Sample of what former students say about their own learning

My name is Sebastian.  I was a student of yours in Respect: A Process of Universal Humanity Program. Firstly, I’m writing to thank you for your unique class that was an important aspect of my educational development at Evergreen.  It afforded me the opportunity to pursue a varied, interdisciplinary and most importantly self directed course of study.  The format of Respect was all about understanding other voices.  In this course I began to understand that the diversity of voice and understanding in our world is not so simple and that there are indeed majority voices that seek to maintain their dominance.  Respect empowered the individual voice instead of allowing a dominant voice to supersede all others.  What an incredible undertaking.  For this effort I thank you.  Respect instilled in me a desire to give voice to those who seek it. 

    The important texts People’s History of the United States, and Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed were essential in making a foundation for my perception of freedom.  Studying alternative media sources became a huge aspect of my studies in your course.  The eventual result being a co-operation with other class members from Respect in making the Evergreen Infoshoppe. The mission of this group was based in making a space for “Do It Yourself” media in the form of self published work.  I have my basis in your course to thank for this.  I have a sense of the importance in the freedoms of the press, and freedom for all to access information. 

    This has led me to where I stand now, three years after graduating from Evergreen.  I am intending to pursue a Masters in Library and Information Science degree.


1) From: Jenna

#1 Travel accomodations(take time), looking into volunteering for SKIP an organization in Trujillo, Peru...helping to teach english and provide funds(and means for families to create their own funds)...to families who cannot afford basic schooling for their kids.

#2 Working at Dememeters garden. *Every thursday 9am group meets* Reading INTRODUCTION TO PERMACULTURE and FIVE ACRES AND INDEPENDENCE:A HANDBOOK FOR SMALL FARM MANAGEMENT. I want to study ancient culture and unveil mysterys of those whose connection to the universe was greater, BUT I also want to be able to live without submission to the never ending cycle of expenses and limitations that buying all our goods and foods entails. I feel that our food supply is contaminated, and feel the obvious solution is learn how to produce my own.

#3 In accordance with the idea of self-sustainability is the need to be able to heal ourselves. Enough perscriptions! I will be journaling my RAW FOOD healing experiment from NOV. 5 until JAN. 5 (leave for Peru Jan 6th), my main objective being to optimize immune function and ward off possible illness both here and in Peru. I will be referencing all works by Gabriel Cousins and reading THE ZODIAC AND THE SALTS OF SALVATION (biochemistry), PLANT SPIRIT MEDICINE and referencing THE NATURE DOCTOR, GREEN PHARMACY and many raw food guides. This portion also includes homeopathy and herbalism, which links back up with the work in the GARDEN.
#4 Spanish...slowly but surely.

#5 Read Pedagogy, Broad and Alien is this World, Dancing Wu-Li Masters and 100 years of solitude before Peru Trip. Continue to study the art of education and oppression.

#6 Read ART OF WAR, SECRETS OF THE ANCIENT INCAS, THE MYSTICAL QABALAH, THE ARRIVAL OF THE GODS(NAZCA SCRAPINGS IN PERU) AND related texts to research and correlate spiritual myth, especially concerning pre-inca culture and South America.


Jenna...If anyone has suggestions on any great resources for these topics please let me know. Namaste.

                   From John W
To:  Yvonne, David, Raul and Phil
My Dear Faculty of MITY2K,

I miss you guys . . .

Since "breaking camp" I've been hired in the Yelm School District and have had two somewhat successful years teaching in the 4th and 5th grades. (This year is also going by well.) That said, I must also inform you that
I've wanted to quit this *#$!^!! profession about 400 times now. Not so much because of the kids, but because of all the other crap that you guys tried warning us about.

Anyway, I finally received my real diploma from MIT just the other day, and I thought I'd share it with you below.

There was alot of negative "stuff" said about our program at the end its cycle -- I agreed with some of it, but most of it was very petty. Personally, I think TONAL was a wonderful experiment because I know my own reality, which is this:
Before coming to MIT2000, I was not a teacher. When I left, I felt as though I knew enough about myself that I could honestly teach from my heart without hurting a student. I don't know if that makes sense, but it's the only way I know how to put it. I'm in my classroom right now as I type this: My camp stake is inches behind me on the wall. It reminds me of you; It reminds me of the potential of raven medicine. (Thanks, David, for sharing that with us.)

Just thought I'd let you know: You may not have reached all of us those two years . . . but you reached me. You also reached others, as evidenced in my "diploma" below.

Be steadfast in your ways, Teachers: You taught well.

John
MIT2000

PS: Here's the diploma . . . I don't feel like quitting the profession today.

Dear Mr. Winslow:

We wonder if you know how much our daughter, Valerie, has benefited from your teaching last year.  She has excelled in her sixth grades classes this year and has become a leader and aide to her classmates.  The months you encouraged her to excel and challenged her to succeed has implanted into her personality that she will carry with her the rest of her life.  Granted, she has had some excellent teachers but I have seen a big change in Valerie this past year.  She has taken on responsibility with a very caring and loving attitude.

