Final Project Proposal

I often say "I love teaching, but I hate schools" (insert some profanity  and an occasional verbal dissertation).  The concept of teaching is beautiful, to be able to facilitate space for someone else's development, and who are we kidding? For our own continued development as well. How beautiful is that? To watch humans grow and flourish and develop into autonomous- free thinking beings.  

                              

I think that was my dream, the reason I became a teacher - well that and I didn't have a teacher of color until late into high school and I wanted to change that somehow - but this is not the reality we live in. Through some self discovery and reading and connecting with people doing the work I've come to see the systematic destruction that happens to our babies every day. I am constantly trying to figure out how to get back to that dream. 

What kind of environment would support that ? What does a day in that learning look like? What did I wish was there for me when I was a student of color in a system not designed for me?  What are my current students asking for?

These are the questions I am continuously asking myself and they are also the questions I want to explore through this project. For this project I would like to discuss what a day in my dream learning environment will be like. I will touch on how the logistics and flow of the day will be and the concepts of lesson "structures". 

I am imagining a community school with some outdoor space and education. Project & interest based. Critical thinking. Experiential learning. Collaborative - Multi age - "classes".

Some of my inspiration comes from conversations with people I have met through this work as well as my own experience. I also read and really hold Betina Love's book very high. We Want to do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom.  This book deepened my understanding of the educational system and the assimilation model that it holds. It made me look at the roots of our education system rather than the surface problems that we see every day. Education in the country needs a mindset shift. I also am inspired by my experience in Human Development and the Youth Development fields/academia. Although this field and the field of Education have similar interests the lenses used to look at youth are so different. In my opinion the Youth Development lens is more complete.

My biggest inspiration is the youth I have worked with in a variety of spaces. I am finishing my second full year teaching, I've worked as a Site Director for after-school, I have been a Program Director at Camps, Did Americorps at the Providence Children's Museum, and have worked with youth through a few different organizations. Each of these places has shown me different ways to reach youth and I have been able to watch youth grow and LEARN in all of these places.

When thinking about this concept I will connect to the documentaryPrecious Knowledge. I appreciate the content and the passion to witch it was taught and protected. It is so important to teach our youth about us, and how powerful and beautiful we are as a people. I also want to connect this work to the reading "What Counts as Educational Policy" because this article discussed the effects of poverty on students in "Urban" school. I think it is important when looking at those effects when thinking of a new school concept, especially a community school. How will the learning connect to the community and how can it be a place that supports the community?

My current partner teacher taught me his class pledge that I quickly continued into my classroom as well. 

I am the OG

I am the future

My imagination

Brighten up the world

I am strong

I am intelligent

My story is apart of the history

Of the world

I am courageous

I am loved

I can do

What has never been done

Before!

And that is the base of this school concept.