So I'm sure by now you've all heard the news that a Cape Town science teacher at a private school has resigned because the school wouldn't let her teach Evolution, which is in the syllabus.....
And of course, there have been lots of posts about it already, some more sensible than others. I feel like I'm already treading over ground that overs have covered, but I feel the need to add my two cents. Especially as I'm a science teacher in Cape Town too.
I'm a Christian. I believe the Bible and I believe God. As far as I'm concerned, God made the world and everything in it.
I'm also a scientist. I use scientific principles every day (I would say procedures as well, but that would be lying as I don't actually practice science anymore...). As far as I'm concerned, there is a right and wrong way to go about establishing scientific truth - it involves scientific method and practices.
I see no conflict between the two.
HOW God made the world is still a mystery to me. I accept the principles of evolution, but I'll be the first to say that science still has much to explain on this one.
WHY God made the world is clear to me. He wanted a relationship with someone 'like' himself.
Science doesn't tell me why. Faith doesn't tell me how. To be a well-rounded individual, I believe that I need both science and faith. This is what I teach my kids.
(And before someone starts jumping up and down and saying how dare I teach Christianity in class.... I don't proselytize. I don't talk just about Jesus, because that would be an abuse of the power I have. I talk about faith in general, about believing in a set of moral values, about belief in a higher power who created the known universe (and whatever is beyond) for a purpose (or several).)
For me to NOT teach evolution would be a serious failing, I believe. For me to remain silent about the role that faith plays in life would be, I believe, an equally big blunder. Why this school can't see that, why they can't allow their teachers to show that science and faith can work hand in hand, that they are not necessarily mortal enemies of each other, I just don't know. It makes me really sad.
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
Nooit, bru!
I've just calculated that, since I started blogging back in 2005, I have (on average) posted one post every 3 days. That's rather a lot of writing for someone who doesn't consider herself much of a writer. Of course, my problem is not just that what I write is probably of little interest to the vast public out there, but that I go through patches where I write nothing for weeks, then suddenly write several posts in quick succesion. That is definitely not the way to build a following - not that I'm trying to. Sigh! I'll just stop now.
But I'm rather impressed with myself. I didn't realise just how much I do/ have been blog/ blogging. I think that's quite an achievement for me. Yay me!
But I'm rather impressed with myself. I didn't realise just how much I do/ have been blog/ blogging. I think that's quite an achievement for me. Yay me!
Edmodo... giving it a whirl
I like to try new things - especially where technology is concerned. Thus, with one of my classes, I've decided to try Edmodo. It's a social site, with a Facebook feel, that is designed for teachers to use with their classes.
The comments I've loved from the kids are "now there's no excuse not to do homework" and "oh no! You're making me work with a computer again?!?!"
The second one highlights something that I think many would not suspect - our kids are NOT as IT literate as we think they are. There are many kids who only know how to use MXit, and nothing else. They can take photos and videos and bluetooth them to friends, but don't have the first clue how to put a proper video together. They don't know or use Twitter. They do use Facebook, but that's a 2nd choice for many.
At first, I was really surprised to see that, in many cases, in this area, I knew a hang of a lot more than the kids. Of course, I know the bare essentials about MXit, and have no intention of learning more, because I have WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook, and would rather use them with the people I need to connect with.
It's going to be an interesting little experiment, to see how it works, and whether it delivers on the promises it makes. Having also used Obami (the SA version) with a different class, it's going to be interesting to see how the two compare. Although, Obami are due a massive upgrade sometime this month, so that probably won't be a fair comparison.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has used both, and made a decision for one, rather than the other. As a school we're looking at selecting one of them and then training all the staff in using it.
A feature I really like of Edmodo is that parents can sign up easily too (no email required), with a unique code, to see what their kids are doing. That's put the pressure on a bit, because now I feel like I have the parents' eyes on me all the time. That's not necessarily a bad thing - it's probably good to know that SOMEONE is watching what I do in class. It's just that now I am feeling the pressure more than before.
