SCHOOLS

Thank you to all educators (teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators) who dedicate your work to a profession and a group of people – youth - who are currently undervalued. Most of you go above and beyond the many demands of your day and job to help young people acquire skills and knowledge they need.

Some of you go beyond teach and you reach young people, engaging their hearts and spirits in addition to their minds. Some do it naturally and some do it very consciously. You realize the importance of embracing the whole child and you have lessons for all of us – other educators, parents, communities, decision-makers, etc.

It is in our wholeness that we can participate, learn and evolve at maximum potential. As educators we have the opportunity to tap into and honor the wholeness of each unique human being. And to recognize the wellspring of potentiality that exists in every person. Potential that extends beyond academic performance and that realizes students’ full capacity as active, engaged and contributing members of our learning and social communities.

The outdated industrial model of education no longer meets the needs of our current society. So what are the side effects of using an outdated model? Although a great deal of effort is going into school reform, do we need more than just school-by-school makeovers? What other models are available to us? What needs to change at a societal level? economic level? legislative level? Who will do it? How do we begin and how do we foster these deep changes?

You are invited to consider the learning process as a partnership with students rather than the current hierarchical model in which educators maintain a position of power and control. What does a partnership of learning look like, sound like, feel like? How would it be different for both students and teachers? How would it fit with the educational system currently in place?

While conducting my doctoral research I was disheartened and saddened by what seemed to be largely negative, depersonalized and oppressive experiences in students’ school careers (and their communities). So I began asking questions of myself, my field and my role in addressing this.

 I encourage you to begin asking questions if you haven’t already (some of you have been screaming them for a long time). I encourage you to ask and explore how you can engage your students in a more holistic manner. I encourage you to view students as partners in the learning process and then to pursue, with their help, the changes necessary to create learning partnerships in classrooms, programs and schools. And to do so in a way that honors and values everyone. Lastly, I wish you the support, courage and appreciation you need to carry this forward.