A glimpse of my “journey” in teaching

Instead of prolog: “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything she learned in school”

Einstein

‘Iulia Hasdeu’ National College- Bucharest

Where I come from

A computer science lab

Before a teachers’ meeting: ‘Iulia Hasdeu’ National College , Bucharest

Professional growing

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The society I come from

•Dominant secular

Generally, people:•Indoctrinated into “scientism”•reluctant/embarrassed to articulate their beliefs

These permeated everywhere [including education]

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In Canada:

I found a secular society dominated by a scientism that validates money and power even more

I learned to make distinction between “being supportive of science” and “making from scientism a belief system.”

Scientism: “ the belief that the only things that are real or can be known are those that can be empirically observed and measured. “ The view: “what is real and knowable is what can be empirically verified or measured is a view that itself cannot be empirically measured or verified and thus by its own criterion is unreal or unknowable.” [Michael Lerner: writer, editor at Tikkun magazine-USA)

Professional growing

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Generally People:

Suffer for a meaningless lifeLack of recognition by others for who they are

These permeated everywhere [including education]

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There are people recognizing ”the need for a major shift in global consciousness; the importance of moving from fear and materialism toward love and compassion; and the critical role of youth to the future of humanity” [Fitzer Institute web-site]There are people working together for changing the world [and education system]This change can be done only if we change ourselves firstThere are people like Parker Palmer, Michael Lerner, Alfie Kohn and many others whose voices are recognized

<Questions/still reflecting on/thinking of >

It will take much time for this change to happen!!

Professional growing

SFU

Storyeum

Professional growing

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Students who learn and not teachers who perform is what teaching is all about because students are “ the finest fruits of teachers who teach” [Palmer]

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The fundamental question about teaching and those who teach is “Who is the self who teaches” [Parker J Palmer: The Courage To Teach]

“Good teaching does not come from technique. It comes from identity and integrity of the teacher. [Palmer]

Professional growing

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We should find more time for reflection!

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Growth through:

sharing with other people the same feelings

the voices who articulate better than me my feelings

<Questions/still reflecting on/thinking of >Progressive teaching requires/creates a revival of the whole society. How much are we prepared for it?

Professional growing

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Students and teachers equally dominated by fear .

Fear of: subjectivity or any personal bias in any professional work => reluctance in expressing ourselves failure in meeting other peoples’ expectations other peoples’ judgment

Is it fear the most dangerous feeling of ours?

<new/have learned>

We need the courage to teach because we now teach “in the face of fear and fear gives ignorance its power” [Palmer]

We can help others/our students to be free of fear and able to express their nature!!

<Questions/still reflecting on/thinking of >I think that we first should release this fear from inside us in order to help our students!

Professional growing

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Mount Pleasant Elementary

1. Very progressive system of teaching/learning

2. A memorable advice : “ Be yourself!”

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A hope for the future: such a progressive system of school can be implemented!

<Questions/still reflecting on/thinking of >

1.How optimistic are those who monitor such a program as that from “Mount Pleasant Elementary”?

2.How difficult it is for one to be himself?

Professional growing

“We all are subject of power of deformation, from within as well as without, but the soul never loses its original form, and never stops calling us back to our birthright integrity.”

Rainer Maria Rilke

About “ Being yourself!”

Palmer in “ Let your life Speak” : “What a long time it can take to become the person one has always been! How often we mask ourselves in faces that are not our own. How much dissolving and shaking of ego we must endure before we discover our deep identity – the true self within every human being that is the seed of authentic vocation.”

We need to find our vocation and help the students to find theirs

Professional growing

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It would be good for me to be able to help my students –while we are learning together to live according to our identities, by reflective self-determination and not following external norms only.

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<Questions/still reflecting on/thinking of > In what way am I able to apply my beliefs and make myself useful according to these beliefs?

The column of infinity

[Constantin Brancusi]

Professional growing

The country I am coming from:

At the beginning of its way in this world of globalization and corporations.

IT literacy compulsory/ Very high customization of goods and services =>a need for a new type of worker

The challenges ahead create an increasing burden on teachers.

As a solution , Palmer suggests that “ the secular and sacred elements of life should be better integrated, that science and technological innovation should be utilized more to explore the capacities of human mind and spirit and the wisdom gained through inner exploration should be used for our individual and collective health.”

Professional growing

The reform in teaching uses mostly terms like:” high quality education, competency, exams and competition”, etc

Is it intellectual development the main mission of school?

Another hope for a better future:The reform considers more and more attributes like: “caring, loving , etc.”

