Preface, "Canaries in the Mine"

For this blog #5, I chose to reflect on the reading "Preface, Canaries in the Mine, and Introduction, On (In) Visibility" by author Shalaby. Primarily, she suggests that instead of viewing children's behavior as a problem, we should consider it an opportunity to identify and address crucial issues within the educational system. Personally, I agree with her, and I believe her perspective is truly valuable and relevant in the educational context. Sometimes, adults try to fix students' behavioral problems with simple solutions without considering the broader picture. But by questioning what is failing in the educational system, we realize that the problem is not limited to the behavior of a child but is related to how education functions overall. When I say "without thinking about the whole picture," I mean not considering all aspects or elements related to the situation. It's as if we're only seeing one piece of a puzzle instead of looking at the entire picture. In the context of education and student behavior, we often focus solely on an individual student's behavior without considering how both the educational and home environments might be contributing to the issue. For example, sometimes some students show a lack of interest in subjects and struggle to actively engage in class. We might assume that this behavior simply stems from the student's lack of motivation or commitment. However, I believe that if we delve deeper, we may identify that the student's home environment may not be providing the necessary support to foster learning, such as the lack of a quiet space to study or the absence of conversations about the importance of education. Furthermore, the classroom educational environment could also play a role, such as the lack of interaction between the teacher and the student or a pedagogical approach that doesn't cater to the individual needs of the student. Additionally, there are many other aspects that contribute to children's behavior, such as the culture, norms, and values within the school, which can influence how students interact and behave. Therefore, as a future educator, I consider that the author provides us with a very meaningful reflection because she emphasizes the need to reconsider how we address behavior problems in education. Her approach reminds us that equality and equity are vital in this process. She suggests solutions that not only address the evident problems but also encourage us to analyze the complexities that impact the student as a whole, such as the family and school environment and cultural and social influences. By doing so, she challenges us to adopt a more comprehensive and compassionate approach to solving educational challenges, which could result in a more equitable and enriching system for all students. 

Factors influencing behaviors: Click here