tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post3298180105707857118..comments2024-03-28T00:28:06.035+13:00Comments on leading and learning: Education - a new year - a time to reflectBruce Hammondshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07031065790535111400noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-43857598011527324232016-01-12T01:21:13.212+13:002016-01-12T01:21:13.212+13:00Thank you for keeping up this important conversati...Thank you for keeping up this important conversation. I enjoy reading your ideas, links and words of caution. It is important, as you say for outsiders like you who know where we've been before in education and what we've lost, to keep reminding us that personalising education is what we pioneered.<br />Joy Cowley wrote an article in response to the introduction of National Standards a few years ago.<br />She said that where-ever she traveled to give lectures or writing courses, people asked her why it is that such a small country as New Zealand produces some-one at the top of almost every human endeavour. For years she said she would brush this aside as she wasn't sure if it was true. However when the question kept being asked, she decided to look into it and found it to be more true than she had at first thought. She believes that the answer lies in our education system which fosters creativity and individualised learning and she expressed her concern at the introduction of National Standards. I keep that article with Joy's photo on my desk to keep me honest.<br />Tolstoy said that the trick in life is to learn to flow with the river. So far I have managed to survive and keep my integrity as a teacher who believes in helping my students to find their own pathways and creative powers. I have done this by shunning management roles which would require me to "sing the ministry song" Lester Flockton's words. I rework the old ideas in new environments, eg I use my " Mantle of the Expert" techniques from my drama days with Dorothy Heathcote, to empower those children with digital expertise so that they become class experts and teach us all. Inquiry learning has never gone away and the digital era has given it new life. It is possible to scaffold learners to inquire about questions they are passionate about when there are such diverse resources available. I am frequently blown away by the work my year 5/6 students produce.<br />My past learning has served me well. I was lucky enough to be have been taught by people like Don Holdaway and Allan Trussel-Cullen and to have been given the freedom in my training to pursue my talents in drama and writing.<br />Unfortunately the training of many of the young teachers now, has not prepared them so well to be responsive to diverse needs and to teach creatively. But there are some who come from careers they've found unsatisfying and who bring their fire and passion and talents to their newly chosen path. I love to work with those younger teachers. Together we have much to offer.<br />Keep up your good work and know that even when we don't respond, your words hearten us on many a Sunday evening when we wonder if we can endure. <br />Kia KahaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438349.post-44659970745229634032016-01-11T03:52:19.286+13:002016-01-11T03:52:19.286+13:00Thank you Bruce. As always a wonderful and renewin...Thank you Bruce. As always a wonderful and renewing read. Keep reflecting, keep writing, keep sharing. Please!Josie Holfordhttp://www.josieholford.com/noreply@blogger.com