Pedagogy

A Great Obstacle to Good Education

Hat tip to Kyle Beatty who shared this awesome pessimists podcast site with me. A couple of months ago, I ranted on technology bashing. He shared the site. It features technologies that are now mundane, established or commonplace that were once scandalous and or controversial. In reading through the site today, I came across a link to a letter sent by Thomas Jefferson in 1818 in which he writes about the scourge of the novel. Does it remind you of anything?

A great obstacle to good education is the inordinate passion prevalent for novels, and the time lost in that reading which should be instructively employed. when this poison infects the mind, it destroys it’s tone, and revolts it against wholsome reading. reason and fact, plain and unadorned, are rejected. nothing can engage attention unless dressed in all the figments of fancy; and nothing so bedecked comes amiss. the result is a bloated imagination, sickly judgment, and disgust towards all the real businesses of life. Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Burwell, 14 March 1818

Look, I'll readily admit that we have some serious thinking to do about the ways we use technology. But take a look at this picture. Remind you of anything? 

                                                                                         vs. 

New Year's Resolutions

Resolutions
I always make 'em and rarely keep 'em. I suspect it's the "all or nothing" nature of resolutions that causes me to fail. I swear I'm giving up Diet Coke this year. It can't be good for me, right?  If this year goes anything like last year, I will avoid it for a while. And then I'll break down and have some. Subsequently, out of disappointment I'll throw in the towel and give up and go back to 3 cans a day.

The other reason we (okay, I) fail to keep resolutions is the "forever" nature of them. A year is so daunting. A day at a time is the best approach. Anyone can do anything for just one day.  Let's live in the moment people!

So here are my goals for 2019 to do a day at a time.
As a teacher, a day at a time I will make sure to build relationships with my students.
A day at a time I will be sure to post assignments and be clear with expectations.
A day at a time I will think about new ways to make history and international relations interesting subjects for my students
A day at a time I will work to give my students more agency - through giving them choices- and avoid one size fits all teaching.
A day at a time I will work to support teachers in technology.

What are your "a day at a times"?

PS, a day at time I will not eat the free donuts in the office.