally, a teacher who is involved in the decision making in the educational setting is more likely to be more motivated as compared to teacher who is not. This is owing to the fact that when a teacher participates in decision making is part of the decision which is made, hence owns the vision and mission of the education institution in which he is involved in (Johnston & Germinario, 1985). For this reason, teachers should be actively involved in campaigning for matters which are considered crucial to the educational sectors by participating in national, local and school based decision making forums.

The other main stakeholder in education is the student. Ideally, the education setting cannot exist if the student is not available. The participation of the student in education ensures that he or she is part of it; hence the realization of the goals and objective of education (Wilson, 2009). The level of participation of the students in education is dependent on the educational level of the student. This is specifically so in such aspects such as decision making in education institutions. In institutions of higher education students are more involved in decision making through the student councils and organizations.

The involvement of the students in decision making is based on the fact that they have a higher level of maturity as compared to younger students; hence need to be involved in the management of pertinent issues affecting them (Kotzé & Plessis, 2003).

Read More