Ngā mea kua ākona me ngā hua ka puta – nā John Loughran
In any collegial relationship, it is crucial to understand our own beliefs and assumptions, for they can dramatically shape how a situation unfolds. Our beliefs and assumptions underpin the taken-for-granted aspects of our practice. We may find it difficult to recognise them, even though we are demonstrating them in what we do much of the time. Sometimes they are more obvious to others than they are to ourselves. We make judgments based on them, and if we are not aware of this, we can inadvertently fail to be open-minded.
Whitehead (1993) drew much attention to the need for educators to be seen to live their educational values. When we attempt to identify our assumptions and beliefs, it is more likely that how we actually respond in situations will be closer to how we believe we should respond. This case is a strong reminder of the importance of understanding the beliefs and assumptions we bring to our professional interactions.
Tohutoro
Whitehead, J. (1993). The Growth of Educational Knowledge: Creating Your Own Living Educational Theories. Bournemouth: Hyde Publications.
