Staff Training Goes to the Movies

08/08/2005

Staff Training Goes to the Movies

They quarrel about an egg and let the hen fly.
German Proverb

Bonnie and I just enjoyed watching the French documentary film “To Be and To Have.” (http://chipsquaw.free.fr/etreetavoir/) It’s a delightful look at a year in a one-room schoolhouse in rural France. The film shows, without narration, the teacher working closely and caringly with his 13 students aged four to eleven.

This film would make a great staff discussion sparker. While it is clear that the teacher dearly loves his students, in watching him work with them for a year, there are plenty of opportunities to second guess his style, to appreciate his approaches, and to observe the pros and cons of multi-age caregiving. There are dozens of points where you could stop the film and have a great discussion analyzing what you saw and applying it to your classrooms.

Plus you will enjoy the children and the scenery.

Pass the popcorn.

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