Professionalism, Law & Ethics Christina Kim David Winterbottom Jennifer Pietrangelo Myles Wagman Emily Dalgleish David Thompson

Simpsons Koan Simpsons Koan

The First Principle – A Koan for Reflection When one goes to Obaku temple in Kyoto he sees carved over the gate the words "The First Principle". The letters are unusually large, and those who appreciate calligraphy always admire them as being a masterpiece. They were drawn by Kosen two hundred years ago. When the master drew them he did so on paper, from which the workmen made the large carving in wood. As Kosen sketched the letters a bold pupil was with him who had made several gallons of ink for the calligraphy and who never failed to criticize his master's work. "That is not good," he told Kosen after his first effort. "How is this one?" "Poor. Worse than before," pronounced the pupil. Kosen patiently wrote one sheet after another until eighty-four First Principles had accumulated, still without the approval of the pupil. Then when the young man stepped outside for a few moments, Kosen thought: "Now this is my chance to escape his keen eye," and he wrote hurriedly, with a mind free from distraction: "The First Principle." "A masterpiece," pronounced the pupil.

If you teach to satisfy other people’s concept of good teaching, you will never achieve it. We teach best when we are ourselves. A good teacher is like a candle – it consumes itself to light the way for others. it consumes itself to light the way for others. ~Author Unknown

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The Heart of a Teacher Identity and Integrity in Teaching By Parker J. Palmer Writer, teacher, activist Issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality, and social change

Difficulties with Teaching Subjects too BIG Subjects too BIG Students too complex Students too complex We teach who we are We teach who we are

We teach who we are? For better or worse, teaching emerges from one’s inwardness For better or worse, teaching emerges from one’s inwardness “Stop projecting your soul onto me!” “Stop projecting your soul onto me!” “I can’t!!!” “I can’t!!!” So Socrates wasn’t just messing with Plato when he said, ‘Know Thyself’? So Socrates wasn’t just messing with Plato when he said, ‘Know Thyself’?

The 3 Paths IntellectualEmotionalSpiritual

++ = Education at its Best

Intellectual The way we think about teaching and learning The way we think about teaching and learning The form and content of our concepts of how people know and learn The form and content of our concepts of how people know and learn

Emotional The way we and our students feel as we teach and learn The way we and our students feel as we teach and learn Feelings can either enlarge or diminish the exchange between us Feelings can either enlarge or diminish the exchange between us

Spiritual Diverse ways we answer the heart’s longing to be connected with the largeness of life Diverse ways we answer the heart’s longing to be connected with the largeness of life This longing will animate our love and work This longing will animate our love and work

Which trait does not belong to good educators? 1) Dr. A is really there when she teaches. 2) Mr. B has such enthusiasm for his subject. 3) Mrs. U’s words float somewhere in front of her face, like the balloon speech in cartoons. 4) You can tell that this is really Prof. C’s life.

The Secret of Good Teaching Wait for it…. Wait for it…. Are you ready?... Are you ready?... Any guesses?... Any guesses?... Good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher Good teaching cannot be reduced to technique; good teaching comes from the identity and integrity of the teacher

“Identity lies in the intersection of the diverse forces that make up my life” “Identity lies in the intersection of the diverse forces that make up my life” “Integrity lies in relating to those forces in ways that bring me wholeness and life rather than fragmentation and death” “Integrity lies in relating to those forces in ways that bring me wholeness and life rather than fragmentation and death” Wow…that’s deep Wow…that’s deep

What is Palmer’s definition of “heart”? Heart= coming together of intellect, emotion and spirit Heart= coming together of intellect, emotion and spirit

Teaching with heart= being vulnerable Subject to ridicule & indifference

What happens when a teacher loses heart? What happens when a teacher loses heart?

Question: Have you ever had a teacher who lost their heart? Have you ever had a teacher who lost their heart? How did this affect you as a student? Did it affect your perception of a specific subject area?

Question: What things can we, as prospect teachers, do to keep our heart alive? What things can we, as prospect teachers, do to keep our heart alive?

David T