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| "Professors Welch, Halsted, Osler and Kelly" (aka "The Four Doctors") (1905) by John Singer Sargent |
Do you think the focus of teachers and professors should be narrowed to the domain of their “technical prowess” or their chosen field of study?
Should public schools and colleges dedicate any time to activities designed to provide sustenance for their students’ souls or should they leave such activities to churches and other independent organizations?
I guess I don't fully understand the question - don't teachers/professors already teach in their chosen field of study (because this is why they're interested in)? And don't schools/colleges already have many student organizations to give students more experiences outside of the classroom (plus electives to broaden their education)? I think it is extremely valuable for schools to have these activities and organizations available for interested students. I also think it is important that students understand that so much can be learned outside of a classroom. I feel that teachers/professors are almost always encouraging students to join organizations/different classes to give them a more well-rounded education.
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DeleteMaybe the question is pertaining to teachers who teach multiple subjects. In my high school, there are subjects such as History and Physiology taught by the same teacher, and there is one teacher who teaches Trig and other mathematics as well as Basketball at the same time. Mr. Rhyne, my Physiology teacher, sometimes managed to confuse his lesson plans for the class with the History class or Geography class he also taught. I could be wrong but I think the question is asking if teachers should focus on only one subject, instead of such conflicting subjects such as Math and Physical Education. To answer the question, yes I believe teachers should focus on a single subject unless they are teaching complementary subjects. An example of this could be, Mr. Rhyne used to teach Zoology and Anatomy. This was fine because the lesson plans were quite similar in which the both went over the bone structure and muscle types. However, Mr. Quaid taught both Trigonometry and P.E., and his lessons were difficult because at times he would be gone and still leave assignments over materials we haven't gone over yet. So I believe that if a teacher wants to teach more than one subject, the subjects should be complementary classes.
DeleteThis is how I understood the question. Should teacher's just teach what they learned in college by classes they were in (specific subjects such as chemistry and biology) or go by what they feel is right (even if it comes from "out of school" experiences or knowledge). I believe that teachers should have a combination of these two. Using what they learned at the same time using what is most comfortable and most interesting to them. And less I believe that we should have classes/activities that help us with understanding and connecting with our inner self. This would produce more confident students and more a more accepting and welcoming campus.
DeleteI don't believe that teachers should only be constrained to what their course description is. One teacher I remember very fondly was my economics teacher Mr. Bowling. I had the most engaging conversation about existential novels after learning about opportunity cost. This teacher had the highest test scores in school history up to this point. He engaged the students in more than one field and we all grew as people because of it. Its a shame to limit a talent, especially if it will help others.
ReplyDeleteI think teachers should utilize their expertise in a given field, whether or not it happens to be their chosen field of work. Teachers have a big impact on students, and students rely on teachers in situations outside the field of their degree/job. For example, a discussion in an english class may drift off the intended topic, but it still elicits learning and critical thinking, so the teacher can let the discussion go on and offer their own input or questions. A situation like that causes no barriers to the students' learning, but allows them, and perhaps the teacher as well, to learn something and think for themselves. However, I don't think that teachers should try to teach something they don't actually understand themselves. That only makes it harder for students. That being said, understanding of a subject or situation doesn't always equal having a degree.
ReplyDelete-Amanda Kramer