Present Post 2

Steven Mintz is a historical figure who played a role in the shifting of education today. Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1953, he is an American Historian, Executive Director of the University of Texas System's Institute for Transformational Learning and a professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin. Mintz received his B.A. from Oberlin College (1973) and his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees from Yale University (1979). Mintz could be associated with the recent time period of the common core. “Steven Mintz argues that there was a transition in the American thought from the concept of “protected” childhood to “prepared” childhood” (9). Protected childhood focuses on the happiness and well-being of the child. While prepared childhood pays attention to the child’s future as an adult and demonstrates no concern with the child’s happiness. I agree with Mintz’s argument of this shift and I can base my evidence off of personal experiences. I believe that there has been a shift from a childhood’s happiness to a child’s preparation for his/her future. American Education states that protected childhood places an, “emphasis in instruction on intellectual enjoyment and interest of that student…” (10). This style of childhood gives the teacher the ability to use creativity in the classroom which I find vital for a student’s learning. On the other hand with prepared childhood, there is a, “reduction of arts programs and recess time for more class time and test preparation…” (10). After doing my field hours in an early childhood elementary setting and previously being in this setting myself I was able to see the shift from protected to prepared childhood. Due to the installment of the Common Core there has been an emphasis on standardized testing that now starts at a young age, and teachers are always preparing their students for yet another standardized test. This emphasis pulls away from creativity, extracurriculars, and the enjoyment factor of learning. In my opinion that reflects on what was stated by Mintz, prepared childhood can do more harm than help, and there needs to be a pull away from standardized testing and more of a draw towards creativity in the classroom setting.