Reflection on Inquiry Project

Our (Megan and me) initial goal of doing this mini school project was to find an unique or special teaching pedagogy that could help us teach our students who come from regular stream class.  However, as we dug into this project more and obtained more information from scholarly literature, teachers, and students, we realized that there is not really a pedagogy difference.  The history of mini school has revealed a more neoliberal thinking today compared to 1960s when it was initially started.  The beginning of the alternative programs, although had two branches with distinctive purpose, was to help children who didn’t fit into the regular classroom or society.  Neither the rehabilitative program or the district specified program was aiming to make policies out of economic concern.  As of today, the mini school is considered as an elite program where academic driven students compete each other.  The mini program no longer serves as a “helping program” rather a marketing tool for the school board.  Although the program does provide enriched learning experiences, I would argue it will be more beneficial to those who are already being privileged.  With limited resources but the same teaching training experience, I am still able to implement whatever the teaching pedagogy that I believe will benefit my students the most.