Introduction
I am a firm believer that knowledge is power. I believe that students of inner city schools are often not challenged in their educational experiences by the rigor of deep knowledge. If we, as an educational community, continue to teach students at a superficial level, we will propagate a culture of superficial people. While I am unaware of studies that prove my hypothesis, I do see its truth in my everyday teaching experiences. My students are consistently surrounded by medical information. These kids want to know how their body works. Unfortunately, their body is sometimes the only thing they have to call their own. It is my practice to present challenging, detailed topics whenever possible. For example, during cardiology, I teach students how to read electrocardiograms (EKGs). The students became so proficient in learning EKGs that they could analyze rhythms and describe their associated physiology. By the end of the unit, the students express confidence in learning a new skill. My hope is to have students learn this curriculum by this same holistic approach.
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