The comments I've loved from the kids are "now there's no excuse not to do homework" and "oh no! You're making me work with a computer again?!?!"
The second one highlights something that I think many would not suspect - our kids are NOT as IT literate as we think they are. There are many kids who only know how to use MXit, and nothing else. They can take photos and videos and bluetooth them to friends, but don't have the first clue how to put a proper video together. They don't know or use Twitter. They do use Facebook, but that's a 2nd choice for many.
At first, I was really surprised to see that, in many cases, in this area, I knew a hang of a lot more than the kids. Of course, I know the bare essentials about MXit, and have no intention of learning more, because I have WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook, and would rather use them with the people I need to connect with.
It's going to be an interesting little experiment, to see how it works, and whether it delivers on the promises it makes. Having also used Obami (the SA version) with a different class, it's going to be interesting to see how the two compare. Although, Obami are due a massive upgrade sometime this month, so that probably won't be a fair comparison.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has used both, and made a decision for one, rather than the other. As a school we're looking at selecting one of them and then training all the staff in using it.
A feature I really like of Edmodo is that parents can sign up easily too (no email required), with a unique code, to see what their kids are doing. That's put the pressure on a bit, because now I feel like I have the parents' eyes on me all the time. That's not necessarily a bad thing - it's probably good to know that SOMEONE is watching what I do in class. It's just that now I am feeling the pressure more than before.
What to do...?
When I was a teenager, I went through a bit of a depression. Maybe all teenagers do. Maybe it's just the teen angst thing. In my case, I think it was a bit more than that. I can remember reading a book about someone who felt completely disconnected from life, and wanting to kill themselves (the book is called 'Please Love Me', and thinking - 'I get this person; they're writing the story of my life'. I felt such a connection to this person. It was so much deeper than anything I with for any of my friends at the time. It was so healing to know that I wasn't the first to have felt that way, or who had these screams bottled up inside, with no way of expressing them.
In looking back on my life, I understand that much of my pain was repressed emotion over my parents' divorce. It was probably compounded, or exacerbated, by teenage angst. At the time though, I was convinced that no-one understood me, that my life was worthless, that there was no point in going on. I contemplated suicide several times, and on the night in which I plucked up the courage to do something, found myself miraculously unable to. God stepped in and intervened in way that made it ABUNDANTLY clear to me that a) he cared, and b) he had a plan for my life. It was enough for me to hang on to at the time, to get me through.
Yet, looking back now, I really do wonder how much of it was just in my head and how much was real. I have a tendency to exaggerate things for effect. I also have a tendency to lie to myself, or I did - I think I'm much better at not fooling myself anymore, at being honest with myself, than I used to be. The older I get, the more I think that the majority of it was in my head, that it was just typical teenage angst, and that only a small part of it was linked to the events taking place in my life at the time.
As a result, my experiences have made me wary of the same emotion in the teenagers I teach. When I see them deep in sorrow over whatever it is in their lives, a large part of me wonders whether it's just all in their heads, whether it's just part of being a teenager and whether they'll get over it eventually. If it is, then whether I intervene or not is immaterial. I know that people tried to help me, and I fobbed them off. I wanted my privacy. I wanted to wallow in my pain and suffering - Oh, WOE is me! - because I felt it gave meaning to my life, and made me unique. No-one could surely be suffering as I was!
But what if I'm wrong. What if my pain was not just typical teenage angst? What if the pain I see around me will only be healed if I step in and do something? And what if I fail to do so? I hate meddling. I hate people who meddle. In fact, DH will often comment how I have a knack for answering questions in a way that divulges nothing, but still manages to answer the question. I do that because there are some things that I just don't want to talk about. Like who I was just chatting to on the phone, or who I'm emailing. If I want you to know, I'll tell you. Now back away!
(Then again, there are times when I get mad because he doesn't ask.... Never can please a woman, eh?! Doomed if you do, doomed if you don't.)
