The Hard Fast Line

I just read Joe Bower's blog where he asks what we are willing to be fired for and it is a question that intrigued me. The responses he garnered were certainly interesting and created some engaging, professional debate.
As I read, I asked myself what I was willing to get fired for- and I came to this:
1. I believe that as long as I maintain my integrity, I will not get fired. I have very strong beliefs about education, but I also have a strong sense of respect and honouring the dignity of those I work with. I am able to engage in dialogue that challenges the thinking of others while respecting their position.
2. I also believe that as an educator, I am able to affect change within the system than from the outside. If I get myself fired, I lose the ability to work towards positive change for my students.
3. I also know that although I have strong beliefs, I am always open to discussion and the possibilities that are presented by others. Putting up walls and refusing to engage in conversation is what has led to many of the flaws within our system. When I look at education, I recognize that there are many changes that need to be made, but I am also able to see how far the system has come. We have moved from teaching as islands to engaging in collaboration and professional learning communities abound!

To be able to answer that question is a bit antiquated for me. It is not a black and white answer. It is filled with many nuances that need to be considered. I like to see myself as someone who knows what she believes in and is willing to take a stand for those beliefs- especially in the best interests of my students. I also see myself as an educator that is a role model for her students (and own children) that wants them to see that respectful dialogue and a passion for your beliefs is what makes a difference. Not a hard fast line.

Tread softly...

It is so like me to jump into things head on- sometimes without even looking before heading out! So here I am starting my first blog. I do find it somewhat strange as I ask myself why would anyone want to ready what I have to write...

After spending 3 days at the OTF Teaching in the 21st Century conference in Toronto I have been inspired and energized in my own personal and professional growth- and in a domain I am not terribly comfortable with.

Here is why I find this so overwhelmingly exciting. As I start this blog tonight, I have also started blogging with some of my students today. What is so striking about this for me is this.... I am a Special Education Teacher and this year I am using the Empower Reading program with 16 students at my school. When we started in October, none of these students were functionally literate- and several could not read at all. And today they started blogging. And with tears in my eyes I read their comments to my first blog to them!

So it all comes together as last night I got my Sir Ken Robinson fix and he reminded me that "Everyday and everywhere, children lay their dreams beneath our feet... we must tread softly".