School of Life

I work for Curriculum Services Canada:

This organization has its roots tendrilled to the very walls of educational life.A dynamic company extending to books, film, government, daycare, paper, pen, multimedia. We are multifaceted in our reach and dedicated to the education of the future minds. I know my commitment has been balanced on the idea of helping the children learn, supporting all the creatives and gaining understanding of the system and the direction of its future.

It’s all access, all applications, all the time. Where do you go to find out how, where and what teachers need?

The adventure of researching web conferencing software has been an arduous one. I ran into a teacher and application developer to whom I posed the question, “Which is the best?” The developer answered “Open up Facebook page so that you can find out what teachers want, a Moodle’esc platform that would allow for blogs, research, marking, wiki capabilities and platform information,  easy to use with a relevant layout. “

The teacher answered “When on God’s good earth would I get the time to do this?  They expect us to maintain our core responsibilities and research while implementing and developing a socially and educationally sound tool.” Back to the mental drawing board, I explained that we are constantly met with the ideas for further development but would the idea of receiving a relevant and active ideas through said  platform, one that gave immediate grade scores and capacity building be of interest to the teacher?

It got quite heated. It was a resounding No.

 I am a mother of a young man who will be joining the public school environment this month, and I am scared, confused and needless to say feeling a bit helpless. 

And then I heard it the magic word, the item in life that we crave and hope happens in the monotony of daily practice, the smile, the giggle, the knowing, the nod, the truth. With lack of guilt and direction I heard it: Creative…

 It’s simple examples:

1. Having the quality or power of creating.
2. Resulting from originality of thought, expression, etc.; imaginative
3. Originative; productive
4. One who displays productive originality

How can we be creative, stay grounded, stay sane and productive while achieving our full capacity?  How do you help our children learn? 

So the teachers, children themselves are called on very strongly, to provide, direct, guide and put in hours for the good of us all.

What a burden to bear.

And it’s a new year, one where summer kids us into believing that the seasons are really not digressing backward, really, it’s ok that at 9:00 you can get a sunburn, by noon you’ll get drenched in a tumultuous and gory storm and promptly catch the Pneumonia by 2:00pm!

Even the weather is taken by the massive growth and heaving landslide of an understanding that people are gaining ground running so fast we might go back on ourselves. 

I feel like I may be able to grow, directed creative growth…..

We have quality; we are by design not inside mulching machines, mulching time, energy workspace oxygen. And I ache always to be more than that.

I am a part.

I’ve come back to the beginning, how do we help our children learn?  At CSC we gain everyday treasures in the mountain that is the education system.   A loosely braided carpet, so dynamic, made up of those who can and those who think they can’t, and imagine with all the absolutes that exist, there is always the question of can you do more? 

I don’t have the answer but I love the idea of working towards one, the hope of creating an environment for expansion and capacity building, my A+, to me, for hope. 

I am a part and I think that that’s enough for now; we’re still all here together and hopefully exploring the use of innovative ideas never begrudges the work it may take to implement creativity, productivity and sensibility.

Not my words but all encompassing and good to share:
“Why am I here?

All Truth is one in this light. May Science and Religion endeavour here for the steady evolution of mankind. From darkness to light from narrowness to broadmindedness from prejudice to tolerance. It is the voice of life which calls us to come and Learn.” – Unknown

 Happy School of Life!

- Project Coordinator, Lewanne Salmon