Seize the Day

The Existentialism theory is one where the goals of education are simple, “to develop authentic individuals who exercise freedom of choice and take responsibility for their actions” (124).  The idea that a student can freely express what it is that they want to do and carry that through in order not only to solve problems, but even pose problems seem to me a good way of learning.  As we read in the Summerhill school how students are to come and go as they wish and make choices, the students who broke all those windows even took responsibility for doing so, while making the choice he made to break them and to pay for them.

http://wellnesstheeasyway.blogspot.com/2013/01/freedom-of-choice.html

There are “teachable moments” where in more traditional setting a student may be put off track, meaning that what they have to say about something isn’t good enough, and the teacher undermined them for it.  But with this theory this teachable moment can be expanded and thought provoked by encouraging the child to exercise the choice in seeing that particular subject another way.  This moment that they can make the choice to challenge themselves in what they are learning with the guidance of their teachers.

The existentialism theory teaches students independence, and self-discipline instead of relying on everyone else students are able to be themselves and find themselves through this theory.  Don’t you think that is one of the best things in life, finding yourself and making your own choices?  It is important as we are teachers to encourage all children to “seize the day”.

http://8tracks.com/boldasxloveee/seize-the-day