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Monday, October 4, 2010

The Other Side of Learning

Education is important. As an adolescent going through the school system, I can honestly say that school is preparing me to become a contributing member of society not just a knowledgeable person. Many people think that the point of going to school is to learn math, science, reading, and writing, but that is only half of the truth. The famous quote, “Life is a journey, not a destination” can be applied to the idea of education; education is a journey, not a destination.

The most important things I have learned in school are as follows (in no particular order):

1. I learned how to listen
2. I learned how to work with my peers (both smarter and less smart than myself)
3. I learned how to communicate with adults
4. I learned how to articulate my ideas
5. I learned how to ask questions
6. I learned how to ask for help
7. I learned how to manage my time
8. I learned the importance of integrity
9. I learned how to defend my opinions
10. I learned how to respect other people’s opinions
11. I learned how to be social
12. I learned how to study
13. I learned how to solve problems
14. I learned to think creatively

The process of learning things has taught me more about the world, people, and myself than any lecture has ever done. A population without this rite is at a great disservice, because if the youth don’t learn about these important aspects of their lives before they are brainwashed by the thinking’s of their society then when will they learn?

In English class we have been reading The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver. I came across this passage and I was saddened by its implications, “crowds of boys from our village and the next one over come straggling in for their education. It’s only the boys, and not all of them either, since most of the parents don’t approve of learning French or the other foreign element in general” ( 126). One thing that strikes me in this passage is that all of the boys don’t go to school. Later on in the passage Rachel (the speaker) says, “by the time they are twelve or so, their education is over and out.” I understand that boys and girls are expected to help keep the village functioning, but if a little more time and effort were invested into education then the village could greatly benefit from increased efficiency and higher technology. Another thing I noticed was the parent’s rejection of education. They are stuck in a vicious cycle. The parents are only repeating what they did as children, but societies like these need education. The amounts of good that a sound education could provide for places like this are endless. The most disheartening thing about this passage was the fact that girls are neglected an education. I know how different their lives could be if they were educated. I draw a lot of my confidence from the knowledge and schooling that I have. I am able to talk to anyone, man or women, professor or waiter because I have confidence in my ability to articulate my ideas, confidence to defend my ideas, and the confidence that I deserve their time. People believe what they are taught, and if you are taught that your role in the family is to cook, clean, and bear children, then that becomes your personal narrative. However, if you are able to go to school and be exposed to different cultures, ideologies, and experiences or if you are able to be taught by someone who harnesses your potential then the course of your life could be incredibly altered. For me, my mind has been opened by studying the craft behind language and I have been empowered by teachers who have pushed me to my intellectual limits.

The oppression of girls around the world is scary, as I was reading about women in Saudi Arabia, I found this bit of information from A Human Rights Watch report (July 8, 2009). Saudi law “requires Saudi women to obtain permission from male guardians (fathers, husbands, brothers, or male children) before they can carry out a host of day-to-day activities, such as education, employment, travel, opening a bank account, or receiving medical care.” Imagine if your life was manipulated by someone else, someone who might not always have your best interests in mind? The scarier thought though, is that these women might not realize the injustices that they are living in. Because it is the norm in Saudi Arabia to be subordinate to males how could women know to expect more? Education is the answer to that question, and the opportunity for both boys and girls to be educated would make the world a better place, I guarantee it.

124 comments:

  1. You have a lot of things in this post worth thinking about.

    Your insight into your beliefs about the purpose of education are interesting. Is your thinking a product of you, your family, your school? Are your friends equally able to articulate these same beliefs? I know that many, if not most of the students that go to my district's high school would not agree with you.

    On another note, how did you find out about the Comments4Kids blog? I was extremely pleased to see you had added this blog to the list. It is the second blog added by a student. The first is from a student that I talk to on Twitter.

    Mr. C
    Noel Elementary
    NoelTigers.com

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  2. A wonderful statement of your learning. You suggest that these things you learned in school. Yes, I am sure that school played a role in that process. But I expect that your family, your community, your surroundings played a role as well. You suggest as much in your critique of the culture that does not value learning as you do, and as your family does, and as the school you attended does.

    You are fortunate in another way. Look around you. How many of your peers would be able to write the same report you have given? Many would talk about what they have memorized, or what grades they got. You report a far more important learning experience: the ability to learn on your own and the ability to learn in a community.

    I want all of my students to read your post. I have 160 active students in my EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. You will be inundated. Do not think you must respond individually. We can work out a collective response, if you wish. Perhaps a Skype interview or something. I hope your post will help them understand what the real objectives of learning should be. You have stated them well!

    Thank you!

    John Strange
    Professor of Professional Studies
    University of South Alabama
    EDM310

    PS:
    I read Mr. C's comment after writing mine. They are alike. Perhaps because we are friends. Perhaps because he taught me the power of commenting on blogs. Perhaps because we are equally delighted with your personal report and concerned about the reports our students give. Maybe we should have a 3 way conversation!

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  3. You have determined early on that your education is a journey. If you keep that perspective, you will nurture a life-long passion for learning that extends well beyond your formal education.

    The oppression of girls and women around the world is of great concern to me, as well. Coincidentally, this article appeared in the St. Petersburg Times today.

    http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/afghan-women-who-dare-to-drive-spark-road-rage/1126615

    Think how brave and strong these young women are in paving the way for their younger sisters. In my heart, I believe that education for girls is the most powerful opportunity they have to break out of a culture of oppression.

    Wendy Drexler
    Postdoctoral Associate
    University of Florida

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  4. I can't find an email link for you so I will just post. Try using twitterfeed to push your blog post to twitter and other services.

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  5. What you have written is indeed thoughtful. Hopefully what we learn from education is a life-long process and that it will stay us throughout our lives!

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  6. @Wm Chamberlain: When I wrote this post, I was thinking about the different things I am learning at school and the fact that the most important things I am learning are things I will not be tested on. Thank you for asking about if I think my perspective is a byproduct of me, my family, or my school, because I did not think about how much influence my life outside of school had on my experiences in school. Right now I would say my family has had the biggest impact on my outlook of education, but it is a question I will think about a little longer and I will try to come to a conclusion in my next blog. I found Comments4kids through a teacher that is helping us set up our blogs and get involved in the blogging world. He wrote that blog on the board for something to look into, and I am glad I did!

    @ John Hadley Strange: I appreciate your comment and am excited to hear what your students have to say, I will do my best to answer any questions you have! I agree with your statement that yes, my family, community, and surroundings have played a large role in crafting my views on education. I plan on exploring this idea further in my next post  Also; I think it would be very interesting to talk to you and Mr. C about my perspectives on education!

