Yet another Post- reflection
Silky Carter Dated…Reflection
So I was doing some intense thinking and of course it was about this course, other classes, and where all of this will lead me. The truth is it frightens me because the world around me is ever changing, and I don’t know what the future holds. It’s easy to say, I’ll work my ass off, get into Grad school then start teaching but then I’d be deceiving myself. While all of this is likely to happen the question that haunts me every day is will I possess a happy and successful life and can I produce that for my students. I am given all of the tools deemed ‘necessary’ for this journey but just because I understand it doesn’t mean I will execute. Or more importantly, just because I want something for my students that does not mean I will be given the assistance to give them all they require. I have come to the realization that I would like to teach in an Abbott district, because that’s the system I grew up in, while teaching in a Sub-urban area would seem to be promising, I would prefer taking my gifts and using them in a place that needs my guidance and relate-ability. At the commencement of the semester I wasn’t sure how I would feat in CPIII because I’m behind academically and was unsure of my abilities to keep up with my peers. However, I’ve never been a quitter and I’ve been able to “keep up suitably”. My first encounter with Block and the discussions that we’ve all had on his text has been mind blowing, and is also the very reason why I’m somewhat apprehensive. Block talks about community and belonging, possibilities, fear, dialogue, change through questions, accountability and more. While all of these concepts have challenged me to think critically, there are many I agree and disagree with, such as the idea of focusing on gifts. Block says that by focusing on peoples gifts we make people feel like they are a part of the community and provide room for them to feel welcomed without invitation, this may be true but my argument is if we work on what doesn’t need to be fixed then how will grow? I strongly believe that this concept of gift is situation based. Over all I feel that focusing on gifts will enable students to feel esteemed however if we are to create a world of possibilities we cannot teach them to be naïve.
Another huge concept I would disagree with Block is this notion of not changing the way we think but changing the conversation. Well to me the conversation is the way you think inevitably. Block does not believe we should take a psychological perspective but again my argument is that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I believe that in everything you do you think about it before it takes place. There isn’t a thought that hasn’t been thought of before and my alteration of this concept is that there needs to be conversation but it needs to be posed in what he says are questions which then creates possibilities. With all of this said, I know that music is the connector which relates us universally. In some way, shape, form or fashion music can be used to our advantage and it is up to us to figure out how. Block also enforces accountability in which he says we need to care for the whole, which I feel he unconsciously contradicts himself. By saying we want a community that is caring for the whole yet posing the question “whom do we want in the room?” Yet we want to be inclusive of everyone who wants to be included. If everyone one isn’t included then everyone isn’t being represented.
However I love and value this concept of accountability, it creates a sense of leadership among everyone which then promotes citizenship instead of consumerism. I believe as educators once we teach students to become citizens instead of consumers then they will become liberated. Student’s eyes will be opened, similar to Eves when she ate from the tree of knowledge/life. Students will become aware of why they indulge in different practices, and eventually will want to give meaning or be consciously aware of everything else they do. I believe that true progression comes from great leaders but leaders are those who know, love and teach the people. The leader should not be the sole decision maker but should extend the power; this I believe would strengthen the community. If everyone knows they have the power of change and become accountable for their selves and neighbor’s then meaningless conversation about the past is unnecessary (unless in my opinion you point out mistakes not to be retraced then) create conversation about how we can change the future.
