My Past Classroom

My Past Classroom

Author: Santosh Kumar Biswa, Sr. Teacher, Damphu CS, Tsirang, Bhutan

 

When I go back to the classroom, which I was a part of as a student, I sincerely don't think the setting qualifies as diverse and inclusive. I received my education in a wholly conventional classroom where my teacher acted as the lone dictator and made all decisions. Additionally, the entire curriculum was content-based, and we were required to memorize the assigned readings. I went to a school where casteism was prevalent since our culture as a whole was full of prejudice, therefore there was no place for variety. There were no classrooms that were sensitive to the requirements of our different children on a cultural level. Due to their socioeconomic class and caste, certain students were frequently ridiculed, even by their teachers. These items were commonplace throughout society. We were made to memorize the literature, were frequently spanked, and worked only for academic success instead of developing a strong sense of belonging and investment in our school.

On the other hand, I have never witnessed my teacher involving us in intellectual discussions with diverse classmates or group projects; instead, we were given the task separately, and neither our potential nor the opportunities were ever acknowledged. To represent a more equitable and equal form of education, I am aware that the inclusion model of the classroom brings all sorts of learners together (Carnevale & Hughes, 2021), but in my situation, I never had the chance to participate in such a setting when I was in school. According to what I was taught, learning is primarily about memorizing information and getting good grades.

Regarding the classroom setup, it was entirely standard: there was a long desk and bench where three pupils would sit side by side. There was never any talk of combining pupils based on learning styles, aptitudes, or types because that would be the seating arrangement for the whole school year. The required material served as the sole guide for our achievement and no individual needs were ever satisfied through curriculum adaptation or modification because the only form of education I've ever had was from listening to my teacher talk and doing as he said. My professors were racing to finish the curriculum they had planned, so no space was left for any kind of discussion where students could freely express their views and feelings concerning privilege and systemic oppression (Anderson, 2018). The interaction between professors and students was odd, which is why it was difficult for us to approach them directly. It should have been different since building strong bonds with kids and tolerating differences will undoubtedly pave the road to success both inside and outside of the classroom (Avcolu, 2017). I never had the opportunity to carefully examine my assumptions as I learned something new. Our allotted classwork and homework served as the basis for the evaluation that was conducted. After finishing grade eleven, I can still remember doing my first group presentation.

It is now widely acknowledged that teachers require in-depth training in "Education for International Understanding" to be prepared to instruct in a classroom and meet the needs of students in a culturally diverse learning environment. This training is complemented by the use of an appropriate assessment system to encourage global learning that addresses global needs. I am well aware that it is our duty as educators to encourage students to consider themselves valuable contributors to the world community.

References

Anderson, A. (2018, January 18). 7 ways to create an inclusive classroom environment. ASCD IN Service. http://inservice.ascd.org/7-ways-to-create-an-inclusive-classroom-environment/

Avcioglu, H. (2017). Classroom teachers' behaviors and peers' acceptance of students in inclusive classrooms. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 17(2), 463-492. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1147502.pdf

Carnevale, J., & Hughes, D. (2021). What is an Inclusive Classroom? https://study.com/learn/lesson/what-is-an-inclusive-classroom.html