While attending an organic, raised bed gardening workshop I was struck by the master gardener’s commentary on weeds. He was a proponent of heavy mulching, no worry about weeds emerging. “Have you ever wondered why you’d see old farmers tilling their fields in the moonlight? Why would they work so long into the night?” Well, the simple answer was weeds. They could go years without worrying about the pests as long as they didn’t turn the soil over in the sunlight. “Almost all the weed seeds need is a flash of sun to germinate.” He gave us this pearl of wisdom in support of his recommendation not to till our soil. I, however, had a huge ah hah moment. Weed seeds as students! Not because they are weeds, no let me say up front that I view them with reverence and appreciation. The analogy for me was speaking to our disenfranchised students, the ones who for whatever reason have not been ignited by learning. Maybe all they need is a bit of sun – a flash of light on their passions to inspire a fresh bloom of inquiry and engagement.
Wildflower
I look to technology for many of these sparks. Look what it has done for us as we network on Twitter and attend keynotes and workshops via chatrooms and video. My learning curve has soared; the Internet brings us ever closer to one another as co-creators of learning. With guidance and intent. I really do believe our students can inspire themselves and each other to discover uncharted waters of learning and discovery. But, the average school is filled with kids who have stories of ache, discomfort, abandonment, increasing financial worry, addictions, fear, and the list continues, to contend with. Yes, there are many students who come from loving homes and all of their needs both physical and emotional are met. They are all attempting to navigate a demanding social structure and ever changing societal landscape. Our kids have ‘stress.’ They move, change, respond and adapt faster than we can imagine. School is a hurdle they must jump and jump with skill if they have any chance of keeping up. Imagine how that must feel when you are starting out so far behind the others?
So, what if technology cannot break through? Maybe the flash that is needed will be a guest speaker, field trip, group project, or community service activity. Maybe it is a chance to share their views on a topic that doesn’t really fit into the curriculum seamlessly. Maybe if asked what they are interested in they would show us how to engage them. Maybe we have to start teaching them with the idea that we will till all the soil, in the blazing light of day, till one day they too find the topic or tool that germinates their learners’ heart.
I have always viewed teaching from my gardener’s eye – how original! I love to plant seeds and watch them grow. To dig deep into the rich earth, worms and all, and feel the aches of my labor sweetly as the day wanes. I viewed my students as flowers to tend with care; always looking for the right balance of tools, structure, understanding, surprise, vision, challenge, creativity, acceptance, and oh so many other things to stand for the sun, rich earth, water, and hard work in the school garden. Not all of my students can be categorized this way anymore. Their gardens are paved over, tattooed, spiked, and YouTubed. New forms of sunlight are going to be needed to germinate their learning seeds. This gardener is going to pay more attention to cultivating all growing things, plants, vegetables, and weeds alike.
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