Back Seat

I recently attended a workshop aimed at teaching people

how to survive

very different perspectives. Like, if you’re a “blue” person (a Democrat), how to stay respectfully present to a “red” person (a Republican). And vice-versa.

The two skills we practiced in this initial training were listening (actively, with genuine curiosity) and speaking (communicating in a collaborative way). Crucial, right?

I was amazed by how difficult these skills were for most of the participants.

I’m thinking about gardens — that is, staying in them — and teaching. I’m thinking about knowing and being curious about what others — say, students — know. I’m thinking about listening (actively, with genuine curiosity) and speaking (communicating in a collaborative way) in classrooms. I’m thinking about the Nth.

I’m thinking about the importance of taking the back seat and allowing others — like students — to sit in front. I’m thinking about

the power of being present.

How many human beings are good at this? At taking the back seat? At being genuinely curious about someone else, about saying very little about themselves when given the chance, about asking questions and enjoying the answers? At being present? Genuinely?

How many teachers are good at this? We tend to take center stage, since we’re the drivers of the curriculum and the learning, always on the front burner, always in the front seat. Ha! Always in the

hot seat.

How many teachers are skilled at simply being present?

What difference does being present make in teaching and learning?

Mantra: Those questions.