A teacher influences by example
The one who influenced my life the most as a child is Pete Seeger. For his Civil Rights involvement Pete was charged with "un-American activities" through a committee lead by the John Birch Society. Pete was cited with contempt along with Otto Nathan and Arthur Miller the playwright. he song he was convicted before Congress for was "Wasn't that a time." He was arrested and put in jail for singing this song.
A teacher stands by what is right
During the 60s and 70s Pete was being investigated by the CIA so he could no longer perform Civil Rights songs or produce the kind of music he did with the Weavers.
At that time he wrote kids music. The CIA didn't see anything wrong with that. But that is the kind of music that got stuck in my head as a kid in the 70s.
A teacher plants hope in the next generation
He was now reaching the future generations and with such power. Pete's music was not about himself but was about you the audience. Pete's voice wasn't strong. He would get the audience to sing and as they sang the song would come from them. This was a movement in song.
Pete was one of the most oppressed musicians in the 20th century. During this oppression he focused on kid's music and the effect on the generation was the opposite of what the government wanted. Children who grew up listening to Pete began to think and question.
The greatest teachers held one person as most important
Teaching is not about preparing cool videos and materials for kids to use easily. Teaching is your live. The greatest teacher spent most of his time with only a handful of students teaching them through his influence and a few short stories that had a clear point. When they were ready he sent them out to do the same and teach others. The whole world was shaken up by that teacher two thousand years ago.
Today I have seen few teachers come close who actually gave their lives for the message and served the ones he taught. I'm not sure what Pete Seeger believed about the greatest teacher but whether intentionally or not his life was in step.
What can teachers do today?
What can I say and do as a teacher today in 2020? Don't be afraid of anything. Learn who you are and what you care about and don't let anyone take that away. Help your students to realize who they are and how to think and question. Do things a little different. Don't make it hard on students but help them to enjoy the discover of education until they can realize the truth with their own eyes.
Continue to enjoy teaching
I am learning everyday and I'm making progress with live worksheets. I learned to embed sound into the worksheet so students can do listening. There is no limit to these worksheets. I can also embed youtube videos and make the student's learning process interactive. I have always had problems with education, but teaching I truly enjoy.
https://www.liveworksheets.com/ut1187778zt
The moment Freedom reigned
Just before I go, I wanted to share a more recent video of Pete before he passed away. This video is the inauguration ceremony in 2009. If even for a few moments the first amendment was held on high and it wasn't about the singer or the president, it was about America and the people who loved this country and loved one another.
No body living can ever stop me from walking that freedom highway.
I recommend this book Who Was Pete Seeger for anyone who wants to teach their children about Pete Seeger and the PBS documentary the Power of Song can be found on youtube.
