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Why I am writing

I thought I should try something different this time; like writing in English. Why not? English is an okay language, I reckon, and I need to practice my English skills. I am aware that if I don´t use my English, even for writing purposes, it will grow "inelastic" and we don´t want to see that. So, please, dear reader, bear with me.

Now, in case this all seems very pretentious, let us just leave that behind for a second. Instead, let me just again in a few words elaborate why I write at all. Because there are in fact several reasons for that. I am happy that a couple of students the last couple of days have come up to me and said they follow my blog (and wonder why nothing seems to have happened here for a while, the answer, of course, being the national tests; nothing more needs to be said about that ... ). Also, the other day I noted that the number of visits on this blog since it started in January has passed 3,000. I don´t know if that is a lot or a little. All I can say is that I am happy that some people (among these, you) seem to read it.

So, why am I writing? I admit there may be subconscious reasons I´m not aware of, but we will have to disregard them for now (since I´m not aware of them). The reasons I am aware of, however, could be listed as:

  1. Wanting to create a meeting place
  2. Making a statement
  3. Just being creative and playful

Wanting to create a meeting place. We all know that life at times can be a mouthful. Now and then, making it through the day is in itself quite an accomplishment. Some days "carpe diem" means clinging to the hope of merely surviving with your mind intact. But then there are those other days as well, fortunately enough. Those are the days where you realise there is more to life than just surviving. There is this element of wanting to go and play football with the kids on the lawn, just for the fun of it. But also, perhaps there is this nascent aspiration to become an agent of change, together with all the other agents out there. You ask questions starting with "What if ...?" You start to think in terms of possibilities. Perhaps even some anger nerve is tickled.
   To exchange ideas we need meeting places.

Making a statement. It is a legitimate desire to want to break free from the tyranny of other people´s opinions, say, the public opinion. I want to take an active part in defining myself and who I am instead of just leaving that to others to determine - and you can do the same for your own part.
   I want to say that "this is what we do; this is who we are - as well!". Others may be running the place but their power is not absolute.

As teachers we dare not think of a school in which teachers have lost their professional confidence. For the sake of personal dignity, for the sake of (the idea of) the school, for the sake of our students, we wish to be all we possibly can be. We wish to engage in public debates, talks and reflections of all sorts, highbrow and lowbrow, serious and not-so-serious. With our words and with our actions we wish to be a statement of radiating life and courage that defy the craving demands of shortsightedness and fear of failure.
   We are not content with what we have achieved so far. In fact, speaking the truth, the list of failures seems to be almost endless. Yet, we have that compelling desire to become better people, to become better at what we are doing. Personally, referring to the old tale, I never was much of a hare (I was more like a tortoise). But that does not matter. Direction is more important than speed.

Just being creative and playful. Perhaps this text is in itself an act of presumptuousness. But at least it was fun writing it. And that is what "just being creative and playful" is all about. Playing is underrated.

Last, I mentioned the amount of visitors on this blog since it started. A humble wish on my part, however, would be that the amount of commentaries would increase. This of course has to do with the "meeting-place aspiration". So please, don´t be shy, dear visitor. It is okay to write in Swedish. :)

By the way: Next time I may be writing in Danish, just for the sake of it!



Kommentarer

  1. I was pleased to note that we both write about the importance of professional confidence. :)

    SvaraRadera
  2. Making a statement, proclaiming your identity an defending your integrity is such à necessary thing in the Swedish School. It such an important step toward finding a purpose and galning à possibility of control and acievement. Two out of three of the forces of inner motivation making you à good teacher.

    SvaraRadera
  3. "Two out of three ..". And which is the third one, Jan? :)

    SvaraRadera
    Svar
    1. Den tredje är autonomi, så man skulle nog kunna hävda att även denna ges uttryck i att våga stå för sin åsikt och delta aktivt i en debatt om läraryrket.

      Vill du ha mer information om de tre förutsättningar för inre motivation så besök Ted.com och lyssna på slutet av Dan Pinks föredrag om motivation.

      Radera
    2. Den tredje är autonomi, så man skulle nog kunna hävda att även denna ges uttryck i att våga stå för sin åsikt och delta aktivt i en debatt om läraryrket.

      Vill du ha mer information om de tre förutsättningar för inre motivation så besök Ted.com och lyssna på slutet av Dan Pinks föredrag om motivation.

      Radera
  4. Ok, då förstår jag vad du menar. :)

    SvaraRadera

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