There is no growth in the comfort zone

This week we began our Cultural Proficiency training. I was extremely impressed with your openness. I know some of you were uncomfortable with the conversations and opening yourself up in this type of setting, but I greatly appreciate your participation. As the title of this post infers, in order to grow we all need to feel a little uncomfortable. I am assuming many of you realized Wednesday that diversity means much more than ethnic background. It is important that we all become aware of the people around us and their backgrounds. Until we do this it will remain impossible to become a culturally proficient person. We need to conduct a true assessment of ourselves and our true beliefs. Until this self-assessment is in place we will never understand those we live with, work with, teach, or interact with each day.

I have already spoken with individual teachers that are wrestling with issues from their pasts. Some had tough upbringings and others had county club lives. Neither where you come from or the beliefs that existed in your home define you as a person. They definitely shape us and influence who we are, but we have the power to open our minds and to expand our horizons. Each day we all make decisions. We are all busy and it is easy to get caught up in "our world" but I would challenge you to learn something new about someone you work with or teach. What makes them tick, what influences in their lives shape their decisions. We are in an ever-changing world and we must learn about those around us.

We are teaching in a very exciting time in education. You are seeing changes in the education system with technology, diversity, and globalization that are forcing a transformation to our schools. Sitting children in rows and using rote memorization is a thing of the past and it took many years to move out of that philosophy. It will be difficult if not impossible to prepare students for the 21st century if we ourselves do not become culturally aware and proficient. Take a minute to observe another culture, ask questions and expand your horizon.