Thank-you and Goodbye, Brother Donald Mansir FSC

Brother Donald Mansir FSC, passed away this weekend.

He was my mentor, teacher and friend and the main reason I became an educator. 

Brother Donald, you lived the 12 Virtues of a Good Teacher

and in doing so touched my life in so many ways.

Gravity (Seriousness)
You allowed me to enjoy my years in high school but made sure I understood my responsibilities and how to meet expectations.  You provided a balance of the importance of appreciating all of my talents, even the ones I had not yet discovered.

Silence
You had a special way of drawing out my thoughts and allowing me to express myself by simply waiting silently with that look of “wanting more”.

Humility
You enjoyed the finer things in life but lived in simplicity.  You enjoyed each and every person for who we were.  

Prudence
You provided me ample opportunity to explore myself and my world with a sense of safety and security without impinging my freedom to be me.

Wisdom
You lived a life of education, your passion for learning and the value of knowledge was a gift that I was fortunate to witness and learn from.

Patience
You very seldom showed anger or frustration even though I may not have always been the most cooperative of individuals.  You were always a model of restraint and calm.

Reserve (Self-control)
You knew your limits and you knew my limits and you always found a way to work within those parameters to find success for each of us.

Gentleness
You were one of the most gentle men I ever knew.  Your quiet voice spoke volumes to me loud and clear.  

Zeal
You brought an energy to all you did through your passion for excellence. I look back on ‘Man of La Mancha” and realize that is the life an educator leads, but only with a zeal for the value of an education.  

Vigilance
You brought an air of safety and security to a very awkward time in my life. I knew always that when I was in your presence that all would be well.

Piety
You are the main reason I am an Educator today. Your example goes far beyond anything I could have learned from a book or in a classroom.  

Generosity
You were the model of generosity, in giving of yourself in time, energy and knowledge that I may be the person I am today.    

Thank-you and Goodbye

Brother Donald

I Will Miss You

   

LASALLIAN TERMINOLOGY

I recently put together the Lasallian terminology piece above.

The vocabulary includes, the Lasallian Core Principles, the 12 Virtues of a Good Teacher, Lasallian phrases, prayers and ideals.  I hope that this JPEG is something that you can use in your classrooms, offices and schools. It is a nice way to begin a discussion of the common threads that all Lasallian schools share.    

Lasallian Educators are FAITHFUL and CREATIVE

I was given the following at a back to school retreat  last week. 

Lasallian Educators are both FAITHFUL and CREATIVE

FAITHFUL - Commited to the values, beliefs and attitudes that underly the ministry

CREATIVE - Versed in the methodologies employed to communicate tose values to TODAY's student.

As I begin this new year, I am reminded to look at my classroom as means of providing the students entrusted to my care with an avenue to understand and embrace those core principles that make us a Lasallian Community: Faith in the Presence of God, Quality Education, Inclusive Community, Respect for All Persons and Concern for the Poor and Social Justice.  I must gaurantee that these are not just a nice list of words and terms that the students can memorize but an actual method of living that the students can embrace.

I must look at the lessons I am creating and first determine, not only if I am providing a clear model of the core principles, but am I providing that message in a way that speaks to those students on a level that thaey can visualize and live out? I must step out side my own comfort zones at times to experience their world but also have the conviction to demand the most of each of them within our community.

  

Video Clip - "The Founder - Saint John Baptist de La Salle

A simple video of the basic background of Saint John Baptist de La Salle as Founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

Core Principles of Lasallian Education

This is a brief five slide piece I show periodically of the five Core Principles of Lasallian Schools

Faith in the presence of God

Quality Education

Inclusive Community

Respect for All Persons

Service ot the Poor and Social Justice

Real Education Is To Make People More Human

The excerpt below is taken from the website Praying Each Day, providing a daily reflection for use by educators in Lasallian schools.  Each day a story or historical reference is associated with the reflection or prayer for the day.  I cannot think of a better way to share this message than to simply include it, as is, on my blog. No matter if you are Lasallian or Jesuit, believe in Buddha or Jehovah, follow the Koran or Torah, the value of education is in making the world better for all people. 

May 31st

Let Us Remember, We Are in the Holy Presence of God.

In the 1980s, the Headteacher of a school in Boston in the United States wrote a letter to new teachers who joined the school each year. In her letter, she mentioned that she is a victim of a Nazi concentration camp. There she saw how some people had mis-used the good education they had received:

• highly-qualified engineers had built gas chambers;
• educated doctors experimented on children;
• trained nurses killed babies;
• some of those who did well at school and university then gassed men, women and children, and burned their bodies in huge ovens.

This headteacher said that she is suspicious of education because she has seen some highly-educated people behave in a most inhumane way. In her letter to new teachers she reminds them that real education is to make young people more human.

