Sami Salloum: Blog post #2

The Broken Model

By

Salman Khan

Reflection

I found the author's words awe-inspiring and revolutionary, which could lead to a new, better way of learning in both schools and colleges compared to the current old Prussian system adopted in many countries, including the United States. But what shocked me the most, after reading this article, is that this particular educational system is still adopted in a country like the United States: I lived and studied in my original country, Syria, for the most of my whole life, but after I had read the broad description of such a system, I felt like the author was talking about that one taking effect there! I got that feeling especially after I saw him talking about how the Prussian system was designed to feed domains like the army by providing obedient students instead of creative and talented ones, and, in order to accomplish that, they implemented a uniform schooling system that follows rules like: a teacher-centered lecture for every subject period, subjects are the same for all students, ignoring students’ diverse intelligence, and tracking students! All that is in effect in the Syrian schooling system, and actually, even in many major European countries such as France. So yes, I’m very familiar with how defective that educational system is and how outdated it is, as the author mentioned in his article. But however, to explain why I was shocked, while I was in Syria, we were all told that our teaching and learning methods are much harder and less beneficial than the American ones that are supposed to be the best model in the entire world! I also would like to link what the author is saying of tests and testing with the system followed in Syria, since that touched me a lot and reminded me of how harmful is that to most of students. Salman Khan critisized the testing system for many reasons like students are memorising information instead of gaining knowledge, and the unjust grading system that categorizes and shapes the students’ future on behalf of them. That exactly what’s happening Syria where senior students at a high school level, have to take a standarized final test for all subjects and, depending on their overall grade (points) and not on how well they did in particular subjects that they are really good in and passionate about, they are categorized into specific college majors that those can choose from even though that they really can’t find themselves in that field of study! 

So, overall, I really agree with Salman Khan, the author of the Broken Model, that even though the Prussian educational system is very outdated, doesn’t meet today’s students needs to be creative and, is very rooted in both our economic and political life, it’s time to call for the change towards a new schooling system that give the fair opportunities for a better future for all student.

Reflection/Comment(s) to discuss in class:

I'd like to discuss with my colleegues if they wether find the author describing the U.S. schooling system is accurate or not. In other words, is it really the same Prussian one that has been brought to The United States in the 18th century, or it's very much improved as this is what I think especially that I see a big difference between the Syrian Prussian educational system and the one adopted here in the U.S.