In our second PgCert Seminar we focused on the topic of Knowledge and Values of Teaching, we were encouraged to choose something from the unit reading list related to values and ethics and make some notes about whether you agree with it. This blog is an extension of those thoughts.
Bell Hooks is a name that I am familiar with, but this was the first time I had read the book “All About Love” which explores the ethics, values and significance of love in both individual and collective lives. She asserts that love is more than a feeling; rather it can be an intentional choice. These same values can be applied to pedagogy as well as its educational context.
As educators, I believe it should be our responsibility to create an atmosphere conducive to learning that promotes a sense of community and belonging. To do this effectively, we must be willing to listen and empathise with the students’ and their diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Hooks also puts an emphasis the importance of honesty and vulnerability in relationships in her book. Teachers who demonstrate this kind of vulnerability with their students create an atmosphere of trust and openness, enabling students to share their own thoughts and feelings more comfortably. Although I’d argue that boundaries must be implemented to ensure wellbeing of both students and teachers.
Through love and empathy, we can foster creativity, critical thought, and inclusion by elevating love above all else. Hooks’ vision that love has transformative power can guide our pedagogical practices in meaningful ways.
Bibliography:
hooks, b. (2000) All About Love. New York: HarperCollins