We Hutterites have drivers licenses because they allow us to drive our vehicles. We apply for passports that allow us to across borders. Licenses for plumbers, electricians and carpenters are becoming a necessity for building. We understand and accept them without question. Education licenses are a bit more difficult for us Hutterites to grasp and accept. They take considerably longer 5-10 year university commitments. What have you actually got with a 5-year teaching degree, Post Baccalaureate or a Masters degree? Yes, we know they allow you to teach but you can also work in schools without them. There is nothing tangible there except maybe a paycheque. At the International Conference for Hutterian Educators (ICHE) we witnessed the power of the education license. The event was an example of what education can accomplish. What a wonderful gathering of our Hutterite teachers. We showed a different face to the world at ICHE. The face of Hutterite education in 2014. Our educators and young leaders taught and learned, laughed and loved for our children. It was beautiful, there was an aura of peace, and we are most definitely progressing in the right direction. It was truly inspiring. These days Twitter gives you a temperature of whats going on in the world at any given moment. For a few days, Aug 13-15 the tone of Hutterite references on twitter changed. The following are tweets from some of the speakers at the conference. Super impressed w/ the heart, commitment, and talent of educators at #ICHE2014 Wow! Touched by authentic hearts of Hutterite educators. Their students are in good hands! #ICHE14 Flying home, but one more S/O [shout-out] to #ICHE2014 teachers. Their commitment to excellence is inspiring! Honored to keynote today. Had an awesome afternoon at the International Conference for Hutterite Educators 2014 - sensitive, smart leaders there. In these short tweets these educated people from outside the community captured the pulse of the conference. Not to take anything away from the presenters and their sessions but the conversations were golden. The learning and sharing of ideas was such an important part of ICHE. I spoke with young diene who were concerned about the role of apprenticeship credits in their high-school programs. We want to learn something! Take courses like biology, chemistry, law.... Ill work in the community jobs for the rest of my life. Whats the point of receiving credits this way? Are apprenticeship credits really the best we can offer to Hutterite high-schoolers? I had multiple conversations about training teachers. Im trying to raise awareness of the issue and the difficult work ahead of getting permission from community leaders. Yes, I know the ‘diene will get married’ and ‘we’ll lose our spirituality’ and ‘we don’t have time’ and ‘we can’t spare anyone from the workforce’. I get it. It’s hard. It’s a life-changing, possibly gut-wrenching decision but it needs to be done. And I’ll still keep questioning and challenging and planting the seeds because ICHE was a beautiful representation of what is and a hint of what Hutterite education can be. I even spoke with that rascally grade 10 ITV student of mine who chose to leave his community/classes mid-year. I admire him for introducing himself in Polo Park where it would have been easier to just pass by. I encouraged him to hang on to his Hutterite values and make something of his life and go back to school to become that doctor that he dreams of being. I studied ICHE organizers on stage and I wondered how many years of education between all of them. The group was relatively young, composed mainly of teachers. Only four of them don’t have a formal education degree. The conference was exceptionally well organized by this small group of people who understand the deeper needs in Hutterite Education. The potpourri of presentations served to reinforce what we have, build new connections and challenge stagnant ideas. There were sessions for where ever you are on the journey. I loved the beautiful flowers in ICHE colours, the delicious food and classy accommodations. Our children deserve the best we can offer them. They deserve trained passionate teachers, strong high-school programs, and leaders who are willing to learn, take risks and change. Conferences like ICHE effect change. They make our minds grow, make us uncomfortable in certain areas and thats important for change to occur. The poorest man in the world is the man limited to his own experience. (Fader, 1968) Education is a license that opens the door of the mind. Once thats done, you accomplish much more than you thought possible. Thats the thing about education. It also allows you to drive and lead people instead of vehicles. Its a passport that enables us to cross borders and work with people from different cultures and learn from world views different from our own. The education license is really everything wrapped up in one. You should get one of those!
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 18:12:58 +0000
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