Beautifully said. It reflects what I felt while I continued to teach for 38 years, the last 15 of which were spent delving deeply into educational theory. To me, the explicit connection between theory and practice was necessary for me to decide how theory could be applied without creating conflicts for the 'ordinary' teacher. The theory informed my teaching and my teaching informed my reading and construction of the theory. In terms of the power to change, I spent a lot of effort trying to be heard to little effect. My biggest regret since retirement is that I didn't somehow develop kudos in such a way as to have greater influence. I still don't know how but it remains a regret.
38 years is an incredible career! I hope that I will be able to contribute to Australia education in a similar way. Theory really does give us more to "work with" in terms of practice, I find it gives more intentionality in the decisions we make, which seems to be how you have experienced it's use.
A friend of mine often tells me that can you often only know 5% of the impact you're making, so chances are Mark that you have had a greater impact than you currently feel. Trust that the efforts that you put in over those years have made an important local impact, which is sometimes more transformative that broader impact.
Also, overthrowing hegemonic ideas of education are hard to do!
Beautifully said. It reflects what I felt while I continued to teach for 38 years, the last 15 of which were spent delving deeply into educational theory. To me, the explicit connection between theory and practice was necessary for me to decide how theory could be applied without creating conflicts for the 'ordinary' teacher. The theory informed my teaching and my teaching informed my reading and construction of the theory. In terms of the power to change, I spent a lot of effort trying to be heard to little effect. My biggest regret since retirement is that I didn't somehow develop kudos in such a way as to have greater influence. I still don't know how but it remains a regret.
38 years is an incredible career! I hope that I will be able to contribute to Australia education in a similar way. Theory really does give us more to "work with" in terms of practice, I find it gives more intentionality in the decisions we make, which seems to be how you have experienced it's use.
A friend of mine often tells me that can you often only know 5% of the impact you're making, so chances are Mark that you have had a greater impact than you currently feel. Trust that the efforts that you put in over those years have made an important local impact, which is sometimes more transformative that broader impact.
Also, overthrowing hegemonic ideas of education are hard to do!
'Also, overthrowing hegemonic ideas of education are hard to do!' Indeed! Keeping that in mind, helps.
Thank you Chris, your encouragement is very much appreciated!
I must admit I haven't Schön's work. I have tried to find books of his in my uni library but struggling at the moment! I shall keep trying...
"Defy technical solution" is an apt way of describing schools and education.
That is very kind of you! Let me know how we can arrange this (feel free to send me an email!)