Day 1 of “The Courage to Teach” book study is complete and I’m sitting in my backyard nourishing my soul.

After reading chapter 1 of “Courage” the group completed a Text Rendering activity and discussion protocol. As I recorded the teachers’ comments, one insight exceptionally stood out for me - this was a sense of validation. The teachers felt that Parker Palmer spoke for them, saying the things they talk and think about amongst themselves, yet so rarely hear spoken or affirmed by the larger community. They felt glad that someone else “gets it” – articulating many of the thoughts and feelings surrounding their work as teachers and about the teaching life.

I had to take pause, to stop, notice and to look with my heart into the hearts of these teachers and reaffirm, “I know…I hear and I know that feeling you just expressed.”

I had and knew that feeling the very first time I read a photocopied excerpt from chapter 1, “The Heart of a Teacher.” I knew that this book, these words, this thing called “Teaching and Learning” was far larger than me and I had to find a way to get in its presence, among the company of others.

For this I am grateful.

PS - My teachers were FABULOUS today - thoughtful, appreciative, courageous, reflective, focused, participatory – FAB-U-LOUS!!!

What do teachers need?
How do we offer it?
How do we maintain it?
If we build it, will anyone come?

I think this book study on “The Courage to Teach” begins to answer some of these questions of what teachers need and how we offer it.

Registration by participants shows that if we build a worthwhile cause, teachers will attend.

The next questions will reveal answers upon completion of this book study when we ask for and accept feedback from our participants on the topics of, “How did we do?” and “How do we continue to support you in this or a similar fashion?”

Read Jeff’s comment and the entire blog thread http://www.centerforleadership.org/blog/2007/02/27/taking-care-of-those-who-take-care/#comment-527