Blog 2

One preconception I have about the nature of childhood and children is that they are constantly growing; I don't mean physically but mentally. I believe that this preconception is true, because each child's learning is different, and in order to help that growth, families and teachers play a major role in guiding how the growth occurs. Another preconception I have is that children are eager to learn, like a sponge waiting to be "filled" with knowledge. If we provide opportunities and context, children will naturally learn because they WANT to. Obviously, both these conceptions of children affect my view of the role of both teacher and education - I see the teacher as a guide, planning experiences within an educational context to allow the students the chance to explore and learn. Education, then, is really a string of interconnected experiences, where the students construct meaning (hopefully) both within the educational context we provide them (our "learning objectives"), and within their own personal view of the world. I believe that the movie actually confirms my first conception, especially regarding the importance of family. James' need to feel important and loved by his family echoes the importance of family as a guide to what we learn. Without family guidance, James' imagination creates a context where he can receive the love and attention he needs. The movie also ties into the second preconception I have, in that James is taking what he learns of the world, even the bad parts, and constructing meaning that fits within his own "worldview".