I write this at the beginning of January, amidst a wave of unprecedented events in the world. A global pandemic turned everything upside down and placed us in situations we had never been in before. We had to reinvent ourselves, without exception, figuring out how to continue doing what we do in a different way, and creating new ways to connect (in every sense) with others. All year, we tried different ways of being with others, building and sharing spaces with colleagues, teachers, students, family, and friends.
When a new medium emerges, practices from the previous media are first carried over until new, unique ways of being in it are found. Similarly, teachers faced the challenge of finding what was specific to this historical moment, rather than simply transferring in-person practices to a video call. Understanding and building what is meaningful is undoubtedly one of the most difficult but also the most rewarding tasks for a teacher.
It wasn’t easy at all to give education the importance it deserves in a time when the future seemed unclear. The goal of education is to project a better future, and when that long-term vision is clouded, justifying the effort becomes even more difficult.
2021 brings a new horizon, and I would like to think that we have taken some steps forward, that we have internalized some discussions about what is truly important, and that’s where we’re headed. Have a great year.
