Education is like a bicycle

Education is like a bicycle. In order to ride a bicycle you need it to have training wheels. This is like the beginning of school. You have so many people helping you out with your education, your teacher and parents/guardian, especially in elementary school, and they are your “training wheels.”  Once you feel okay riding the bicycle you take off the training wheels, but you’re still a little shaky while riding the bicycle. This is like going into Middle School.  You now are not depending on your parents or teachers for as much help as you needed in elementary school with the “training wheels” but you still seek them out at times for help. Then you feel stable and are a lot better at riding the bicycle, which would be like entering High School. You are now more independent, you don’t need you parents or teachers reminding you to do homework or school work because it’s your responsibility and no one else’s to get it done.  Three things I have learned more about are the various types of curriculum, various philosophies and the teachers roles.

What is Pragmatism and how is it used in education?

What is Pragmatism?

Pragmatism is a school of philosophy, which was leading in the United States in the first quarter of the 20th century.

Pragmatism is a philosophical movement that gave a first systematic expression by Charles Sanders Peirce and William James and later taken up and transformed by John Dewey.

Pragmatism is based on the principle that the usefulness, workability, and practicality of ideas, policies, and proposals are the criteria of their value. It stresses the main concern of action over principle, of experience over fixed principles, and it holds that ideas borrow their meanings from their consequences and their truths from their verification. Therefore the ideas are essentially instruments and plans of action.

How is Pragmatism used in education?

The American educational system is founded on the foundation of pragmatism. The outcome based education is an ever present saying that’s connected with modern schools. The Goals 2000 program had described some very good goals or outcomes for education. This definitely ensured that all children are ready for school, had a higher rates for the high school graduation, and  had expecting competency in challenging subject matter are excellent goals. This makes it clear that the philosophy of pragmatism, devoid of objective moral standards, is a major philosophy guiding much of our nation. 

I think pragmatism being used in the classroom is useful. It's a hand's on curricula, group work and experimentation which gives many ways for the student to understand what is being taught to them. It was what the educational system was founded on therefore it's important to have in the classroom.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/473717/pragmatism

INCLUSION

Are their cons in having inclusion in the classroom?

I always thought inclusion is a great idea in the classroom because students with disabilities will feel more of a part of the school community and  they feel like they belong among their peers. What I found out was that inclusion isn't always the best for a child with disabilities. Putting these students into a mainstream classroom can make the student frustrated because they might feel as though they are competing with the other students. Also the classrooms are bigger than what they are used to and their isn't enough time spent on a subject for the student who needs repetition and review and they might feel intimidated to ask the teacher questions because they might think that they will be judged by their peers. Having inclusion can make the students with the disabilities rush through their work, where they usually would not, because they can see that everyone around them is finished. 

Another setback of having inclusion is that the teacher can lack the training, resources and necessary supplies to adequately teach these students with disabilities in their classroom. Learning disabled students can also not feel like they fit in with the other students in their classroom. Teacher time is taken away from other students and the teacher has to take even more time while making their lessons so that the lesson will include the student with learning disability. The classroom management can also be harder for the teacher because of having more students in their classroom. Overall, having inclusion of course has its pros, however there are cons with having an inclusion classroom.

http://www.slideshare.net/DeeARoss/cons-of-inclusion-education
 http://xruffrydr9.tripod.com/inclusiontherightanswer/id18.html