Review of "Releasing the Isolated Warrior" by M. Goss

Journal Review of “Releasing the Isolated Warrior”

Ray Etheridge

Western Washington University


Goss, M., (1996) Releasing the Isolated Warrior. Retrieved from http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/technology/goss.htm

Review

The article begins with a retelling of the scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark when Indiana Jones (noteworthy for being a teacher) confronts a sword wielding warrior who is revealed when the crowd, remembers he has a gun and shoots him dead. The article then goes on to relate how most teachers are like that warrior, using the tools, techniques and technology of yesteryear in a modern education engagement. How can most teachers, happy to finally being able to use a collating copier instead of a mimeograph, deal with the demands of a modern, technology driven society? Fortunately the article does not go on to play the blame the teacher game, rather it details, in rather succinct fashion how modern education has gotten to this point including budget concerns, administration, government, poverty and the law. It then goes on to state that a new system based in the ideas of basing education in the actual learning process, systematic and holistic planning and the integration of technology is needed to empower reform and do so by empowering teachers. Yes, teachers. With already exaggerated demands for their time raging from increased student loads, increased time needs necessary to evaluate various authentic assessments, administrative concerns and special needs do teachers have the time to also take on being responsible for learning, adapting, adopting and integrating new technologies, beliefs and methodologies? Not without the support and time necessary to do so is the article’s final conclusion.

The article does a good job of providing a very high level discussion of the challenges that face the modern teacher. By detailing the state of the industry and the challenges that teachers face it become clear that without support it is unrealistic to expect teachers, already burdened with a full day of teaching and grading activities, lesson and classroom planning developmental tasks, social, parental and community concerns, administrative and special student needs, state assessments, requirements and constraints, let along the social engineering aspects now expected of them, to also lead the way in developing the solutions incorporating new technologies and techniques at the very cutting edge of social development, at least not without considerable support. In calling for a renewed effort to give teachers the support and professional they need to engage successfully with these concerns the article serves as a reminder of the challenges that teachers face in the modern world. If only it had provided links or references to articles on how to do this I would have been very happy indeed, but I must give some credit to an article written in 1996 and yet so very relevant today, perhaps even more relevant today than when it was written.