Sept. 14/17: Exit Slip: Teacher Inquiry & Personal Inquiry

Teacher Inquiry & Personal Inquiry (Ordinary Teacher):

          Their is a misconception that one must be smart to make inquiries, yet this is not true. Everyone has the capability to ask questions and think critically regardless of formal or informal education. Frank McCourt was a renowned educator who did not finish high school. Frank realized the that a teacher does not need to be experts within the subject. He focused on multiple approaches of teachings and swayed away from the conventional classroom environment.

           Frank McCourt stated that "A teacher does not only teach, he[/she] must learn as well." This empowering quote highlights the social responsibility as an educator. This philosophical view allows for a more connected teacher to student relationship. If you can build trust with the students, you can engage the students to learn within the classroom. Whether it is personal experiences or agreeing with rebellious remarks with regards to not do classroom work, you must establish a healthy trust between the educator and students. Yet, despite Frank McCourt's ambiguous allowable topics such as stealing and suicide, he was able to grab the genuine interest with teenagers who may be hard to relate and connect unlike educators who are not relatable or relevant to their lives.

            However, despite the motivational speech and documentaries from Frank McCourt on becoming a better teacher, his philosophical views and practices may not be permissible for the current era of education within the 21st century. How does a teacher balance personal life from professional life when you are seen as a role model for society? Does one simply hide all the questionable experiences from the students? Even more mature content such as movies and television shows which may be relevantly empowering towards course material, it may not be suitable for all students and parents. Even though he challenges the ideology of educator professionalism, I think he definitely provides the passionate flexibility towards different teaching style and methodology away from the conventional norms of the education system. Collectively from all of Frank McCourt's speeches, he provided reassurance towards being different as an educator and a student may not be a bad thing at all.

"It is the differences within another which makes things beautiful and exciting"
~ M.Y