REFLECTIONS

When dealing with government, it is important to study power, authority, and governance.  Actually, this theme can be used throughout the social studies.  Just like many of the other NCSS themes, this theme is linked to the other themes.  Power and authority are traits that all leaders have; the only difference is how much power and authority they have.  The role of the President is a role that is very closely linked to power, authority, and governance.

During my student teaching experience, I taught several lessons concerning power, authority, and governance.  When planning for these lessons, I tried to link this theme to other themes that were incorporated into the lessons.  It is important to understand that just about every time governments are incorporated into lessons, this link will be addressed.  One lesson where I incorporated this theme was a lesson on the Red Scare.

It was hoped that this lesson would provide opportunities for learners to examine issues involving the rights, roles, and status of individuals in relation to the general welfare.  McCarthy was a great example of a man who had too much power and authority.  Any person having that much influence over a person’s life is never a good thing.  This lesson’s purpose was to demonstrate to students what could happen when a person is given too much power.

When planning this activity, I tried to come up with ideas that would help students relate to those being accused by McCarthy.  The idea that I eventually used was to use common day examples for the students.  I took things they said and linked it somehow to communism to show students how McCarthy was able to wield so much power.

Students really seemed to relate to this lesson.  Furthermore, the students seemed to enjoy this lesson because they could not understand why people allowed McCarthy to continue on his verbal rampage.  It was good to see students becoming angered at the actions of a person whom they have never met.  This anger helped to inspire questions, my favorite part of teaching.

Questions are probably one of the most important parts of the learning process.  Discussion based classes live and die by the question and it is up to the teacher to make sure that there are ample questions.  However, some of the best class discussions are fuel not by the teacher’s questions, but by the students’ questions.  This was one of those class periods.  To me, this symbolizes that this class was a success and I came away with a feeling that students really got something out of the class.

In the future, I will continue to adhere to the NCSS themes and the SOL’s.  I shall continue to demonstrate the knowledge, capabilities, and dispositions in order to organize and provide instruction at the appropriate school level for the study of Power, Authority, and Governance.  It is important for social studies educators to use the guidelines of the NCSS themes and the SOL’s when planning lessons.  Educators should not rely solely on these guidelines; however, it is important to use the guidelines as an outline, just to keep you on the right track.