Where have I been for the last two weekd?

The answer to that question is having the most amazing, tiring, interesting and eye opening experience!  Or to be specific: on my first prac for my teaching course.  I have been with a grade prep/one class for the last two weeks doing what they call active observation.  Active observation basically means that I have to observe how the teacher teaches, handles the class, speaks to the children, the parents, other staff members, how she handles issues, complaints, illness, accidents, lesson plans, activities, naughtiness, happiness, discussion, all the things that teachers have to do everyday.  Oh my god, is there a lot to do!  Take 25 different students all 5-7 years old with varying levels of ability, short attention spans and incredible amounts of energy and one teacher.  What do you get, well exhaustion is the answer. 

But they are amazing!  It is amazing!  I am going to be a teacher and I am so excited! 

am I still a feminist?

A few days ago I went out for coffee with a new friend of mine.  We discussed a variety of things, including gender equality and feminism, which didn't last long because we'd been there a while and he had to run away.  He had offered to give me a lift home, so having settled the bill and had that leaving somewhere conversation you have; "Are you good to go?"  "Yeah cool, that's fine,' we wondered out to his car.  He walked over to the passenger side door, opened the door, waited until I got into the car and closed the door behind me.  Having just had our brief conversation about feminism I made a comment that had he done that 6-8 years ago I would have counted that as a sexist action but actually I thought it was sweet.  So off we went in the car, he dropped me at home and drove off, all good. 
I've been thinking about this interaction today and what it says about me as a feminist. 
What I said at the time was true.  Back when I was 19-23 in my undergrad degree and getting involved in student politics I would have considered that a sexist action and it would have counted as a black mark against him.  Given that we'd had a great chat and generally agreed on a lot of things, the black mark wouldn't have been the sort that mean you write someone off as a friend, but it would have been there none the less.  But now, it wasn't a black mark, it didn't even cause an eyebrow raise and I did think it was sweet.  In fact the only reason I made mention of it is because of the conversation we'd had prior to the door opening incident. 
So what does this mean, am I still a feminist?  Have I lost my politics in my old age? 
I don't think so!
I've mellowed, I'll say that.  I no longer think that because a boy opens a door for me it means that he thinks I'm incompetent or incapable.  I think it was just a nice gesture.
Am I still opposed to violence against women in all forms?  Hell yes!  Do I still think that women should receive equal pay for equal work?  Absolutely!  Am I against hiring practices that discriminate against women on the grounds that they will have babies soon and will leave that job?  Of course!  Do I still believe that gender roles are a fabrication of our society and not a biological imperative?  You bet!  Does the beauty myth still infuriate me?  Completely!  Do I think that women are under represented in work that was traditionally considered "mens work", or for that matter men are under represented in what was traditionally named "women's work?"  For sure!
So where does that leave me on door opening?  Let's worry about putting an end to rape, sexual assault and domestic violence first hey?!  Maybe when there really is equality in our society, maybe then I'll worry about whether someone opening my door for me means they think I can't.

Humanism

For an assignment this week I have been looking at Maslow's hierarchy of needs and what that means in an educational setting.  The needs of each individual need to be met going up the scale from physiological needs like hunger through to self realization which is the highest need that can be attained and therefore the least likely to be attained.  Maslow was kind of the grandfather of the humanist movement.  Humanists believe that education should focus on meeting these needs, with particular reference to self actualisation.  In that regard as far as humanists are concerned learning should be child focused.  Children should be able to decide what, how, why and when they learn.  I rather like humanism, I like the idea of allowing children a voice in deciding their own education.

So there you go, that is my thoughts for the week. 


Here is what Joss Wheden had to say

Scrabble

Last night at swing dancing one of the women was wearing scrabble letters as hair clips.  These were probably some of the coolest things I'd seen in a while! 

That is all for today!

I can feel you behind my eyes

This is a line from a song that I have listened to everyday for the last 5 weeks.  The song is Bloodstream by Stateless. I don't know much about Stateless, but in a search for triphoppy type of songs to put on a play list for a friend from uni I remembered them and put this song on.  Then the obsession happened! I love it. 

Here is a link to youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn3-1kvv6u4

According to youtube this song features on the Vampire Diaries, which doesn't surprise me at all, but it's still a fabulous song for all that!