It has been a long time since I have been moved by something enough to take the time to blog about it. Today, I have been inspired.
A wonderful, motivated group of high school students took me on a journey of self discovery through a project they created and actualized called Mini We Day Regina. The students shared their passion for the "Me to We" philosophy of putting others before yourself in a variety of ways. The motivational speaker, Molly Burke, provided an emotional keynote, students shared their own experiences with "Me to We" trips and camps and we were reminded that the issues we so often complain about are, in fact, first world problems.
It is an important perspective to take as so much of my day to day work as an administrator in a high school includes requests and meetings for such important things as, "Please change my timetable because that teacher is too tough", "I want my spare in period 5", "My son should have received a 90% on that essay instead of 85", "My parking spot is too narrow" etc.
These students reminded me of how important education is, how in many places in the world children, especially girls, do not even have the opportunity to go to school! We are so fortunate that our children receive the kind of education where they are encouraged to be problem solvers, to think outside the box, to consider their purpose and place on the earth, to use their skills and knowledge in service of others, to recognize injustice and to play a role in supporting positive change.
I am not going to lie, there have been days in my career where I have been in fear for the fact the my students will be the adults caring for me one day. But not today.
Today I know we are in good hands. For there is nothing more powerful than educated youth uniting for a cause that is greater than themselves. Using their power for good rather than evil. It makes me immensely proud that I can say I may have played a small role in that consciousness. It makes me immensely happy that I can watch it happen every day. There are not too many jobs where one has that opportunity. It makes me immensely grateful that I have one of those jobs.
This morning, Molly Burke challenged the students to live, learn, pass it on. I accept that challenge, do you?
Thursday, 9 October 2014
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Being bullied
Bullying appears to be the topic of the day. In light of more recent suicides attributed to bullying, it is an important topic to be addressed appropriately in many forums. The issue I have is that, the definition of bullying itself is being misused as a blanket explanation for any conflict that occurs. If a student pushes another student on the playground, he or she is being bullied, if a child calls another child a name or makes a face it is bullying. If teasing occurs it is called bullying.
Conflict is a part of life, we are not always going to agree with our colleagues, teammates, family or friends. People are going to get angry at one another. At some point in time, it is inevitable that someone is going to do or say something that is going to hurt us. What is important is what we do with that and how we learn from it.
We need to give our children and our students the skills to be able to say, "I don't like it when you...", "Please stop..." "It makes me feel bad when..." We need to be able to help our students problem solve, understand one another, appreciate others' feelings and learn their mistakes. Otherwise, things won't change.
Bullying, real bullying, is a big deal. By definition, bullying is an intentional, habitual, repeated pattern of behaviour intended to be hurtful or demeaning or to exercise power over an individual. By painting every conflict with the same brush; by labeling every disagreement, fight and eye roll with the same term "bullying" we are minimizing the real issue and not focusing on what really needs to be addressed in schools, mental health agencies, law enforcement and government in regards to bullying.
Last night, the top news story involved a high school student who wore a full painted face of gothic style make-up to school. The principal asked her not to wear that make-up at school anymore. The news story called this "bullying" by the principal. The story said that the parent and student had filed complaints with both that school division and the Ministry of Education. Further, they were petitioning the legislature to do something about this bullying; the mother was quoted as saying, "this bullying has got to stop."
I find it ironic that in the last week there have been 2 stories of young girls who have taken their own lives as a result of relentless, ongoing demeaning postings on social media by peers and yet the "bullying" the media is calling for addressing in their top news story is a principal enforcing what he believes to be the school dress code. Am I saying she shouldn't be allowed to wear her make-up? That is not my decision to make. Would it be okay with a potential employer for her to wear that make up as a server in a restaurant, a teller in a bank, a cashier in a store? Likely not. Is a school dress code an issue worth discussing and clearly defining at a school or division level? Certainly. Is enforcing the dress code bullying? I do not think so. Where do we draw the line? What is the real issue? What is the true definition of bullying? And once we know and understand what bullying really is, what are we going to do to prevent it and to address it?
Conflict is a part of life, we are not always going to agree with our colleagues, teammates, family or friends. People are going to get angry at one another. At some point in time, it is inevitable that someone is going to do or say something that is going to hurt us. What is important is what we do with that and how we learn from it.
We need to give our children and our students the skills to be able to say, "I don't like it when you...", "Please stop..." "It makes me feel bad when..." We need to be able to help our students problem solve, understand one another, appreciate others' feelings and learn their mistakes. Otherwise, things won't change.
Bullying, real bullying, is a big deal. By definition, bullying is an intentional, habitual, repeated pattern of behaviour intended to be hurtful or demeaning or to exercise power over an individual. By painting every conflict with the same brush; by labeling every disagreement, fight and eye roll with the same term "bullying" we are minimizing the real issue and not focusing on what really needs to be addressed in schools, mental health agencies, law enforcement and government in regards to bullying.
Last night, the top news story involved a high school student who wore a full painted face of gothic style make-up to school. The principal asked her not to wear that make-up at school anymore. The news story called this "bullying" by the principal. The story said that the parent and student had filed complaints with both that school division and the Ministry of Education. Further, they were petitioning the legislature to do something about this bullying; the mother was quoted as saying, "this bullying has got to stop."
