FinDooley.com

Philosophy

As an explorer and seeker of justice, my philosophy of education and awareness of how learning occurs derives from discovery. We are created unique and are gifted with Multiple Intelligences. Our Creator bids us to make an honorable try at overcoming injustice and the inequalities of our births.

Learning takes place by engagement of our Multiple Intelligences. Although higher esteem is afforded Linguistic, Mathematic, and Interpersonal Intelligences, those who are more able in Kinesthetic, Natural, Spatial, and Spiritual Intelligences can succeed. They can strengthen their Linguistic and Mathematic performances by leveraging off their preferred learning pathways. Students are quick to agree that they are engaging Mathematic Intelligences when they perform feats on the basketball court. Likewise they are ready to acknowledge that their Linguistic talents are displayed by emphatic recitations of songs. The harder task is to overcome Intrapersonal anxieties which derive from historical wrongs, insecurity, anger, and shame.

The role of the teacher is to assist students in overcoming injustice and the inequalities of our births. Discovery of the honors of disregarded heritages is empowering. Spiritual Intelligence provides strategies for overcoming familial and tribal woundings. Some of the highly regarded felons in history include our founding fathers and King David. The teacher must encourage and while doing so be credible.

The Role of the Students: The students must work in group, in pair with their teacher, and alone but always supported by the resources mustered by school. Learning should excite, be planned and methodical. It should challenge us to seek allies. We should frequently stand and deliver. It is important to laugh while we stumble.

Cross Cultural Education: As volunteer educator I engaged in learning with the incarcerated inside the walls of the North Dakota State Prison. We crossed barriers of resentment and shame. We meet to discover nearly lost heritages and to study character. Our lessons focused upon Law and Natural History. Our videos displayed the hunters and fishers of the Native American Nations. We convinced each other to find what is honorable in our cultures and keep on learning.