Whose’s job is it to learn teacher or student?
In Quintilian’s Institutio Oratoria he focuses primarily on the importance of teaching. We can definitely see this as a slight shift from what our previous readings were. “As soon as his son is born, the father should form the highest expectation of him” (Quintilian 65). Which makes me think of the psychology of the adolescent mind and how it can be looked at as a sponge absorbing everything it comes in contact with. Which makes sense as to why Quintilian would see it as necessary to begin with high expectations and teaching from the beginning.
On that note, Quintilian goes more into depth about how the process of teaching would need to be in order to have an effective impact. He also tends to focus more so on the specifics of the teacher rather than the student. Which places more emphasis on how important it is for “how the pupil’s mind should be handled” (Quintilian 99).
A few aspects of Institutio Oratoria still apply to the modern school system across the nation. However, there are differences that Quintilian would more than likely have a disagreement with due to the simply fact that they focus more on reaching goals(e.g., graduation rates, standardized testing, placement, etc) instead of producing students/young children that will grow up to great intellectual thinkers. Similar to that of “weaker teachers, conscious of their own defects, who cling to individual pupils” (Quintilian 91).
As many of my other classmates have stated this can definitely apply to our service learning aspect of the class which is to coach a middle school debate team. Although they are not necessarily the ideal age that Quintilian is referring to when he talks about starting to teach as a child. It can be inferred based off of prior knowledge of the Orleans Parish schools many of the students have not been exposed to debate. Therefore, there will be a lack of knowledge that we as coaches will have to account for and make up. Which makes perfect sense as to why this reading would be included as a course reading assignment. As it help aid in how effective our teaching as a coach can be or I can say should be.
On a side note, interestingly it makes me question whether if what Quintilian suggests was implemented into the education system across the nation and even before that how effective would it be in developing young intelligent intellectual pupils? Would our education system still be in the sense of shambles that is in certain areas? All one can do is wonder.
