Well put! I have one thing popping in my head through reading this. I was first introduced to play based / relationship based learning in the late 80s at my own secondary school I was attending. I employ many of the same techniques/situations/ approaches those teachers (sorry I’m talking about 4 or 5 of my teachers ) used in that environment. It was all about questioning and ‘what iffing.. and fun learning. But what I remember most was how all these teachers wanted just to get to know us and seemed to accept all the different/diverse people we were. Enjoying and encouraging our idiosyncrasies. It is bizarre in some ways to reflect on this, because it was at a coed catholic school in Palmerston north. None of us enjoyed the catholicness at all and we were even allowed to make fun of it and mock the silliness we saw in it. I often think that maybe as there wasn’t just one value narrative in that school (ie top academic achievement) - but a variety - we were spared from any single indoctrination.
I know this is not everyone’s experience of their secondary education, but for my experience, “back to basics” is always about relationships and not attainment and pre assigned outcomes. It’s about allowing and seeing people grow into who they are.
I wonder if back to basics is about how you interacted with people in your local community , and how you helped them out when they needed it, or sat them down with a cup of tea and some scones and 20 minutes of your time , or picked up the shopping for them?? Just because you treasured the relationship.
Well put! I have one thing popping in my head through reading this. I was first introduced to play based / relationship based learning in the late 80s at my own secondary school I was attending. I employ many of the same techniques/situations/ approaches those teachers (sorry I’m talking about 4 or 5 of my teachers ) used in that environment. It was all about questioning and ‘what iffing.. and fun learning. But what I remember most was how all these teachers wanted just to get to know us and seemed to accept all the different/diverse people we were. Enjoying and encouraging our idiosyncrasies. It is bizarre in some ways to reflect on this, because it was at a coed catholic school in Palmerston north. None of us enjoyed the catholicness at all and we were even allowed to make fun of it and mock the silliness we saw in it. I often think that maybe as there wasn’t just one value narrative in that school (ie top academic achievement) - but a variety - we were spared from any single indoctrination.
I know this is not everyone’s experience of their secondary education, but for my experience, “back to basics” is always about relationships and not attainment and pre assigned outcomes. It’s about allowing and seeing people grow into who they are.
I wonder if back to basics is about how you interacted with people in your local community , and how you helped them out when they needed it, or sat them down with a cup of tea and some scones and 20 minutes of your time , or picked up the shopping for them?? Just because you treasured the relationship.