- Being transformed: Facing democracy challenges

• Sharing responsibility with students
  

Teacher: When I let the class vote on the priority order, it was to get a sense of the interest of the group but it came up with an order that it was not possible to follow 100%. The student's priorities didn't follow the logical book sequence. So the emancipatory pedagogy takes more time because the teacher needs to re-think the material he has already prepared in accordance to the audience needs. It requires a lot of preparing class time.

• Sharing responsibility with principal
  

First the teacher passed to the school board the decision to accept or not a student to continue the course after he had missed the limit of the days allowed. Understanding that the school board would apply the number of missing class rigorously, the teacher decided to not kick another student despite missing the same number of classes than the other student.

Main Page(Introduction)
Dialogues&Stories (Life, School, Classroom)

- Focusing on what’s relevant: Breaking school rules to be comfortable

aw3

Teacher: It is so hot in here....Please go downstairs to room B201, and get a fan... I understand why you came with this shirt but there are rules. Tomorrow you have to bring something you can at least use in the hallways.

Student: Are you saying we will be able to take off our jackets in class?

Teacher: Yes. It is too hot. But in the halls you have to wear your jackets

- Fostering values: unequal treatment to care

Student 1: She is allowing me to stay in class but I missed more classes than allowed…I am handsome!

Student 2: At the end of the course, teachers are less rigid because they don’t want an empty class

Student 3: Remember M4 (a classmate)? If the fire alarm didn’t go off, I think he would be here. He was expelled because we had to go outside on the day of the test and then go to the principal office to get permission to take the test. We had studied together using walking a sequence; he knew all answers to the test. I went with him and heard the principal saying that it is up to the teacher and that if the student was there it was because he missed too many classes.

Student 2: At the principal's office, the rule is no special treatment

Student 3: I think the teacher wanted the principal to give permission and as it didn’t happen, she is giving special treatment for you because you are doing well in class.

Student 1: I think it was because of my charm! I am sure (laugh)

Main Page(Introduction)
Dialogues&Stories (Life, School, Classroom)