Author: Haley Clark

Group members- Leah, Amanda, John

In this discussion group we talked about how Percy asks if everyone is taking shortcuts, is it truly a shortcut? We also discussed why one should or should not take a shortcut, and whether or not they are ever beneficial. We talked about how there are certain cases when taking a shortcut isn’t as big as deal as other times. However, often times when a person takes a shortcut they are cheating themselves out of gaining something valuable. This is particularly evident with education. Usually taking shortcuts is effortless, so you don’t learn anything new or challenge yourself. Using shortcuts such as cheating or taking the easy way out may seem like the best option sometimes, but it will only harm someone later on. Also, we said if everyone did start taking shortcuts, they really wouldn’t be shortcuts, everything would just be done more poorly. We also discussed the new project prompts for writing project two we went over in class.

Group members- Bella DiPasquale, Dana Roeder, Michael Lindholn, Sam Livorno

In this discussion, we talked about Percy’s quote of “The Present is surrendered to the past and future,” and what that could possibly mean. It was said this quote could represent how history is known to repeat itself. Trends of the past often resurface years later. There are many big examples of this throughout the world. Even smaller things such as clothes people used to wear returning back through next generations. In a way, many things make a comeback. It was also said that nobody really lives in the moment. When you’re in the present, you really just think about the future. This is especially portrayed in today’s society. Overall the group discussed how it’s impossible to just be in the present with resurfacing problems and trends, and people always thinking about what comes next. We connected all of this to the quote of the present is surrendered to the past and future.

Group members- Cait Mangini, David Macmullen, Sam Livorno, Sarah Veneziale, Gabe , Sam Weitzel, Seamus Corkery, Amanda, Katherine

In today’s discussion group we talked about Freire’s way of learning, and whether or not we agree with his principles. Freire believes the only way for a person to learn is to teach something to someone else. However, the person being taught doesn’t learn, only the teacher. The group discussed how Friere’s way of learning could be a good way to understand and attain more knowledge about yourself. However, it is not the only way someone can grasp a concept. Everyone learns differently, some through experience, some read or have good memorization skills. Everyone’s brain retains information differently. It was also said how Freire seems to contradict himself quite a lot, which can make it hard to trust anything he has said, and believe the ideas he presented. We also discussed some things about writing project one, and what is due in class on Monday.

Group members- Caitlin Mangini, Amanda Regan, Sabrina Lindley, Sarah Veneziali, Meghan KIdd, Seamus Corkery, Olivia Vearling, Ava Hill

In today’s discussion group we discussed the idea of humanism in the banking of education, where humans are told to consume information and spit out the answers like robots. My group agreed with this idea, considering the way teachers in our society expect kids to learn. They ask questions and immediately want students to know the answer, often getting agitated if they don’t. For example, a strategy associated with this is randomly calling on students even when it’s clear they aren’t prepared with an answer. They read from a presentation and expect the students to memorize everything they say. This is a very unrealistic approach to learning, and is often the cause of stress for many kids. School should be about broadening your horizons, and learning should be enjoyable. Instead students are stressed because there is too much pressure on them, almost as if they should act less like humans and more like robots.

In today’s discussion group we talked about the Banking Concept of education. Specifically, the statement of the teacher knows everything and the students know nothing. We discussed how teachers act as if students no nothing, because it’s the easiest way for them to teach. For example, it is much simpler for a teacher to lecture a group of students then to actually engage with them in conversation about the material. Due to this, some students are not retaining or absorbing any information, and instead just writing everything they hear. The students may be able to memorize the information, but they aren’t thinking about its true meaning. The group also commented on how the article describes a society where students are forced to suppress their creativity because they only participate in their teachers’ way of learning. With the Banking Concept of Education, students are simply repeating and memorizing a teacher’s words, and aren’t actually learning new information. 

Olivia Vearling led this discussion and the group members present were Mikayla Medycki, David Macnullen, Jeff Biancaniello, Maura Kelly, Gwen Jordan, Shamus Corkery, Cait Mangeni, Laura Mcgroary, Sam Zicorno, Amanda Regan, and myself.