Professional Development Minutes

. . . that male toads have more developed vocal chords than female toads? Even in the animal kingdom, females are silenced. 

See, scholars like to have fun too. Really.

Toronto street art Photographed by Melissa Fockler 2011

The above images were photographed and edited by melissa fockler.

"They knew, for their own good reasons, what the world was like, and their experience acted as a filter through which any new message was tested, confirmed, rejected, challenged, and reinterpreted. Changing their minds would have meant changing the world they experienced, not simply convincing them of a new set of ideals around equality of opportunity and the desirability of a different world."  - Kessler, Ashenden, Connell and Dowsett (1985)

Created by melissa fockler

For the past year (and a bit), I've been writing. Writing to save my life . Writing to unveil reality. Writing to change my life (both literally and figuratively).  Taking the time to write has changed the thoughts inside my head, altered the way I read information,  inspired me to see the world differently, encouraged me to listen more attentively and prompted me to find my inner voice. So,  Speak your mind Free yourself with words. 

Courtesy of Clker.com Public libraries provide us with access to books, online publications, reference material, social programming, and much much more.  Do not allow our municipal government to privatize knowledge and above all learning.  What can you do to help? Sign the petition at:  Our Public Library

Created by melissa fockler

This past Friday morning, along with a billion other people, I curled up in front of the TV to watch the Royal wedding. Through all the commotion of someone else’s big day, I sat admiring Cinderella-like carriages, stunning bridal gowns and above all, Prince Charming .    Image courtesy of clker.com   This Royal affair, like Grimm fairy tales , serves to perpetuate the false hope of a young girl meeting her very own Royal Prince. Matchmaker reality TV specials, romantic comedies and TV networks devoted to televising soap o peras, are no better, as they only help to further sustain this myth .  All I have to say is, good luck living up to your "princely" expectations boys.  I cannot tell you how many little Princesses I saw walking the streets this past Halloween. Little girls all dressed in Cinderella ball-gowns-- elegant little ladies-- who have already been sold the myth of “Prince Charming”. Lillian Glass (2010) discuses this myth as a  ...

Whether you like it or not, nothing is permanent. Everything is always shifting, changing and evolving. It's learning to grow with change that's never ending.

I tend to spend a lot of time questioning:  Now that I know X, what do I do with X? What do I do with this new found knowledge? And most importantly, by using this knowledge, who benefits?  But "knowing" is simply not enough. How do we begin to use this information to better our lives, the lives of others and the world as a whole? Where do we start?  Living in an era of  information overload -- the age of technology and media bombardment, keeps us distanced from doing anything productive with the information we come to know. For instance, w hat are we suppose to do with all the information published on a daily basis? Is it intended to help us? Does it distract us from the bigger picture?   Self-portrait 2011