COLUMN: Education without Communication

"The secret in education lies in respecting the student." —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson's quote is relevant in today’s world and, as education becomes less personal and increasingly geared toward a one-size-fits-all model, it will continue to be relevant in the future.

According to the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary, the word respect is defined as "consideration." However, in the fast-paced world of education, especially in high school, teachers do not seem to have time to consider each student's needs or to understand the specific resources each learner requires.

I attend Elizabethtown High School, which is part of Elizabethtown Independent School District (EIS). It has two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school, with total enrollment of about 2,250 students. Compared to neighboring school districts, EIS is smaller and more personal. Most of my classes have about 20 to 25 students, and I know all of my teachers and administrators. More importantly, they know me and all of their other students. There is no other place that I would rather attend school.

However, even in this close-knit environment, the gap for individualized learning is still too large.

A little more conversation, a little less action

I rationalize that education has lost its focus on the individual — and, with that, its fun appeal. Although there may be some truth to the belief that because I am a high school student I do not require the same personal attention as a primary school student. However, it feels as if something more is missing: Perhaps it is the ability for students to interact with each other and the teachers in the classroom. The increased use of educational technology has come between teachers and students, students and their peers.

Also contributing to this gap is the amount of pressure on teachers to include a set amount of material in each day — even each grading period. This creates less time for application and discussion. My teachers are interested in me and my education, but by adhering to curriculum standards, they do not have a lot of time in the classroom for conversation and additional explanation.

For example, in my survey of the social sciences class, we recently studied the entire continent of Africa in less than two weeks. In that time, we read political, geographical, topographical and resource maps. We learned where the countries were located, the resources of many of the countries and the history of Africa. The study of the continent was interesting and challenging, however, we only devoted a small amount of time to the current issues of the continent and even less time discussing the changes we could make there.