Because I like my privacy when I choose to keep it, I am wary of making the first move when it comes to asking the awkward questions of others. Yet I recognise that not everyone is like me. For others, the only way they can express what's going on inside them is if I give them the words, or the opening. So, for some people, if I fail to enquire, they interpret that as unloving.
So all of that is background info.
This past week, I have been made aware of two girls who, unrelated to each other, and for different reasons, are cutting themselves. I don't know how to respond on a personal level. I've reported it, of course, because I am legally (and morally) obliged to do so. But how do I respond?
On the "do nothing" front:
Knowing me, I will ignore it completely during class, hoping and trusting that whatever is being done professionally will be enough, but will be more encouraging and supportive and caring in my general behaviour towards these kids. Is that enough though? I don't know. I just don't know.
In looking back on my life, I understand that much of my pain was repressed emotion over my parents' divorce. It was probably compounded, or exacerbated, by teenage angst. At the time though, I was convinced that no-one understood me, that my life was worthless, that there was no point in going on. I contemplated suicide several times, and on the night in which I plucked up the courage to do something, found myself miraculously unable to. God stepped in and intervened in way that made it ABUNDANTLY clear to me that a) he cared, and b) he had a plan for my life. It was enough for me to hang on to at the time, to get me through.
Yet, looking back now, I really do wonder how much of it was just in my head and how much was real. I have a tendency to exaggerate things for effect. I also have a tendency to lie to myself, or I did - I think I'm much better at not fooling myself anymore, at being honest with myself, than I used to be. The older I get, the more I think that the majority of it was in my head, that it was just typical teenage angst, and that only a small part of it was linked to the events taking place in my life at the time.
As a result, my experiences have made me wary of the same emotion in the teenagers I teach. When I see them deep in sorrow over whatever it is in their lives, a large part of me wonders whether it's just all in their heads, whether it's just part of being a teenager and whether they'll get over it eventually. If it is, then whether I intervene or not is immaterial. I know that people tried to help me, and I fobbed them off. I wanted my privacy. I wanted to wallow in my pain and suffering - Oh, WOE is me! - because I felt it gave meaning to my life, and made me unique. No-one could surely be suffering as I was!
But what if I'm wrong. What if my pain was not just typical teenage angst? What if the pain I see around me will only be healed if I step in and do something? And what if I fail to do so? I hate meddling. I hate people who meddle. In fact, DH will often comment how I have a knack for answering questions in a way that divulges nothing, but still manages to answer the question. I do that because there are some things that I just don't want to talk about. Like who I was just chatting to on the phone, or who I'm emailing. If I want you to know, I'll tell you. Now back away!
(Then again, there are times when I get mad because he doesn't ask.... Never can please a woman, eh?! Doomed if you do, doomed if you don't.)
Because I like my privacy when I choose to keep it, I am wary of making the first move when it comes to asking the awkward questions of others. Yet I recognise that not everyone is like me. For others, the only way they can express what's going on inside them is if I give them the words, or the opening. So, for some people, if I fail to enquire, they interpret that as unloving.
So all of that is background info.
This past week, I have been made aware of two girls who, unrelated to each other, and for different reasons, are cutting themselves. I don't know how to respond on a personal level. I've reported it, of course, because I am legally (and morally) obliged to do so. But how do I respond?
On the "do nothing" front:
- I'm not a professional - I don't want to get into a counselling situation.
- I also don't want them tough tell me anything because I could get into serious (legal) trouble later, depending on what comes out and what I did/ did not do as a result.
- I don't want to meddle.
- Teenagers often value their privacy and don't want to be treated any differently just "because" they have a problem.
- I care about these kids.
- I want them to know I care and feel cared for.
- Ignoring what I know, and doing/ saying NOTHING could send the message that I don't care, or that they really aren't important enough to take action over.
- If "meddling" potentially saves their lives, it's worth it.
