Assignment #3: Beane Truisms

Amanda Turner
ECI 550
September 16, 2014
1.
According to James Beane, democracy is not just having the right to vote, having
a say in decisions, or in government. It is more importantly, about values such as justice
and equity. Being able to have a say in what goes on around us is great but having the
core values of justice and equity as foundations to our classrooms will help our students
to feel that no matter who they are or where they come from, they have a fighting chance
to be successful in school. (Page 9)
2.
According to James Beane, the basis of teaching democratically is continually
asking oneself how the students can become more involved in the classroom goings on.
Teachers should strive to become more of a facilitator of learning and less of a giver of
knowledge and leader of the classroom. This switch in roles will hopefully empower
students to take on leadership roles in both the classroom setting as well as in everyday
life. (Page 27)
3.
According to James Beane, teachers should not focus on ensuring that they are
comfortable with student involvement in planning. They should instead focus on ensuring
that student needs are met through the planning. Meeting students need should always
be number one priority so teachers should be able to find comfort in meeting their needs
no matter how the planning to do so takes place. Having students help to plan the
lessons would make the goal of meeting their needs a little easier since they know
themselves the best. (Page 28)
4.
According to James Beane, teachers should work to engage their students into
big projects that ask students to experience different issues so that they hopefully learn
how to act on problems and concerns that they see on their own. Students will have to
solve problems big and small for the rest of their lives. As teachers, to prepare them for
successful futures we must teach them essential problem solving skills in as many
situations as possible. (Page 39)
5.
According to James Beane, teaching democratically requires teachers to think
about evaluation differently. Student should have some say in the way they are
assessed. If students feel comfortable at least in the way they are being assessed then
they are more likely to be confident going into the evaluation of what they have learned
and do better. (Page 44)
6.
According to James Beane, teachers should be prepared to address and discuss
social issues with his or her students. This takes presence, skill, and understanding of
the present social issues. Teachers need to teach their students how to properly discuss
social issues in a respectful and meaningful way. This is important for them to do as
students to learn the content as well as the skills to have such conversations because
they will have to engage in these conversations as adults and we want our students to
feel confident going into those situations as intelligent people who have something to
offer. (Page 47)

7.
According to James Beane, human dignity is the most fundamental aspect of
democracy. We can make our students' self-worth increase by making it a central
concern in the classroom. (Page 71)
8.
According to James Beane, democratic teachers see their students as real and
whole people, living real lives in a real world. School is a very small part of that world
and democratic teachers are aware of this. While school is important democratic
teachers understand and respect that students are involved in many other things outside
of school and come into school every day with positive and negative baggage. Good
teachers deal with that baggage and poor teachers ingnore it as if what the student is
going through is somehow not important in the "real world". (Page 87)
9.
According to James Beane, if teachers want their students to learn the
democratic way the best solution is for them to live it. As teachers we can ensure that if
they never truly see it anywhere else they can see it in our classrooms. They will be able
to see what it means to use their voice, participate with others, work for the common
good, and have equity amount all involved. Seeing how it should be done will hopefully
empower the. To take those ideals to the world outside of the classroom and work to
enstill them. (Page 94)
10.
According to James Beane, the new accountability movement within education
and the growing focus on individual success has caused attention to shift away from the
common good. Students are tested so much now that they feel the need to focus only on
themselves to ensure that they are prepared for the upcoming assessments and have no
time to help others around them. The sense of community in the classrooms have been
diminished. (Page 117)
11.
According to James Beane, living up to the fundamentals of democracy requires
commitment to freedom, equality, and justice. As teachers we should work to enstill
these values in our classroom environment so that students feel comfortable to speak up
as leaders or with questions. (Page 119-120)
12.
According to James Beane, young people are full of questions that adults do not
think of. Following their path of questioning though inquiry projects will lead to great
amounts of meaningful learning for both the teachers and students. (Page 122)