January 29, 2017 - 17:42
My experience in this course's classroom(s) so far has been unique to me. Perhaps this is all framed by the dynamics of having two teachers, which is very new to me; I tend to be quite sensitive to the way my teachers act and seem to be feeling, so this change is very significant. Somehow, I feel like having two teachers has opened up the classroom a lot. Often times, when my professors attempt to shape the discussion or classroom dynamics, it can feel forced because there is always a sense of authority - students will tend to accept (not necessarily agree, I suppose) with the teacher's opinions. When this sort of "authority," if you will, is dispersed among two people, it seems to make these sorts of dynamics less intense. This combined with the efforts to really think about the way we discuss and learn together has definitely made me feel more willing to contribute to shaping the class dynamics.
We spent an entire class discussing literature about discussion and applying this literature to the way that we discuss. I found this amazing in itself, because it feels like one of those lessons that's incredibly important to learn, yet it's something that I've rarely encountered in the classroom. These lessons are applicable to our daily lives in so many ways, especially for those of us (hopefully most of us) who are seeking to educate others and continue educating ourselves on social justice issues. These lessons are also applicable more broadly. I believe that any discussion leads to learning of some kind. Even if a discussion is not what one would typically consider "educational," it is still a place of learning. If a discussion leaves you with an altered sense of emotional state, or even if it just feels like meaningless small talk, you have still expanded on your experiences in social interaction, which is obviously a critical skill that comes in many different forms. In this way, we can take the lessons about brave spaces and apply them to our daily lives. When we are having a conversation, regardless of topic, it's always important to own your intent and your impact. When we say something offensive, taking the initiative to try and understand where the misunderstanding is coming from is always important. Following these rules builds community in many settings. If I do end up becoming a teacher, these are the sorts of lessons I will bring with me, and I hope that I can make a space where students feel supported enough to be brave - where they are confident in their ability to make mistakes, learn from them, and build relationships through this learning.