Understanding and responding to the Larger Societal Context
Throughout my career, I have always been interested in the bigger picture. I am a systems thinker. As a school leader and as a teacher, it is important to understand the larger context in which Education sits. We need to be reflective of the society in which we live. Whether that is in the use of social media or technology, we cannot deny that we are becoming more and more connected globally. That global connection should be reflected in our classrooms and our schools. There are also political bodies that we cannot ignore. Alberta Education sets the direction for teaching and learning in the province and as a leader we need to be aware of policy directions that are being set. We also cannot forget that each school inhabits a community that has its own history, social norms, and values. The school, within the larger community, should never be an island. The larger community has much to offer a school and the school has much to offer the community. Building those bridges and understanding the larger context opens up the classroom to 21st learning environments.
Kids as Commodities: Globalization and Canadian schools, reflects some of the history and political context for schools in Alberta. Published in 2003 as my Master of Education final Project, it does not outline the current thinking but it is valuable in that it provides some context for where public education has been. Again, understanding the historical, political, economic, philosophical and social structures in which schools live and breathe is vitally important.
Kids as Commodities: Globalization and Canadian schools, reflects some of the history and political context for schools in Alberta. Published in 2003 as my Master of Education final Project, it does not outline the current thinking but it is valuable in that it provides some context for where public education has been. Again, understanding the historical, political, economic, philosophical and social structures in which schools live and breathe is vitally important.
| kids_as_commodities.pdf |
