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Manifesto

I am a teacher who stands up for equality against prejudice and hate, who is in favor of doing the hard work to succeed against those who say we wont, who is a supporter of quality and inclusionary education systems against skewed and biased ones, and who is a defender of all students despite their race, language, gender, or religion against those who see differences as misfortunes.


I am a teacher who favors the permanent
struggle against ignorance and against "a one size fits all approach." I am a teacher who rejects educational norms, because it is responsible for ostracizing students and promoting differences as inequalities.

I am a teacher full of empathy and optimism, in spite of apathy and pessimism. I am a teacher who refuses to believe that my students will fail despite the undeniable odds stacked against them. I am a teacher proud of the rapport I have with my students and their families.


If I do not struggle for my students to have a voice in the conversation, then I will no longer be me, or the future me, I have set out to be.

Comments

  1. KerrenlynnbSeptember 2, 2020 at 8:18 PM

    Hello, Shannon!
    It is so very important to believe that students will succeed despite mounting odds stacking against them. It is also crucial to build strong relationships and the type of rapport that lets both students and families know you believe in them and are there to support them. It sounds like you are inline to achieve your goals for the future you that you have set out to be, -Kerren


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shannon BSeptember 4, 2020 at 6:59 AM

      Kerren-

      Thank you so much for your thoughts. I think the MOST important thing for educators to do is to build relationships with their students and their families. When you create these relationships, it enables you to have difficult conversations, support the family and students both in school and out, and provides MORE opportunities for dialogue between students, parents, and teachers.

      Delete
  2. Dr. BensonSeptember 4, 2020 at 7:52 AM

    Love the way you reject "educational norms" here, Shannon, and how you point out that these norms exacerbate marginalization and inequality. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shannon BSeptember 4, 2020 at 10:20 PM

    Dr. Benson--Thank you for your thoughts. I do believe that this is the MAJOR issue in our educational system. The system is simply broken--it works for those it is intended to and marginalizes the rest. How do we begin to shift this system towards a more equitable one?

    ReplyDelete

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