Jamaal Bowman, principal of Cornerstone Academy of Social Action in Néw York City, was a major speaker at a conference “A Call for Educational Justice.” You may have read about Jamaal in this earlier post.
You will enjoy watching this six minute video, created by film-maker Michael Elliott.
Jamaal Bowman has earned a fine reputation as an educator who believes in children and in public schools. He knows there are no quick fixes when children have so many burdens and obstacles in their young lives. Where to begin, he asks? Start with love. Recognize the brilliance in every child. Prepare them to live in a different world and to change the world they live in.
Wow wow wow!!!! Amazing!!! I couldn’t have said it better!
“. . . be comfortable with ambiguity. . .”
implored Mr. Bowman in regards to the audience taking up working for social justice.
The pseudo-certainty implied in educational standards and standardized testing is the exact opposite of the sea certain ambiguity, in which the world swims. Right answer = certainty and truth is what the testing regime instills in young learners.
Yes, you can be certain that that type of thinking will not produce creative, inquisitive minds.