bethdarby, July 18, 2002 at 5:34:49 AM CEST

Participant Observation 7/17

Field Notes Wednesday, July 17, 2002

Third day and are we bonded yet? The adhesives necessary are there… but I’m not sure if it has quite happened yet… or what signs would prove it to me. As with any classroom, there is much that is invisible. This morning, Tonda brought some of her concerns to view as she continued her thread from yesterday of how the world has changed. Her husband, George, is a Green Beret stationed in Afghanistan. She never knows when (if?) she will hear from him. He was deployed March 1st. She shared her writing on the challenges this presents for her, the growth she has experienced, the faith she relies on. She also expressed her surety that this new “journey” will make her a better teacher. War is surely social action… and the willingness for and support of your loved one’s actions is social action too. Vicki spoke of darkness. The darkness of an aging mother and the darkness of knowing that she will one day experience the declining stage of life her mother experiences now… a darkness she diverts her attentions from with songs and commercials and news items. Is the realization of mortality and humanity an ingredient in social action? Vicki wrote a poem today about Samantha, the 5-year-old girl who was abducted and murdered by a serial killer. Her poem is social action. Amy expressed frustration with her students’ lack of motivation and participation stating, “You get back what you give and I’m knocking myself out here!” Giving when you can’t see the results is social action.

From Karen’s notes: transformation happens with students not to them. I see evidence in our sharing that we writing project participants are open to transformation. Maybe not everyone… maybe not completely. We’re thinking about it maybe. Just like other students our lives are busy. We have extra curricular activities and responsibilities and Writing Project interferes. Our class seems to mirror other classes: students who want to meet the requirements for credit, students who struggle with proficiency, students who are comfortable with the subject matter, students who are eager, students who are uncertain. It will be interesting to see how this community develops. What is my role in this community development? To do my best., to encourage others and, when I reach a low point, to ask for help so I can learn from what others have to offer.

Quote from handout: “Social action workers understand that people are experts in their own lives and we use this as a starting point for our work.” WOW!!!!! Students are experts in their lives? The homeless are expert in their lives? The Taliban are expert in their lives? George W. is expert in his life! I’m trying to grasp this concept. But this next quote is easier to manage: “Our job is to help uncover what is already there, to encourage people to use the insights and knowledge they possess to bring about changes in their own lives.” Now this we are doing in Writing Project… looking at our teaching practices and strategies, at what works and what seems not to, at what we know, in order to bring about change in ourselves and our classrooms. We are also sharing our experiences and pooling our resources to fight inequity in the classroom.

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bethdarby, July 18, 2002 at 4:20:10 AM CEST

Participant Observation

Field Notes Tuesday, July 16, 2002

This is the second day of Writing Project and my assignment is to write about how I think things are going so far. Yesterday, I noticed some expressionless faces… but I expected that… looked up to note the expressions. I remember from my first WP experience (last summer) that it took some time for me to get acclimated, three days to be exact. (Tomorrow is the third day and I’m curious to see what will unfold.) From the first day I had a good feeling about this group. Everyone shared and several honestly admitted feelings of inadequacy regarding their writing abilities. Betty Gail was particularly forthright and I think this was a relief and encouragement for everyone. At lunch, Marlene expressed her belief that the rest of us are so creative… and she is not. Doug reminded her that several of us have been through this before and are, perhaps, a bit more comfortable. I agreed adding that because we have experienced Writing Project, we know we don’t have to worry about our writing and that frees us up. I want to remember to tell her that we share her attitude in appreciating the writing of others, including hers. I did tell her that by the end of the institute… she will have changed her mind about not being creative. I am impressed with Vicki, who is very creative and seems to associate everything (songs, commercials,) with teaching. She seems to naturally incline toward the multi-genre approach that Amy demonstrated.

I think I have noticed some resistance and I wonder at the cause. Is it unfamiliarity? I don’t know what I am basing my observations on besides facial expressions. Some people share much more than others. I am quick to share, partly because I enjoy it, and partly because I am uncomfortable with silence. After Charles’ presentation today there were several who did not share and I wondered why. Was it the difficult subject matter? Feelings of inadequacy regarding what had been written? Difference of opinion? Charles talked about “falseness” in the classroom, a falseness stemming from inequality of power… the graded and the grader. We are being graded. Is there a fear that certain attitudes toward subjects will be judged with greater esteem? Does this interfere with willingness to share? Still… I believe our sharing was valuable interaction, providing food for thought… even if I’m not privileged to know those thoughts.

A guiding question which Karen asked us to consider for this project is: How do teachers come to understand social action in their teaching practice? I’m thinking about what social action might mean. The term brings to mind issues like the environmental destruction of the planet and the need to stop this. Then I think about how many jars and plastic containers I have thrown out over the last month instead of recycling them. I think of the homeless, none of whom have been offered a bed at my house. I am often anti-social and sedentary and can feel stirrings of resistance to the concept “social action”. Will there be a lot of guilt involved in this venture? But Charles also talked today of his “personal life and [his] teaching life being one and the same” and that because of this he feels he has “achieved an integrity in life.” Is this social action?

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