Social Studies Left Out?

The classrooms of today, especially in Title 1 schools, have been mandated to stack up their reading, language, and math testing.  This leaves little to the imagination for a great subject that needs to be learned, social studies.  In the classroom, this subject holds time of around 20 minutes a lesson if that and sometimes it's not even present in the management.  I feel that students enjoy this subject if taught properly but when teachers skip over this, the students loose out in learning.  Unfortunately their is little that can be done but if future teachers help to make the most of their teaching time they can make creative ways to teach this subject.

Social Studies in the Classroom

I have seen a typical classroom setting and I understand the amount of time given to a teacher to teach what is necessary.  I feel that certain lessons are completely neglected due to a hierarchy of subject learning.  I understand how important reading is to learn because it influences any other learning after, but to leave certain subjects unfinished, in my opinion, is disgraceful.  I have seen social studies and science lessons last for only fifteen minutes each because of the stressed importance of the language arts and mathematics.  I feel that social studies, especially, is as important if not more than some of the others because of how it demonstrates the way we live in our home, community, society, country, and world.  How could that not be important but apparently all the time is taken.  I hope that in the future the people writing what is important thinks through there the education process leaving important issues.

Finding My Critical Voice

In the classroom, under the rule of a mentor teacher, my critical voice can feel suppressed or even nonexistent.  I don't believe that this is a sign of things to come but I feel that in my position it is not my place to speak out on behalf of learning.  I have felt less suppressed when I am given limited control of the classroom which inspires hope, but I feel that boundaries are important when expressing my critical voice. I do, on the other hand, plan to teach to my beliefs, which includes inspiring the students in anyway that encourages them to want to learn.  This might come with ridicule from fellow staff but that is where my critical voice steps in and explains the importance of education for the students. I hold certain teaching virtues to my soul and plan to speak them whenever needed, hopefully keeping my full respect to others intact.  I know what I will say when the time comes and my critical voice will be with me when needed.