From Stories to Dialogue The Student's Path to Freedom

Date of Award

2007

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Moore, John

Keywords

Storytelling, Education, Love of Learning, Socratic Dialogue, No Child Left Behind, Socratic Teaching, Dialectic

Area of Concentration

General Studies

Abstract

My thesis is concerned with the current process of the educational experience in America. I posit that today's student is apathetic in her attitude towards learning because today's educational system fails to nurture the student's love of learning. Furthermore, the relationship between teacher and student has deteriorated into a strict hierarchy due to state and federal laws mandating a scripted curriculum. The 'No Child Left Behind Act' does not allow teachers any freedom in the classroom. However, if the shackles of this act are removed or loosened, then teachers and students can engage in an educational experience where this apathy can be replaced by a love of learning and knowledge. Using Socrates' telling of the story of the "Allegory of the Cave" in Plato's Republic as a model, I will illustrate how the relationship between teachers and students can be reconciled. Socrates and his student Glaucon engage in dialogue inspired by storytelling. It is this meaningful exchange of ideas that needs to be brought back into the educational experience.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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