Authentic Voices

I have something to admit.

Sometimes, when I read blog posts that the kids in my class have written, I cringe.

I keep a Suprglu page (which has been very, very helpful in an open blogging environment) which picks up all of the posts created by the kids in my class and pops them into my aggregator. But somedays, when I move through this list of posts, reading what they have written, I wonder about the wisdom of publishing what they have written to an international audience.

On the blogs of some kids, their spelling and grammar is terrible. On some blogs, they write posts that are questionable, advertising to the world that they are spending their weekends dong things that many people probably don't approve of. Sometimes they complain about how much they hate school, or an assignment I've given them or about other troubles they are having. But overall, this is the point. Their blogs are real. They are the authentic voices of small town Canadian kids living through the deepest, darkest depths of junior high. Out of all of the questionable posts, the poorly written posts, emerge pearls that the kids pay attention to. When kids write about the stupidity of drinking, other kids listen. When kids write about what they learned from a unit, or about an "aha" moment for them in the middle of an assignment, other kids listen and begin to consider these things themselves. When kids write about their struggles, their difficulties, and their anger, they become real for others in the classroom, and others around the world.

This is why I will never teach without blogs again.

Like the rest of the net, there is stuff on our blogs that I would not have minded if it had never been published; but I am not going to censor their voices if they are not a danger to themselves or others just because I don't agree with their viewpoint or because I think a post is not well written. Our blogs are not showcases of perfect writing and exceptional grammar. They are showcases of real lives, of a school year that has been very powerful, filled with authentic learning, struggles, and difficulties. They are our voices, our lives online.

Including today,  I have eight days left to teach, exams begin next Friday. Before then, I am having kids go through both of the blogs they have kept this year and spend time reflecting on their thoughts, their writing, and their thinking. It will be interesting to see what they have to say.

technorati tags:voices, classroom, blogs, learning, education

Comments

[Dean Shareski]

Great thoughts, I've already passed it on to some others. I'd like to add that beyond the "showcases of real voices", they are conversations of real voices. I'm always careful not to characterize blogs as simply windows into another's life/ideas but an open door to engage in learning.

I know that's what your kids have experienced and am always encouraged and challenged by your voice.

[Anne Davis]

This is one of my all-time favorite posts. I added it to my "Relevant posts" page on my wiki. (http://adavis.pbwiki.com/Relevant%20Posts) You are a role model for all of us. I posted further about it on my blog today at http://anne.teachesme.com/2006/06/13/kudos-to-clarence/

I can't wait to read your students' reflections. Thank you for continuing to share yours.