Excellent post! Another quote by Brene Brown which would fit with your post is “vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage”. Many times our passions do drive us to pursue our dreams, but the desire to be accepted and connected can douse that flame. Not too many things that we become passionate about are ‘safe’, but that is what causes us to dare greatly!

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I like the metaphor of the ripples and waves! It is quite true that a seemingly small impact can have large impressions further out. Change is definitely needed. Dr. Nelson is fostering this in us, and us to others. My early educators inspired me and who know how many others over the years. The good news I see is that change is happening. Let’s just hope it does maintain and become wide spread.

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Thank you for sharing your experience. The memorization and regurgitation never worked well for me! There isn’t any learning in that for me. I do not wish to create an environment like that for students in my classrooms. You said something important for me when you stated “not forgetting who I am as an educator and what I bring to the table to facilitate and create that learning environment”. Brining our historical selves with our learned experiences can be helpful for us to bring in the good things and help filter out the negative things we do not wish to recreate.

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So true Cody! I do not think my experience would happen now, especially in the public school system. There are lots of barriers (I believe) with the administrative involvement. While it is great in some ways, I do think it can hinder the great learning environments. I hear the struggle over the common core requirements vs. the actual student needs so much from my niece, who is a middle school math teacher. Hoping that things will continue to change, but for the better. Thanks for dropping by!

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Yes I was quite fortunate, as I do not believe this would occur in today’s world. I’m glad you had some kind teachers! I think the best teachers are the ones that challenge us and infect us with their passion of learning. Thanks for commenting!

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Nice job! Yes we do need to do a better job preparing our students for the real world workplaces. I have had jobs working with people all over the country and from all over the world. Educators, I think, do have a responsibility to help model and teach students for being ready for the working environment.

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts. While I understand your viewpoint, I disagree that the first two things you listed out are all that matter. There are several more on your list that can be far more a focus of inclusion or exclusion. We should be looking beyond only those first things so we can see the multitude of characteristics and experiences that make up the total person. Our society seems to stumble upon one or two characteristics it seems. There is truth in your comments about how people at large can focus on one main buzz topic for awhile (i.e. gender, sexual orientation, race, religion) and that becomes the focus at hand. For me, the gender identification issues are what is forefront currently. But not too long ago, it was about race. There were “Blacks Welcome” signs in stores and restaurants to let people know they were integrated. Thankfully, our society is a little better about that now, therefore another need has moved up into the spotlight. For me, I like to broach differences, be it race, gender, areas where we grew up, age, or something else. Mostly I do this because of my counseling experience but also to let others know that they can openly discuss things with me despite our differences. From a pedagogy perspective, the inclusivity and diversity can be built throughout the curricula rather than just a discussion at the start of class. By doing this, it can change perspectives and give that classroom an open ground to facilitate learning.

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I appreciate your post and it is so true how one question can snap you into reality about your identity. Recently I experienced a question, which was quite harmless, but seriously made me think deeply about ways in which I am viewed, how others make their own interpretation of me from site alone, and how I really feel in noticing/hearing how those same people treat other people.

Context of the time, experience, situation, etc., can also majorly influence how that question gives rise to our response and interpretation. Definitely that fight-or-flight you mentioned. Would the time have changed your view of the question (4pm vs 4am)? Would the person have made it different (tiny, elderly lady vs. large, male vs. young teenager)?

The spectrum you offer from Bias to Discrimination is thoughtful as well. I had not viewed it in that manner and can agree with those things along the lines of a spectrum. You’ve offered much to think about for sure.

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Exactly! In the story the warm fuzzys are never in danger of running out, it’s the people who become fearful they will, so they change their behavior based off of that fear. But I think it’s true that you can get back what you put out, but knowing that sometimes other’s will just be prickly. Even if they are, it’s ok, because I can only strive to meet them where they are at and offer out what I have to give. I prefer giving out the warm fuzzies! Thanks for commenting!

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Thanks for your comments! I have thought a little bit about what kind of things to assist my goals in a classroom. Things like including wanting the space to be open and safe in the syllabus, broaching the differences between us all in a class to show I am available to (and welcome) discussions, focusing on strengths that my students have, and approaching all students as valuable individuals which I can learn from as well as teach. I’m still trying to figure out how to address the negative or unacceptable limits when they may occur in class. Just learning all of this and trying to figure it out; however, I hope that my future students will help shape this as I go also.

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