Bird Droppings June 19, 2012 Are we experiencing genocide of learning?   It gets difficult to finish my daily journals entries lately running back and forth to North Georgia, sitting in on Foxfire Teacher Classes, reading and discussing John Dewey and my writing of course. So here early in the morning today as I write…

Bird Droppings June 18, 2012 Should we sharpen the machete or bring a shovel?   I have been reflecting over the concept of critical pedagogy and in that reflection I recall an incident nearly forty years ago that call to mind my own interpretation and understanding of what we as teachers are all about. I…

Bird Droppings June 16, 2012 Can we find attitude within pedagogy?   “If a university can’t have two out of five of their student-athletes graduate, I don’t know why they’re rewarded with post-season play” Arne Duncan               Over the past few days I have been looking at how I see teaching and instruction and…

Bird Droppings June 15, 2012 Critical Pedagogy is not a dirty word               This time of year I am traditionally back and forth to North Georgia the past four or five summers to a program taught by faculaty from Piedmont College and housed on the Foxfire Property in Mountain City Georgia. Teachers from literally…

Bird Droppings June 14, 2012 An evolving pedagogy as I learn   “We would do away with examinations. They measure the inconsequential type of learning. We would do away with grades and credits for the same reason. We would do away with degrees as a measure of competence partly for the same reason. Another reason…

Bird Droppings June 13, 2012 Finding the essential Bird Pedagogy   I walked out last evening just before dark tired from driving and little sleep but listening carefully to a sound filled world about me. The leaves and grass were still wet from two days of rain and the heat of the afternoon sun had…

Bird Droppings June 12, 2012 Keeping the energy flowing   I attend at least partially two Foxfire courses a year for teachers in Mountain City Georgia. This course is actually a graduate class of Piedmont College’s Education Department. Last night as I made my way back, this was as always invigorating for me. The experience…