Posts By kateb
Climate Strike Week 1
First Climate Strike
On Friday, Sept 20th, I attended the first climate strike in Victoria of the global climate strike week! We blocked the intersection at Belleville and Government to peacefully protest for the earth and its many inhabitants. We were there to support the global climate strikers worldwide, the environment, and indigenous peoples who’s communities and ways of life are being affected by this crisis.
Why I Attended
As a participant and an observer, I was able to see the reasons for activists showing up and spearheading the event. There were different speakers who expressed their desire, and the dire need, to move away from fossil fuels. They did so through theatre, music, traditional speech, poetry, and dance. There were first nations speakers who expressed their concern about the impacts of a pipeline being built through their communities, and how this will negative effect some food sources they rely upon. I attended this strike to educate myself and stand in solidarity. As an environmentally conscious person, I had to be there. I really love this earth; its landscapes, animals, and most of the people who inhabit it. I want to be a part of the change towards a cleaner world, and if we can’t get there I can be content knowing that I tried to make it possible.
I wish I had seen more people from my cohort there. Although, many folks didn’t realize the strike had started. I think many people thought it was only on Friday, September 27th. As an educator, I really believe that it’s my duty to show up as an ally for the environment, and any one else who needs support in this crisis.
A Note on the Haters
While at the protest I was also able to create a little chalk art piece. Creating this gave me insight into some opposing views of climate change, and the types of aggression that accompany it. Some people walked over my chalk art piece, stomped on it while I was working, scoffed and swore at it and myself, and whispered passive aggressive phrases at me under their breath while walking by. It really is interesting how much hate some people have towards those who are trying to make the world a better place. I would love to have the opportunity to discuss with them why they have such anger and hatred towards environmentalist types. In the past when I’ve tried this, I am often met with hostility, so I didn’t engage this time. There was also a man who was wearing a shirt that read, “I LOVE FOSSIL FUELS”. He marched around the protest, smiling, challenging mostly younger students on their beliefs. Metaphorically, this man represented what we are fighting in the world – the insertion of ignorance and denial into a peaceful gathering of live beings.
- Verbal consent to use photos for this online class blog was provided by those in the photos
Professional, Unprofessional Online Presence
How Do Teachers Host an Authentic and Professional Online Presence?Â
Photo by Victoria Heath on Unsplash
The Presentation Made Me Wonder…
Today’s presentation with guest speaker Jesse Miller provided me with some valuable information regarding online safety, security, and presence as a teacher. It was both informative and unsettling. While I learned useful information, I’m left feeling unsettled and irritated that teachers are still held to a puritan standard. I wonder how we as teachers can hold an online presence that is true to ourselves and professional?
Oh, The Irony… And I rant.
I wonder why, in a time where we’re trying to teach honesty and transparency to youth, teachers are asked to essentially be flawless. Teachers cannot be witnessed in a photograph doing something legal and completely harmless, like having a glass of wine with a friend. As a teacher in training, I find this to be a potential invasion of my personal life. Not that a student sees a photograph of me drinking a glass of wine, but that I have been asked to not enjoy that glass of wine in the presence of anyone who may have a camera and post that online. To get persnickety about this, that would mean that I am not able to go anywhere where a camera and alcohol is present, on the chance that I may end up online with a glass of wine in hand. Same goes for other joys in life. What if I enjoy laying on a beach with my top off? While it is legal, and women have fought for centuries for equal rights and the end of objectification to women’s bodies, would I be reprimanded for doing this? Using the current logic, If a person decides to take a photograph of me without my knowing, places it online, and a student somehow sees it, I am the one who will be reprimanded despite my actions being legal.
How to (Hopefully) Ensure Privacy
Turn your privacy settings ON. What I gathered from the presentation is that in order to stay safe as a teacher in the world of online presences is to turn all social media settings to private. Never have a student as a contact/friend. Use an alias. Don’t tell other co-workers about your online presences. What other precautions could teachers take to keep their work and social life separate?
Final Thoughts
How do you see being able to express yourself honestly in social media, if there are parts of your life that have to be censored? Do you see this as being valid, given that teachers are teaching other peoples’ children? Do you think the censorship of teachers lives is outdated and needs to change? If so, why?
Here is a link to a CBC article about social media and its effects on teachers reputations –> https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/why-social-media-can-be-a-minefield-for-teachers-1.3219179
Thank you to Jesse Miller for the thought provoking presentation and being available to approach with questions regarding this issue.
Sources
unsplash.com
Unsplash Review
Unsplash: A Free and Fair Photo Sharing Resource
Photo by Ben Kolde on Unsplash
What Is It?
Unsplash.com is a website that provides users with free and high quality photographs, with an aesthetic similar to Pinterest (links at bottom). Unlike Photobucket or Flickr (links at bottom), Unsplash’s images are free for the public to use – no need to worry about copyright issues here, friends! Unsplash provides users with the freedom to choose from a variety of professional quality images that have been okayed by the artist to share.
Photo by Anete LĂĽsina on Unsplash
How Can I Use It?
Literally anyway you want. These images are essentially a visual dictionary that you can choose from and use however you like. It could be through blog posts, posters, slideshows, videos, printing onto a t-shirt, or any other way an image could be used.Â
A Note on Giving Back
While you don’t need to worry about copyright issues when you use a photo from Unsplash, there is the option to credit a photographer. Crediting a photographer is not required but it is a way to say thank you to the artists who are allowing their work to be taken and used for free by the public. Noting the photographer of an image you use is also a way of giving the photographer some publicity – again, a thank you to them for sharing their image with you.
Final Thoughts
While it’s not necessary to give credit to the photographer of the image you are using, would you consider it? If not, how come? How would you feel about sharing your own images on this site? Is it something you would consider doing as a means to provide free, high quality photographs to the public? If not, why?
Links