“We Make the Road by Walking” by Myles Horton and Paulo
Frieire
Chapter 1 & Introduction: Conversations on Education and
Social Change
Factual Question:
What is the definition of enlightenment? According to
Merriam-Webster dictionary, it is the state of having knowledge or
understanding: the act of giving someone knowledge or understanding.
The Enlightenment: a movement of the 18th century
that stressed the belief that science and logic give people more knowledge and
understanding than tradition and religion.
Evaluative Statement:
How very important it is to talk about social influences
that impact our educational reform and change. We as a whole need to make
changes and I think that sharing personal influences and stories is inspiring
to others so that others who have gone through the same things don’t feel
alone.
“We make the road by walking” which comes from “se hace camino al andar”,
Spanish for “you make the way as you go.” So much stress and anxiety comes from
the idea that we need to have everything planned out, but the truth that
educated individuals discover through experiences and different “roads” is that
we can’t plan to far in the future. We can dream, we can set personal goals,
but we can’t be worried about the future too much for the present time we have
together is so precious. If more students stopped worrying about their future
endeavors and focus on their current accomplishments and experiences, then I
think we will have a more peaceful, clear, and conscious.
I love telling about my roller coaster of life, and all of
the different hills and curves of my path, for a year ago I had not planned for
the position I am in today, but I could never be happier with the way that it
happened. I have learned so much, that education is more then just getting a
degree, it is more about learning about yourself and about society. I have also
learned that with the support from your friends and family that anything that
you put your mind to you can accomplish. I have switched my major multiple
times, have spent a lot of money on investing in my education, but the skills
,hobbies, and moments that I have gained over time are priceless.
As a young student who attended a catholic elementary
school, I learned much more then education, but how to give back to the
community, ways to spread optimism and random acts of kindness, and to always
believe in your dreams and in your future. After having so many influential
teachers in my younger years, I decided at a young age that I wanted to follow
in their footsteps and become a teacher so I can inspire students like they
inspired me.
After I transferred to a new school district, going to a
public high school, and participating in different extracurricular activities
and volunteer programs, I explored the idea of becoming a nurse. I have always
loved the idea of giving back and helping people, and with the help from one of
my favorite show Grey’s Anatomy, and my new found intelligence of acing science
and chemistry in my high school course, I decided that I would be the perfect
nurse! After two years of headaches and tears from giving the nursing program
my all and working as a state tested nursing assistant, I realized that it
wasn’t the best match for me and my happiness. It was hard switching majors
with the pressure of pursuing a degree that will not only fulfill myself, but
fulfill my desire to inspire and help other. I had lots of support from my
family and friends with my different ideas and they always told me that no
matter what I do, I will be great at it.
So after talking to previous teachers and spending more time
with children, I decided to go back to my original dream of becoming a teacher.
I love everything about education, and how it not only furthers us as we are
constantly learning new things, but as we can have an impact in the most
important part of children’s lives. Myles and I share something in common in
the text, he stated how he enjoys learning, just for his own enlightenment. I
have always been one interested in more than just what the teachers are
teaching us. I think that it is important to discover other intellectual
curiosities as we pursue degrees, so we are well rounded, balanced,
enlightened, open-minded educators as we walk this path together to help
educate our future students of the world.
Interpretive Question:
When the author says that in order to
start, it should be necessary to start. He makes it seem that you just start by
trying and just start walking on the road of life. But then on the other hand
he mentions that in the process of making the road, you need to be clear and to clarify
your own making of the road. I think that he means by that, that your goals should always be clear but that it's okay if you don't know where the road is always leading you.
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