What Inspires you?

My oldest daughter Amber was interviewed recently. I was blown away by her response to this question.

So what most inspires you?

Community. Whether it is 50 kids at a hardcore show screaming along the lyrics to a local band's song, a really encouraging comment thread on a messageboard, or an art opening that just blows you away, I think that connecting with other humans who share your interests, passions and beliefs is the most powerful thing ever. When you feel like you are part of something that matters, it encourages you to push yourself harder to make your contribution to that community really count. You become a better and more creative person in the process.

I couldn't agree more. Community is the venue through which creativity can be fueled. Just think-- if we rethought classrooms and made them into communities that produced students who felt this way about learning-- what a difference we could make. At PLP we too feel like teachers who learn in communities become part of something bigger than themselves and that something  results in meaningful change and deep personal growth. Community is the best hope we have for re-culturing education.

So, what inspires you?

photo credit: http://isferea.jrc.ec.europa.eu/Communities/Pages/default.aspx

Comments

[Jim Gates]

Positive people inspire me. People who love what they do and are excited about doing what needs to be done to GET it done.

And you're certainly among the tops on the list. ;-)

[Ken Allan]

Kia ora Sheryl

What inspires me? My kids do.

It never ceases to amaze me how much I love my kids. My youngest will be 15 this month. I am grateful that I have been able to share so much with her.

My next, Hannah (18) is off to Auckland to do her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree this year.

All the others, up to Nicolas who is 38 this year, have flown the nest and are working overseas. They keep in touch through social networking apps. We live in great times.

I write blogs about my kids because they inspire me.

Catchya later
from Middle-earth

[Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach]

Jim thanks so much. How kind.

-------------------

Ken - off to read now about your kids. Mine are my inspiration as well.

------------

Just found this on RClarke's site
http://rclarke-reflections.blogspot.com/2009/02/very-inspirational.html
Now I am VERY inspired.