I believe one of the major issues facing our nation’s schools at this time is the outstanding disconnect between schools and the communities in which they exist. \u00a0Educators too often ignore the fact that a major portions of a students learning occurs outside of the classroom, in the home and in the community. \u00a0In order for teachers to succeed in fully educating students who are not simply products of their schools, they need to understand and engage with the effects that communities have on education. \u00a0Jessica Singer and Ruth Shagoury presented a spectacular way to engage students with their community in their article. \u00a0By viewing education and learning as political acts that are affected by issues of equality and social justice, students are able to partake in learning that focuses on their own homes and the spaces where they live. \u00a0In this way the school is connected to the community and learning that occurs in the community compliments what occurs in school.<\/p>\n
In addition to bringing together the school and the community, learning that focuses on issues of social justice, allows students to make a choice as to what to study while still mastering the necessary literacy skills. \u00a0In this way students are more positive about the learning experienced and are much more engaged. \u00a0Focusing on social justice allows all students to deeply involve themselves in the world around them and begins to close the gap between the school and the community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I believe one of the major issues facing our nation’s schools at this time is the outstanding disconnect between schools and the communities in which they exist. \u00a0Educators too often ignore the fact that a major portions of a students … Continue reading