Conclusion
The limits of my language means the limits of my world
~Ludwig Wittgenstein
“Is the classroom more like a battlefield, a factory, an orchestra, or a jam session? Is a teacher more like a military officer, a manager, an orchestra conductor, or a band-leader?”[1] The metaphor we use when defining education is “not inconsequential” (Montuori). If we want to bring about positive change in our education system, metaphors are the key cognitive tool for achievement.
In my paper I hope I have shown the advantage of viewing education metaphorically as a form of nourishment and fostering of life, rather than a form of production. Children should be fed knowledge in order to obtain the ability to reason, create and explore, and it is my belief that language is at the heart of learning. However, there are many factors in children’s lives that contribute to the issues of language and identity formation.
Today, our society remains faced with challenges that need addressing. The achievement gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots” continues to grow across our country, and this deficit is attributed to the issue of the “literacy gap”. Research studies indicate that an estimated 32 million adults in the United States – about one in seven – have such low literacy skills that it is tough for them to read and comprehend anything more challenging than a children’s picture book. The big question for educators and others interested in curriculum development is, “How do we define the discussion on education?” The metaphors we use shape this discussion and define how we work towards finding the best curriculum for reaching out to minority, low-income, and ESL learners to bridge the gap and bring about feelings of universality in the classroom. If educators and policy makers do not act using a valid metaphor, history will only repeat itself; adults who lack adequate literacy skills are likely to be unemployed or earning only a subsistent wage. This leaves these adults unable to help their children prepare for school and unable support their learning at home.
Poverty does not cause illiteracy, but rather illiteracy causes poverty. This paper suggests that the gap can be bridged through the thoughtful use of metaphors in the classroom. Metaphors allow for people to communicate feelings and experiences in a way that cannot be expressed in mere literal terms. Metaphor is relevant to every aspect of the human condition, and therefore should be recognized for its valuable role in society.
While I have shown how metaphors can help answer many questions regarding language development and education, there are many questions that remain unanswered. I plan to continue my research and writing, and develop effective teaching strategies and collaborate with families to support literacy and learning, because language education allows students to recognize what is personal, distinctive, and even unique about themselves and their work. With a handle on these facts, I hope to assist educators and policy makers in overcoming the struggles of our current time, and work towards building a stronger society, one child at a time.
[1] Montuori, Alfonso. “The Art of Transformation: Jazz as a Metaphor for Education.” The Art of Transformation: Jazz as a Metaphor for Education. Academina.edu, Dec. 1996. Web. 23 Mar. 2013. <http://www.academia.edu/168821/The_Art_of_Transformation_Jazz_as_a_Metaphor_for_Education>. Further reference to this source in parentheses (Montuori).
Metaphor: Making the Abstract Concrete and Visual 