    @Wendy DG: Thank you for posting that wonderful article, I love reading about strong women standing up for their rights. I have had a hard time finding articles of this nature, so if you come across anymore, I would really enjoy reading them! I agree with you about women needing to have more opportunities to learn and receive an education, but in cultures like these I think even more reform is in order. The male population needs to learn to be open-minded and willing to accept the changing status of women around the world. It is frustrating to read articles like this and see how many obstacles women around the world still need to overcome, but it is liberating to hear about the women taking a stand!

    @Martha Yim: Thank you for your suggestion, I will look into it!

    @Jenny’s Learning Journey: Thank you for your comment!

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  7. Wow! Excellent list. I think #1 and #10 really reflect the title of your blog and would begin to solve some of the problems in our society.

    What do you think educators should do differently or better to facilitate "the most important things you learn in school?"

    Paige V. Baggett
    University of South Alabama

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  8. I agree with what you said in your blog. However, many other people around the world might disagree because, like you said, it is normal to live the life you have been taught to lead. People who are accustomed to not receiving an education are probably not going to agree with your blog, if they ever seize the opportunity to read it. Do not let that discourage you!! Your family, friends, teachers, and even your community have molded you into the person you are. You are an educated person; a part of a fortunate society which believes all people should be educated. Only by becoming educated on diverse societies and cultures can a person make an independent decision on what they believe. I believe you have formed your own opinion, that is free from influence and expectations of others. Keep up the good work, and try to think about how you can help educate the world. What can you do with the knowledge and experiences you have gained in this lifetime? What can you do to improve the world around you? The future of this world is in the hands of our generation, what will you contribute?

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  9. Very well written. You made a total truth point that most people will tend to over look or push in the closet to forget. This is the year 2010 and all people of the world deserve an education. We as a people must learn to break out of our molds and change the world for the better and not stay in the past. We as a group of people have an amazing legacy to leave, but how will we leave our legacy with people being left out of the loop? Only when we come together will our dreams and desires become a reality. Again I very much enjoyed reading your blog and good luck in school. I'm a student at the university of South Alabama EDM310 in Mobile, Alabama.

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  10. Hi I am a student from EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. I enjoyed reading your post! I like the list of things you learned. I have also learned a lot of the things you listed. Learning these has also helped me in the world as well. I believe we need to learn more in school other than just math, science, and reading. There really is so much more that is just as important. I really like when you said "education is a journey, not a destination". This is soooooo true! We are learning so much now and will learn so much more throughout our lives. I believe we learn something new all of the time. Thanks for the great post!

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  11. Hi. I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. Your post is excellent. You give a lot of great points regarding education. There are so many lessons to be learned, other than just the information that is presented to us. Education is a journey, and one I feel should never stop. It is important to not take our freedom, especially in regards to education, for granted. So many people are not allowed the rights to learn the way we are and unfortunately so many of us throw our opportunities away. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I look forward to reading your future posts.

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  12. Hey! I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. First of all, I love your blog title! I like inspiraitonal quotes! I really like your list! "They" say the most important things you learn you learned in kindergarten. Education is an odd thing to me. It's years and years of jamming out brains of memorization just so we cna forget it in six months. However, the things you've listed are the important things we learn. We may not ever have to know the pythagorean theorem ever again. Yet, we will use those problem-solving skills and the values of punctuality. Again, great post with insightful points! Good luck in the reaminder of the year.

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  13. Hi, I am an EDM310 student at the University of South Alabama. I love this post. It has very interesting information which I have never read about before. There was some very good points you addressed in this post. I totally agree that education is a journey. I never knew that women in Saudi Arabia did not have rights like we have here in the United States. Education really is something we take advantage of. Thanks for the post!

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  14. I am an EDM310 student at the University of South Alabama. How very right you are. It is sad to see how women, although they are taught no differently, expect to have their lives controlled by another person. Thankfully, that is not the case in America. I enjoyed reading what you had to say, and I never thought of applying the quote "Life is a journey, not a destination" to education. But I am glad you did. I may just view my own education experience differently now. Keep on blogging!

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  16. Hello, my name is Jennifer Inscore and I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's EDM310 course. It is very refreshing to read a high school student's blogpost that is as well written as yours. You are a highly intellectual woman and I hope you continue to post your thoughts and ideas. Your list is outstanding and I do agree with you to an extent that you have learned these from school. School is supposed to be a place to learn all sorts of information. As students in a school environment we are influenced by our teachers, administrators and other students. Therefore, we can learn these things at school. Not necessarily the primary place we learn these tools but we still observe them there to a degree. Unfortunately, the school I attended, I don't believe that I learned many of the things on your list. There are many factors into the reasons why. I think our educators, our environment, our parents and friends and MOST importantly our OWN attitudes are a huge contributor in what and how we learn. I enjoyed your blog and hope to read more from you.
    Jennifer

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  17. What a great post!

    I had never thought of school having so many more benefits beyond classroom walls before reading this. Even as a college student, you definitely put this into perspective for me. I wish more people would realize this and maybe they would value their education a little bit more.

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  18. hey I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 classs at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed reading your post. I liked your list that you have learned, I think all of them are really important for our future success.
    Also, I think it is horrible to read about how badly the education is in other countries, not only with woman but all the children. Excellent post!!

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  19. Hello I am a student is Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. Your blog was very interesting! I loved all the facts that you presented and used great information to back up your point. You are right the world needs to be educated (women included). I personally agree that education can be the answer! Like you stated these people do not realize what they are doing to their country or children. I am pleased that I got to read you post you did a GREAT job and I could not agree more....

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  20. Your post is very insightful. It's so wonderful that you share the deep thinking you are doing and the connections you are making with all of us. I personally am looking for some impetus, some inspiration, to start blogging again as I've dropped the ball lately. I'll look here again for that impetus, as you just helped me remember what this form of connecting is all about! Thanks.

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  21. Hi! I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at University of South Alabama. Great Post. You are a fantastic writer. It is plain to see that you have a lot of confidence in your abilities as a student. I think that is vital. I enjoyed the section on the Poisonwood Bible. Sounds like an interesting book. But I agree, it is time to break the cycle. Generation after generation are just repeating what they learned growing up and it is time to break free from that. So many different issues in life reside in the same phenomenon. If half of the kids had the same will and confidence as you, I think the situation would shift. Great post! Great Writing!

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  22. Hi! My name is Kayla and I am also an EDM 310 student at the University of South Alabama. I think it is wonderful that you have learned so much through the school process and actually noticed it. Most students, even in college, just get the work done and turn it in without really thinking about what processes they are learning. And you are right; It is not all about the subjects we learn in school, it is also about how we learn, the processes it took to get there, and the character we gain through those experiences.

