"These
children need the basics. The basics. If they get the basics that's all they
need."
"The
children don't need trips. They need fundamentals. They need drill and more
drill."
Unfortunately, in education
today we still have a Mrs. Brown lurking around in the classroom teaching children
drills and more drills. In a classroom there is a Mrs. Brown belittling
children and causing a fear of participation. Mr. Conroy wanted to bring a
different way of learning to the children. However, Mrs. Brown seen it as a
waste of time having videos played during school time. Mrs. Brown did not
realize that the films were stimulating something she did not understand. On
one occasion Conroy used the film about The
Salem Witch Trials which motivated a discussion involving witches the children thought they knew. However, when Big C commented about throwing
water on a witch to make her die, the classroom became the stage of actors and
actresses from The Wizard of Oz. John
Dewey, the theorist, would have noted this as an opportunity to build upon a
past experience. Despite Conroy's thoughts about TV, he was starting to see the
connection between it and the classroom.
"These children need the basics. The basics. If they
get the basics that's all they need." Conroy was teaching the basics and
much more without the characteristics of a stern school teacher with a leather
strap. When the college boys from California arrived the basics were just a
mere laugh. The clapping of hands to get the children to respond and pay
attention was an attempt to identify the children as ordinary. Little did the
college boys know that what Conroy had been teaching was not ordinary, it was extraordinary.
Conroy wanted the children to
connect with life. He wanted them to be able to see it and experience it. He worked diligently planning the trip to Beaufort for Halloween. The
parents were reluctant because of the fear of losing the children to the river. Conroy faced
the problem head on and convinced the parents and grandparents to let the children go.
Mrs. Brown still set in her mind believed it was a waste of time. "The children don't need
trips. They need fundamentals. They need drill and more drill." However, the journey of
learning was going to be the boat trip to Beaufort, an experience that they can
retrieve from their minds when Halloween is mentioned.
I despise the fact that Mrs. Brown talks down to these children as if they do not know anything at all. What she fails to realize though is it is because she did not teach them very well at all. I think that is why she always checks up on Mr. Conroy because she knows they are actually learning. Pat Conroy uses many different techniques to ensure his students learn something on a daily basis. Mrs. Brown just does not understand that these children need to learn so if one day they decide to leave the island they are able to live outside of Yamacraw island.
ReplyDeleteConroy demonstrated a quality that is important for a teacher. When the parents would not grant their children permission to attend, he set out to find out why. Once he knew the why he was better able to approach the situation. He also met the parents at their level. Although he hasn't figured out how to show the parents that field trips can be an important part of the educational experience, I believe he will work to figure out a way to show its importance. I like how Conroy realized that in order for him to make a difference in the student's lives he would first have to break a cycle that had continued for generations. Exposing the students to life outside of the island was the first step to changing their worlds.
ReplyDeleteMr. Conroy has been trying very hard to teach the children information outside of the Island. It just seems like Mrs. Brown is against anything that he attempts. Is it because she is jealous or that she does not know any better ? Just like she wants to always follow the books. The more I read about Mrs. Brown I sense that maybe she did not really understand all the legal stuff that needed to be handled promptly. Having the two students to come over for a semester to live on the Island and work with the children would have been a great opportunity for all involved. What teacher would not want to help students learn and excel in their learning? I hope that I will see opportunities that arise and utilize them in my classroom. I know I will still need to follow the visitor policy but, if someone wants to come and share in my class I will strive to make that happen. Poor Mr. Conroy!!!
ReplyDelete