Tag Archives: community

A Time to Listen – Visually and Poetry

Posted on June 22, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Kathy and I travel. We spend time during the summer touring Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and adjoining American states. This summer we are revisiting Waterton Lakes National Park as part of my rehab. We travel through this area regularly and it brings back great memories.

On one trip, we stopped at a provincial park just above Lundbreck Falls. Recently, I went through pictures of the Crowsnest River downstream and it reminded of what I notice and don’t notice in life. Wendell Berry wrote a beautiful piece: The Impeded Stream is the One that Sings. I realized I heard the river before I saw it. I recalled the life around the river: cottonwood fluff flying, flowering wild rose, insects pollinating, and a musky smell perhaps of a bear recently by. The river is a living instrument sharing a song to others forming a web of life.

I read Wendell Berry’s words while reliving the picture and was inspired to write a Haiku.

Observe life’s current

Pausing, listening, caring

Present with my self.

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Posted in Mindful Life, Photography, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged community, Mindful Practice, mindfulness, nature, poetry, spirituality, stewardship, teacher as transformer, waterton lakes national park, Wendell Berry. Bookmark the permalink.

Human Being Instead of Human Doing

Posted on June 20, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Many days I wonder about what other are doing, what causes them to do it, and what I can do to control their behaviours. I used the word do a lot in that first sentence. When I wonder that way, I become angry, frustrated, and hurt. I become a human doing instead of a human being. Being present and living each moment mindfully is part of this being.

Some words and an image to help us be today. Happy summer solstice.

The art of life isn’t controlling what happens, which is impossible; it’s using what happens.

~Gloria Steinem

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Posted in Community, Education, Mindful Life, Reflective Moments and tagged community, education, leadership, Mindful Practice, Progressive Education, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

pedagogy of the oppressed by Paulo Freire

Posted on June 18, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I read pedagogy of the oppressed by Paulo Freire during my undergraduate experience and return to it as a source of reflection and when I write. Similar to Parker Palmer, Paulo Freire left an indelible mark on my life’s practice. Education is an uplifting, liberating experience which shines light on each step Antonio Machado described: “Wanderer, your footsteps are the road, and nothing more; wanderer, there is no road, the road is made by walking.” Freire’ s contention was everyone can act as an agent in their learning thus freeing them and transforming the world they live in.

Freire used the Portuguese word conscientização which “refers to learning to perceive social, political, and economic contradictions and to take action against the oppressive elements of reality” (17). Humans become mindful of and present in the world and act to transform it. Freire used a banking metaphor and described traditional education where knowledge is deposited into students. Teachers and the system act oppressively in determining what is important to learn. Freire felt education uplifted people and their learning. “Liberation is a praxis: the action and reflection of men and women upon their world in order to transform it” (p. 60). Learning occurs when compliance and conformity are rejected in favour of dialogue based on love which allows each human to name their world and what is of value in it. The student is a teacher and student; the teacher both student and teacher.

Questions: What can we do to truly bring a new pedagogical structure into our schools and communities of learning? What function would school play in this pedagogical structure? What is dialogue based on love? What role do educators and communities play in liberation education?

Recommendation: I love the book. It is a challenging, but I return to it often and find something new each time. Today, I became aware of the following: “Concepts such as unity, organization, and struggle are immediately labeled as dangerous. … These concepts are dangerous—to the oppressors” (p. 122). What does this mean in supposedly modern, liberated, and affluent societies?

A second point was the similar language used by Freire and Martin Buber. There is a shared understanding of respectful dialogue using the words I and Thou to describe the uplifting, liberating, loving dialogic process.

Freire, P. (1993). pedagogy of the oppressed. (M. B. Ramos, Trans.). New York: Continuum.

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Posted in Community, Education, Poetry, Progressive Education, Reflective Moments, Writing and tagged community, education, Educational Leadership, eloquent questions, leadership, mindfulness, Parker Palmer, paulo freire, poetry, Progressive Education, teacher as transformer, transformative education. Bookmark the permalink.

Posted on June 17, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Father Day’s

I subscribe to a daily meditation written by Father Richard Rohr. a Franciscan priest.I talk and write about the concept of common sense, which I understand as local and global. Father Rohr cast it from a theological perspective, I think the explanation provides an insight gained without reading Gadamer’s Truth and Method. I believe there is a universal truth or common sense (Vico called this sensus communis), something that makes us all brothers and sisters bringing us together in community. I think Father Rohr offers an explanation though his meditation on Father’s Day helping us to live in community each day. Certainly, Rilke does.

“It is this sense that founds community” (Gadamer, 1989, p. 19).

Gadamer, H-G. (1989). Truth and method. (J. Weinsheimer & D. G. Marshall, Trans.). New York: Continuum.