During the Second World War, Adolf Eichmann had been in charge of what was called “The Final Solution” of the Jews - the murder of all Jews throughout Europe. Eichmann escaped from Germany at the end of the War, and hid in Argentina until Israeli agents captured him in 1960 and took him to Israel. There he was placed on trial. Many people commented on how ordinary a person he looked - they had thought he would somehow look evil. He denied responsibility for what he had done, saying that he was only following orders. He was convicted of “Crimes against Humanity”, and was executed two days later on this day, 31st May, in 1962.

Let us pray:

God our Father,

I pray that I may live in such a way

that I choose wisely each day,

and take responsibility for the choices that I make. 

Inspire me to use for good my education

and all the challenges that I will face,

that I may grow more fully human,

and do good to those around me.  

Teach me to discern good from evil

that I may grow in integrity of character

and develop a true sense of values

through following Jesus, your Son and our Brother.

Amen.

St. John Baptist de la Salle, Pray for Us.
Live Jesus in Our Hearts, Forever.

Lasallian Daily Prayer Reflections

Saint John Baptist de La Salle challenged the early brothers to continually reflect on their practice and their work. Through this constant reflection on their practice, the brothers elevated the role of teacher to one of the most respected positions

in the Church. 

The five excerpts, from the works of de La Salle, provide an opportunity to reflect daily upon the role of our vocation as an educator.  

Monday's Reflection:

"God has called you to your ministry in order to procure his glory and to give students the spirit of wisdom, the insight to know him, and to enlighten the eyes of their hearts."

Tuesday's Reflection:

"You must also lead them to practice well all the good of which they are capable. Example makes a much greater impression on the mind and hearts than words."

Wednesday's Reflection:

"Do not forget to help them acquire gentleness, patience, love and respect...and all the conduct that is proper to a Christian child, in a word, all that our religion demands of them."

Thursday's Reflection:

"You must then look upon your work as one of the most important and most necessary services in the Church, one which has been entrusted to you by pastors, by fathers and mothers."

Friday's Reflection:

"Do you have a faith that is such that it is able to touch the hearts of your students and inspire them with the Christian spirit? This is the greatest miracle you could perform and the one that God asks of you, for this is the purpose of your work."

Sophomores - You Gotta Love Them

" Wait long enough and people will surprise and impress. When you're pissed off at someone and you're angry at them, you just haven't given them enough time. Just give them a little more time and they almost always will impress you."
                                                     — Randy Pausch

The ideals of service to the poor and social justice are core to the principles of Lasallian education. This week, we celebrate our Founder by completing service thoughout the community.  Each day one of the classes takes a day away from the classroom and lives out the motto of "Enter to Learn. Leave to Serve." to provide service to the poor at various points around Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley.

I chose to do my service today with the Sophomore class. This is a class that has built a little bit of a reputation as being very spirited and lacking focus.  I was hoping to gain a better insight into this group of students, and as the quote above from Randy Pausch states, "Just give them a little more time and they almost always will impress you."  I was truly amazed by the group of students with whom I spent the day. 

We spent the day at Project Angel Food in Hollywood.   Project Angel Food's mission is to nourish the body and spirit of men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Volunteers and staff cook and deliver free and nutritious meals prepared with love throughout Los Angeles,
acting out of a sense of urgency because hunger and illness do not wait. Project Angel Food volunteers and staff deliver more than 14,000 meals every week to people in need.    http://www.angelfood.org/

 The ten sophomores that I spent the day with, were a joy to watch as they worked through a day of chopping vegetables, cooking hamburger patties, preparing hamburger accompaniments, roasting potatoes, packaging meal trays, washing down service tables and all the while never complaining and maintaining wonderful smiles the entire day. 

As Randy Pausch suggests, sometimes you just need to give these adolescents the time that they need to demonstrate what they are capable of.  Sometimes as educators we need to step back and gain a perspective of these young adults outside of the realm of our classroom to truly appreciate them for who they are and what they can become.  

 

  An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

 

12 Virtues of a Good Teacher

The Twelve Virtues of A Good Teacher

(12 key virtues listed by De La Salle)

 These twelve virtues are derived from the The Conduct of Schools  written by the Founder, Saint John Baptist de la Salle.

"The Twelve Virtues of a Good Teacher by Brother Agathon, fifth Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools from 1777 - 1795, incorporate virtues that are not isolated to teachers in catholic or christian schools but are universal to educators whose vocation is to instill, in students entrusted to their care, the love of learning that is essential to becoming a positive active member of the world we share.

I have been associated with Lasallian education for more than half of my life.  I graduated from a Lasallian high school and have spent the last twenty-one years teaching at a Lasallian school. 

My own commentary is how I see these twelve virtues in my life as an educator and how I try to live them out in my classroom.   

. Gravity (Seriousness)

Teachers earn respect by acting with dignity. They cultivate an assured and calming presence.