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  23. Hello! I am an EDM310 student at the University of South Alabama. Your post was great! I am so glad you pointed out that school is more than just learning the subjects because so many teachers forget this, as well as students. Although the subjects are important, so is being social and learning how to interact others. We will never be able to use the subjects if we can not interact with others. Every process we are involved in is a learning experience, and I have a hard time remembering that sometimes.

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  24. I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. This post was very interesting and informative. It seems that you have actually noticed what you learned through the school systems. Most people just do their work without ever thinking about what they are doing, even in college. I really like the fact that you took the time to point out it is the journey that takes us through the learning process that is just as important as what we learn. I am very proud of you and I hope to instill these qualities in my future high school students. Good luck in your future!

    Tabitha

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  25. Hey! I'm a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I loved your inclusion of the quote at the very beginning. How pertinent it is to the educational journey! It's great that you have pulled so much out of YOUR educational journey because you're correct, education is more than reading, writing, math, and science. It is a never-ending process of bettering oneself in every aspect of life. Keep up the good work!

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  26. I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama.
    I really enjoyed reading your post and enjoyed comparing the many things in the list of what you have learned to my own experience in school. I truly believe that some of the most important things we learn in school aren't necessarily what we learn by studying and in books. I believe that the experience in school is what really teaches us the most important things. Knowledge isn't just about how book smart you are. It is also includes the relationships you have interacting with people through comunication and teamwork. You can only go so far in life by knowing "facts". You obviously understand this concept as shown in your post. Your quote "education is a journey, not a destination" says it all. In the end, it's not about reaching one point, it's all about the learning experiences throughout life.

    Thanks for the great post!
    Stephanie Dunaway
    http://dunawaystephanieedm310.blogspot.com/

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  27. Hey, my name is Brooke and I am in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed reading you post. You gave lots of good point when talking about education. Education is an on-going journey. We have to use all the opportunities we have, and be thankful that we have them! There is so much more to learn in the classroom rather than just math, science, and reading! Thank you for sharing this post with us!

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  28. Hey, my name is Sterling and I am currently in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. To begin, this blog post was great! I really enjoyed reading it. I completly agree, that school isn't always just about learning math, science, reading, and writing. School helps shape who you are overall for the future. As you stated all the points that you also learned in school, it made me realize that school helps form most peoples social skills. In school, one learns the culture of people and places, how to interact with people, and most importantly how to act correctly. School is a great place overall. This post was great, and thanks so much for sharing.

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  29. Hello. My name is Aaron and I am from Dr. Strange's class as well. This was such a great and inspiring post as an 'educator in training.' You honestly have inspired me to keep going for my education degree so that I can hopefully get my students to understand exactly what you have stated in your post. If people would realize that school is important not just because of the "basics" that are taught, but that they also learn so many more important things to make it through life while in school... ugh! It is so frustrating to me sometimes. I am glad that there are people in the younger generations that do understand and are making their voices/opinions known. Thank you!

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  30. Hello,
    My name is Kindra Blackwell and I attend the University of South Alabama. My major is Elementary Education. I am in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I really enjoyed reading your post! I agree that school teaches children more than just book work. It teaches children how to be social, to work with peers, and listen. All of your examples are great! I think it is amazing how some women in the world have to live. I could not imagine having to get permission from a male to carry out day to day activities. That is crazy! I think an eduaction should be necessary for everyone in the world. Why would we want to make people feel inferior to us? I think that is crazy! An education should be a right everyone deserves, no matter your race or sex.

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  31. Hey. I am also a student at the University of South Alabama and I am currently in the EDM 310 class. It was so nice to read your blog post about the things that you have learned in school. Your list is amazing and I can only hope as a future teacher that I will be able to engrave some of the same lessons that you have learned in school in my students. I have also learned many of the lessons that you mentioned and hope that I will be able to remind myself of those things as I continue to progress towards the teaching world. The quote that you posted was so right. Life is a journey, and so is education.

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  32. Hi, I am yet another student, I am glad to read that you learned some of those things already. Most people wait until college to learn how to study and manage their time. Other people never really learn how to communicate effectively. This is a great post and it was a great read.

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  33. Hi, I am a student in Dr. Strange EDM310 class at the university of South Alabama. I think your paper is great and I can see that you know the importance of learning. You learn from the life you lead and from the people around you. Keep learning and experiencing life.

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  35. Hi, My name is Jordan Bennett from EDM310 at Univerisity of South Alabama in Mobile, AL. I believe that what you are learning in class are the basic necessities of life in general. You will be very successful if you continue to adhere to these processes. The sky is the limit!!!

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  36. Hi, I am in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama and I really enjoyed reading this blog post. It was so insightful and well written! There was so much that I wanted to say about it that I had a hard time picking what I would talk about to keep my post from being too long. First, I love what you said about education being a journey. It is so true, if we try to focus on the end result, we won’t value the little life lessons we learn along the way. Second, learning to ask for help is a major accomplishment. If we are too afraid to admit we don’t understand something, then we will never learn anything outside of our comfort zone. I also liked the passage that you included from The Poisonwood Bible and how you talked about parents wanting to repeat their childhood with their own children. Often times people do not realize how much the world is changing everyday and we can’t keep doing the same things over and over again. If we don’t adapt, there will be no growth. Everyone deserves to be educated and to be pushed to be educated.

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  37. Hi, I'm in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama and I really enjoyed reading your post. You had so many good points and it was very well written. It was so interesting and informative. Education is a journey and it should be a great journey. But it is really sad for children that don't have the opportunity to experience that journey. Your points within the post with passages from The Poisonwood Bible were very good. That was an excellent way to bring your points to the surface. I would also hate for someone to run my life as you said about the Saudi Arabian women. This was a very good post!

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  38. Hello!
    I am in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama as well. Your post was amazing. I loved everything you have to say and I agree with you! You've posted some things that really need to be thought about and I like that. Making people really think is an awesome thing to do! It's so sad to think children aren't getting an education at all and if only they knew, as well as their parents, that this was the way to a much brighter future the world would be a better place! I really enjoyed reading your post keep up the good work!
    Kristen Hayes

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  39. Hi,
    I am a student of Dr.Strange's EDM 310 class. First, let me start off with letting you know that your title was just perfect for this post. You had many great points about the importance of education. Education is everything in todays world and without it we would be doomed. Some people don't realize that school is more than just academics. Fortunetly, You were smart enough to figure it out and that will only take you further in life in a shorter time period.

