What do students want out of school?
What
I expect from school? It seems to me a philosophic question such what you
expect from life? Or what you expect from marriage? If I was asked this question 20 years ago, I
could answer that I want to be doctor to make a lot of money. As humans, we
have a phenomenal ability to adapt to life’s situations. Our expectations are
changing depending on external or internal factors.
In
primary school, my only goal was to have good grades to satisfy my teachers
first and then my parents. To understand this concept, I have to introduce you
to part of my cultural heritage. Having pursued elementary and middle school in
Morocco; we were taught since early age that a teacher is person who knows
everything. We have to obey to him in every educational aspect because he is
not just teaching us knowledge but also good manners. This is why the Ministry
is called Ministry of Education and Good Manners. The educators take over when
parents fail. You may see parents asking them for help because they not able to
handle their kid any more.
In
High School, it was not about what you expecting from your instructor, it was
about what he expects from you. He is the one deciding if you pass or fail the
class. Most of time asking questions was a difficult exercise because instead
of explain the instructors will blame you for not being attentive. They use to
give us the impression of having the ultimo knowledge; arguing with them or
even presenting your simple opinion was synonym of disrespect. How can you
develop ideas and personalities in this context? You going to form a frustrated
generation, such generation will find a way not always the right one to
evacuate this stress and pressure.
Our
only expectation was to get the High school diploma to reach good schools in
Morocco or to flee the country to Europe our supposed Eldorado.
When I went to college in France, I had to
adjust myself to new situation. I was agreeably surprise by the quality of
education. The qualification and professionalism of the faculty members was
phenomenal. I was free to ask questions and to argue with teachers. I was glad
to find passionate educators, who like their job and not doing it just for the
salary. They were motivated by leaving their knowledge to a new generation,
hopping that one of us will fellow their dreams and maybe make a phenomenal
scientific discovery. They had faith on us, it was a new concept for me .The professors
were available all time and enjoyed the students visit to their laboratories. I
remember being so eager of knowledge that I went to visit every single
laboratory in the chemistry department.
My
expectations in this period were beyond to get a degree from a French
University, now I was thirsty of knowledge. I had the feeling of being sponge
absorbing everything to compensate the time lost. However, I discovered that I
still use the same methods learned since early age. I learned how to collect
information from a variety of sources, compile them and take only the pertinent
information because the teachers will not help you anyways. I learned how to be
self-motivated to reach my goals because we did not hear any motivation word
from any teacher. These skills took over one more time; they were as second
nature. They allowed me to succeed where others failed. They also allowed me to
raise my standards in this adequate context.
Coming
to the United States, I had to adjust one more time my expectations. Now I have
to pay to go to college! As normal as it may seem to you Americans; it was a
choc for me. During all my educational curses, I enjoyed the benefit of public
schools. I had to raise my standards because I’m paying the teachers’ salary .I
have the impression that I’m customer and the school has to satisfy my
expectations or I will look for another competitor. Logically, we may think by
spending more money on school we must have high performances among the
students. However, a study conducted by French and American researchers show
that even if the United States spends approximately 40% more per student than
France; French students are ahead of US students in most academic areas except
science.
After all this years, Expectations seem to me as big word. We all expect things from schools, teachers and the educational system. The question is what we really expect from ourselves. How can we rely on instructors skills like professionalism, qualification and motivation to succeed in school? It’s the responsibility of everyone to go beyond the traditional educational system based on students “receptor” and teachers “transmitter” to succeed in this new era and be able to compete with students all over the world.
Sources:
Professor Carol
Panaccione, Sandra AB Arnold, Who Does a Better Job Educating Their
Children?The United States vs France, May 8, 2001. Foreign Language Honors
Project, Sep 20,2011.