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My Voice
My classes are from different grades, particularly Grade 3-8. Most are English Language Learners, some are native English speakers. With this blogging tool, we wish to give each one a voice to express himself or herself, and be heard.
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MLK's Dream, Our Dream
Article posted February 20, 2012 at 09:59 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 7350
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This month we are celebrating Black History Month, and all around us we see in the media, we hear messages, and we discuss so many of these ideas and tributes to the events that took place not so long ago. So near us, in fact, that we still have among us those people who lived those turbulent years in the Civil Rights era.
But we will be remiss if we just look at those events like they are the past, that they have nothing to do with our time, because as some wise man once said, "He who does not remember the lessons of the past, is condemned to repeat them".
We thus celebrate Black History month like a great lesson to learn from, and that is notwithstanding our race, our political affiliation, our convictions in life. We have so much to learn from those events, in order to make our present, and project ourselves to a better future.
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Article posted February 20, 2012 at 09:59 PM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 7350
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Follow Me to Freedom 6
Article posted December 7, 2010 at 03:49 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 635
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God can speak through donkeys and rocks. He spoke through Balaam's donkey! This gave me a big laugh, but it's a wake up call and a great reminder for me, especially when I had that notion that things can change because of my efforts, talents and skills.
It is a comfort, too, realizing that the world is not resting on my shoulders. I am just an instrument God may or may not use (depending on what he deems best). All I can do really is just to make myself available and ready when that takes place.
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Article posted December 7, 2010 at 03:49 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 635
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Follow Me to Freedom 5
Article posted December 7, 2010 at 03:38 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 467
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When I was in Spain and Italy, I was studying for a way of life that emphasized on community life. I did finish that training/study and I lived with that community for nearly 10 years.
One of the reasons I left that way of life, though, was a kind of unconscious and unintended "hypocrisy" that I felt among members of my organization. I guess I could sum it up in these words of that cartoon character from a South American paper, Mafalda. She commented in one of the vignettes, "I so totally love humanity. It's the individual persons I can't stand."
I admire these quasi-modern communities who are mostly formed voluntarily by people of the same goal and cause in life. These are described in chapters 13-15 of Clairborne, but I have also read a lot about these groups from other literature. One could just refer to that community in the book of Dominique Lapierre's "City of Joy" about the small communities in the streets of Calcutta.
If I didn't have this vocation of teaching, and I don't have my family to attend to, I'd probably be joining a community like this.
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Article posted December 7, 2010 at 03:38 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 467
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Follow Me to Freedom 4
Article posted December 7, 2010 at 03:37 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 587
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I used to be very particular with making sure that human laws of my country be fair and just, and not opposed to the laws of God and nature.
When I came to this country, however, as an immigrant, this concept and preoccupation was relegated to the recesses of my brain.
All I wanted to do was teach and do the best that I can in the field and area I have come here to work for.
I don't know if this will change when I will finally become naturalized. I doubt it. I feel like I have become the least politicized as I can get.
So, my vision in this aspect is simply that of preparing all my students to be ready to lead in the future. And I give them example of leading by knowing how to follow. Leadership in that respect is showing how it is to follow, and be a leader in doing what are the tasks entrusted to you.
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Article posted December 7, 2010 at 03:37 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 587
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Follow Me to Freedom 3
Article posted December 7, 2010 at 03:36 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 506
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This is more like it. My kind of leadership, pragmatic and practical. "If you see a problem, don't just pray. Do pray, but do something about it right away." Pray, and then be a part of the answer to that prayer. I live this way of thinking.
I'm real weary of those leaders who might be as charismatic as people can expect them to be. But when it comes to action, and they don't lift a finger to do God's work, I'm not very comfortable with that leadership.
But when a leader is practical, and leads his people to ask for the help of God, and then become instruments of God's help. I'm following that leader.