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  40. My name is Sarah Pierce and I am in Dr. Strange’s EDM310 class at the University of Southern Alabama. I thought your opinion was really well stated! I have also learned a lot about myself and working with other people by just going to school. I think education is very important. I can honestly say that I don’t think I would have learned this much about myself and other people if I had not had such a great education. But I had also grown up with parents that thought education was very important. I know there are a lot of parents out there who never finished high school and therefore, their own children don’t care about education either. I think it’s awful that the women in Saudi Arabia are not getting the full education they deserve. But you are right…that is their norm. Maybe if I had grown up in that same situation I wouldn’t think anything of it. I really enjoyed reading your post. I thought it was great!

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  41. Hi, I am a student in Dr. Stange's EDM310 class. I really enjoyed your post. It is really interesting to me all the things you have learned while in school. You don't think about it everyday but so much of what we learn in school is not just from books. We learn all of the skills that we need in life.

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  42. Hello,I am a student in Dr.Strange's EDM310 class.I thought your post was very interesting.I agree that education is a journey and we have to take that journey to lay out our destination.I believe with all confidence in one self anything is possible.The right attitude and preparation will get you to the place of greatness.I look forward to more post .Keep up the wonderful job and best wishes to you.

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  43. Hey I am student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at South Alabama. I like your thought on education. I agree with you that boys and girls should get the same rights to education. But their education should go beyond them being twelve years old. keep up the great job and look forward to reading more post.

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  44. Great Post. I agree with you in so many ways. I feel that school is so much more than just learning to do math and science. It is almost a social experiment in action. I think you grow more socially. The other thing I like that you brought up was working in groups. The more group work you get in high school the better off you are because group work is so important in the real world. Keep up the good work and have fun in your future school work.

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  45. Hey, along with most everyone else, I am a student of Dr. Strange at USA. I absolutely loved your blog. Slightly jealous ( in a good way) because you write so well and are so thoughtful yet straightforward of your beliefs. Reading your post made me think about how I look at Education. I do not believe that I have never looked at an Education as a being a privilege until now. I was more along the lines that Education is a destination, but you have clearly changed that. Great Post! I will definately read up on all your post and will continue to do so. Your a bright girl and I hope that you keep going the way your going.
    Here's My Blog. Feel free to contact me.

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  46. Hey,

    My name is Matthew Rodriguez and I am a student at the University of South Alabama. We were all given your blog as a additional assignment for Mr. Strange's EDM310 class. I must say that you hit the nail on the head with this post. I agree with how you feel about education and also feel that it is journey. I believe it is a journey because we as teachers or people in general are never done learning. There is always something that can be learned and always people who can be taught. The key to obtaining the knowledge around us is to just stop, take a breath, and pay attention and learn all we possibly can in order to make us better and more prepared for teaching. Excellent post and the best of luck to you in the future.

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  47. Hello, I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. This is indeed a great post! Teachers and educators are forever life long learners. Education is the key to success. It saddens me how male domination still exist in many countries. We are fortunate that we live in an equal environment. Again, great job and I am looking forward to the next post!

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  48. Hello,
    I'm also a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. Your post was excellent. I loved reading it and the way that you wrote it was excellent. Education is a journey, you're correct. We must always travel to reach new places in our education and knowledge level. I look forward to reading your next post, as is the rest of my class. Good work!

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  49. Hi! I am in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I loved your post!! Education is a journey and that journey never ends! I loved the list you created. I share some of the same lessons. You did a great job expressing your ideas and I will enjoy following your blog!

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  50. Hello
    I am in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class, and I really enjoyed reading your post. The things on your list are so important, and so many people do not figure this out until later in life. As an Education major, I think it is so important to help students learn "life lessons" as well as academic material. Very well written!

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  51. Hello,
    I am in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed reading your blog post. It really amazes me the list of important things you have listed. I can remember in high school not caring about any of those things but just trying to get out. Once I stepped into college, I had to learn all of things the hard way. You have a great outlook on education and knowing that you have this outlook early in high school, you will do great in college. Two of the things that you posted that stood out to me were, "I had to learn how to communicate with adults" and "I learned how to defend my opinion." I have noticed in some of my classes, there are students who still don't know how to communicate with adults. Whether they be professors or fellow students, many students still talk very inappropriate with adults. I love how you have learned to defend your opinions. When some people express their opinions and someone challenges them that person tend to want to change their opinion. Its very important that when you express your opinion, you are able to back it up. I really enjoyed your blog post.

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  52. Hi. My name is Krystin Pavey and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed reading your post. It was very insightful. I love the you applied the quote “Life is a journey, not a destination” to education. I think it is very important for everyone to receive a quality education. I think that we, as Americans, often take for granted the opportunity we have to receive such an education. I can't wait for your next post. Keep up the great work!

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  53. My name is Wade Bias and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 Class at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed reading your post on learning and how you considered it to be a journey rather than a destination. Very well stated!

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  54. Hello, my name is Crystal Raper and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I loved all the things that you listed that you learned. What you wrote was very insightful and I think that if it wasn't for those who care about us, such as, our parents, teachers support, and our families some students would just give up. And reading you entree will help those who feel that way. I believe it will!!! Keep up the great blogs.

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  55. My name is Mattie Bearden and I as well am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 course. I can definitely see why it is that he wanted us all to read your post. I could not agree more with what you have said and I certainly could not have put it in any better terms. Education is truly a blessing and a vital part of life. If more students embraced education the way that you are able to, I do believe that the world would be a better place. Thank you very much for posting this blog. Continue posting; you can see that people are reading and responding to your thoughts and ideas!

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  56. Hey! My name is Cody Coleman and I am in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I read your post and thought that it was fantastic. I am in another course here and the section we just took a test on was about education in the earlier parts of america. We learned that around the time of th 1800s there were 3 different types of schools at least that you could go to in order to learn, however only one of those types allowed admittence of girls into that schools. Even with the allowance of girls, the school only taught basic literacy and writing skills.. So i see where you are coming from. We here and now dont think of how good we have it in the educational society.
    And your comments about what you have learned from school, those are very important life skills and we should expect to learn those after being in a classroom, and we should also hold on to these values because they will allow us to go far in life.

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  57. HI! My name is Hailey Rascoe. I am in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. Your post is great! i really enjoyed reading it! We are all so blessed that we can live in a country such as this one. Many people take our freedom for granted, and I believe that you made a great point in this post! Keep up the good work!!

