I agree with Jack that it can be important to have affirmations for the work
particularly if working in a potentially hostile situation. For example in
China as a development-worker it was important for all steps in the work I
was involved in to be ratified by the local, regional and national
powers-that-be. This did at times act as a barrier to educational
development, or make the process very much slower, but at other times this
accountability fostered creativity and new ways of thinking. It also
encouraged rigour in all of our enquiries, in terms of finding evidence for
claims to have improved anything.
I think it entirely depends on the contexts in which we are working as to
whether external affirmations are sought or required. I am increasingly
finding that a degree of pragmatic idealism is an important quality to have
when challenging the status-quo, which is what a lot of educational
development work in any sphere seeks to do. Learning how to be accountable
doesn't have to be negative. Although at times laborious, it can also be a
positive fillip to development.
Warm regards, Moira
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