Great Stuff From William Ayers
Education is for self-activating explorers of life,
for those whoo would challenge fate,
for doers and activists, for citizens.
Training is for slaves, for loual subjects,
for tractable employees, for willing consumers,
for obedient soldiers.
Education tears down walls;
training is all barbed wire.
-William Ayers
from To Teach: the journey of a teacher
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Notes from William Ayers Speech
Teaching: Making a Difference in Childrens' Lives
5-25-96 Suzuki Conerence - Chicago
* It is not the students fault that the student doesn't "get it". It's the teachers fault for not seeing what the student can see and not teaching it.
*There are things that are true but are not true (Ex: Old White Guy) Labeling by what Can't Do
1. Love Passion for __________
2. Believes kids hav minds (heart & soul)
3. Focuses on STRENGTH
Imagine a world where we're defined by deficits and faults -- that IS the world of the public schools
* Treat students like "your kids"
* Labels make us miss things about people
At risk - but of promise
A TEACHERS JOB . . .
- Assume a capacity in students
- Have an irrational faith in people (opposite of 'blank slate')
- Don't give up
- Create Environemnt for learning that Every kid can get into
You're in charge of your life
You're not respobsible for circumstances
You can change your life
- Be a part of the world so you can share it with kids
RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF YOUNG CHILDREN
5/25 presentation at Suzuki conference
Schools are set up to see what kids can't do
School Reform is cliche
When one becomes member of party - it's hard to get out
3 ways the middle class can live in city (or world)
1. As Paranoids
2. Create and Island of privilage
3. Love for those preyed up and dying
CHALLENGE #1 - find a challenging kid - discover what they're good at, what they like to do. You won't be able to find at school ---
- There is a wide range of "normal" (even in newborns!)
- Everything we say about kids also applys to their
parents (Have ability, they're good at stuff, defined by faults, etc.)
- Parents dismiss teachers, while teachers dismiss parents
- Standards as Role Model - not as punishment (Wynton M. Picture with kid looking up)
- Don't teach to read, create an environment of literacy
- Let them realize meaning before it's taught (like paint and colors for green) otherwise:
"I know and you don't"
"You can have self esteem when I tell you"
"The World is MINE"
Physics envy in Educatin Dept
Year of evaluation -- find support of like minded people, -- other teachers & parents
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