Revisiting A Critical Pedagogy of Place

Stepping outside of the classroom is an underrated way for a school to allow students to grow as a citizens.

 How do we do it with purpose?

 During the informal Jim Mathews video (below) on place-based education , he challenges us to embrace the current 'new localism' trend in local goods and produce, micro-enterprise, car sharing etc...a: "diverse act of resistance against homogenization and mass-consumerism." I appreciated the examples he uses, taking classes into the community, an edge into education, one of self-reliance.

 Mathews takes education researcher David A. Gruenewald's ground-breaking article    A Critical Pedagogy of Place and gives tangible examples for students growth and well being. Moreover, he highlights student agency that is able to steer teachers away from pushing their own agenda, a common problem (mostly perceived) but so important to be mindful of.

 We all need reminders (myself especially), Gruenewald calls it:
Decolonization: the light bulb that goes where we realize WE are part of the problem 

 Re-inhabitization: learning to live well and sustainable

 This revisit is key, I am so glad to have found this Mathews video, challenging me to reflect on my relationship between the kind of education I pursue and the kind of place I inhabit and leave for future generations.

 Resources of note:

 Examples of place-based learning proposals I like this one due to its many entry points

 Jim Mathews details a specific high school example encompassing all aspects through an ethnographic lens--he gets going at 2:40:00 of the chat below. 
A good database of examples for younger and middle grades is at the Promise of Place educational organizations website.

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Unknown said…
Paul Kelba. fantastic blog. would like to discuss further with you. please pm harvie.sarah@gmail.com
June 9, 2014 at 10:58 PM
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