Samuel Betances

Samuel Betances, professor of education, Northeastern Illinois University, emphasizes the importance of knowing and building upon students' culture, experiences, and knowledge. Excerpted from a presentation at NCREL's 1992 Academy for Urban School Leaders, in Lisle, Illinois.

"Remember that John Dewey said, 'You cannot become a great teacher unless you are able to illustration from the experiences of your students what it is you want them to understand exactly' Consequently, we need to speak the language of the students. We have to know something about their history. We've got to be able to illustrate it in a way that they understand it."

This Critical Issue summary was researched and written by Kent Peterson, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Date posted: 1995