“[T]he more radical the person is, the more fully he or she enters into reality so that, knowing it better, he or she can transform it. This individual is not afraid to confront, to listen, to see the world unveiled. This person is not afraid to meet the people or to enter into a dialogue with them. This person does not consider himself or herself the proprietor of history or of all people, or the liberator of the oppressed; but he or she does commit himself or herself, within history, to fight at their side.”― Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Two days at Network for Public Education conference—people saying publicly what we say to each other on the phone and in quick hallway conversations. Hearing these truths about what is going on for our schools, for our teachers and kids, for our families, is a chance to breathe deeper.
I go back feeling more ‘wind beneath my sails’ for the truth that has been broadcast. When people have given up believing their words will matter, when they’ve been dismissed as difficult teachers, when they’ve been told to stop, they resort to hallway and phone conversations that don’t change anything.
Countless stories at this conference of persistent, relentless organizing actions that sometimes win the battle, sometimes come close, of people with courage to stick their necks out on the line every day…..people who are still standing. They even still have their jobs.
I have committed myself in this blog to write about the threads we still hold onto that we believe are good for our kids in school and leave the calling out of troubles to the many others who are so articulate. Here I’ve met teachers who are standing up, speaking up, acting up. They model possibilities for their students….Peter Greene, Jose Vilson, Garfield High School in Seattle.
I go back to Colorado wondering about a way to speak up about a dire situation that could be left to continue — what would these people do?