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  58. Hi! My name is Lola Solano. I am in Dr. Strange's class also. I enjoyed reading your blog. You cover a lot of important facts about learning. I especially loved how you added your thoughts on oppressed women. I read most of the comments and I was interested in what Amani Alloul had to say "The primary goal of Middle Eastern women is to get married and serve their husbands." I wonder if she truly believes this now that she has had the "privilege" to receive an education. I had the opportunity to interact with women like Amani this past Spring while going to the gym. It was an all woman's gym. They would come in with their head wraps on and full body coverings then immediately strip down to work out. One lady was so delightful and cheery. She cut loose in the gym dancing and getting into the workouts. It was interesting to see this side of her and I wondered if her life was different at home. I never had the opportunity to get to know her because the gym shut down shortly after I joined. I will have to read the book that you are reading. It sounds like an interesting book.

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  59. Hi! I am student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. I really enjoyed reading your post! I totally agree with your statement that school helps you to be a contributing member of society. It definitely helps us, a lot of the ways you mentioned especially. I also agree that education is a journey. I know I am constantly learning knew things every single day. I believe we never truly stop learning. Good luck in the future with all you do!

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  60. Hi! I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. Your post was very informative. I completely agree with you. If student go to school just to learn without any social interaction, then whats the point? Process of learning consists of more than just books. This post was great!

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  61. You had a lot of wonderful things to say about your views on education! I agree that there is much more to going to school than just learning your basic courses. You learn who you are and that is a huge part of life! Best of luck to you!
    Carey Dekle
    University of South Alabama
    EDM 310- Dr. Strange

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  62. Yet another EDM310 student! Your post was thoughtful and well written. It sums up a lot of the reasons that I decided to become a school teacher. I believe that schools/teachers have the capacity to fight poverty, racism, sexism, and other injustices in a very direct way. Stay engaged with these issues and keep up the good work.

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  63. Hi! I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 course. This post on your views of education was very insightful and well written. I loved the entire post. The quote, "Education is a journey, not a destination," made me want to get sticky notes and post it everywhere. That is so true. Most people view it as "I will finish my education when I graduate and I can't wait to get there." What they do not realize is their education will never be something that ends at a certain point in time. We journey through education everyday of our lives. The statement, "You learn something new everyday," is true because we never stop learning.

    The list you made of the things you learned throughout your years of grade school was great. I wish when I was a senior in high school I would have made a list of what I gained out of my twelve years there. School is not reading, writing, math, etc. It is a learning process. You learn more about yourself and the world around you rather than strictly how to read, write, and solve math problems. What you learn in school allows you to gain confidence and be able to communicate in today's society.

    I really enjoyed you sharing the quotes and ideas from the book you are reading in your class. The fact that children are deprived of education is a major issue in this world today. Like you said, if the children in the village were encouraged and allowed to go to school then their village would be further along than they are. If they let their children get their education those children would then be able to help their village in an even greater way than they are now. The fact that women in Saudi Arabia have to ask the men around them if they can do what is on their list for the day before they can do any of it is almost sickening. I cannot imagine having to do that. It is restraining women from reaching their full potential. The woman may have school on her list but if the man does not approve she will not go. Everyone is affected by the environment and society around them. The parents in the village and the men in Saudi Arabia who are not encouraging towards education are being discouraging and keeping them from going to school. We as a nation need to fight against these issues of injustice along with a whole laundry list of other ones.

    Thank you some much for your post. Keep on sharing your insight and ideas for the world of education.

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  64. Hi! My name is Neileigh Chastain and I am also a student of Dr. Strange. I really enjoyed reading this post. As I thought about it those are many of the things that I learned in school also. I must say that the things you were talking about are the things that make people want to become teachers. They want to make a difference in someone's life and this is a great way to help people. Thanks for sharing!

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  65. My name is Christie Odom and I am also one of Dr. Strange's EDM 310 students. You make an amazing point. I know that a lot of people really do think that school is just about learning the subject matter, but there is so much more than just that. I believe that the most important things you learn do not come out of a textbook. You are completely right. You learn to listen and speak, you learn how to act in social situations, and you learn respect. Thanks for sharing this!

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  66. Hi. My name is Gaillard Broughton and I am in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I really like your blog post. I also believe that education is not just about certain subject matter. I believe it is also about learning skills that make you a better communicator, learner, speaker and problem solver. I find it sad, too, that some people in other countries are denied education. I believe that education is very important. Thank for sharing this. It is great!

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  67. Hi,

    My name is Kiara and I am in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I really like your post. It really speaks the truth, and I am very impressed by your thoughts and opinion on the situation. Education is so important, and it is a shame that not everyone get to experience it. Keep up the good work.

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  68. Hi! I'm also in Dr. Strange's Class at South Alabama. I loved your post!! It's great to hear the student's perspective of learning! Your list had some very good points. One that stuck with me was the working with others that were smarter or less smart than yourself. When I was in high school (which was about 10 years ago), we did not do many group projects in our classes. I feel as though I missed out on the group aspect of learning! Now that I'm at South, we are always engaged in group activities!! It's an awesome way of learning; if you don't understand something, you can go to your group partner and ask for clarification. If they can't provide it, our teachers are always willing to help us out!

    Great job on this post! Hope to hear from you again soon!

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  69. Hi! I am another student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at South Alabama. I was very impressed by your post. You are a very intelligent person and you think about things in a different way than most people. Have you decided what you want to be? Maybe a teacher? I think you appreciate education and I believe it takes a deep appreciation of education and all of its many aspects to be a teacher. From reading your post you sound like you would be a great teacher. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and good luck with whatever you decide to do! :)

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  70. Hey,
    I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I thought very highly of your post. It was an insightful and well thought out blog. I agree that there is more to education than "book learning". I think that you did a great job in this blog of pointing that out.

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  71. Hello! I am a student Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. Your blog really caught my attention. School is more than just learning how to achieve the basics. When we start school, even as a very young child, we start the process. School prepares us for the real world both educationally and with life lessons. Thanks for sharing your blog with us!

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  72. Hi, I am a student at USA in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I agree with you that education is so much more than just learning from a textbook. I think it is unfortunate that women in other parts of the world are brainwashed so they can't be powerful by being educated. If that happens, then there is less control of the women. It's incredibly sad to me and I hope that one day everyone can have the same opportunities as Americans do. Nice post!

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  73. Hi! I'm in Dr. Strange's class at the University of South Alabama. I greatly enjoyed reading your blog post and think it's great you pay attention to what is going on in the world. So many people don't and as an English/Language Arts Education major, I do think that passage has a lot of meaning behind it. It is sad that only boys get to go to school in some places, but not even all of them get to go. Great job, enjoyed reading!

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  74. I am a student of Dr. Strange taking his EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I would say that one of the most important things I learned in school was to be confident, articulate and able to communicate to anyone. I have known many people who have been home schooled their entire lives and have realized that they all lack social skills and confidence. In order to be successful in today’s world it is crucial to be able to communicate with a diverse society.

