Kindergarten Boot Camp

1. Discuss the benefits to schools and society by having children learn the student role - What are the costs or negative consequences of learning the student role?

While likely unable to verbalize the fact, at the age of five children learn that there is no room for child directed spontaneity or creative suggestion in the American school classroom. The primary purpose of kindergarten is to teach children the student role, consisting of conforming, lining up, following directions, not interrupting, etc. The teacher in Gracey’s article, Kindergarten as Boot Camp, Edith Kerr, provided a clear example of how well intentioned, ill trained teachers systematically eliminate the spontaneous interests and observations of students. Kerr repeatedly ignored the children in such attempts and refused to deviate from the structured lesson plan. Having children learn the student role is positive to an extent.  It obviously benefits the management of behavior in the classroom, which makes the teacher’s job easier. Additionally, as a part of American society, we must all follow basic rules and submit to different forms of authority. Thus, learning how to follow directions and behave appropriately in the classroom helps prepare children for the everyday societal interaction they will encounter in the future.

A negative aspect to the traditional student role is the child’s indoctrination to following unvaried routines and responding "mindlessly" to cues.  The traditional student role does not allow for self regulated learning, which keeps the child from being an integral part of their own learning experience. A better approach is to teach the student role from a social constructivist model of teaching. This complex model of teaching and learning values both child-initiated and teacher-initiated learning experiences and interactions. “This view sees learning as social in origin and transferred through the mediation of cultural tools (e.g. language, books, symbols) to the individual where the learning is internalized in thought." [1] This type of learning approach allows for the child to express individuality, encourages creativity and has been proven very effective, which begs the question as to why this approach is not more widely used.




2. Should American women continue to give birth in the lithotomic position? If yes, why? If no, why not?


A perfect example of social conditioning is the American practice of using the prone lithotomic position for labor and delivery in childbirth.  Even though studies have shown that giving birth in the upright position as opposed to the traditional American lithotomic position, makes for a delivery experience where the mother has more ease in pushing, less pain during pushing, fewer backaches, shorter second stages, and fewer perineal tears, the lithotomic position continues to dominate in the delivery room. The only benefit of the lithotomic position seems to be convenience for the attending physician, because it provides a good position for examination. The upright birthing position has also been proven safer for the baby, as evidenced by fewer forceps deliveries, higher levels of oxygen in the umbilical cord and higher Apgar scores.  There are no known adverse effects from delivering in the upright position. Since logically it serves both mother and child better to give birth in the upright position, it appears that America continues the practice of labor and delivery in the lithotomic position largely as tradition. It is time to change the socialization of American childbirth. I find it a sad statement, but I suppose celebrities will need to set the example since fascination and emulation of all that is Hollywood appears to enthrall the majority of Americans.

[1] Hedges, Helen. "Teaching in early childhood: Time to merge constructivist views so learning through play equals teaching through play." Australian Journal of Early Childhood 25.4 (Dec 2000): 16. Academic OneFile. Gale. Palm Beach State College, CCLA. 16 Nov. 2010 
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