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Article posted December 7, 2010 at 03:36 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 506
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Follow Me to Freedom 2
Article posted December 7, 2010 at 03:35 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1981
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Leading, following, two sides of the same coin, but such a rare coin to find in people. Leadership and discipleship, both concepts that don't come easy for me to reflect on. I always have to exert an effort to meta-reflect on them.
Some comment that I could be a good leader (they say it in my face), while others don't think so (they don't say it in my face, but I feel it). From moment to moment, I vary in my attitude towards leadership. I lead with there is something to do about which I am passionate, but other times, when the going gets tough, I'm not one of the tough people who get going.
Following somebody has been not that difficult for me. I recognize a great person (alive or dead) whose words or philosophy strikes a chord in my heart. And I follow that direction. I also had been a followers of many a good friend, whom I recognize as sincere.
I have followed my wife and kids, seeing and recognizing that loving them is my vocation, and taking care of them is my calling. I see a great future in them, in us, in our dream to succeed in all our endeavors. I see a cause to live for, and to follow and lead.
Altogether, we follow our faith in God. We are convinced that He has always been there for us, in our most crucial moments, in our journey and struggle here in this land, away from our relatives and friends back home in our country, because we know that He has something great for each of us.
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Article posted December 7, 2010 at 03:35 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 1981
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Follow Me to Freedom 1
Article posted December 7, 2010 at 03:33 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 440
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I have often reacted similarly to when I started to read Claiborne the way I always do when I read literature referring to radicalism and fanaticism. I feel like I don't have the stomach for it, that I'm not strong enough to respond to it's challenges. And this is exactly what I felt when I started reading Claiborne 4 days ago. It took me all this time to start my journal.
I would like to clarify here. I used to love to read stuff like this, when I was single and younger and idealistic. But it looks like, after I have settled down and have a family, realism and sedimentation has caught up with me. And I have developed some kind of a fear to be daring and radical. And it makes me ask: is leadership also for people like me?
Now, I feel like the suggested schema of this journal succinctly describes my journey. When I was younger, I felt I had a vision to share to the world. I gained a bit of experience and I thought I was ready to lead. Many circumstances, however, came in my way and, instead of facing them as challenges and stepping stones to higher achievements, I might have just conceded in considering them as hindrances and obstacles.
Now, I'm just contented in following. This is not a passive subservience, but an active and willful act of believing that in "following" and fulfilling the tasks entrusted to me, I am actually leading by example. My vision: leading among the ranks of followers.
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Article posted December 7, 2010 at 03:33 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 440
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Nobody Owes Me Anything, Yet...
Article posted November 23, 2010 at 02:07 PM GMT0 •
comment (2) • Reads 1021
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Nobody owes me anything, yet I have received so many things in my life. And I am thankful.
My parents don't owe me anything, yet they gave me life. My mom gave birth to me, fed me and made sure I grow up healthy and strong. And my dad was always there to guide me.
My school (my teachers and principal) don't owe me anything, yet they teach me, and continue to help me achieve my dreams in life.
My community and my country don't owe me anything, yet it has continued to provide all the things that my family and myself need to survive and live a happy life.
My friends don't owe me anything, yet they continue to be there for me despite all the things that I might have done or the things that I don't have, and still are my friends.
For all these, I am thankful.
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Article posted November 23, 2010 at 02:07 PM GMT0 •
comment (2) • Reads 1021
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Education for the Future
Article posted November 18, 2010 at 03:27 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 818
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http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=207885&title=John_Dewey&ref=Edt61207
The video clip we have trimmed from another video (Progressive Education) from YouTube, succinctly presents the prophetic words of the father of American modern education, John Dewey.
We have written a paper commenting on these words of John Dewey describing what is the task of education that we have today.
My position is that, it is NOT the content (of any particular future) that Dewey wants the kids to be educated. They are instead educated so that they can be prepared for WHATEVER future they will be facing.
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Article posted November 18, 2010 at 03:27 AM GMT0 •
comment • Reads 818
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