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  75. Hi! I am also in Dr. Srange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I really liked readin your post and I agree wit your list of important things we learn in high school. I agree with you and it becomes much more evident when you finally get out of high school that there are more important things to learn than just math, science, reading, and writing.

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  76. Hey, I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. Your post was a shout out to those of us who have been fortunate to grow up in a community with the free ability to learn and communicate. You made some very good points about the usefulness of truly learning and why it is important to share ideas and opinions. Some people have never been exposed to learning and need insight from those who have. You seem to be a likely candidate to do that. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!

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  77. Hello, I'm a student in Dr.Strange EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed reading your post, and I must add it is quite interesting. I find it amazing that this is what you have learned.I can honestly say that learning these thing now will definitely prepare you for college, and when you are out on your own. I totally agree with the fact women and men should have the same opportunities when it comes to education and other life choices, but in some countries that's not the case. I'm so glad that I have the opportunity to be educated and making life choices on my own , although sometime I seem to take it for granted. Your post has enlighten me. Thanks for sharing this post.

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  79. Hi, I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's class. I enjoyed reading your blog! I find it very interesting how different parts of the world use education and those who ignore education. I understand in some countries they need to be working to keep food on the table; but if they had a speck of education they would probably not have to work all the time to put that food on the table. But,their world would be completely changed in so many positive ways if they had education. I completely agree with you that the world would be a much better place if every one was educated. Keep up the good work, you are a very good writer!

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  80. What's up!? Everyone else was saying "hello" and "hi" I thought I'd shake it up a bit. My name is Mary Mauceri and I am one of the many students in his EDM 310 course at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. The course we are in is designed to help us to use the technology available these days to create a personal learning network where we read the comments of and communicate with different students and teachers all over the world. By doing this we are better prepared to teach our youth what they really need to know. All I know is that I want a classroom full of kids just as well-rounded as you; ha, ha. But really some kids have so much potential and their everyday environment is what thwarts the efforts of the education system we have in place today. Not only has your environment nurtured you very well, but you are taking advantage of it by being enthusiastic and that is most admirable. I look forward to reading more of your work. Please keep it up.

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  81. Have you ever heard of the book "Reading Lolita in Tehran" by Azar Nafisi? I'll leave a link to the Amazon page at the bottom of this post, but I thought I would recommend it to you, it is one of the most powerful books I have ever read, and I am an avid reader. It's a memoir from a professor of literature in the capital of Iran, and it is just such an amazing story. I really think you would like it.

    Anywho, I'm Jaimie Ellis, and I too am in Dr. Stranges EDM310 Class.

    Here is that link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Lolita-Tehran-Memoir-Books/dp/081297106X

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  82. I really enjoyed reading your post; it was very well written and thought provoking. Your list about what you have learned in school is awesome. You are the model student for all students and every student should walk away from school having learned everything on your list.

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  83. Hello I'm in Dr. John Strange's EDM 310 class and I read through you post. I enjoyed looking through your pose. I particularly like your statement saying " life is a journey, not a destination."

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  84. Hi! My name is Kathryn Buchanan from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 Class at the University of South Alabama. I think you made some really interesting points in your blog post. I agree with you in that educating individuals will result in a better and more efficient society. Depriving children of this education will result in a child with no drive and motivation and a society that is worse off. By becoming educated, children are getting the opportunity to become a better version of themselves in a way. They are given the options to follow whatever dream they have for themselves. An education gives the learner the ability to choose from many open doors. Thank you for letting me read your blog!
    -Kathryn Buchanan

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  85. My name is Alissa. I am also in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I really enjoyed reading your post! I wish everyone (including myself) figured out how important education is. It took completing and having children of my own to really understand how important it is. Now I am majoring in Elementary Education. In hopes to help children realize how much they can achieve. Keep up the wonderful work!

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  86. Hey! My name is Jenny Black and I am also from the University of South Alabama. I am in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I really like your view on education. You are right, education is a journey. If education was a destination, it would imply that learning stops, or we come to a place where we know it all. Neither of those things are true. It is a journey, a journey I believe goes hand-in-hand with life. Also, I really like your title. We all need to stop and realize that it is not all about "me". We need to understand the difference between seeking to be understood, and seeking to understand. Great post!

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  87. Hello,
    My name is Eloise Martin and I'm a student at the University of South Alabama. I'm also in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class.

    First of all I must say I really enjoyed reading your post. Your tittle "The Other Side of Learning" made it very appealing, and made me excited to read.
    I agree with you when you say that there is more to learning than just the subjects we are taught. I learned a lot more about the different cultures and my surroundings when I was in middle and high school. You learn how to work with others and why they have a different point of you, and this is a life time experience as you will always come across people with different point of view than you.
    I also like how you said that "education is a journey, not a destination."
    This post made me really think of everything I really learned in school.

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  88. My name is Sharon from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. Education of course is incredibly importatant. We always need to be seeking more information, especially me as an educator. We will never learn it all but we can learn all we can. Ignorance is no excuse right? It breaks my heart the lack of education of some children, especially females. I would like to think that the world is past the "pregnant, barefoot, and in the kitchen mentality". But it most definatly is not true.

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  89. My name is Meghan from Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I have to tell you that I really enjoyed reading your post and found it very appealing to me as a future educator. As an educator I plan to always be seeking new information and I think this is vital in order to effectively teach. I am so heart broken to discover to lack of education in some children, I would like to think that as a community we have moved past that and we could better educate EVERYONE. Again, I really enjoyed your post.

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  90. My name is Angelica from Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I loved reading your post and you seem like a great person who really seems to appreciate education and the learning process. I think education is so important and it really bothers me to see kids falling behind in learning to where they just don’t care any more.

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  91. Hi, my name is Brittany and I am in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I loved how passionate you are about this an it is very obvious in your writing. It horrifies me that some people around the world do not even know what they are missing in this life because they do not have an education. I could not agree with you more about how important an education is for everyone especially in rural villages. I thank you for bring this very pressing issue to a new light.

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  92. Hi! I;m Katlyn and I am a student at the University of South Alabama and current in EDM 310 with Dr. Strange. The list that you put in your post really stood out to me. I do not think students realize what else they are learning besides of of the typical subjects. We also learn social and listening skills. We learn how to handle conflict and so many other situations or settings. Great post! I enjoyed reading your thoughts.

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  93. Hi, my name is Amberli Chastang. I am a student at the university of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I think your blog is well written and extremely insightful. You made some very good points about education. Those are some important social skills. I am glad that you are leaning them as well as learning the "book stuff" too.

