Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

teaching role

Powerful Essays
2165 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
teaching role
“A teacher should be an intellectual and not merely a specialised technician”. Discuss

For me studying Philosophy in College has always been an extremely confusing yet thought provoking exercise. As the end of college approaches however I feel that this was certainly the most relevant philosophy topic that we have studied so far.Adorno, essentially outlines the requirements for a good teacher and also the environment of teaching and learning that they create in the classroom. Essentially Adorno requires the teacher to be an intellectual i.e. –to possess a “relationship to his own work and to the total social totality of which it is a part “1 .This intellectualism , according to Adorno should extend to every section of the Childs curriculum and not just focus on an area in which the teacher is proficient. Essentially this means that the child should not struggle in P.E merely because his or her teacher is not athletic or sport orientated. There are many factors in Adorno's piece which I feel contribute to the development of this intellectual wholeness and I will attempt to outline them in my essay. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly the “teacher needs to understand themselves and teaching first”2. The identity of the teacher in Post-modern Ireland is slightly shaped by the curriculum they follow but never dominated by it. However, while the curriculum may have its downfalls the blame ultimately lies on the shoulders of the teacher who implements it. According to Adorno philosophy is “the art of self expression”3.So, essentially is teaching. Due to society’s demands for teachers many children are subjected to “the hands of an immature and uneducated intellect.”4 .Specifically speaking if a student in teaching college attends none of their lectures and only performs relatively well on their placement in a school they can still emerge from the college with an excellent degree on the basis of exam results, their academic subject e.t.c.Therefore they do not possess the necessary skills of a teacher but are predominantly a “specialised technician”. This can also occur if a teacher ,for example has an extreme love of a subject e.g. English and spends countless hours teaching their class poetry ,stories e.t.c.This is another example of a teacher who is just specialising to the detriment of the other subjects. Also central to the argument of suitability in the teaching profession is the area of “culture “among teachers.Adorno suggests that in order to educate a child needs culture and “culture requires love” 5.In this sense I feel that Adorno seems to suggest that if a child comes from a disadvantaged area their teacher needs to be aware of this and respond with innovative teaching methods for the teacher. Here he suggests that there may be problems as a result of an obvious language and cultural background. While this is essentially true I believe that Adorno’s views on the rural urban divide are extremely archaic and out dated. In truth the perception of rural children not being as educated as their urban counterparts due to factors such as a lack of opportunity, finance or the draw of the land have long been left behind. There is a necessity I feel, on the other hand to move away from the agrarian mindset, one that is in perpetual decline. In a booming economy Ireland everyone now has a chance and therefore I believe that this view needs some alignment and revision.Adorno also speaks of the importance of language in the teaching profession.The teacher is essentially a model for the child’s behaviour and therefore if their speech, grammar, syntax e.t.c. is not acceptable then it is inevitable that their student s will suffer as a result. Oral language skills are cross –curricular and therefore fit the bill of the intellectual learner. Upon close inspection there are a number of ambiguities attached to the findings of Adorno.In today’s society the emphasis is largely on performance and results and the techniques or skills of the teacher is often irrelevant. Education is becoming more and more goal orientated with the child being forced to store large amount of terms and information in their short term memory. This education does not fit the bill of the Adorno model but it is extremely easy to be a proficient teacher in this arena. Essentially the teacher just gathers specialised information and transmits it to their children. In the modern era of deadlines, exams and the points system I am of the opinion that there is no time for a teacher –especially in second level to become an intellect. Essentially the current education system rejects freedom of thought from the child. If teachers, like us enter a classroom and try to implement freedom of speech will the authorities accept this or will they adapt a conformist attitude that is so rife in today’s world. Change is often accepted as a dangerous process and if your superior staff members are of a mature or old-fashioned ilk there may be no option only to respond in a manner befitting the system. Unless major transformations occur I believe, therefore that there is either no need or no relevance to the intellectual teacher. After emerging from three years in a primary education college this study raises a number of questions. Am I now a specialised technician or an “intellectual”? While I have attended seminars and lectures on every subject on the curriculum there is some doubt if I would be able to transmit a sense of passion in all these areas to the children. In this sense I feel Adorno is slightly elitist as he chooses to classify some people as “intellects “and exclude others. For me there is a huge difference between being extremely knowledgeable in many areas and being able to transmit a culture of learning and an interest level into your children. If you are aware ,as a teacher of all the events surrounding World War 2 but your children are not engaged on the topic then I believe the role of the “intellect “ is facile. A teacher must reach equilibrium between subject matter and the needs of his or her audience. While I feel that Adorno is inherently wrong with some of his philosophies I am also acutely aware that he is extremely ethical and has the child’s needs and wants in mind. Much of Adornos work is ethics driven and “in order to do justice to his philosophy it is necessary to disentangle and elaborate the