For the first time, at least in recent memory, I was put in a position to share my thoughts but had no words. Not a one. My brain was going a million miles an hour as the silence in class gave me the golden opportunity to speak my mind. Nothing. Thank god Meg was there to save me.
Even as I went through the day, I couldn’t think I’ve how I could summarize Radical Presence for a colleague or even a friend. And I thought about it a lot! It took me back to what Beau said in class today regarding feeling frustrated about being able to take these ideas back to our respective schools. Every book we’ve read in this program I’ve been able to recommend to a coworker during various conversations. Yet, this one was my favorite and I don’t think it would be well received by anyone in my school.
What is slightly more troubling is I’m worried that reading books like Radical Presence and searching further into contemplative pedagogy will open amazing possibilities for ways to help students. But I anticipate that it could be a very isolating and frustrating experience as the collegial support and dialogue we currently enjoy will be gone. To illustrate this, take my laughter yoga experience (to give some concreteness to this abstract rambling). Even after experiencing great success with students at amazingly deep levels, most staff looked at laughter yoga like hippie/voodoo/touchy feely nonsense. They didn’t seem to see value in tending to one’s inner self.
I can also envision sitting and a staff meeting listening to the typical battle cry of many teachers : “how can we teach these kids when their parent’s won’t do their job.” I think I now have (at least part of) an answer. But how do I even begin to explain contemplative pedagogy when I couldn’t even start today in class with folks who get it. That will be TOUGH! I’ll end up sitting in the corner in the lotus position chanting “om” to keep my sanity.
I know it comes back to starting with changes in your own room and effecting what you can, but I’m preparing for a bit of professional shock once I part company with you wonderful people.
I was wondering the exact same thing. My goal has been to take at least one thing every day. So, I've decided that rather than taking Radical Presence away, I will start by just taking Presence with me and seeing where it leads. Who knows, Presence may become Radical Presence.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand how you both feel. In a staff so large (almost 30 classroom teachers) I often feel like I am on a desert island. Radical presence moves my island farther from my staff. Maybe that is why I had such a difficult time with my post. While I have moved 100 miles away from where my staff is(in my professional practice)I find it harder to communicate the things I am so excited about and have them be able to understand. I am definitely so grateful for fellow fellows to share common experiences with.
ReplyDeleteHey Y'all
ReplyDeleteRemind me to show you -or I guess you can look at them yourself
1. The Tempered Radical
2. EdVoices
I found #2 when looking for examples of educational manifestos (sp?) and #1 when Margaret Vaughn mentioned the term - they have interesting topics similar to what we have been talking about - SO there are others like us out there. I feel lkie a SciFi movie "we're not alone" there are pockets of others ;)
Oops did I tell you those are websites?
ReplyDeleteand it doesn't really help how alone we'll feel but it'll be okay - I thik we're having the end of camp syndrome - we still love our jobs and it's even better now because we are better armed because we have each other and knowledge we didn't have before