Dieuwertje: Wake up call

Last week I joined an advisory during Social Reasoning.

We read an article and discussed about it. This time it was about whether it’s  allowed/justified to use presumptions/prejudices .

They used an example about Muslims. Unfortunately we see these days that this specific group experiences more problems at customs. They are searched more often than others. Same goes for people who’re traveling from a country that is known for  problems concerning drugs.

It was a good discussion between the students in advisory about the use of presumptions and prejudices and the negative effects of it.

Why I’m talking about this?

Well... just 2 days ago it suddenly became clear to me that teachers are doing the same thing…

When it comes to our students we have our own presumptions. Even when we don’t think we do, or try not to. We’re sometimes just not aware.

It’s almost a human characteristic. We generalize..because it’s easier… because we assume..

We assume about the motivation of students, about their behavior, about their family and their backgrounds..

I’m happy to see that at the Met people don’t assume that much.

They ask.

So they know.

I’m even happier to see that at my own school back in the Netherlands, we also asking more and more. We’re getting to know our students, their personalities, their backgrounds and their passions…

Just by asking. As simple as that.

And though I sometimes catch myself assuming  (hmm..that student is late again....he probably  didn’t feel like listening to his alarm clock…always the same story..but then finding out that he had to bring his sister to school again because his mother is sick)…I’m getting there..

Sometimes you need a reminder..

This week I got two; First there was Elliot…reminding me about how important it is to start asking questions. About getting to know one another.

And then I got the reminder I just wrote about; I’m awake again!

Dieuwertje Greuter

Prakticon, Doetinchem

Reini: blogpost 2 in Dutch

De eerste enerverende week zit er op. Na een hartelijk ontvangst op maandag begon het "echte " werk, meedraaien in een advisory.

Ik zit in een 10th grade advisory in Unity bij Ailen.

Wat mij deze week naast veel inhoudelijke zaken echt is opgevallen dat de sfeer in de advisory en school goed is. Ailen en de studenten gaan op een prettige manier met elkaar om. Ik heb aan verschillende leerlingen gevraagd hoe dit kan. Wat hebben jullie gedaan om zo met elkaar om te gaan?

Een leerling antwoordde dat hij het eigenlijk ook niet echt kon uitleggen, maar je wordt er gewoon ingezogen.

Twee andere leerlingen gaven aan dat de oudere leerlingen je lieten zien hoe je met elkaar omgaat, they showed us the way, toen wij als freshmen binnen kwamen. Daarnaast geven  advisors je veel verantwoordelijkheid en respecteren je. Op mijn vraag op welke wijze toont de advisor dan respect naar jou, moet ik het antwoord nog even schuldig blijven omdat deze 2 studenten een workshop moesten verzorgen.

Verantwoordelijkheid geven dus!

Reini van Schaijk

Practikon, Doetinchem 

Willem: second blogpost

This morning all the students came to school to be collected by their advisors and then to set off to their 

LTI´s. Although some of them remained in school because of different reasons. Nate´s kids were all 
out to their LTI´s...

I first had a talk with the special education teacher. She was interested in what I do

in the Netherlands and wanted to help me completing my learning plan by setting up a time to see 
students with learning difficulties and psychological disorders.

I should ask Sherri the names of all the staff members in the justice building in order to make it easier for me to address my questions to the right person.

We first went to a garage but our student wasn´t there but was still in bed. Nate rang him up and the student said he would go to school. We then set off for a goat farm which was fun. There we saw a lot of goats, chickens, dogs and pigs. One goat was about to deliver kids but we had to go. We heard that 4 kids were born after we had gone. The student does well at this LTI and has a great mentor. She´s learned to milk the goats, to help delivering kids, knows a bit what reasons there are to do organic farming and helps the veterinarian.

Meanwhile Nate did a great job answering a lot of questions which gave me a better insight in what´s going on during the year(s).

After lunch we went to an Italian restaurant where a student showed us around in the kitchen and the cellar. She´s been given a lot of trust during the year and has progressed in taking on more responsibility 
and doing more tasks.

