What Do We Mean by 'Public'?
Dear Diane,
What nice way to spend a few days: with 600 to 700 wonderful educators, mostly teachers in a city I've come to love (Providence, great food) at a school (The MET) that always inspires me. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, and "it" comes to me annually in the form of the Coalition of Essential Schools Fall Forum.
Of course, I always manage to get into an argument or two when I shouldn't and live to regret it. But that's a learning experience, too. From the opening to the closing moment we heard from important people, including students. "LISTEN" was the theme of one of the amazing student plenary presentations, this one by the MET Singers. As for listening, it's not actually easy to do and is at the heart of good teaching. But listening can be especially difficult when we feel passionately! Passion can also fool us at times.
For example, I discovered an interesting book at the forum by the founder of Education Week and the president