I attended a state education conference last month and one keynote speaker made us think back in time of a mentor/teacher that has influenced our personal life.  I had a hard time thinking of one of my childhood teachers,
but you came to mind immediately with Valerie.  When she is 40 years old and does this type of mental exercise she will immediately think of you.  One activity in particular you encouraged her in was the Tar Wars poster She turned it in to the state, and actually won 3rd place.  It was printed on this magazine (I've attached) that went out to hundreds of doctors across the state.  It will be printed in various forms and distributed throughout this year.  We are very proud of Valerie's accomplishments and thank you for taking the time, energy and caring concern for your students.  You have touched our hearts by the quality of your teaching and your authentic love for your students.  You are a great teacher!  We admire  and appreciate you for the time and attention you gave to our daughter last year.

				Sincerely,

				S & E

From: Michele

Your words mean a lot. You, David, and your class have affected my life in
such a huge way, words can't even express my appreciation for the
opportunity you have given to me and other students. Having some one in a
"college professor" position, acknowledge that the separation between
teacher and student is just that, a separation, and that we all have the
ability to learn from each other... and respect our abilities to be in
charge of our own learning, follow our own passions, and not think we have
to all be learning from the same books and lectures... is priceless. I have
had the opportunity to get to know MYSELF and MY gifts, because I finally
stopped being told what to learn, which is honestly all I ever wanted. Now I
don't have to have a mid life crisis because I've been inputing other
people's opinions and thoughts and cramming for tests, then graduating and
going... how do I think for myself??

I actually enrolled in your class by default. I got the registration days
wrong and the class I had orignally wanted was full. And ironically enough,
your class was one of the only one's I could get into (and given how full it
normally is, thinking back on it now, it was odd). I had no idea what the
class was, and when you guys walked out on the first day to let us handle
the dispute between who would get added into the class, I was baffled and
upset. But once I got the philosophy of the class, I realized it was what I
had been yearning for my WHOLE education experience. I've had enough things
happen like that in my life up to this point that I really do believe
everything happens for a reason. So thank you for helping create who I am
today and the wonderful happy life I live. Hope to stay in touch.

Michele
Eugene, Oregon

        "Every lesson is the first lesson.  Every time we dance, we do it for the first time.  It does not mean we forget what we already know.

It means that what we are doing is always new, because we are always doing it for the first time." - Al Chung Liang Huang The Dancing Wu Li
Masters By Gary Zukav
        "Whatever he does, he does with the enthusiasm of doing it for the first time.  This is the source of his unlimited energy.  Every
lesson that he teaches (or learns) is a first lesson.  Every dance he dances, he dances for the first time.  It is always new, personal, and
alive." - Gary Zukav The Dancing Wu Li Masters 

To learn about liberation, and libratory education a student must learn about oppression.  To challenge what is socially expectable education at
the same time providing a learning environment saturated with substance and opportunity, to trust and support students, and to believe one
hundred percent in what students are doing is what it means to be a faculty member in a student centered program.   The flexibility to
swiftly coordinate subject-to-subject, theory to praxis and practice is what it means to be a faculty member in a student centered program.  The
genuineness to always start with the first lesson, to courageously identify with students as equals and to allow the dialogical curriculum
of the students to emerge naturally without force, is what it means to be a faculty member in a student centered program. 
My Team quickly deconstructed the student teacher dichotomy from the first day of class with an authenticity that maintained
consistent throughout the entire year. My professor boldly commits himself to student centered learning with truly liberating pedagogy.  My Professor makes intellectual invitations to his students to exercise their higher level thinking skills.  My Professor has made a point of not getting in the way of
students learning but finding a way to coordinate his knowledge and wisdom in a compassionate way with the emerging curriculum of the
students

        The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of My Professor is patience and kindness.  My Professor always makes himself available, he is an excellent communicator, and is very easy to get in contact with.  He regularly stays after class to speak with students, and always listens
attentively to students so that he can support them with whatever they are doing.  He is very active in creating a learning community that is
rich in knowledge and is based upon freedom, the process of liberation, history, cultural pedagogy, and praxis; the action of reflection.  My Professor
is dedicated to his students and spends many weekends on campus making sure student's needs are being met.
        By creating the bridge program My Professor and his faculty team created the  most successful Native American studies program.  The bridge
program connected History: A Celebration of Place with the Reservation Based Community Determined program creating cultural and educational
opportunities unique only to Evergreen.  Students were given to opportunity to critically think about previous educational agendas, and
to go beyond learning about cultures, to learn from and with cultures other then their own.  
            Students of My Professor's become masters of their own thinking. They learn the value of curriculum development, and instruction.
Students become administrators of their own education while being immersed in an environment rich in culture, direction, and
opportunities.  Mr./Ms. My Professor is commited to student centered learning.  His abundance of knowledge greatly enriches the learning enviroment.  He empowers students and gives them the opportunity to take their education beyond modern conventions.  He is truly a great asset to The Evergreen State College.

A Learner