Being amongst a group of academics who are surrounded by others of their kind, who know and understand and
love what they are talking about is inspiring. Academics gravitate towards others of their kind....ones that have
enough clout to not be threatened by another's ideas, and enough wit to be able to grasp a potential battle of minds and engage
in some exchange of ideas.
Secondary can be more satisfying than Primary as there is nothing more humiliating than being argued down by
someone who has no idea what they don't know, but has a loud enough voice to dominate.
Academics generally have a well modulated voice as distinguished as their thoughts, and they are pleasant to listen to
even in dischord.
Sometimes in the State System teaching takes a different dimension,with a sounding board. Instead
of seeing a request for sharing as an admission of ignorance one should realise that nothing ignorant about someone who questions
the value of what they are teaching.
We expect our students to ask thought provoking questions and then snub teachers who try to do the same thing.
A teacher has to extend so they can extend their students, and refusing to see change, is sad. It is far better to realise
that change is an inevitability and realise that one has to go along with the flow.
Conservatism may be needed for security, but must be highlighted with a dash of modernism. Computer Technology
is here to stay and on-line learning is going to be a part of a teachers life whatever we do to try to hold it back.
You cannot reject nor ignore the learning the students are bringing to school... this computer ability has to be
harnessed to the right horses. Banning computer freedom is not the answer...Internet is here to stay and will develop
even further than we can even envisage.
I remember doing studies by sublimal learning where I went to sleep with an ear plug attached to my ear with lectures
crooning into hopefully my subconscious. Maybe this is another aspect we have yet to realise.
Academics contribute much to a growing community and it is only by studying and extending our own knowledge that we can
contribute to the knowledge of our classes and the masses.
