Download Understanding the Social Foundations of Education: A Key Aspect of Teacher Education - Pro and more Assignments History of Education in PDF only on Docsity! Response to Chapter 1 in Tozer Chapter 1 in Tozer, which is the introductory chapter takes us through why it is important that we study the “social foundations of education” when going through teacher education. One of his main points was that if teachers can learn to understand the larger notions of society, they can better understand the specific problems their schools face or may face in the future. I completely agree with that point. I think the more knowledgeable a person is about the culture around them, the better equipped they are to make crucial decisions in their everyday life. This is especially important in teaching because as a teacher, you will be faced with many different walks of life. To understand where each person is coming from would be ideal but even to just be able to respect the fact that people are different and see society through different lenses is critical when dealing with students. Another point that Tozer makes is that in the ever growing diverse public school system, teachers need to recognize that no matter what race a student is, they all have the same academic potential. Teachers need to put their prejudices and discrimination behind them. There is no place for it in the school system. The way that minorities can improve upon their lives is by becoming educated. Also, when dealing with problems in the classroom, teachers need to recognize that these problems are often times a part of the bigger picture. If a teacher can recognize the problems that surround a school and its area, he or she can better problem solve while in the classroom. Furthermore, he goes on to discuss the six tools of inquiry in understanding the dynamic relationship between school and society. These six are: social theory, schooling, training, education, political economy and ideology. One area that really stood out to me was schooling. In my opinion, this is the most important. Children are in schools for seven hours a day for twelve years of their life. Many times this time spent is with a lot of the same peers. In order to grow as an individual, students must learn from the experiences they face while at school. Whether that is socializing with different classmates, how one interacts and fits in with classmates or seeking out extra-curricular activities, just going to school to get educated isn’t enough to make you a well rounded person. The thing that had the biggest impact on me was school athletics, mainly, volleyball. Being a part of a team with guys in high school for four years was the best experience I have had in school. As a freshman, I learned how to respect and listen to those that were older and more experienced than me. By the time I was a senior, I learned how to become a good leader and had a chance to be captain of my team and really make sure the team was coming together. It was a very rewarding experience. In conclusion, Tozer is introducing the idea that it is important for aspiring teachers to study the foundation of which education was started. It is also important for us to understand what is going on around us and the different aspects that make up the relationship between school and society.