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  94. My name is Tierra Dinkins from Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. Your post was really informative to me as a student and a future educator. I realize that education in other places in the world is not as advanced as the United States however, our country is also stifling our children's education. Our children are not being to taught to learn anymore but to memorize to pass a test. This type of teaching does not prepare students for the future.
    Your post really helps to shed light on poorer countries and their struggles in education. However, I believe that people should also know about the struggles that the United States are having in their education system as well.

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  95. Aloha. My name is New. I am also commenting for my EDM310 course with Dr. Strange at the Univ. of South Alabama. I think that the educational system my have its faults as far a structurally delivering the obvious lessons to students. But the lessons in assimulation into the society are always delivered without a problem. Schools function as a perfect backdrop for teach people a variety of non-academic lessons in life. For example, students learn right and wrong, what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior at a young age. This is taught by structured rules and guidelines and by interacting with others in the school. In America, we promote patriotism through having students say the Pledge every morning. Socialization is a continuous process in the school system. We learn what we like and don't like, who we like and don't like, and what we like to do and don't like to do. Think about it, if we drew everything we know solely from our parents, we would simply be psychological clones of those who spawned us. Where is the progress in that?

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  96. Hi, my name is Heather Bright and I am currently a student of Dr. Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. Your blog was so inspiring! Your outlook on learning is why I want to teach. You are a very articulate young woman. I believe knowledge is the one thing that will never be taking away from you and that's why it's important to always continue your education. Good luck with your future studies and thank you for showing educators your response to learning!

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  97. Him I am Toni Parrish and I am currently taking EDM310 at USA with Dr. Strange. I want to start of by saying that your post was well written and that your knowledge and beliefs about how to improve kids education are great. But one statement that you made that caught my attention was when you said that you have confidence in yourself and that you know that you are able to interact in conversation with someone of higher standings just as you would with a person with not much of an educational background. I favor this comment the most because that shows that you are not afraid of a challenge and that if there is something out there in life that you don't know, you would be willing to learn oppose to neglecting the situation and moving on. It's nice to see you so determined and I hope that you continue this focus throughout college because 'thinking outside the box' is something you will be expected to do.

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  98. Hi! My name is Tiffany Morris. I am a student of Dr. Strange at the University of South Alabama and am taking EDM 310. You said you learned how to respect other people's opinions. Sometimes that can be a hard thing to do. I'm glad that you are trying to do this. I think people should realize that they can learn a lot from the opinions of others. Your post was great. Keep up the good work!

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  99. Hey there!

    My name is Rachel Ward and I attend the University of South Alabama. I'm in a course called EDM310.

    You're post was very thought provoking. On the other hand, we need to be careful that education helps to enlighten cultures and not eliminate the good things that make them unique (good being very subjective). A case in point is the mandatory education of Native American children in white schools during the late 1800s.

    Great post.

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  100. Hey, my name is Chris Patrick and I, as is most of your commentors, am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. In school you do learn the subject material but as you said, it's only half of what you learn.

    The list of things you have learned, I can relate to. I did learn in school to expand on some of these things but my parents, football coaches, friends and a lot of other people help build my foundation. I agree that alot of people "teach what they learn" to their family from their family. I don't agree with anyone keeping anyone from bettering themselves whether it be man or woman of any race or ethnicity.

    I enjoyed your post and I hope your education continues with teachers pushing you to your full potential.

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  101. Hi! I'm Prent Davis and I am a student in Dr. John Strange's EDM 310 class (just like most of the other people that have commented). And I must say that I agree with you 100%! Education, like life, is a journey of self-discovery. Kudos to you for having learned that truth at such a young age.

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  102. Parents need to get down to business and encourage their children to do well in school. I don't understand how as a parent you can watch your child repetatively fail! I am in Dr.Strange's EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed your post!

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  103. @ Lynn: That is the next book I am reading for my English class! I am excited that it had such a profound impact on you and it sounds like a great story. Thanks for your comment :)

    @Mary Mauceri: Thanks for explaining the logistics of your class, it sounds very interesting and is definitely an important aspect to teaching nowadays. I have learned so much through the technology that is offered at my school and I am glad to hear that future teachers are learning about all the different ways to enhance the class room!

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  104. Hi! My name is Carlis Howze and I attend the University of South Alabama. I'm in a course called EDM310. I really like the points you made in this post. I totally agree that education is a journey. I never knew that women in Saudi Arabia did not have rights like we have here in the United States. Education really is something we take advantage of. Thanks for the post!

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  105. Hi there, my name is Laura. I am also in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I think your post is very insightful and you did an amazing job of conveying your message! It is awesome that you are in High School and you're already evaluating your personal learning processes and what you absorb from them. I hope that you continue learning new and exciting things!! Good luck!

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  106. I am in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. What you said is so true. If people were given the educational opportunities like we are in America, many peoples life could be dramatically changed. Getting an education is more than learning about math, science, and history, its learning life lessons, like you said.

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  107. Hi, my name is Amanda Brewton, and I am also a student in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class at the University of South Alabama.

    I thought your post was very thought-provoking and well-written. I was very impressed with how well you expressed yourself in your post. I felt as if I could have been listening to you speak!

    I agree that there are a certain set of skills that we learn in school. For me, I believe that at every level of schooling, it's as if we have entered a whole new environment. Some of the rules are the same as the "old place". Others, though, are totally new to us. Even just going from high school to college has helped me grow in endless ways.

    I encourage you to keep writing on your blog! As someone who is new to the blogging venue, I find myself amazed at how connected people can become.

    Amanda

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  108. Hello, I am a student from Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class. I really like this post. I especially like the thought that education is a journey, not a destination. This definitely puts college into perspective for me.

    When I went to Kenya, Africa, the villagers actually did value education. Children would walk for miles to and from school to get an education. The problem was not their unwillingness to learn, but their lack of funds and resources. They did not even have a way to feed the children more than one cup of porridge a day in most schools. High school cost money, so most children could not afford an education greater than elementary school.

    The plight of women in Saudi Arabia disturbs me as well. I thank God that I have freedom in America to pursue an education.

    Amanda

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  109. Hi, my name is Carrie Tucker. I am a student at the University of South Alabama in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 class.

    Your post was taken from a very profound perspective. I completely agree, that life is a journey and not a destination. In regards to our education this quote completely redefines what we consider teaching or essentials in our educational system. When we as educators realize that we are teaching students and helping them to become contributing members of society rather than just knowledgeable it will change so much of how we teach. That principle will dictate what materials we use, how much time we spend with the students, what takes certain priority in a classroom, and how to help students achieve goals rather than just meet a certain criteria. I believe keeping the idea in the forefront of our mind that we are teaching to produce contributing members of society, then that will ensure success and be a very fruitful outcome.

