Joys of Learning/Teaching

Nicole Wendolowski

Love of Learning

March 22, 2008

In the book Stories of Learning, Kohl’s story is particularly inspirational. Kohl finds that teachers must learn to uncover the love of learning (p.143). In order to uncover these joys Kohl pushes students to reach their fullest potential and holds strong to the belief that all people can learn when conditions meet the needs of the learner. At various times throughout a teaching career, the teacher will encounter students who are difficult and seem not to want to learn. These are the students Kohl calls not-learners. On the surface it appears that these students are resistant to learn but after looking critically at the situation, Kohl notes that “unlike failure, not learning tends to strengthen the will, clarify one’s definition of self, reinforce self-disipline and provide inner satisfaction” (137). Kohl tells the story of multiple students who did not learn for the sake of creating and maintaining an identity as was the case with Akmir, who had pride in his African American heritage. Akmirs choice to not-learn was rooted in the fact that subject matter, materials and language tended to be raciest and biased. When I sit back and contemplate the not-learners that Kohl speaks of I think about my students and their situations. When I critique the materials available to adult students, I find them to be inadequate. First, the materials are often very childish which seems to put tough guys on guard and create a situation in which resisting learning becomes a way to save face. Second the materials are based on the American interpretation of history. Spanish is based on Spain Spanish; students from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, El Salvador and Mexico cannot relate. Similarly, New York Puerto Ricans have a different language and culture than island Puerto Ricans. Currently, I have students that resist the EPC (English Proficiency Component) of the Spanish GED class. Before an inmate can study in Spanish, he must first demonstrate an advanced level of reading comprehension. This does not make sense to the students and it does not make sense to me. In actuality, the policy is preventing Hispanics from obtaining their diploma. In a class of 25, I only have two students who are studying for the Spanish GED; all of the other students are struggling with EPC. One of their biggest complaints is that they are going back to Spanish speaking community and they don’t need English. It must be noted that these students have already passed the CASAS proficiency tests and have been deemed English Proficient. They are frustrated and it frustrates me because there is nothing I can do about it besides continuing to practice reading comprehension.

Kohl says that children must be given the freedom to make a meaningful life for themselves and teachers must use every tool at their disposal to keep this goal at the top of the educational agenda. I find this statement particularly important in the lives of adult students. Students come to class with a large repertoire of life experience to draw upon. In addition to having varying experiences, they have different life goals and occupations. Under these conditions, it is critical that education be individualized to meet the individual needs of the students. Furthermore, students need to make sense of their educational experiences and find the significance it has on their life. When education fails to have a deeper meaning, I find that the student has already given up on himself and his ability to be successful.


With that being said, I take pride in my class and classroom. I feel that in many instances my students lack positive role models as well as supporters. Growing up in the urban landscape blanketed with poverty, it may be said that my students never really had a chance to be successful. Likewise I can say their adult futures in many ways were preordained by society in the form of racism and institutionalized discrimination.


As a teacher in a correctional environment, I have the ability to give students a second chance at learning or a second chance at education. Like Kohl, I believe that every student has potential and I believe every student has the ability to learn. Above all, I believe that education can inspire students to live a crime-free life outside of prison. In essence, education is the vehicle necessary for change.