Copyright 2005 Laurie J. Cousseau , Reich College of Education, Appalachian State University
Artifact # 5
Context: The paper was the final assignment for FDN 5840 Social and Philosophical Education taught by Dr. Michael Dale. In this course we were given the unique opportunity to read and digest books such as Eros the Bittersweet by Anne Carson, Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels, Ordinary Resurrections by Jonathan Kozol as well as the implications of studying the Greek Tragedies. Each morning, we referenced tabbed pages, raised questions, pondered and discussed these seminal works. It was an amazingly freeing experience and reminded me of the importance of dialogue and the 'splendid' influence of books and thoughts on our lives.
This paper
reflects my personal view of education and teaching as a profession.
Over time I have come to realize that teaching can certainly not be scripted
or compartmentalized into neat boxes to be accessed at the ideal moment.
Similar to the universal message behind the Greek Myths, teaching can be
tumultuous, fraught with pitfalls, yet ultimately filled with passion and
purpose. Education is not culled from 'tomes' of knowledge revered and
set up on a shelf, but rather meant to be wrestled and grappled with. From a child or student's perspective, learning must
simultaneously be realized as attainable, challenging and ultimately 'rich'
with possibilities and purpose. Like Athena who provides Perseus with
her shield and Hermes who provides winged sandals, as teachers, we must lend
students our hearts and then set them free to pursue a life-long quest.
Alignment: D. Content Knowledge. The candidate demonstrates advanced depth and breadth of knowledge and skills in the academic discipline and in education. Writing an interpretive piece of writing that coalesces a number of philosophical works (books, articles, conversations) allows the author to truly 'transform' their understanding and articulate relationships between philosophy, theory and their own practice.