Joshua Block Aotearoa New Zealand is a bicultural country. The reality of what this means is complex in a place where the history of human habitation and the beginnings of cultural conflict were quite recent (source). On a physical level, many schools I’ve visited prominently display Māori art: Biculturalism means that there is a legal obligation to Māori people, despite […]Read Post ›
The other day I sat in the front of a classroom north of Wellington facing thirty teenagers. We had met thirty minutes earlier. I had heard from them about their school and their community before sharing information about my school and my students in Philly. “What else would you like to know?” I asked. “Ask […]Read Post ›
At a time when so many lived realities are under attack, safe spaces are necessary. Our schools and our classrooms provide opportunities to work towards the world we want. At a time of political upheaval, when leaders model behaviors that we would not accept in our own communities and hate seems to be empowered, our […]Read Post ›
My last several weeks in New Zealand have been full: visiting schools, connecting with New Zealanders, learning about different NZ cultures, adapting to life in a new city, and exploring a new landscape. The more schools I visit, the more educators I meet, and the more classes I observe, the more I think about the importance […]Read Post ›
Earlier this week I was asked to present to the staff of Porirua College, a secondary school outside of Wellington. I’ve spoken to and worked with teachers in many different contexts but the thought of standing in front of a room of teachers from a different culture, who teach in a school that mainly serves […]Read Post ›
Mr J Block 