What can a teacher do?

The more I think and read about things we can do for our environment I become more hopeful. For those of us who are in the teaching profession we can do even more than others. Not only can we make changes in our personal lives and help our environment that way but we can also have a greater impact. We have the power to educate new generations. We can teach our students to form new habits that will help end the destruction of our environment. A place we can begin is by involving them in interesting science lessons that look into the impact we humans have on our planet. I began to read the California Educator magazine and came across teachers who are doing just that. They have shown me examples of how I can make a difference in my personal life and in the life of my students. This in turn will have a tremendous positive impact and help end the destruction of our planet.

Sharing

As I continue to read more about what we are doing to our planet and how we can change our habits and help change direction, I have learned about what Riane Eisler calls the partnership model. This is a way of dealing with relationships in every aspect of our lives--in personal relationships, community relationship, and even our relationship to our planet. She mentions in some of her books how this model is applied in all these areas. Her book The Power of Partnership outlines how we can apply this philosophy in our lives. It's funny that as I am reading I am beginning to identify living examples of this. I am currently taking EDSP 400 and I am fascinated by what I am learning about special education. One thing I noticed is that in this area I have seen this model at work. The families, school, community etc. come together to help people with special needs reach their full potential and live productive, happy, "normal" lives. The parents, family and support staff are not selfish people---they're extremely caring and giving. I have also begun to notice that there are people in all segments of society who are doing things to help make our society, our planet a better place. I learned last week at Claremont Graduate University that one of the Claremont Colleges (Pitzer) just finished construction of dorms that are environmentally self sustaining. They are equipped to use solar energy, recycle, etc. So, while you hear much about the negative things that are happening, there are also very positive steps being taken. I am beginning to read an article in Time magazine about billionaires who are using their money for philanthropical work. Bill and Melinda Gates and George Soros are two examples of this. I'll keep on reading and see what made them decide to share their wealth and how all of us can share some of our own wealth, not necessarily financial wealth but other kinds of wealth. The people I mentioned who work with people with special needs are sharing more than financial wealth--they're sharing their knowledge, time, love and care...

Riane Eisler

I have continued reading Riane Eisler's book Tomorrow's Children. It is a very inspiring book. It has challengef my notions about what education should be. It has made me question the recent trend of "back to basics" and what that really is. She describes the model as one of dominant hierarchical order in which we are trained to "follow orders". She proposes a more democratic way of educating. She calls it the partnership model in which teachers and students work together instead of the teacher being the "dictator" or the dominant figure who is there merely to train students into being good followers. I will continue reading about it because she has caught my interest. I met Riane Eisler last week and she is an excellent speaker. She was at the conference at Claremont Graduate University. She is also a very kind and unassuming person. For someone of her stature she is very approachable. I want to look into her partnership model and learn more about it.

Change begins with the simplest things

I was watching a news report about Earth Day. It featured actor/activist Ed Begley Jr. and his environmental friendly house. He mentioned how he began by making the simplest changes/adjustments to his way of living about thirty years ago. Presently more of us are beginning to make some of the same changes in an effort to stop the destruction of our environment. I was surprised by the impact something as simple as choosing a light bulb can have on the energy we consume. He also mentioned something else that more of us are actually doing even in our schools--recycling paper. He is going to speak at the same conference where I am going to see author Riane Eisler this Saturday, April 28, 2007 at Claremont Graduate University. The conference is open to the public so anyone who is interested can go. No matter how small a change we make in our habits, it can have an impact and help save our planet and everyone on it....

We can all help

Until recently I thought there wasn't much I could do to help end the destruction of our environment. After watching reports about climate change and what it is doing to our planet it seemed like a hopeless situation. However, I have also come across information and people who are making a difference. I have come to realize that if I can change some of my own habits, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem I can make a difference. I am in the middle of reading the book Tomorrow's Children by Riane Eisler and have come to see that there is hope. I am beginning to see that i can make a difference not only personaly but also professionaly as a teacher. She puts forward the idea of relationships as partnerships. She states that instead of teaching in our schools about conflicts, aggression, war, etc. we can teach about building partnerships, caring, and cooperation. I'm just starting but I plan to contiue reading avildy. Next week I will be attending a conference at Clarmont Graduate School where she will be speaking. I am very excited to hear what she says about people and how we can build a relationship/partnership with our planet to help end the destruction of our environment.