What is Education 190?
Education 190 is a rigorous inquiry into the current issues facing the education system. In order to fully engage each member of the class, we replace the traditional Teacher-Student relationship with a democratically structured system conducive to critical dialogue and equal voices. This open space allows for a unique level of engagement for each student and sets the stage for an experience ranging from social disquisition, teacher training and professional development, to community outreach and involvement.The first step in creating a successful Ed 190 experience is to develop a space in which critical dialogue can take place. Each section of Ed 190 is a community, a microcosm of society, which has its own inimitable dynamic. Therefore, it is important to foster strong relationships that will allow for authenticity, conviction, and integrity during class discussions. In order to accomplish this, each community creates their own unique Mission Statement and System of Accountability: what the community hopes to accomplish and by what means they wish to accomplish it. These documents—developed organically through consensus decision-making—form the backbone of the course.
After the fundamental structure of the class is developed, students will begin to study the specific issues facing the education system. Based on a foundation of critical pedagogy, Ed 190 explores the intersections between social issues and education. We examine how race, class, gender, disability, and sexuality (among others) affect and are affected by education by illuminating and deconstructing the myths surrounding these identities. Because the course is set up democratically, there are limitless opportunities to share personal stories regarding individual educational backgrounds. These stories bring to life the sometimes abstract theories that make up the curriculum. This opportunity to hear firsthand what fellow students have gone through challenges students in ways that traditionally-organized courses cannot. The value that learning from others has goes beyond mere curriculum enrichment; it also fosters empathy and cooperativeness that cannot be taught in a traditionally hierarchical classroom setting.
Beyond being introduced to the complexities of the education system, Ed 190 students have the opportunity to teach. Every student will engage his or her peers with a topic of choice in a participative way designed not only to inform but also to challenge. Thus, Ed 190 serves as a sort of training ground for future teachers. While simultaneously learning and teaching about education, students will receive invaluable knowledge regarding how to address the inequity present in the classroom. From a teacher's perspective, most classes offer what to teach; Ed 190 offers insight on how to teach. Ed 190 students gain experience in being responsible for their educations and their fellow students. An institution full of teachers grounded in this level of engagement with their students would transform schools into places that are truly responsive to and responsible for their students' successes.
The course also creates a space for active involvement in community outreach. Each member of the Ed 190 community is involved in a cooperative project designed to address an educational issue discussed in the class. Many courses with a "service" dimension focus on community problems, and thus approach them accordingly: small groups of students with good intentions and an array of theoretical knowledge attempt to fix issues that they feel –or have been instructed to feel—are dire. Ed 190, on the other hand, emphasizes community strengths and service-oriented cooperation. By framing community concerns in a constructive manner and carefully considering preexisting strengths, coop projects allow community members to remain experts in their own experiences. In other words, students are aware of their roles as part of a larger tapestry of community action and are involved with fostering the prosperity of the people with whom they work in solidarity.
Upon completion of the course, students will have gained knowledge regarding certain fundamental issues within the complex education system and how those issues affect students from all backgrounds. More importantly, they will have gained practical experience in teaching and working within their communities. Ed 190 empowers students and shows that they are each capable of being they change they wish to see in the world.
