One reason is that when constructivism is applied properly and fully to a classroom environment, the teacher may find him or herself in the "backseat" while the students steer the direction of the learning process. It removes much of the inherent hierarchal power of the teacher vs. The student in the classroom. Students are allowed a very high degree of autonomy. There is a strong tendency in our society to subordinate children and to keep children submissive to the dominant adult figures in their lives, and within the school it is completely unheard of to treat students as equals to the teachers. This is due to the belief of both teachers and parents that children are not equal to adults. The rationalist myth of "cold reason" is presented by Taylor (1996). He says that when knowledge is considered to be an objective truth which can be, and is best, transmitted in full as a whole, this creates an environment in which constructivism is not possible. It creates a "picture of the teacher in a central role as transmitter of objective truths to students. This philosophy does not promote clarifying relevance to the lives of students, but instead promotes a curriculum to be delivered...." (Taylor 1996)
The perpetrating myth of the social power structure makes the teacher the absolute controller. This "locks teachers and students into grossly asymmetrical power relationships designed to reproduce, rather than challenge, the established culture." (Taylor, 1996)
Constructivism may seem like an obvious explanation of learning to some people, but the application of it is a counter educational approach to current school trends.
Bibliography
Brier, S....
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