Nothing is ever black and white

As I go through the Western program, I try to look for different mantras that professors use over and over, which is often, at least in their eyes, the most important thing to remember from the class. "I have no particular recollection of that individual" and 1-800-UHAUL are two items that quickly come to mind. The first words Dr. Closen used to start the class were "Nothing is ever black and white." Put simply, this could easily sum up many days of being an educator and, from Dr. Closen's unique perspective, an administrator. In Saturday's class this idea came up time and time again. I was fascinated to find a professor/ former superintendent that had so much inner city experience. I must admit, as the first hour moved on, I found myself unfamiliar with many of the terms used, such as RESPRO, having been out of teaching in Illinois for the past 3 years. Fortunately, the internet was close at hand and I was able to bridge my ignorance. I have found so many things that I want to understand and know more about that, as a world language teacher and ESL tutor, I don't run across because they don't have a direct effect on my classroom. I feel that so often as high school teachers we are isolated in our little 'subject islands' and not always getting the whole school picture. I look forward to the items and experiences that are to come in future weekends. Nothing is ever black and white...