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I enjoyed reading it very much and learned a great deal.

    Carrie

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  110. Hi. I am a student of Dr. Strange's EDM 310 course. I really enjoyed your post here. You mention a lot of very interesting factors. Without education, many people feel they have no voice, no way to articulate their thoughts. Your diction, syntax, and tone made me feel as if I were not reading a high schooler's thoughts but, rather, someone of a higher educational level. It was brilliant for most students of your level. Good job and keep up the great work!!!

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  111. Hi, my name is Megan Rymell and I am a student in Dr. Stranag's edm310 class. I do believe students learn a lot more than just book smarts in a classroom. There are many different things a student will learn in school that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

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  112. Hello, my name is LaChandra Lett. I attend the University of South Alabama currently enrolled in Dr. Strange's EDM310 class. I agree that students learn more than the subjects presented in school. Students take away life skills as well as academic skills. It is important that students learn how to communicate effectively and respect one another. I think you did a wonderful job with explaining your thoughts and opinions. Great post and keep sharing your ideas and experiences!

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  113. Hello I am in Dr. Strange's EDM 310 and I can not imagine having my life dictated by some man. If men did dictate what women did here in the United States I truly believe we would be staying at home, cooking, cleaning and having babies. I am glad that this country is not that way because you can not learn anything or make mistakes if someone else is telling you what to do. I enjoyed your insight what education meant to you also.

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  114. Hi my name is Brittney and I am an student in EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. Your list was very good and I really enjoyed reading your blog post.

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  115. Hey,
    This is Josh King (an EDM310 student). Throughout school you have been indirectly learning(as Randy Pausch called these head-fakes), and noticed the importance these skills have on becoming a functioning member of society! After reading some of my peers posts, I can tell that with different people your message has different meanings. What I take away from this post: The process of learning can teach us more about the world around us (and ourselves) more so than an individual lecture (or a set of lectures) can!

    p.s. I know I'm late on commenting. But, It's better to be late than never, right!

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  116. I'm Kristin, also from EDM310 with Dr. Strange. I almost missed reading your post and I am very thankful that I didn't. You have a wonderful gift of being able to see the big picture in life's small challenges. It is such a challenge sometimes to convince kids that doing homework and turning in assignments, studying for tests, etc, etc. actually may have a greater purpose. You have artculated that very well. I will be sure and pass your post along to people in need of convincing that their education is worthwhile and not a waste of time as so many of our young people feel. Thanks for enduring the hundreds of posts from our class. I'm sure you will be hearing more from Dr. Strange and his classes in the future!

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  117. Hi, my name is Abby Smith. I am a student of Dr. Strange at the University of South Alabama. I think the list you have made of what you have learned is very substantial and very good. It looks like you have learned many important things that you will use in your future educational career. More importantly, you have learned many life lessons that will help you in your future in general.

    I think you're right that an education gives you more confidence to have a conversation with another person. I think knowledge gives a person more confidence in general. I absolutely agree with you that everybody should have the right to get an education. I don't think that anybody deserves to go through life unaware of what they could accomplish. Ignorance is not always bliss. Also, we have no idea what those people who aren't getting an education could have done for the world if they had been educated. You are very lucky to have teachers who push you to do your best. Not everyone, such as the women of Saudi Arabia, is as lucky to have the opportunities that a good education will give you. I'm so glad I was able to read your blog. It was well written and thought provoking. Keep up the great work!

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  118. Hi, my name is Cassandra Williams. I am in Dr. Strange EDM310 class this semester. I am from Mobile, Alabama; I attend the University of South Alabama. I am majoring in Elementary Education. The things you said in your post, makes me look at how I thought about school from K-12th grade. Like you mention “people think of school as learning: math, science, reading, and writing”, I was one of those students that thought that way. It was not only society, but the people in my family. Some could not write, read or count. I was the third one out of my entire family to graduate from high school. It was just that thought that I had to go to school to learn to read, write and count. It was not until I got to college when I realized that it was more to schooling then just those things. Great post! Keep up the good work and continue to enjoy your educational journey.

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  119. Hi there. My name is Christina Sobolewski and I'm in also in Dr. Strange's class at the University of South Alabama.

    I find your view point very interesting about education. I think my favorite quote is "...the opportunity for both boys and girls to be educated would make the world a better place, I guarantee it." I couldn't agree with you more. Sometimes ignorance is not always bliss. Sometimes I take for granted the freedom to education (while not always free money-wise) that I am able to get in America. If I lived elsewhere in the world, that freedom would not only not exist, I wouldn't even know about it.
    It is fascinating and depressing how many women in today's world lack the means of any sort of education. And even more so, that they don't that they are being oppressed because is it everyday life for where the live. The constant circle of injustice and ignorance puts limits to what we can and can't do.

    I love this post and if you don't mind, I think I will subscribe to your blog. I find it very fascinating.

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  120. Hi! My name is Amy and I am a student from EDM 310 at the University of South Alabama. I agree with you that going through the school system does prepare you for the "real world." Many if not all of the things you have listed I have also learned. Learning to ask questions was a big one for me. I am shy but I have overcome my shyness to ask questions. Because there are no dumb questions, right? Thank you so much for your post. I really enjoyed reading it!

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  121. Hi, my name is Jessica and I am a student in Dr. Strange's EDM class at the University of South Alabama. What an excellent post. I have watched documentaries and read articles on how women are treated in such places as Saudi Arabia and I agree with you completely on what you said, "Because it is the norm in Saudi Arabia to be subordinate to males how could women know to expect more?" How true that is. Education could do so much for those poor women. I also liked your list of the most important things you learned in school. As a future teacher I found it inspiring.

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  122. Wow! I do not believe I could have written something like this. I think it is wonderful that you learned so much from school. Many people do not feel this inspired to teach themselves or to look back at what they have learned through their experiences. Thumbs up!

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  123. Thanks for you post! It appears that you are appreciative of your education and are learning so much. Thank you for your determination and focus on education. This can only benefit you and better mold you into the person you want to be. Keep up the good work and thank you for pursuing the path that leads to success!

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  124. Hi,
    My name is Megan Rymell and I am in Dr.Strange's edm310 class. I have to say when I read your post I was blown away. You have wisdom above your years. You sound like you are in college. You have a great head on your shoulders and I am greatly impressed by what you wrote. This post gave me a lot to think about. Keep up the great work.
    Megan Rymell
    rymellmeganedm310.blogspot.com

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