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My Experience as A Public School Educator
...and what to do about it.
"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." Confucius
Paul Bonner grew up in a life of privilege. The son of an Episcopal priest and a faithful mother fiercely dedicated to her family, Paul explored his world. Whether tromping through the woods, playing music, playing sports with friends, or developing panoramic paintings, the motivation was to explore life.
A student in the public schools. Learning the diversity and perspective of others led to an understanding of advocacy and avocation. Once graduating from Chattanooga High School, Paul matriculated to the University of the South (Sewanee), a small Episcopal liberal arts college where the breadth of learning directed him to a teaching career.
Paul’s social upbringing in the civil rights era along with the broad intellectual exposure provided by Sewanee formed an understanding that all human beings learn.
As a young teacher he discovered that all students are born with an innate desire to explore the world around them and manipulate things to make meaning for their lives. He therefore understood his role as a teacher was to bring his students to that perspective.
In 1986, Paul completed his first master’s in art education at UNC Greensboro and later completed his education with a Master of School Administration in 1999. After 17 years as an art teacher and coach he began his eight years as a middle school assistant principal and concluded his education career as a principal in elementary and middle schools.
In his 38 years as an educator, Paul found that the purpose of education is to provide an environment for a student that motivates curiosity, promotes inquiry, and enhances a vision of the self in the world. He strove to lead engaging learning environments centered on student experience that motivated inquiry, interests, and opportunity. His experience in the public schools demonstrated that the best way to do this was through student centered structure that promoted democratic social principles that developed a value for and intellectual pursuits with others.
Paul is now pursuing his advocacy for public education through writing and public speaking. He is currently working on non-fiction and fiction projects meant to illuminate the school environment and the challenges of the 21st century. There is a story about schooling that must be told to describe the critical role public schools have to play in our democracy.
Exploring Education Advocacy
Why This Matters
When I stepped into the classroom as a teacher, I discovered the opportunity that was before my students should I be provided the resources and autonomy to motivate inquiry.
What I Discovered
The centralized organizational model in Public Education that dictates time, curricula, and hierarchical political structure gets in the way of the critical relationship between the teacher, school community and the student.
What I Learned in the School House
My experience as a teacher and school administrator has shown me that the most significant impact on student learning opportunity comes from teaching that is relationship oriented in the vigorous pursuit of knowledge.
What Needs to Happen
It is critical that our communities recommit to public schools. Greater teacher autonomy and instructional support cannot happen through decentralized funding from the private sector. All funding derived from the American taxpayer dedicated to education should go to the school house.
My Purpose
I am here to tell my story about the public school classroom. Not because it is important to me, but to highlight the significance of individual stories for the intellectual, emotional, and social development for anyone who encounters the school house.
Contact Information for bonneresque
Please feel free to reach out for more information about my fiction and non fiction projects, public education advocacy. I look forward to connecting with you.
pbonner759@gmail.com