always presupposed ethical contours of his thought.” Therefore Adorno argues that it is only ethical to have an intellect as an educator as this takes care of all a child’s wants and needs. If a teacher is merely a specialised technician then they cannot take into account a child with special requirements or needs in the classroom. Likewise they cannot cater for both the sporting and the musical or the artistic and the linguistic. Some extremely children can and do slip through then net in these situations and this is, for Adorno an extremely regrettable occurrence.Adorno argues this in relation to his correction of philosophy exams in third level. The candidates knew specific topics of information but don’t know surrounding influences and events .Therefore he had an overall grasp of the topic but no idea of events preceding or following the event. This is another curse of the “specialised technician” syndrome which many teachers possess. While learning about an event such as the 1916 Rising in Ireland the majority of teachers will name the leader and the events which occurred during this week. But will the children be aware of the events leading up to Rebellion? Or will they be aware of the events immediately following the Rebellion? In many case I believe that they won’t and this adds major meat to Adornos argument. In my opinion Adorno is predominantly pre-occupied with interest levels in teachers in a particular school. He argues that even though they have the necessary qualifications to be a teacher many lack the passion and interest level that those of a lower intellect may possessive a teacher e.g. if a teacher is impatient or nonplussed about teaching then it will reflect in their work. Many drift away from the profession into other jobs. “The people I have in mind are trapped within a vicious circle; their interest compels them to make the wrong decision of which they themselves ultimately become the victims.”6This also leaves a void for other students who hap hoped to become teachers but their positions were taken by un-interested students. Another argument of Adornos that I am not completely in tandem with is his view on philosophy. Philosophy is the “Investigation of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods” 7He seems to suggest that many teachers are not philosophers and do not possess the level of thinking skills required to make philosophical decisions. However I feel that many decisions made in a classroom are of this nature and that philosophy serves as a bridging point between actual thinking skills and relationships with the children in the classroom. Also I feel that the teacher is a vital cog in teaching the children about values and reality in the world. Apart from the child’s parents no other person has such an influence on a child’s development. There is a consensus from reading Adorno that he treats philosophy as elitist and a kind of a higher art form that not many people can attain to. This also suggests some form of educational snobbery which I feel simply does not exist. While a teacher may not have a philosophy degree they still are required to make decisions in this area and therefore it is an essential part of their make up. However I believe that the central argument of Adorno is genuine. A child must be educated by an intellectual - a person who has the knowledge, passion and drive to be a teacher. This ethical view is slightly outdated but it could potentially provide a much wider educational scope than the one that is now in place. Changes in this area are not clearly forthcoming however and in my opinion it would not be a positive development to swing directly into an Adorno train of thought. This is largely due to the fact that I feel, if it were implemented, children’s exam results would suffer in the long run. An intellectual may harvest extra learning and culture in the child but a “specialised technician” gets results. Teachers are fully aware of their role in society and teaching and would surely reject a break away from this norm. Also I believe a flagrant freedom of expression would create problems in its own right. The children would be the centre of attention but, from my experiences, there are occasions when this might not be a positive thing. Also freedom might create a lack of purpose and focus. Some areas could be examined in great detail because the children demonstrate great knowledge of the subject matter. Others which are not so interesting may suffer as a result. But there is a likelihood that both may appear on the exam. The children may then be intellectual learners on one hand but unprepared for academic success on the other. In conclusion I feel that I must, to a large degree concur with Adornos views. This is largely due to my own experiences. During my school years I undoubtedly learned huge amounts of information and subject matter. However the majority of this was stored in my short term memory and was never nurtured or elaborated on. Therefore in terms of teaching me from every aspect it was largely useless feel that this is predominantly the case today. While I disagree with Adorno that there is a huge divide between the rural and urban educator and culture I agree that there is undoubtedly a need for the educator to be able to identify with the culture of his –her class. This is essential so that the children will be interested observers and therefore active learners. While these are all extremely relevant areas and topics for discussion I feel that Adornos greatest legacy is in his treatment of the ethical realises that children’s needs are being neglected due to uninterested or unfocused teachers and he feels it is ethical that children should be taught be “intellectuals “ and not specialised technicians”. For this to happen the teacher must be proficient in many different educational fields and knowledgeable in a wide variety of topics. The children should enjoy games, composition of music, languages, drama e.t.c.They can only do so if the teacher appears to as well.For these reasons, and despite his aforementioned shortcomings I feel that the Adorno mantra is inherently correct.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Professionalism requires us to maintain appropriate standards and fulfil our responsibilities to learners, institutions and colleagues (Francis and Gould, 2009:10). This is achieved by setting professional and personal boundaries which will enable us to be clear about what our limits are and what our professional role involves.…