I find it ironic that in the last week there have been 2 stories of young girls who have taken their own lives as a result of relentless, ongoing demeaning postings on social media by peers and yet the "bullying" the media is calling for addressing in their top news story is a principal enforcing what he believes to be the school dress code. Am I saying she shouldn't be allowed to wear her make-up? That is not my decision to make. Would it be okay with a potential employer for her to wear that make up as a server in a restaurant, a teller in a bank, a cashier in a store? Likely not. Is a school dress code an issue worth discussing and clearly defining at a school or division level? Certainly. Is enforcing the dress code bullying? I do not think so. Where do we draw the line? What is the real issue? What is the true definition of bullying? And once we know and understand what bullying really is, what are we going to do to prevent it and to address it?
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Why I Tweet
I am writing this blog in response to something that happened to me today that I can't let go of although I know I should. I feel the need to say, or in this case blog, my piece so I can be at peace. Here's hoping I find it!
I am a mom first and a teacher second, I am many other things but these are the most important to me; they are my passions, my callings and they bring meaning and joy to my life every day.
That is not to say that there aren't days that I want to gouge my eyes out because of something my children have said or done or something that happens at school! There are days I am hanging by a thread...
I work in a great place surrounded by great people; sometimes we see things the same way, often times we don't but I am enriched by their perspective as it allows me to develop, to refine and to adapt my own. I work in an incredible profession. One that is constantly evolving and changing. One that demands so much of so many who are so willing to give it.
I know what I think constitutes "best practice" in my field based on research, reading and my own lived experience. What I think or believe may not be the truth (if there is a truth) but part of what is so important about my profession is being able to advocate for "best practice" in so many ways; through dialogue, professional reading, trial and error and social media. This is for the benefit of all children, not just the ones in the school where I work, not just my own, but the children all over the world whose teachers are blogging, posting and sharing and becoming better, stronger and smarter through this amazing collective wisdom.
Certainly this makes us vulnerable as we tread on those swirling waters. Once you press send, post or publish, your words, ideas, questions and frustrations are out there and with that comes the knowledge that you will post something that someone doesn't like or finds offensive in some way.
My main purpose using twitter specifically is to connect with professionals whose wisdom and experience is far greater than my own in order to hone my craft, to adapt my beliefs and to experiment in new ideas in the name of "best practice". Through this forum I have been at times enlightened, at times enraged and always engaged by the insight of my colleagues far and near. Who knew140 characters could have such power? With power comes responsibility. I accept responsibility for things I have posted, linked to, tweeted and retweeted to question, to comment and to provoke.
The fact is, as an educator , I do not believe in home spelling programs delivered without context as they fly in the face of my beliefs about assessment and "best practice" in language instruction. The fact is, as a parent, when my kids bring home spelling words and assignments, I do my best to help them study and complete their assignments because that is my job as a mom. The fact is there are plenty of instructional practices I do not care for. The fact is, these same practices may work great for someone else. The fact is, when I call the practice (not the person) into question, I am fortunate to have a PLN who is quick to chime in with their ideas pro and con and, often times, some great links for further insight.
If you read this through I hope it helps you to know a little bit about who I am, about why I tweet. I have not intended any of my tweets to be malicious or hurtful and if they are or were, please accept my apology and know that if that is the case the easiest thing to do is click unfollow.
I am a mom first and a teacher second, I am many other things but these are the most important to me; they are my passions, my callings and they bring meaning and joy to my life every day.
That is not to say that there aren't days that I want to gouge my eyes out because of something my children have said or done or something that happens at school! There are days I am hanging by a thread...
I work in a great place surrounded by great people; sometimes we see things the same way, often times we don't but I am enriched by their perspective as it allows me to develop, to refine and to adapt my own. I work in an incredible profession. One that is constantly evolving and changing. One that demands so much of so many who are so willing to give it.
I know what I think constitutes "best practice" in my field based on research, reading and my own lived experience. What I think or believe may not be the truth (if there is a truth) but part of what is so important about my profession is being able to advocate for "best practice" in so many ways; through dialogue, professional reading, trial and error and social media. This is for the benefit of all children, not just the ones in the school where I work, not just my own, but the children all over the world whose teachers are blogging, posting and sharing and becoming better, stronger and smarter through this amazing collective wisdom.
Certainly this makes us vulnerable as we tread on those swirling waters. Once you press send, post or publish, your words, ideas, questions and frustrations are out there and with that comes the knowledge that you will post something that someone doesn't like or finds offensive in some way.
My main purpose using twitter specifically is to connect with professionals whose wisdom and experience is far greater than my own in order to hone my craft, to adapt my beliefs and to experiment in new ideas in the name of "best practice". Through this forum I have been at times enlightened, at times enraged and always engaged by the insight of my colleagues far and near. Who knew140 characters could have such power? With power comes responsibility. I accept responsibility for things I have posted, linked to, tweeted and retweeted to question, to comment and to provoke.
The fact is, as an educator , I do not believe in home spelling programs delivered without context as they fly in the face of my beliefs about assessment and "best practice" in language instruction. The fact is, as a parent, when my kids bring home spelling words and assignments, I do my best to help them study and complete their assignments because that is my job as a mom. The fact is there are plenty of instructional practices I do not care for. The fact is, these same practices may work great for someone else. The fact is, when I call the practice (not the person) into question, I am fortunate to have a PLN who is quick to chime in with their ideas pro and con and, often times, some great links for further insight.
If you read this through I hope it helps you to know a little bit about who I am, about why I tweet. I have not intended any of my tweets to be malicious or hurtful and if they are or were, please accept my apology and know that if that is the case the easiest thing to do is click unfollow.
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