Knowing me, I will ignore it completely during class, hoping and trusting that whatever is being done professionally will be enough, but will be more encouraging and supportive and caring in my general behaviour towards these kids. Is that enough though? I don't know. I just don't know.
Monday, March 05, 2012
#edchatsa
Hash tags. If you don't know what they are, then you clearly move in small circles. Twitter has got to be one of the greatest tools ever. I use it all the time, both personally and professionally. On a personal level, I keep in touch with family, friends and acquaintances, and find out info about my community (like weather, traffic, voting stations, shopping queue lengths, etc). Professionally, I use it to connect to other teachers, to bounce ideas off, to 'steal' ideas from, and to grow my own boundaries.
Tonight was the FIRST EVER online education chat for teachers in SA - hashtag is #edchatsa. Although I was late to the chat (other urgent commitments kept me away for a while), it was great to chat to some like-minded folk about stuff I'm passionate about. It's got me all fired up again about really doing the stuff I love. Now if only it weren't so late, and I had some time to plan a few activities around the things that are floating in my head....
Tonight was the FIRST EVER online education chat for teachers in SA - hashtag is #edchatsa. Although I was late to the chat (other urgent commitments kept me away for a while), it was great to chat to some like-minded folk about stuff I'm passionate about. It's got me all fired up again about really doing the stuff I love. Now if only it weren't so late, and I had some time to plan a few activities around the things that are floating in my head....
Saturday, March 03, 2012
Education online
For those with an interest in education in South Africa, have a quick read of this blog post by the principal at Elkanah Primary, Ant Preston. There's going to be an online chat on Monday, on Twitter, about education. He's got a poll going as to the topic for the discussion. If you can take part at all, do! They're fascinating times, and a great way to converse with a wide range of people, about something you're passionate about.
Birthday statistics
My DH, during one day of boredom, calculated that if you have 20-odd people in a room, there's a greater than 50:50 chance of two of them sharing a birthday. (He says you can work it out easily in Excel if you want to check it. Personally, I'm quite happy to take his word for it. He's a bright boy and my brain hurts just thinking about it!)
My immediate family (parents, siblings with their spouses and kids, and aunts, uncles and first cousins - not the cousins' spouses or kids) consists of 53 people. It struck me today, that this is significantly more than 20. So it doesn't come as a surprise then, that there Nathan shares a birthday with someone, or that two of my nieces share a birthday.
But still - it's pretty weird, right? I mean, out of 366 possible days, and only 50-odd people, you would think that we'd need a LOT more people before we have any who share a birthday. Yet, we have 2 pairs who have theirs on the same day.
Aren't stats wonderful? Not terribly helpful, but definitely wonderful.
Actually, what is more amazing to me is that in my entire life, with my penchant for meeting new people, I've only ever met ONE person who shares my birthday (thinking of you today, Dave! Wondering how you and Liz are doing....) but I have met hordes of people with the same first name. One would think that, with there being a lot more than 366 names for girls, I would be more likely to meet someone who shares my birthday than one who shares my name.
My immediate family (parents, siblings with their spouses and kids, and aunts, uncles and first cousins - not the cousins' spouses or kids) consists of 53 people. It struck me today, that this is significantly more than 20. So it doesn't come as a surprise then, that there Nathan shares a birthday with someone, or that two of my nieces share a birthday.
But still - it's pretty weird, right? I mean, out of 366 possible days, and only 50-odd people, you would think that we'd need a LOT more people before we have any who share a birthday. Yet, we have 2 pairs who have theirs on the same day.
Aren't stats wonderful? Not terribly helpful, but definitely wonderful.
Actually, what is more amazing to me is that in my entire life, with my penchant for meeting new people, I've only ever met ONE person who shares my birthday (thinking of you today, Dave! Wondering how you and Liz are doing....) but I have met hordes of people with the same first name. One would think that, with there being a lot more than 366 names for girls, I would be more likely to meet someone who shares my birthday than one who shares my name.
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