The current articles offer a critical analysis on a wider array of issues pertaining education. Precisely, the articles offer critical perspectives regarding education, which exists across different societal contexts. Upon review of the three articles, the three topics that I would like to pursue are: effects of technology on education, racism in the education context, and the influence of gender on education.
Gelernter’s article Unplugged: The Myth of Computers in the Classroom offers a wider array of insights regarding the effects that technology has on education. Worth noting is the fact that the recent past has experienced a significant rise in the use of computers and other technological innovations across different classroom set ups. As such, there are renewed efforts aimed at ascertaining the benefits drawn from the incorporation of technology in education. Gelernter notes that technology offers a comprehensive platform that allow schools to accomplish magnificent things. Evidently, the use of appropriate computer software (s) enhancing teaching of science and art subjects such as music. This can be attributed to the fact that computers allow students gain a practical view of the society and how they can apply educational aspects in real life contexts.
In a nutshell, computers comprise of different aspects including text, picture (s), and sound, which are offered in a single package. These aspects enhance education of students on different subjects. Despite the benefits that students can draw from computers, there exist certain criticisms that have been developed on the same. Certain populations are opposed to computers based on the premise that it causes distraction of students. Such populations prefer the use of textbooks over computers, whereby they claim that textbooks are more portable, and have higher resolution (s) than computers. While such notions are true, there is a need to comprehend with the fact that computer offer useful innovations that are beneficial in various educational settings. Overall, the topic on technology and education provides an ample research topic in order to understand the issues aligned with the same.
With regards to the topic on racism in the education context, Bazelon’s article “The Next Kind of Integration” offers a substantive analysis on the Supreme Court decision, which declared racial-integration efforts unconstitutional. This decision demonstrated that racism remains a pertinent concern in the education sector. Worth noting is the fact that this decision was received with resentment by populations drawn from different social contexts. Evidently, school as part of social institutions should be in the forefront advocating unity amongst societal members of different social orientations. Therefore, integration of students from different racial backgrounds should be supported. Overall, the topic in racism in the education sector remains as one of the pertinent topics that should be researched in order to unravel various issues aligned with this topic.
In line with the topic on the influence that gender has on education, Jacoby’s article When Bright Girls Decide Math is “A Waste of Time”” offers an analysis of the reasons as to why girls have and continue to perceive science and math subjects as masculine. Conclusively, the gender stereotyping exists in the education sector whereby girls tend to stereotype feminine and masculine knowledge. This is the primary reason as to why girls opt for subjects they deem feminine such as English. In most cases, girls tend to develop stereotypes against maths and science subjects when they are at the adolescence stage of growth and development. As a result, parents should always encourage them on the need to pursue math and science subjects. In conclusion, there is a need for the empirical research aimed at ascertaining the reasons for gender stereotyping in the education settings.
Work Cited
Bazelon, Emily. “The Next Kind of Integration.” The New York Times 20 July 2008: All. Web.
Gelernter, David. "Unplugged: The Myth of Computers in the Classroom."
Jacoby, Susan. When Bright Girls Decide Math is “A Waste of Time””
