What is the purpose of public schools?

 


  While reading this article, I found myself getting frustrated. While the answer to this question seems obvious, it is not as simple as it seems. Of course, the main goal of public schools is to give knowledge to your students that will benefit them in their careers and in their lives, but it is much more complex than that. Teachers have to wear many hats for one job, and that is being a teacher, a caregiver, a social worker, and how the article puts it in this day and age, an epidemiologist. There are so many more things that we have to do for our students than just give them information to use in their lives, and as it seems from reading this article the support that we need is not given. So what do we do? Well in all honesty it is hard to see a clear path of how to provide everything that the child needs with a lack of support from agencies but here is what I do know, I know that when the student is in the classroom, as a teacher all I can do is make sure they are provided for and looked after while they are with me. Checking in on them and their well-being as well as making sure their keeping up with the curriculum that is given to us. As the author of this article says, it is imperative that we start looking at a new structure in which we can wear all of the hats a teacher needs to wear in an effective manner. So to answer the question what is the purpose of public schools, the purpose is to make sure the children we see day to day get the knowledge and support they need from us and to make sure we are doing everything in our power that we can for our students.


Thank you for taking the time to read,

Priya Clark

Comments

  1. Taylor GandolfoJanuary 25, 2022 at 4:30 PM

    I can confidently say that I agree with everything you stated in this blog, it was very well put and you emphasized the true meaning of the role a teacher plays or should be playing. I love how you mentioned how they students will get what they "need from us," because it makes it clear that teachers can't be held responsible for every single step in a child's developmental process. I would also like to point out that you didn't answer the second question, so I would make sure you do that before this is due so you can receive full credit! :)

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  2. Taylor DillJanuary 26, 2022 at 2:14 PM

    I think everything that you said above is 100% true when it comes to the question about public school. We as teachers are not only teaching the students about topics that are needed to be learned like math and reading, but we are also teaching them how to be good humans and normal rules to follow.

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  3. Avery HarlessJanuary 26, 2022 at 3:03 PM

    I totally agree with you, when I look towards my future as a teacher, I see the responsibility as much more than just teaching educational content. A teacher is a caretaker and a support system, and those are two hefty jobs.

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  4. Lili JaimesJanuary 27, 2022 at 6:20 PM

    Hey Priya! Reading your thoughts on the article was really refreshing because I have the exact same view points! As teachers we really want the best for our students even outside the classroom. I like how you said we have to do more for our students than just give them information. Sometimes I have trouble expressing that viewpoint and you put it into clear words.

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  5. Ana SaldanaJanuary 28, 2022 at 4:23 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. Ana SaldanaJanuary 28, 2022 at 11:16 AM

    Hi Priya! I really enjoyed reading your blog post, I can see how passionate you are about this subject. You are absolutely correct; teachers take on many roles and it's sad to hear that even today they aren't given the recognition they deserve. I really like how you say “teachers wear many hats “because they really do. And especially in today’s pandemic teachers have taken on a role that they probably never even imagined that they would have to. I appreciate though, that throughout all the obstacles you mention teachers face, that the main goal that persists is providing a proper education and support for the students. At the very least, a classroom should be seen as a safe space and as a space of equal opportunity and learning. Although, reading your post and seeing how emotional this topic can become, it gives me hope that the appreciation for educators will change drastically within the near future.

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  7. Mallorie SmithJanuary 28, 2022 at 4:19 PM

    Hi Priya! After reading your post, it is clear how passionate you are about the topic. I fully agree with you, teachers play several roles as being an educator, not just giving students information to learn. I liked that you mentioned that when a student is in our classroom, your job is to make sure they are looked after and safe, as well as teaching them the correct curriculum. As teachers, I can imagine how hard it is to do all this work and not receive any support from agencies. Going off of what Ana said, in times like this during a pandemic, teachers are doing EXTRA work to make sure the students are still receiving an efficient education. People are definitely overlooking the effort that teachers are putting in, and sometimes even the blaming the teacher for school being online (which is ridiculous). Teachers are doing the best they can given the circumstances and they deserve to be recognized for it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

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  8. Grace MFebruary 4, 2022 at 5:19 PM

    Hi Priya! I can see you are extremely passionate about teaching. I agree us as teacher play many different roles as educators to students. I hope teachers get more appreciation from society, because they really do deserve it. I have the same view point as you do overall

    ReplyDelete

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