Miyagi or Cobra Kai?

I now take you to your regularly scheduled movie, already in progress:

Daniel: No the problem is, I'm getting my ass kicked every other day, that's the problem.
Miyagi: Hai, because boys have bad attitude. Karate for defense only.
Daniel: That's not what these guys are taught.
Miyagi: Hai - can see. No such thing as bad student, only bad teacher. Teacher say, student do.

And so begins an epic relationship between student and teacher.  When reflecting upon my own teaching, I often find I'm in the Miyagi dojo, as opposed to Cobra Kai.

In the Cobra Kai dojo, there is one master.  The sensei is all knowing and all controlling.  He snaps orders and the students complete the drill in unison.  When he asks a question they answer together, "Yes, sensei!" There is no questioning, no deviation, no discussion.

Students are given very straight forward workouts - practice the jab, practice the round kick.  There is no doubt these students are learning karate. When anyone walks into their dojo they are surrounded by awards, trophies, and other accolades.  The students of this dojo pass all of their tests.  The students win for their sensei and their dojo.

Does your classroom intimidate or inspire?

On the other side of town, Daniel is training with Mr. Miyagi.  Daniel is washing cars, painting fences, sanding floors, and feeling like he's Mr. Miyagi's personal servant... and he tells Miyagi such.  He doesn't see the connection between waxing cars and defeating his enemies.

When he questions Mr. Miyagi about this, Miyagi shows him the connection between painting the fence and defending himself against an attack.  "Show me wax on, wax off." To his surprise, Daniel defends himself against Mr. Miyagi's attack.  He was learning karate the whole time without even knowing it.

Sometimes 'math' lessons don't have to look like math

Curriculum is just that - curriculum.  It is a series of standards or studies that a teacher must impart onto the students. It is a collection of facts.  Pedagogy is how to best implement those standards, how best to teach the lessons. That is the art of education.

In education there are multiple ways to teach. Pre-service teachers are introduced to Gardner, Montessori, Piaget, and others. Yet I would argue that many teachers and schools model the Cobra Kai style of teaching and development. One teacher, the sage on the stage, preaching a skill with students practicing: I do, we do, you do.  Students in this model get really good at drills.  They pass the tests. They win awards for their teachers and school.

But what else do students in this system learn - or more importantly what do they not learn?  Students learn to be uncreative and unimaginative  They learn to not try alternative methods. They learn to say "the teacher told me to do this way, so I must do it this way." Teacher say, student do.

Many websites (such as AACU) talk about how employers are looking for creative thinkers, problem solvers, and other 'outside the box' innovators.  Miyagi helped produce such a student, and hopefully my classroom will as well.

Yes, sensei