I am preparing for a couple workshops on homelessness I will be giving next week for the NC DOE and came across these two videos. Both caused me to stop and think... reflection is a good thing. Let's see if they cause you to reflect as well.
The one about what we model to children was particularly powerful. As teachers we are also sending messages to our students everyday through our actions. Children see...Children do. What are you modeling to your students? What about your instruction communicates the values and dispositions you want them emulating as they become lifelong learners?
Those are powerful. Like the man in the second one says, what is the problem? Did we, the educational system in the US, fail to give the necessary skills to people? When I graduated college, I remember going immediately on welfare. I had spent everything I had, and then some, on getting that degree. I was on welfare less than a full month til I found two jobs. I was determined not to receive what I considered a hand out. What makes me any different than any homeless person anywhere? Luck? Education? And more importantly, are we giving anyone a hand up right now? I know I feel compelled to do so. Probably what I have been through, and it wasn't that awfully much....
Posted by: Durff | April 06, 2007 at 12:24 PM