A lot of People Have Thought About Education

Even though I am doing more reading than I've done in a while, I am reading some quality stuff. My professors have chosen some excellent perspectives. From Plato to Toni Morrison, it is all interesting. And then, to be in class and analyze the content amongst my fellow classmates is also exciting. Well, I guess I should be honest, it is both exciting and nerve wracking... Not to go too far down the negative talk road, I sometimes doubt my relevancy to the discussion. I feel like I have a good idea but sometimes I get the sense that I am off track. I get this feeling, for exampe, if I make a comment and no one expands on it. And, I am especially in the hallows of Hell's doubt when I make a comment and there is that nervous dead silence immediately following.

Okay, I put that out there. I'm done with it. So a real positive about these classes is the applicability of the content. I feel like everything I am studying is relevant to my current engagement of community learning. It is exciting to pass it forward to the community. That, in itself, is fulfilling a dream for me. Someone said it is a humbling experience because you realize how much you don't know. I agree and I appreciate and respect it too. I look forward to the future. I have to admit, though, with all these great people who have thought about the process of education over the last few thousand years, I wonder why do we still have a screwed up educational system? I mean, really, how is that possible?

Class is in Session!

Hey, I went to my first class sessions on Monday. It was all to the good. I'm going to enjoy the readings (as long as I keep up). In some ways I feel like I'm in a cave staring at shadows on the wall thinking it is reality. I will also enjoy the company. It looks like a fun group of people who are interested in learning.

The most exciting part is that I get to be in class with Alberto Mejia (aka Praxis). Former ESC leader. I was overwhelmed with emotion during class introductions when I talked about the ESC being a center concerned with academic and leadership development for underrepresented students and here I am in class with one of my former students. All I could say was, "This is a big deal. I can't believe how big a deal this is."