This forum had an Our Canada Youth Action Project focus. The secondary participants included 4 repeat customers from last year...very unusual for secondary. Right away I knew something was different! Indeed it was. Compared with the Ottawa group 2 weeks ago these teachers were more open, less cynical and more relaxed and forthcoming. We again sat in a circle where they engaged actively with each other and appreciated the time to discuss with colleagues what mattered to them. I kept emphasizing that they were the support group for each other and they got that. They were open to exploring alternatives to the single subject, timetable driven approach found in most high schools. Present that day was a MET secondary school principal Nancy Janelle -who also came last year. She was a great advocate for change and 'what could happen'. She called her school a 'Big Picture School' and described the community based project approach to learning that teachers are encouraged to take. We need to keep in touch with her. She travels to see other programs and could be a great voice for change in secondary.
Because of a snowstorm and subsequent 'no bus day' our numbers were small. With 12 teachers in the room, Nancy's strong voice for change, and little push back, the conversations were rich and meaningful. Being in a circle once again pushed forward the concepts of active participation and shared responsibility for learning on the part of participants. It works! At no time are participants left to believe they are simply receiving information from me. I also repeated a number of times that this was a professional inquiry and what that meant. They got it. No longer were they looking to me to entertain them with information transfer.
The surveys showed that they were satisfied with the day. The only problem being that it was SHORT! 9 00 am to 2 00 pm (with a late start because of snow) really impacted the day.
Introducing and having teachers experience the practices of getting out into the community, using overarching questions to get at curriculum, and sharing responsibility with students (moving them toward citizenship) is about as far as you can go with one short day. I would continue to focus on these three.