L.A. Matheson students!

It is equally important for schools to produce compassionate people and not only competent.

Teacher-pupils

Students seen as a whole:

Expressions used :

”all children have the right to learn to their fullest potential”

Etc.

Mostly --Students considered individually:

-Expressions used:

“Every child possesses unique abilities, talents and interests, which must be discovered and developed in the education process.”

“Every child deserves the opportunity to grow into a confident adult, capable of earning a living and being a valuable contributor to family and community “,etc.

I am conscious how difficult it is for this approach to be implemented!

Teacher-pupils

Very little work with groups of students and more with the class as a whole

Very little work with special-needs students

Cooperative-work gives

students opportunity to:

share add their strengths be tolerantDecrease the competition and encourage self-expression

For this new model of teaching, I think that both students and teachers should have very much mutual respect and interest/love in learning/teaching

Teacher-pupils

Is Teacher expected “to know everything” in class, to not make any mistake, to show confidence in front of students no matter what?

Teachers tend to be perceived by students more as humans and equal parts of their teams.

The teacher should be him/herSelf

Teacher-pupils

Is praising/rewarding students a way of encouragement ?

“ children need unconditional support and love with no strings attached” [Alfie Kohn ]

The face of love

Teacher-pupils

I feel that:

In an authentic process of learning ,difference between people are dissolved

It is important for teachers to understand diverse cultures and to recognize and reflect on their own worldviews in order to be able to

understand the worldviews of their students.

Reflection on cultural adapted instruction might help us to keep a balance related to this issue

A burning question:

What is a good balance in a culturally adapted instruction in order to improve achievement?

Teacher - curriculum

School should be committed first to giving students the background knowledge/focus on what and how much students learn?

Or better to help them developing their imagination/creativity?

Where and when are “ lecture-oriented “ classes still appropriate?

I do consider:

that the focus should be on:" teaching students how to think/learn”

New teaching strategies/learning techniques/methods for active learning (learning by doing) have their importance in this teaching/learning process

I join those who say that we should encourage deep thinking!

Teacher - curriculum

Don’t underestimate the importance of “ critical thinking”!

Priorities in teaching:

Critical thinking ---because people will need to deal more with complexity and uncertainty in the future

The importance of holistic approach of learning and real-life connections

I have noticed : In both countries I have had my experience, students are still –generally-learning the parts without seeing the whole or “what for” they are learning!!!

Teacher - curriculum

The second burning question:

The new strategies require more time and more devoted teachers. I think more teachers for well designed classes with max. 15 students and more assistants for special needs will be necessary.

How could politicians and other decisional bodies be convinced about the importance of the progressive reform in teaching ?

Teacher - curriculum

Alfie Kohn opposes Competition to Excellence

Reflection on :

What does it mean to be well educatedWhat is the best schooling

I have always felt that competition inhibits the creativity

Teacher - curriculum

Have you ever thought that:the validity of the standardized tests could be questioned?

There are people who oppose to:

schools becoming a consumerist businessschools being privatized

People who: advocate against the industry created around standardized tests.

make efforts in order to strengthen the decision power of the parents who can decide if their children should take or not such a test!

I am asking myself how can students who refuse taking the tests could integrate in this society as it is

Professional growing

I feel that:

Children in Canada are open-minded and tolerant, ready to consider everybody as equal or as one and- as all children- with inner thirst for learning

one possible cause for the crisis in education -could be:

The tension between 2 generations ( teachers- individualist gen.- and students gen. for which people like Alfie Kohn prepare the path)

My understanding is that:The students and progressive teachers are called to a sort of “passive resistance” ( in the way Gandhi defined it) to the corporate influence, and consumerism( can you see any connection with the hippie movement from 40 years ago?)

Therefore, in my view, the change is imposed by our students and the teachers should keep pace with it.

Can progressive teachers change this “status quo” inherited from their parents? I think that analysis for a change in Education should start with Political and Social areas and the change itself need to happen simultaneously in all major spheres of life.

Professional growing

The most important growth : learning from and about people in this multicultural society!

Instead of epilogue, I chose a video, good reflection of my feelings throughout this “journey” and also:a summary of my understandings of all the efforts for a better world/educationa reflection of my growth in being aware of the problems world is facinga hope that I could contribute through teaching to this effort of change for positive.

About the video:

YES! :a non-profit organization which spoke to more than 600,000 people in schools and conference presentations about the need for social transformation and produced award-wining video and movies shown by MTV in more than 70 countries.