Friday, December 12, 2008

Freelance Educators Cooperative

I find myself on a roller coaster ride: periods intense action followed by low plateaus of "Hmmmm...what now?" Fortunately, there's always something interesting to throw myself into...even outside of the everyday work, classes, grant searches, and blogging (I'm now writing food blogs for the Nopa website! If you're interested in the sustainable agriculture movement: http://nopasf.com/food/). Having finished my most recent application for a fellowship with Echoing Green, I decided I need to dig in locally and get involved in the SF education system. The newest idea rumbling around my brain (all tied in with TE KORU, of course) is to create a "freelance educators coalition". That is, a group of educators and international social workers that get together to create solid, meaningful lesson plans out of their personal experiences traveling or working in developing countries. These lesson plans and workshops can be brought into classrooms in the Bay area to supplement the curriculum and provide a "big picture" view of the world - tying in current affairs and our global connections. For example, let's say a high school government class is discussing US immigration policy. Many teenagers might find this a dull topic, and the teacher may want to find a way of bringing the lesson more depth, and a humanistic touch. Our cooperative could send a member who has worked with Mexican immigrants to speak with the class about his/her work, and the views and experiences of these immigrants.


Key Features:
(1) A one-stop source of globally educated guest speakers for Bay Area teachers to choose from
(2) A real-world education: effective, engaging lesson plans and workshops that meet curriculum standards, while providing students with first-hand accounts and personal stories as they relate to global issues
(3) An outlet for international social workers and travelers to share their experiences in a meaningful way

It seems to me that our education system is seriously lacking when it comes to providing youth with an understanding of globalisation, the depth of our international connections, and cross-cultural perspectives.

I'm looking for educators, travelers, international social workers to join with me to create this cooperative. If you're interested, or simply want to put in your two sense, email me at: tekoru@yahoo.com