Is Schooling Conducive to Learning?
Learning is the process of acquiring skills and knowledge through experience, which can occur in schools and other areas that facilitates it. However, the ability of the learners to score As in their assessment is thought to mean they are more knowledgeable about what they learned. Unfortunately, some students who score good grades are unable to recall the least of what they learn in class a month or even a week after the test. Although the passing of a test means being aware of what was taught, it might not be the case for everyone. Besides, it depends on how individuals express. This is because the skills and knowledge acquired from it are only valuable to them. This paper will shed light on whether schooling is conducive to student learning.
In the United States, teaching and learning take place through a simple process. Information is passed from teachers to students within a timeframe of 15 to 45 minutes in schools. However, the process varies from one institution to another (Youell, 2018). Besides, a significant section of what students learn in class is forgotten after the test since it cannot be assessed again, and thus, they focus on new information. Therefore, it is clear that the education system does not only help in improving the awareness of individual but also it acts as an obstruction to gaining good knowledge.
Furthermore, the mind of a normal human being tends to forget things slowly, especially when it is not applied. This is the case in the education system of the United States because it mainly prepares learners to pass exams as opposed to gaining knowledge that they can utilize. Besides, a lot of information is fed on the students, which then increases the possibility of forgetting and retaining very little from what is taught. Additionally, information is delivered to the students within a short period, which increases pressure and adds fear to the student's minds (Muhammad et al. 2018). In this case, slow learners tend to be left behind with high chances that they might not be able to catch up with the rest. It is worth to note that effective learning takes place in a conducive environment where there is enough time, resources, and interest of the students. The current measures in the education system, therefore, does not make schooling conducive for learning.
Also, the learning approach used currently in schools does not enable students to comprehend everything they are taught. Due to that, students have shifted to seeking their approach to facilitating their understanding. Furthermore, schools blame the students when they fail or forget revising the strategy they use in teaching them. This is likely to reduce the motivation of the students, which is a crucial element in promoting the learning process. Consequently, the self-esteem of the students will be reduced, thus, they might not be able to realize their full potential in academics
The grading system and the rate at which students are given homework in schools are not learning-friendly. They develop a need for satisfying teachers rather than promoting learning. Schools are supposed to create a pleasant learning environment for students, but too many assignments tend to shift the focus on understanding something new to working on the homework to please teachers. Also, the pressure to get As together with a lot of tests makes students lose interest in the school, which then harms the learning process (Granvik Saminathen et al. 2019). On the other hand, grading creates division among students, with others feeling more superior or inferior among their peers, which then demotivates.
I believe that the utilization of grading as a reflection of student performance does not correctly give effective data on students' understanding of what they were taught. Besides, I disagree with the common assumption that learning institutions offer the students the skills and knowledge they can apply in real-life situations. Therefore, other strategies need to be employed to promote the delivery of information and the development of good knowledge and skills instead of going to schools. I think there are better methods that can be used to create interest, motivates students, and give a conducive environment than schooling. Besides, the school environment has changed learning from a choice to a routine, which is not supposed to be the case in the current modern society (Sharma-Brymer and Bland, 2016). For example, students need to be familiarized with essential of learning; however, the best approach for this cannot be through schooling.
Conclusively, learning is an essential component in today's society that needs to be highly considered. However, the current schooling system in the United States has not been established well to promote learning as it is supposed to be. The schools which were founded to enhance learning and impact students with the necessary information have strayed from their ideal purpose. It is worth to note that education is our way of living and the future depends on it. Therefore, the schooling system needs to be seriously examined, and students taught about the value of education in their lives, which is greater than just getting good grades.
References
Granvik Saminathen, M., Brolin Låftman, S., Almquist, Y. B., & Modin, B. (2018). Effective schools, school segregation, and the link with school achievement. School effectiveness and school improvement, 29(3), 464-484.
Muhammad, H. A., Ya'u, S., Aliyu, U. I., & Hassan, M. (2018). Teaching and learning English language in Nigerian schools: importance and challenges. Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies, 3(1), 10-13.
Sharma-Brymer, V., & Bland, D. (2016). Bringing nature to schools to promote children’s physical activity. Sports Medicine, 46(7), 955-962.
Youell, B. (2018). The learning relationship: Psychoanalytic thinking in education. Routledge.
