I Don’t Want to Turn this into A Shouting Blog Session
There will be nothing controversial about this post as I do not want to turn this into a shouting match. I (like the guide we had yesterday) want to get this over with as quick as possible. What was it you called him, Hutch, a prissy, pompous, persnickety, pr_ _ _!!! ??? (Rhymes with Dick).
Ready, Set, Hike!
Actually, I started the day at Frank Llyod Wright’s house thinking back in time about my mentor as our guide mentioned Wright’s five main influences in his life. One of the five, Sullivan, I had never heard of before, but to listen to the guide explain that Wright always described Sullivan as his “lieb meister” his dear master even after they had a falling out of some sort. I walked through the house and room after room the design was Wright’s but Sullivan left his mark as well in each room.
In 1984, I had the honor to student teach under a true professional who had trained numerous student teachers of the past (about 15 of us in all as he taught for nearly forty years). I also was hired as a science resource teacher my first year of teaching and continued the training first year. Ron, my “lieb meister” helped my teaching in numerous ways and I could not help thinking about him as we toured the house and bookshop. I saw Sullivan’s mark in every room, and sure Wright had unbelivable talent and flew to soaring heights on his own merit, but I find it poignant that he never forgot the teachings of Sullivan. I loved looking at the houses and reflecting as I walked and took numerous pictures. I reflected on how I came into teaching and how Ron and another “lieb meister” Ray helped form my OPINIONS (I know I rarely share them with anybody else) and my style. I reflected that after 22 years of teaching on my own, I can still see Ron’s heavy influence in my teaching just like one could see Sullivan’s designs above the dining table or the brickwork on the two fire places. The morning was truly dedicated to Ron especially and also Ray as my mentors for student teaching and my first year of teaching.
Upon refelction I have a couple of questions and would love responses:
1. When does a person leave the influence of their mentor and really fly on their own in education?
2. Should our model of teaching and how we train teachers change?
3. Should we adopt the master, journeyman, and apprentice model, or is the present model working well?
In the afternoon, I liked the virtual reality tour and question and answer session with Richard.. uh uh.. uh.. I mean the “Virtual Reality sit down and shut up along with a quick run through because I have better things to do” tour at the Science Museum. Great information. Wonderful museum.
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- Ready, Set, Hike!
I
Again, awesome to use “persnickety” in a sentence- Triple Word Socre.
“Triple Word Score” excuse the typo
Only good word I couldthink of at the time that began with a “P”.
Mark: I don’t think you ever leave the influence, I just think you change it along the way to make it your own. I do think something needs to change in how we train our future teacher, but I have no idea what that entails. Love the title…:) ~Melissa
Probably true, but rephrase question as does the person who was mentored ever overtake the mentor in their own lifetime?
Mark, I hope that Ron has a chance to read it. He would probably feel very honored to know that he influenced you that way.
Actually, Ron does know. I wrote a great deal about him and his influence when I nominated him for teacher of the year in 1992.
Again, thanks for the great prickjob! As to your question #1, a mentor of mine once said “When the student is ready-the teacher will appear.” That can go both ways. When the teacher is ready, he/she will begin to fly on their own. It may shrink some over time as the teacher picks up more & more on their own, but that influence will always be there & a part of them.
Hutch
Similar to being a parent, knowing when to push the bird out of the nest can be difficult. Done well, like Ron did, he will be a guiding force always. I’m envious, I had no such mentor. It was a long journey for me to learn things that he helped you hurdle.