Teaching and Learning

Students with top teachers are less likely to become pregnant as teenagers, more likely to enroll in college, and more likely to earn more money as adults – NYTimes.com

These are some of the answers given when students were asked to write a response to the following question, Why do you want to be a teacher?

Let’s start with the confusing and disturbingly bad responses. Clearly, writing, nor mastery of English are strengths, as these are presented here just as they were presented to me. I mean, really people, these kids are going to become teachers and shape the future of Ghana. Sigh…..

“I want to be a teacher so as to impact knowledge acquired to the public for the continuation of education.”

“A teacher as expected of is supposed to learned and more equipped with knowledge and skills which he is to impact in learners.”

“I want to be a teacher because I have the ability to teach for other people to understand, and also react politely to other peoples actions.”

“Teaching is a kind of profession that makes one to life a simply and decent life. Jesus Christ start the teaching work by teaching the word of God. So firstly I want to be a teacher so as to live simply and desent life on this earth.”

Moving on to the powerful and meaningful responses. These lead me to believe that there is some hope here.

“I want to be a teacher so that I will help people solve their problems and also to free people from ignorance. To help young people develop their talent and transform them to become leaders who will rule the country with justice.”

“I would like to be a teacher because the developing nature of a country depends on education. In becoming a teacher I will help in the development of my country to make people get knowledge.”

“I want to be a teacher because I have the passion for the job. I want to be able to mold people to be responsible in the future.”

“To help develop my country by teaching others and to reduce the illiteracy rate.”

End of semester exams begin this week. Pressure and panic have engulfed the campus. Students take 9 exams this semester. Ridiculous. A friend of mine texted me last week saying that she gave her students every answer to the questions on her quiz, and they still cheated. The cheating is prompted by the panic that sets in at the moment when a student realizes they have not memorized every bit of knowledge “imparted” upon them. Herein lies the problem.

The emphasis at this teacher-training college is on memorization of content of every subject under the sun. It’s a rushed process with the teacher-training colleges trying to prepare students in two years. Two years where there are a lot of days off and a lot of late-starting classes, so ultimately, the number of minutes actually spent engaged in learning is relatively low for what is needed. In addition to the rush, it’s information overload! Sure, kids are going to school. Students are enrolled in these “colleges”, but the quality of the education is the problem here. Teaching shouldn’t just be about “imparting knowledge”, which is a phrase I have heard over and over and over again here. Teaching should be about developing understanding, encouraging thinking, and facilitating learning. Imparting knowledge is just a small piece of the puzzle, in my opinion.

While here, I am taking a few online classes with DePaul to finish my special education endorsement. Since the reading specialist program at DePaul, I have become highly interested in students with special needs. Special education is a fascinating field and there is so much to learn! Yes, I am nerd to the max. I am loving this class and the continued acquisition of knowledge in my life. So what if I’m in debt for the rest of my life? I might just keep going to college and wracking up these degrees and endorsements. Ultimately, I hope to some day really have a say-so in a school whether that be through a leadership role or as a founding member of a new school. Big dreams.....can't help myself :)

Unfortunately, this class and my observations are teaching me that special education in Ghana is a sad state of affairs. Instruction about special education at the college level is minimal and is covered in this one teeny tiny "textbook" you see here. Clearly not much attention is given to the field. There are schools for blind and deaf children, but if you have a learning disability, there really isn’t anything for you. If a student with a learning disability is lucky enough to get a good teacher who cares, then he/she might thrive, but generally speaking, what I’m hearing about the system is very disheartening.

Ghana is really fueling my passion for education. A few years out of the classroom has me really pumped up again about teaching, specifically struggling learners. My experiences with education here are teaching me so much about what kind of teacher I want to be and what qualities I believe an effective school must possess. Can't wait to get back to the U.S. education system!