The problem with telling a single story in education is the same problem as telling a single story anywhere else. Telling a single story about our students, teachers, parents, administrators, or any community member may lead us to incomplete and possibly adversarial relationships. Although we may be fond of claiming that it takes a village to raise a child, often we go it alone in teaching because the stories we have heard and repeat lead us to the wrong conclusions. Teachers may bad mouth problematic students by telling stories such as “Student A just doesn’t care about his education.” These stories may even grow to encapsulate parents, and administrators, and politicians, whom we may assume have malignant intentions too. The single story that I’ve heard too often is one in which all sides are pitted against another. Yet, when we actually take time to hear from the individuals and learn who they are both in their personal life and professional life we learn that the truth is far more interesting and nuanced than our single story would lead us to believe. For the most part students and parents do care deeply about their education, and most teachers, administrators, and politicians are acting in ways that they consider to be in the best interest for our students.
A couple of ways in which we can arrive at a more truthful story is by taking the time time to listen to investigate, to assume best intentions, and to provide all community members a forum in which they are allowed to share their own story. As for providing all community members a forum in which to express themselves, this is where technology can be used in powerful ways. Blogs and other forms of social media allow us to glimpse into the lives of others. Some social media can be used in order to clarify professional opinions. However, it may be equally important to know our community on a personal basis as well since this knowledge can create the foundation of an empathetic relationship. For example, I know that professionally my district’s superintendent cares greatly about technological innovation. Just as importantly I also know that he has a daughter in 7th grade in one of our middle schools, plays bass guitar, and is a Star Wars fan. While you might say that the personal has no bearing on the professional I would counter that the personal gives weight and credibility to the professional. Because I know a little bit about Dr. Vodicka’s interests I better understand where he comes from when he opines professionally. By humanizing anyone you can avoid jumping to faulty conclusions. You become more willing to give individuals the benefit of the doubt and hear them out rather than allowing stories to become imposed upon them. In the beautiful words of Chimamanda, “Stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people but stories can also repair that broken dignity” (Ngozi Adichie). In a more pragmatic sense, students must be encouraged to become storytellers who practice telling their stories on a regular basis and using multiple tools. The story students tell at school may deal with their learning, the academic growth they experience, and other epiphanies they have along the way. However, the stories that they share about their interests and non-school life can be just as important in helping us understand who they are and why they make choices that can otherwise befuddle us. So we share and partake in the sharing of infinite stories using tools as simple our voice or technologically dependent like Instagram because “Stories matter. Many stories matter” (Ngozi Adichie). Everyone should be allowed to tell their own story to have agency in helping us understand who they are and how they want to be perceived. Multiple stories lead to better understandings and better understandings can result in no less than better harmony. Resource Ngozi Adichie, C. (2009, October 7). The Danger of a Single Story | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | TED Talks. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
1 Comment
8/9/2015 05:53:57 am
"However the stories that they share about their interests and non-school lives can be just as important in helping us understand who they are and why they make choices that can otherwise befuddle us." Knowing our students has its advantages. You expressed well the importance of humanizing another human being. If we have a commonality, then we ultimately have understanding and compassion. Without that, we aren't making connections. Your post reminded of a professor who believed strongly in the Affective Filter Theory. I remember her emphasizing that one simply will not learn if an affective filter is up and the only thing that will take it down is the tone and comfort level in the classroom which will provide a safe learning environment. I agree with you that those understandings of who a student truly is can be extremely important. It is hard to negatively stereotype someone we know well because we can defend their actions with the knowledge we have of them. Conversely, it is easy to label an unknown, or as you describe, one whom we haven't humanized. Great response!
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AuthorIn this blog I will share my perspectives of the learning and materials from EDL 680, already a very inspiring course that I am taking for MA in Educational Leadership Archives
August 2015
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