Catch only what you’ve thrown yourself, all is

mere skill and little gain;

but when you’re suddenly the catcher of a ball

thrown by an eternal partner

with accurate and measured swing

towards you, to your center, in an arch

from the great bridgebuilding of God;

why catching then becomes a power–

not yours, a world’s.

–Rainier Maria Rilke

Posted in Community, Learning Organizations, Mindful Life, Poetry, Reflective Moments, Synchronicity and tagged community, eloquent questions, mindfulness, poetry, spirituality, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments

Friday Morning’s Thought

Posted on June 15, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I received this from someone yesterday and thought I would share it. Public education is in need of a make over. What does that mean? That is a hard question to answer without a new conversation and a pause to fully understand what our children need. Here is a starter. Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize winning author and a source of this quote is George Takei the actor who played Sulu in Star Trek. I am not a Trekkie, but I like this quote. The points that stand out are the purpose of education, the interplay between power and morality, and the need for wisdom. I follow several on-line forums about leadership. Even there, the leadership experts frequently confuse knowledge, information, and wisdom often using those words loosely and interchangeably. Wisdom emerges from values named and held within community–sensus communis or common sense. What passes from generation to generation is its common sense, what it holds and names as values in a society. This takes a compassionate conversation which is rare.

Take care and enjoy those you come in contact with today.

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Posted in Community, Education, Learning Organizations, Progressive Education, Reflective Moments and tagged chris hedges, community, george takei, leadership, Progressive Education, purpose of education, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Gratitude

Posted on June 15, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I began blogging in earnest in February, but it really began to take off in April. Today was a milestone with my 200th follower. With that, comes the reverse. I follow. There is a tremendous digital gathering and we are only just beginning to understand its impact.

200,

it isn’t 300,

the movie

or followers.

Thank you

for finding your way to this blog.

On a digital palette

I create

vent

reveal

learn

present

about the complex nuances of my life in this world.

My gratitude expressed two ways–

following others

who blaze trails

as pioneers

as companions.

Thank you

grateful

you share

your venture along

on this road less traveled

a humbling

transforming

uplifting space.

I am grateful, indebted.

Thank you

is the second way to express gratitude to 200 + 1 now.

Here is a sampler of blogs I follow. Please visit and add to their following. They inspire, teach, and share each day I prepare to write. I ma sure you will enjoy all or some of the following. Check out my blog roll for others.

Spokane Favs is a colleague of mine at Gonzaga University in Spokane WA.

Mikibong inspires with diverse and great photography

Marie Wetmore is a life coach par excellent

Elke Teaches is an Australian teacher to be and mother

Words/Love is a fantastic and creative writer

Zellie M Quinn is a writer and reflector of life

Edilio Ciclostile is a whimsical artist who wants you help him grow down

Enough of the Cat Talk is a teacher from New York who shares in many ways

Meanwhile Melody Muses is an exceptional writer of great poetry who honours nature and teaches.

Mike’s Look at Life is through poetry and photography of things we normally ignore but are there all the time

Brian Gaynor Photography provides inspiring pictures of and in nature

Rod Posse is a photographer of unusual but interesting things

RC Gale is a writer and creator of space for other writers.

That Dude Eddie is a writer of poetry and prose spreading love and peace.

Simon Marsh is an Anglican Priest in England who shares a passion for the writings of Parker Palmer and Thomas Merton

Elizabeth Rambles from a banana boat up the Clyde

Nonoy Manga is an artist and animator with a little writing thrown in on the side.

Seaman Mom is a mother from Romania who works on a cruise ship.

Colour the Day is an artist who finds beauty in many places and ways.

The Jog is by an Anglican minister in England.

Eleven 11 has gone quiet the last few days, but his is a fun blog to read.

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Posted in Photography, Poetry, Reflective Moments, Uncategorized, Writing and tagged community, Mindful Practice, poetry, teacher as transformer, writing. Bookmark the permalink.

Fragmentation

Posted on June 14, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Fragmentation.

This is an interesting, albeit American-based view of the charter system and the overall fragmentation issue of public education. I am not an advocate of reform. That tends to tinker at the edges. I advocate transformation. This requires new conversations at the grassroots. What does public education mean to you, your family, and the community you live in?

A Blog Experiment

Posted on June 12, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

I am using software called NVivo. Essentially, I use it to organize and summarize qualitative data. One cool feature is the ability to create a word cloud. I am experimenting with that feature and using the image facility on my laptop. I summarized some World Cafe events we held in February and March. The results were simply outstanding. The only fly in the ointment was I had to scan the picture and lost the colour.

The overarching question we created our conversation around was: “What engages us in learning?

