At the same conference where I heard Sarita Brown, I also had the opportunity to listen to Jonathan Mooney speak about his dealing with education, in particular high school and what he said struck a cord. Again I will post the weblink so you can read his bio and accomplishments.
In a nut shell he is a "writer and activist with dyslexia who learned to read when he was 12-years-old. He since earned an honors degree in English Literature at Brown University and has written and published two books." - mcli website.
One of the things he shared with us was that when he was a high school student one teacher in particular let him know that he wasn't going to be successful because of his learning differences. I drew upon similar experiences, when I was in junior high I tested into high school honors English, yet I was never given English Honors Classes. After visiting with my counselor, he suggested that "honors was too difficult, I should be happy that I was doing regular English and not having to work so hard." So I stayed in regular English, because at my age and experience I was convinced he was right.
Where do people like this come from anyway?! Who are they to make that judgement that because they believe something should be a certain way, they will force their will to get it done, even if it doesn't have anything to do with their own future.
When telling the story, Mooney mentioned that we as educators have to be knocked off our pedestal. I agree with Mooney completely in this notion. We tend to equate education with power and authority over what is right and just, when this couldn't be further from the truth. If anything, an education has taught me, that there is not finite answers, just a world of possibilities (without sounding cliche) depending on what side of the fence you are standing on.
Wouldn't it have been better for that teacher to say "don't let learning differences stop you from learning how to overcome them in order to be successful." Or in my case, "Honor's is more difficult but there are ways to manage the extra work, let me show you how."
As I continue my work with my students, I hope and yes pray that I don't lose my faith in my work so much so that I turn inward, bitter, and jaded. The purpose of my position is to give hope to students who have never had it, not take away what little they have left. In general I believe education is extremely important, but we shouldn't let that power get to our head. We aren't THAT important, obviously or perhaps we wouldn't have as many dropouts as we do in this country.
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