I struggled for a few days with the overwhelming job, or so it seemed, of beginning to craft a purpose statement for the dissertation topic. Thankfully, my advisor told me to read and read and read the classics in education and the not so classic. I immersed myself in John Dewey, who I have read before, Alfred North Whitehead, who I had not read, and Ivan Illich, who worked with Paulo Freire. I am going to re-read Freire.
Last night, I fell asleep thinking about these people and woke up still thinking about them. As I got mobile, it dawned on me what happened and I recalled Mary Oliver’s beautiful poem. I don’t hold answers. I hold questions. Their eloquence lead me into life daily and the answers are often in the things I take for granted. I posted a re-worked purpose statement, based on just letting things percolate and doing some free writing, and one of my colleagues commented back that it was making more sense. Be mindful scholar.
Every day
I see or I hear
something
that more or less
kills me
with delight
that leaves me
like a needle
in the haystack
of light.
It is what I was born for–
to look, to listen,
to lose myself
inside this soft world–
to instruct myself
over and over
in joy,
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,
the fearful, the dreadful–
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,
the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help
but grow wise
with such teachings
as these–
the untrimmable light
of the world,
the ocean’s shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?
About ivonprefontaine
In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms.
I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders.
I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs.
I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry.
I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry.
I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope, nonviolence and its anticipatory relationship with the future, as essential elements to teaching and learning.
Academic publications can be found at Ivon Gile Prefontaine on ResearchGate
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
very good
Thank you Doris.
I have enjoyed all of the writers/philosphers/educators that you mentioned. I used to conduct a lot of professional development and would always quote Freire! I loved his “Pedagogy of the Oppressed.” I taught for over 30 years and, in some small way, I feel like I am teaching through my blog. Thanks!
You are welcome. I read Freire in my undergrad days alongside Parker Palmer. I find their words bring me back to ground and my roots. I regret not having read Alfred North Whitehead sooner. He is so easy to read.
I find the same thing that I learn and teach through my blog.
Take care,
Ivon
Oh – Mary Oliver…such a delight! It sounds like you’re starting to find your way with your dissertation. Best wishes going forward!
Thank you. She is my 1A of contemporary poets. 1B is Wendell Berry. They take me home when I read them.
Thank you Pam.
I think ‘percolation’ can lead to much stronger and clearer thoughts.
Love the poem.
I agree. At least it did in this case.
Wonderful poem… your mention of Ivan Illich took me back to my dog-eared copy from the past !!!!
I had never read him before. I read Paulo Freire extensively and Neil Postman, This was an eye-opener. am not sure what role he will play in the writing, but he has given me much to consider.
Is the poem entitled, “The Song of the Lifelong Learner?” LOL
Great post.
No, but it could be. Thank you.
Love the poem.
It is so easy to enjoy anything by Mary Oliver.