John Creger, Partnership Educator, author and English teacher at American High School in Fremont, CA, wrote in recently to share an update on his student’s success and his new teacher’s professional development courses.
As part of their curriculum John’s students submit Partnership essays that support their Personal Creed Project (a classroom-based rite of passage that John has developed over the past ten years with his sophomore classes). John shared his student Nandana’s essay, in which she examines classic literature through the lens of Riane Eisler’s domination-Partnership social system models. Nandana’s writes, “As shown by the characters in A Thousand Splendid Suns, Night, and Jane Eyre, the oppressed members of a dominator society can overcome their persecutors’ wills through the bonds they share, and their emotional resolve. Moreover, the dominators’ tactics are often self-sabotaging and doom them to failure. Real power is flexible. It comes from cooperation, compromise, and partnership, as the examples in these stories show.”
John shared the work of his student Meryl Mathew who presented an inspiring Personal Creed project video that draws from a solid foundation of Partnership values and principles. He writes, “This [class group] was probably the kindest, most supportive group I’ve taught in my 30+ years in the classroom. It was also filled with what I would call advanced thinkers…the fact that the class was 86% female may have everything to do with it”.
“Real power is flexible. It comes from cooperation, compromise, and Partnership”. — Nandana Venkitesh
John offers two teacher professional development courses through The Heritage Institute: Teach Your Students to Find Themselves in Unsettling Times and Connecting with Hard-to-Reach and Marginalized Students.
Teachers seeking to earn credits and incorporate their Partnership-based activism into their curriculum are also encouraged to consider the World We Want self-design course (through The Heritage Institute), taught by CPS’ Educational Development Lead Ann Amberg.
Thank you John for this inspiring update and we are heartened to hear how students and educators are motivated and empowered by your creative Partnership teaching.
Contact John at creger@jps.net.
Also see:
What I’m Learning About Partnership Education
The Personal Creed Project and a New Vision of Learning: Teaching the Universe of Meaning In and Beyond the Classroom by John Creger
Tomorrow’s Children by Riane Eisler
Happy to see this story about John Creger. He was one of several teachers interviewed for the “Meetings With Remarkable Educators” podcasts which are still available on line. So, too, this happens to be where I learned of Riane Eisler and her work! Ron Miller as well. You’ll have to check out the podcasts as there are several memorable interviews/transcripts with educators important to know about. (Link to the podcasts and transcripts.) https://www.remarkable-educators.com
John Creger talks about being influenced by James Moffett who wrote “The Universal Schoolhouse” which has become a focal point of mine. I wish this book itself had its own presence online in form of a website and or Facebook page.
I began my passion for education with Montessori and have since explored other holistic educations and holistic educators. I hope in some way to inspire others to look into this somewhat nebulous term within the context of education.
Any time I write about the ways education might evolve to serve all and everyone’s own unique gifts I include several educators like Riane Eisler, John Creger, James Moffett, and Ron Miller. Thank you, so much!