Students as Weeds
While attending an organic, raised bed gardening workshop I was struck by the master gardener’s commentary on weeds. He was a proponent of heavy mulching, no worry about weeds emerging. “Have you ever wondered why you’d see old farmers tilling their fields in the moonlight? Why would they work so long into the night?” Well, the simple answer was weeds. They could go years without worrying about the pests as long as they didn’t turn the soil over in the sunlight. “Almost all the weed seeds need is a flash of sun to germinate.” He gave us this pearl of wisdom in support of his recommendation not to till our soil. I, however, had a huge ah hah moment. Weed seeds as students! Not because they are weeds, no let me say up front that I view them with reverence and appreciation. The analogy for me was speaking to our disenfranchised students, the ones who for whatever reason have not been ignited by learning. Maybe all they need is a bit of sun – a flash of light on their passions to inspire a fresh bloom of inquiry and engagement.
Wildflower
I look to technology for many of these sparks. Look what it has done for us as we network on Twitter and attend keynotes and workshops via chatrooms and video. My learning curve has soared; the Internet brings us ever closer to one another as co-creators of learning. With guidance and intent. I really do believe our students can inspire themselves and each other to discover uncharted waters of learning and discovery. But, the average school is filled with kids who have stories of ache, discomfort, abandonment, increasing financial worry, addictions, fear, and the list continues, to contend with. Yes, there are many students who come from loving homes and all of their needs both physical and emotional are met. They are all attempting to navigate a demanding social structure and ever changing societal landscape. Our kids have ‘stress.’ They move, change, respond and adapt faster than we can imagine. School is a hurdle they must jump and jump with skill if they have any chance of keeping up. Imagine how that must feel when you are starting out so far behind the others?
So, what if technology cannot break through? Maybe the flash that is needed will be a guest speaker, field trip, group project, or community service activity. Maybe it is a chance to share their views on a topic that doesn’t really fit into the curriculum seamlessly. Maybe if asked what they are interested in they would show us how to engage them. Maybe we have to start teaching them with the idea that we will till all the soil, in the blazing light of day, till one day they too find the topic or tool that germinates their learners’ heart.
I have always viewed teaching from my gardener’s eye – how original! I love to plant seeds and watch them grow. To dig deep into the rich earth, worms and all, and feel the aches of my labor sweetly as the day wanes. I viewed my students as flowers to tend with care; always looking for the right balance of tools, structure, understanding, surprise, vision, challenge, creativity, acceptance, and oh so many other things to stand for the sun, rich earth, water, and hard work in the school garden. Not all of my students can be categorized this way anymore. Their gardens are paved over, tattooed, spiked, and YouTubed. New forms of sunlight are going to be needed to germinate their learning seeds. This gardener is going to pay more attention to cultivating all growing things, plants, vegetables, and weeds alike.
Themocracy
It may seem like a little bit of a tangent, but what I really like about this post, (besides the wonderful metaphor), is that it looks at technology as a necessary component of teaching and not just the ‘answer’ or ‘solution’ to a problem. Use tech to be the sunlight, when appropriate, and use field trips etc. too!
Also, weeds are resilient flowers that can be beautiful in there own way… I see many amazing people in the field of education (leaders, teachers and students alike) that are far more like weeds than manicured gardens, so your metaphor fits better than you think!
I am looking forward to networking with all my fellow ‘weeds’ in Boston. The line-up at BLC09 is packed with amazing leaders in the field. I don’t know how we will choose. Tech as sunlight is pretty sweet.
When I come back to my garden after too long an absence, I’m astounded at the beautiful flowers that have appeared with no effort on my part. Weeds? Maybe only because I didn’t plant them. Maybe that’s one of the points in this era of new literacies– the teacher no longer gets to decide who’s a weed and who’s a flower. We get to tend the whole riotous, glorious mess. Bring on the sun!
(Love the design of this new blog.)
Being an avid gardener, I love the analogy of teaching to gardening-something I never would have considered, but it really fits. And you’ve described it so eloquently! You’ve given me some food for thought…Thanks for the post.
What a beautiful analogy. I am really looking forward to following your journey. I am often struck by how beautiful “weeds” can be – and they are proof that sometimes we just need to get out of the way!
I’m going to sound weird and apocalyptic here, but as I recently read, “If you’ve seen the scientific data and are not frightened, you don’t understand the data” – so here goes.
Besides, as David mentioned above, the pleasure of the extended metaphor, the biggest idea this triggered in me was the opposite of technology and conventional curriculum as solutions, and the radical idea that students be taught literal gardening.
I just read that unemployment is now considered likely to remain over 10% into 2011, so it’s not hysterical to consider that we could yet see a Depression. Gardening gives free food. That means more money for rent or mortgages, and could make the difference between home and homeless.
Throw in possible food shortages from Peak Oil’s effects on plastics-based fertilizers (James Kunstler at Clusterfuck Nation stays abreast of this with more honesty and intrepidity than the msm could ever do) and from global heating’s effects on fresh water supply from mountaintop ice – all melting away, which means dry rivers in summer unless it rains – and on desertification, and again: gardening may be the most important “21st Century Skill” imaginable.
I hope I’m wrong, but it’s hard to be skeptical when the prophets of doom are not medieval or bronze age priests, but instead dudes in lab coats and think tanks….
O, How ironic that today I was out pulling weeds, rather willy-nilly with regard only for my pineapples and jasmine and basil.But then maybe that’s how I am, but it doesn’t mean I have to stay that way.
I love your gardening metaphor (you are my master gardener); it’s never tired. I loved too that you spoke of all students’ gardens (“paved over, tatooed, spiked and YouTubed”- how appropriate). Those growing, often weakly, in the cracks are often the ones who bring us great joy.
And I love the new blog.
Thank you all for your visit and words. So much to think about and share here. Clay, I read that article today as well and would agree that gardening is an essential skill for all. It does wonders to play in the dirt and harvest nourishment from your labor. That is what teaching is, we tend our crop with the hope that our harvest will be healthy and sustainable. No doom and gloom, just possibility. Good to meet you Mary, thanks for looking in Kelly, and Paul you always make me smile. I can’t figure out how to add a photo to my name! I am learning wordpress. I like your image here. Karen stay tuned for some qualitative research sharing.
I have written Dr. Pedro Noguera for permission to post the BLC08 keynote here. It is powerful and a great reminder to all of us as we re-imagine our schools.
Did you ever think that maybe we are also being cultivated, tended and toiled over by the students in our lives? We are also weeds and need attention. I am amazed at how much I learn from them.
Thank you, Lorraine. Safe travels and call often with mom updates!
Weeds, weeds, weeds, at times I feel overwhelmed. I shall till more in the dark.