Transcript 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.

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
<knew/
thought/believed>
<new/have learned>
In Canada:
The society I come from
•Dominant
secular
Generally, people:
•Indoctrinated into “scientism”
•reluctant/embarrassed to
articulate their beliefs
These permeated
everywhere [including
education]
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
<knew/thought/believed>
<new/have learned>
There
Generally People:
Suffer
for a meaningless life
Lack of recognition by others for
who they are
These permeated everywhere
[including education]
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 first
There 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
<knew/thought/believed?
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]
<new/have learned>

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
<knew/thought/believed?
We
should find more time for reflection!
<new/have learned>
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
<knew/thought/believed?
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

<new/have learned>
Is it fear the most dangerous feeling of ours?

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
<new/have learned>
Mount Pleasant Elementary
1.
Very progressive system of teaching/learning
2.
A memorable advice : “ Be yourself!”
<knew/thought/believed?
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
About “ Being yourself!”
“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
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
<knew/thought/believed?
<new/have learned>
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.
The column of
infinity
[Constantin
Brancusi]
In what way am I able to apply my beliefs and make
myself useful according to these beliefs?
<Questions/still reflecting on/thinking of >
Professional growing
The country
I am
coming
from:
At the
beginning
of its way
in this
world of
globalizati
on and
corporatio
ns.
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
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!
Is
It
is equally important for schools to produce compassionate
people and not only competent.
Teacher-pupils
Students
seen as a
whole:
Mostly
--Students considered individually:
Expressions
used :
”all
children
have the
right to learn
to their
fullest
potential”
Etc.
-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
Cooperative-work
gives
students opportunity to:
share
Very
little work with specialneeds students
add their strengths
 be tolerant
Decrease 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
I do consider:
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?
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
and when are “
lecture-oriented “ classes still
appropriate?
Where
I join those who say that we should encourage deep thinking!
Teacher - curriculum
Priorities in teaching:
Don’t
underestimate the
importance of “ critical thinking”!
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 educated
What 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 business
schools 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/education
a reflection of my growth in being aware of the problems world is facing
a 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.