February 4, 2012

Think of a time that you feel was a high point in your learning. This would have been a time you felt most alive, effective, and engaged in the learning process. Describe how you felt. What made this possible?

February 18, 2012

“Without being humble, describe what you value most about yourself. How does this contribute to the experience of learning for you? What setting does this seem to flourish best in? What would attract you to that setting?”

March 3, 2012

What encourages us to continue learning and see learning as important in our lives?

Questions emerged. I thought the most interesting was an absence in the data. What about teacher expertise in subject area or technical knowledge? It could be these are unstated but assumed necessary. Or it could be that the relational aspect, the art of teaching, is so important to this group of people the technical and subject knowledge is secondary. What do others think about this?

7 Comments

Posted in Community, Education, Progressive Education, World Cafe Events and tagged community, education, Educational Leadership, eloquent questions, Progressive Education, teacher as transformer, transformative education. Bookmark the permalink.

A Vision By Wendell Berry

Posted on June 7, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

Nothing worth its salt comes easy. I enjoy Wendell Berry and his reminders that the world is a better place if we live in it fully in the moment and mindful of this very moment and place.

If we will have the wisdom to survive,

to stand like slow-growing trees

on a ruined place, renewing, enriching it,

if we make our seasons welcome here,

asking not too much of earth or heaven,

then a long time after we are dead

the lives our lives prepare will live

here, their houses strongly placed

upon the valley sides, fields and gardens

rich in the windows. The river will run

clear, as we will never know it,

and over it, birdsong like a canopy.

On the levels of the hills will be

green meadows, stock bells in noon shade.

On the steeps where greed and ignorance

cut down

the old forest, an old forest will stand,

its rich leaf-fall drifting its roots.

The veins of forgotten springs will have

opened..

Families will be singing in their fields.

In the voices they will hear a music

risen out of the ground. They will take

nothing from the ground they will not

return,

whatever the grief at parting. Memory,

native to this valley, will spread over it

like a grove, and memory will grow

into a legend, legend into song, song

into sacrament. The abundance of this

place,

the songs of its people and its birds,

will be health and wisdom and indwelling

light. This is no paradisal dream.

Its hardship is its possibilities.

─Wendell Berry

When we discussed this poem, students understood that success is not always an easy journey. Some important aspects are the hard work and disappointments along the way. The word and phrase that caught their attention was “This is no paradisal dream. Its hardship is its possibilities.

9 Comments

Posted in Mindful Life, Nature in All Its Glory, Poetry, Reflective Moments and tagged community, Leadership. Servant-Leadership, nature, spirituality, stewardship, teacher as transformer. Bookmark the permalink.

Blogs I Follow

Posted on June 3, 2012 by ivonprefontaine

It has been a terrific blogging journey and traffic increased, but this is a two-way stream. I follow a number of blogs and each contributed to my growth during the past 2-3 months. Marie Wetmore at http://mariewetmore.com/ nominated my site for a versatile blogger award.

I am posting a list of favourite blogs. Who are the authors and creators of my favourite blogs? What makes them versatile? Please take a moment to visit some of these sites. Thank you.

Thanks Marie Wetmore! It is an honour. I am grateful and humbled!

7 interesting things about me:

I love Kathy. We have spent almost 40 years together and we still learn something about each other.
My second love is connected to my first love. We have three terrific sons who are successful and give in many ways. I am proud of Marc, Yves, and Luc.
I love sports in general, but hockey (ice hockey) is my passion. This love affair began on a small pond in a backyard over 50 years ago and morphed into a long career playing and coaching.
I love teaching. I look forward to my students, their contributions to each other, and the joy young people do bring into our lives. I spent 15 years in private industry, but I always wanted to be a teacher. It is another reason I love my family. They supported me in this adventure.
I love learning. It goes hand in hand with teaching.
I love to travel. Growing up in a pretty isolated area of Northern Alberta made it challenging. I bring my travels home with me and thoroughly enjoy the blogs where people share about their lives and corners of the universe.
I love writing. That is a reason I keep going back to school. It provided an outlet and so has my blog. I even tapped back into old roots and wrote poetry to post.
I am going to cheat. I love music. My tastes are pretty eclectic from Blues to Gospel to non-traditional country to folk to world music and beyond. Kathy and I do a lot of concerts big and small. We attend a small folk club with an amazing line up every year.

My Nominees

I acknowledge people who were role models and encouraged me in blogging as Teacher as Transformer. I am grateful for daily contributions and offerings. I shifted from an ego-driven Teacher as Transformer and began internal work. I thank each of you.

Awaken Your Child

Elke Teaches

Enough of the Cat Talk

Gen Y Girl

Going Dutch

Grow Mercy

Meanwhile Melody Muses