Effective teaching is about the quality of the relationship between the teacher and the student. This relationship does not begin and end with the bell. The responsibility of the teacher takes place in every action and word with students.  Be aware that in the role of teacher, the influence as a mentor is constant in everything the teacher does at all times: in the classroom, the hallway, the dining hall, the gymnasium, or out on the yard.

. Silence

The classroom atmosphere should normally be harmonious and quiet, leading to more effective teaching. The teacher will not talk too much.

The teacher understands the strength and weakness of the spoken word.  Knowing when to intercede in the process of learning, and when through silence the process of learning is enhanced.  The teacher understands when to stop talking and when to start listening.

In my classroom, the idea is to create an environment whereby the less I teach the more the students learn.  Empowering students to control and value their education.

. Humility

We are human. We make mistakes. We therefore never abuse our powers and instead make pupils feel respected.

The effective educator knows it is not about them, but about their students.  They see themselves as older siblings who mentor their students.  They share what they know but understand that they are not the focus - their students and the learning process are.

. Prudence

Teachers use their common sense, understanding what they need to do and what they need to avoid when dealing with children.

The Teacher puts into practice the very skill they hope to instill in their students - Common Sense.  The educator enacts the idea to do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do.

. Wisdom

The teacher’s knowledge and experience is applied with sound judgment. Wisdom may take time to acquire.

The Teacher remains a master of their domain by exhibiting the traits of a lifelong learner, remaining updated in the current developments and trends in their field.  Not only remaining abreast  of their content area but also those of education and the process of learning.  The educator demonstrates a passion for gaining and sharing knowledge and passes this on to the students entrusted to their care.

. Patience

The teacher who can keep cool, composed and even-tempered will be a better educator.

Not only a virtue in life, but a virtue that is natural part of the ongoing process of educating those students who are in need of guidance and understanding.  The educator must develop a thick skin in order to wade through the trials and tribulations of adolescents who have just as many difficulties with learning English, math and science as they do in dealing with their own insecurities, relationships and personal growth. The essence of this patience - is communication.

. Reserve (Self-control)

De La Salle wants teachers to control themselves and show restraint in the face of annoyance.

Knowing what to say and just as importantly when to say it, is the characteristic of the Teacher who understands reserve.  The Educator understands that communication takes many forms.  A smile can make a students day and an angry glare can set a student back.  Creating a safe environment for students enhances their ability to learn and provides greater avenues for students to explore new eperiences without the fear of failure.  

. Gentleness

Firmness and authority is tempered with kindness and courtesy such that the teacher is always approachable.

The best teaching is not formulaic; it’s personal. The educator develops an environment of trust between teacher and student where communication includes corrections and constructive criticism that are an accepted part of the learning process.  Where discipline is wielded not as a threat but as a means of maintaining an environment that meets the needs of all members of the learning community.

. Zeal

The Lasallian teacher is dedicated and committed whether it be in class preparation, correcting work, encouraging effort, supervising or coaching.

The difference between a good teacher and a great one is not expertise. It comes down to passion. Passion for the material and passion for teaching. This passion is translated to the students through each and every action, from creating and environment of learning, development and delivery of lessons, to the correction and encouragement of the students entrusted to their care.  In turn this desire becomes infectious and the passion is passed on to all members of the learning community.  

. Vigilance

The teacher is to be observant and discerning so as to promote values and prevent damage and danger. A caring teacher is vigilant.

The Educator takes on the role of older sibling, almost a guardian angel. The Teacher creates a learning environment that is safe for students physically, emotionally, socially and academically.

It is in this safe haven where the learning process can flourish and students can communicate effectively, work collaboratively and think critically.  In doing so the vigilant teacher provides an atmosphere in which each student can maximize their potential   

. Piety

The teacher, knowing each pupil is a child of God, will confide them to God’s protection while doing everything possible to prepare them for life.

This virtue is best summarized from one of Saint John Baptist de la Salle’s Meditations for the Time of Reflection,  “Let it be clear then, in all your relations with students who are entrusted to you, that you look upon yourself as ministers of God, acting with love, with a sincere and true zeal, accepting with much patience the difficulties you have to suffer.”

. Generosity

This puts service before personal convenience. De La Salle wants teachers to be unselfish in their giving, always available and approachable whether in or out of the classroom.

The Teacher lives the motto “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.” in all aspects of their life:  working with students both in and out of the classroom, participating in the life of the school community,  and demonstrating the traits of a life long learner. The educator voluntarily sacrifices their own interests for the benefit of the student’s growth, academically, spiritually and socially to maximize their potential.

My favorite virtue is ZEAL,  there is nothing as satisfying as seeing students recognize your passion for teaching and learning.  But more importantly experiencing the infectious nature of that passion as it moves through an entire classroom.

"Nothing great in this world has ever been

accomplished without PASSION."

                                                                         ~  Hebbel   ~