    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Level 3: Describe what your role, responsibilities and boundaries would be as a teacher in terms of the teaching/training cycle.…

    • 354 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Our first and foremost responsibility is that of a pedagogist, that is one who performs “Any conscious activity by one person designed to enhance learning in another” (Understanding Pedagogy: And Its Impact on Learning edited by Peter Mortimore 1999 - Sage) [C14: from Latin paedagōgus, from Greek paidagōgos -slave who looked after his master's son.] (Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003) We are responsible for our master’s sons, for their learning and for making the right decisions in terms of facilitating their learning. The whole subject of the study of learning defines the role of a teacher, in the lifelong learning sector or otherwise. How we achieve this basic principle has been the subject of endless theorising and debate over millennia. The current understanding of how people learn is, of course, what leads us to teach as we do today. It is what causes us to consider the individual, to discriminate in favour of diversity, to be inclusive and to encourage equality in all we do.…

    • 836 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Teacher-Coach Role Onflict

    • 2299 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Gaudreault, K. L. (2012). Socialogical issues in teaching physical education. The Global Journal of Health and Physical Education Pedagogy, 1(4), 321-33.…

    • 2299 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Teaching is conveying knowledge in formal learning institutions, whether it is a school, K-12, or a university or college. Teachers have a major influence on a student’s life. They plant seeds of…

    • 896 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Evan Illich Philosopher

    • 1218 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Britzman tells us that student teacher’s begin their teaching journey by constructing their own identity. Student teachers begin by making sense of their position. They try to find their niche in the teacher’s world whilst fitting in all the necessary ideals associated with the teacher. The first phase in learning to teach is difficult and places the student’s in a vulnerable position whereby they must begin to construct their identity as a teacher and examine what it means to them on a personal level and how they are uniquely a teacher. Below, I will provide a critique of teacher education as outlined by Britzman.…

    • 1218 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Role of a teacher

    • 639 Words
    • 3 Pages

    “Teaching should be a conscious, deliberate act, resulting from thoughtful decision making about what to teach and how students can learn best”. It is therefore imperative that the correct teaching strategies be employed to achieve the desired learning outcomes. It is equally important that teachers assume certain roles in and outside of the classroom.…