Nate drove us to a djembe/drumming session of a Ghanese tutor, teaching two students of the Met. That was real fun. Besides performing and listening to the music, the tutor told us a little bit about the history of this typical music and how important that is to preserve.

I´ve seen a lot of new places and faces and found it very interesting to see what sort of things are being organized here.

Willem van Haaften

CSG Prins Maurits, Middelharnis

Willem: first blogpost

Today was the first day we actually met at the Met with some of the 
staff and students. Elliot began with giving a speech which was 
interrupted and only was to be continued after lunch time.

Elliot gave a few examples of new things which go against the 
established order and are controversial. So does the Big Picture 
philosophy!

I then joined a group and we were guided through the building complex 
and then sat down at the advisory lead by the advisor Nathan, called 
Nate. His group was split into two groups, one going downstairs for 
doing maths and one remaining while working individually. Some were 
working on their geography, some wrote their autobiography and others 
had a meeting with Nate.

I wrote down the names of the students, since I will be with them for 
the coming three weeks and talked with them.

After that we were taken to see the other buildings and then had 
lunch. I then learned that if students do not meet the requirements of 
their learning plan, a contract work is set up.

Following the Big Picture education from 9th until 12th grade can be 
compared to the carving of wood. First you have a piece of wood with 
no shape but after working hard and a long process the figure becomes 
clearer and clearer. That often is the case for students. They find it 
difficult to find out what they are actually doing and why they are 
doing this. But after a year or more they start to realize and see 
things more clearly.

I then went to a crochet session where students made hats and stuff 
like that for cancer patients at the local hospital. One student has 
set this up to learn making new patterns and teach kids these skills 
and so helping sick people in providing jolly, warm hats.

After that I went up to see Nate finishing his class and went to the 
staff meeting. The staff (including me) were given funny presents since 
it is the teacher appreciation week. I met the staff of the Justice building
and am looking forward talking to them and finding out new things and 
learning a lot from them.

Willem van Haaften

CSG Prins Maurits, Middelharnis

Reini: first blogpost

After three days in New York, we arrived at Sunday evening in Providence, tired but also excited about what is coming.

After a warm welcome Chantel took me to her place where I will stay for three weeks.

On Monday I arrived at  the Met. I felt a little bit as coming home. It was nice to see familiar faces.

For the next three weeks I will be in the Unity building. After the pick me up I was brought to the advisory of Ailen, a 10th grade group.

After a day I can say it feels familiar to be here, I see a lot of things we already doing at our school. On the other hand, I've seen a lot of new things too.

Reinie van Schaijk

Practikon, Doetinchem

Dieuwertje: Mondays will be Mondays

Mondays will be Mondays…but some of them make a difference... like this morning.

I attended the pick me up at Equality. The teachers didn’t know what was happening... they had to wait in a separate room. When they got in they were surprised to discover that all students had prepared a ‘teachers-appreciation-day’. They prepared it like a top secret mission and put a lot of time and effort in it.

All teachers were seated to a long table. There was a great breakfast with fresh fruits, coffee en more. While the teachers were enjoying their surprise breakfast everyone was called to the front.  A few students gave them a certificate and told them why they’re appreciated. They also got a little present.

But it wasn’t really about the breakfast, the present and it even wasn’t about the great performances by students that we watched…

It was the atmosphere and the fact that these students arranged this, on their own to let their teachers know how they feel about them.

You can’t push these things or expect or force it…it’s the feeling of these students and their initiative and that makes it special…at least I got goose bumps!

Dieuwertje Greuter

Practikon, Doetinchem

First days at The Met

So, this is the first blog from the US!

After a nice few days in New York, and a long drive up to Providence on Sunday, we finally got to The Met on Monday.

The big group of Dutch educators from KPC Groep, that are staying for three days, are there too. We participated with some of their program. We heard Dennis and Elliot give great speeches, saw some very good LTI's, and tomorrow join them in the workshops.

Reini, Dieuwertje and Willem met their host families and advisors and started their training. So far they're doing great and their first blogposts will come up after this one.
They will write a couple of times a week so everybody can share in their adventures at The Met.

We are learning and unlearning and the adventure is just beginning... Stay tuned!