My Pedagogical Creed

Previuosly published in AGENDA by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA)

Pedagogical Creed: A Creationist Version

Teaching at St Mary’s High School in Kitchener I had one class of 21 with 10 of the students on IEPs.  I think that is a norm.  I wrote this prior to retirement from the public school system and many years of over seas pursuits...

This day I am teaching the physical geography of Canada, and I sense that I am losing my audience.  I know now, going into November of this school year, that there is a very real chance that again I will not finish the prescribed curriculum.

On my good days I don’t think that is not such a bad thing.  Holistically, the student, his/her abilities and needs should come before the curriculum.

The bell sounds at the end of the day, and I silently note that at these times the students are capable of evacuating the building far faster than during any fire drill.

The room quiet, my gold fish swimming in their zen aquarium by my desk seem content too.  I sit and think, doodle then scribble this poem:

Chalk dust embedded in

his corduroy pants

and worn Harris Tweed

jacket, long before

his hair turned very gray

and before there was 

WORD

and POWERPOINT

HE stopped teaching to the

curriculum.

Instead he taught his

students to observe,

question, to care and

HE saw that it was 

good and on the last day

he retired.