    • 639 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Being a Business Studies teacher on the topic People Management which is one of the functions of the Business Studies, I have to follow certain roles and responsibilities as a teacher.…

    • 1022 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Role of the Teacher

    • 352 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The teacher who acts as controller is in complete charge of the class. All attention is focused on the front of the class, and the students are all working to the same beat. This style lends itself perfectly to the accurate reproduction stage and to drilling. Some teachers appear to be natural leaders and performers and find it hard to relinquish autonomy to the learners. At the stage of creative communication though, it is vital that the control be relaxed if students are allowed a chance to learn, rather than be taught.…

    • 352 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    My Roles as a Teacher

    • 1295 Words
    • 6 Pages

    My role as a ICT tutor, sometimes requires me to be mentor or even an absent friend to support my learners emotionally through their learning. All of this provides me the means to enable learning to the best of my ability. I have a responsibility to ensure that students gain the knowledge and skills they require to become effective learners. Also the responsibility to meet the high standards of professional and ethical behavior required by the learner, and my profession itself. The responsibilities listed below provide guidance for me as a teacher.…

    • 1295 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    ole of a teaching assisstantTEACHING ASSISTANTS - GENERAL LEVEL 1 - To work under the direct instruction of teaching/senior staff, usually in the classroom with the teacher, to support access to learning for pupils and provide general support to the teacher in the management of pupils and the classroom. SUPPORT FOR PUPILS • Attend to the pupils’ personal needs, and implement related personal programmes, including social, health, physical, hygiene, first aid and welfare matters • Supervise and support pupils ensuring their safety and access to learning • Establish good relationships with pupils, acting as a role model and being aware of and responding appropriately to individual needs • Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils • Encourage pupils to interact with others and engage in activities led by the teacher • Encourage pupils to act independently as appropriate SUPPORT FOR THE TEACHER • Prepare classroom as directed for lessons and clear afterwards and assist with the display of pupils work • Be aware of pupil problems/progress/achievements and report to the teacher as agreed • Undertake pupil record keeping as requested • Support the teacher in managing pupil behaviour, reporting difficulties as appropriate • Gather/report information from/to parents/carers as directed • Provide clerical/admin. support e.g. photocopying, typing, filing, collecting money etc. SUPPORT FOR THE CURRICULUM • Support pupils to understand instructions • Support pupils in respect of local and national learning strategies e.g. literacy, numeracy, KS3, early years, as directed by the teacher • Support pupils in using basic ICT as directed • Prepare and maintain equipment/resources as directed by the teacher and assist pupils in their use SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL • Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person • Be aware of and…

    • 4079 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    As a ta I no it is important to ask of feedback from the teacher and other colleagues I ask for feedback every 2 weeks firstly I asked the teacher how she thought I worked with the pupils and the other ta's the teacher said you work well and you are all ways professional with the pupils and ta's you are very helpful in the class room I ask the one of the ta's in my class the same question they said I am a pleasure to work with and a great edition to the team I ask the teacher what she thought my strengths and weaknesses are the teacher said you are helpful caring and much more the one thing you could I prove on is to be more talkative in class and in the staff room I asked the same of one of the ta's in the class they said the Same but they said I need to work with different groups rather than just the one I have talked with the teacher and me and her agreed that some team building tasks could help make me less shy when talking to my colleagues…

    • 427 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    My understanding of the Teaching role, is to ensure that the students you are teaching are actively involved in the lesson,(Ann Gravell 2014 pg 1) this can be best put into place by using the teaching cycle…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    4 .5 Follow guidelines established by the school/district to protect the safety and well-being of children and youth.…

    • 883 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Role of a Teacher

    • 586 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The role of a teacher in today’s world is a complex and diverse one. It is to provide intellectual and social development, to have integrity, to be honest and to always provide appropriate conduct in the classroom and the community.…

    • 586 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays