I recorded this after reading a post where public school teachers were compared to slave drivers who refused to bow out to the better model of homeschooling along with a blog comment by an advocate of traditional education who lashed out in ALL CAPS. It has me thinking that we've all been wounded by broken systems.
So, check it out below if you want to hear a meandering podcast about dystopias and school systems.
I know this seems like a meandering podcast to you, but I find it startling in its clarity. I appreciate your reminders for us in the PLN to avoid extreme thinking, whether it is over excitement or severe dystopia. Your calls for the embracing of cognitive dissonance have had a huge impact on my thinking. Were you in the city when you recorded this? On your smartphone?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Royan. It still feels far too meandering to me. A fellow blogger on the Cooperative Catalyst suggested I turn it into something animated. I might just try that out.
ReplyDeleteI was standing by a road (way too obvious, I suppose). I wanted to get away from my building and my a/c and so I recorded it with an iPod Touch, in the parking lot of a city street.
You are a deep thinker. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of engaging in hyperbole myself, I have to say that was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI too used to think of school as a prison, but I later realized it was of my own making, so I set myself free. I realized that I had more to offer my students than the system I was in was suggesting I could. But, I let myself explore and found it incredibly rewarding.
The important thing to note is the system did not create my shackles, my interpretation of that system was what bound me. I will admit that I am lucky though, I have admin. who look beyond test scores and that I appreciate most of all.
Dear Dannon,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words. I almost didn't post this one.
Dear Jeff,
I love the humility in your response. Often the one complaining of phoniness can't see artificiality in self.
It's the Holden Caulfield Syndrome.