Is Authentic Learning Possible in American Schooling?
A reflection on why we take 2 steps forward, and 3 steps back...
I've been giving a lot of thought to just what is meant by "authentic" education. All one has to do is go back to John Dewey and Maria Montessori. They cracked it open (at least, for me).
Authentic learning is about the experience: experiencing the new and experiencing what's already BEEN experienced; now with more knowledge/context.
#immersion #challenges #collaborative #personal #guiding #ownership
But, after working in the public education system for going on 23 years, being a student in various public education institutions for just as long, and having taught a graduate course for many years now regarding the history and trends of public education since the founding of our nation, I say there are some HUGE, socially induced limitations to authentic learning.
For example, broadly, American public schooling is primarily used as an assimilation force to compensate for various religions, cultures, and customs. Common subject matters cause everyone to think as one. It creates a homogeneous citizenry in modern industrial enterprises. But is that unification or is it something else? If the institution itself is a force for unification, what's all this talk about self-expression and authentic learning?
Let me guess: "Can't we have both?"
Can we? Don't the ancillary effects of a didactic education (traditional, do as I say, make the grade, etc.) which include following rules, not violating expectations, falling in line, etc.) outweigh and overwhelm any measly attempts that we may make at promoting student self-expression?
What do you think?