Parkour, according to Bill Genereux, is “the sport of traversing environmental obstacles by running, climbing, or leaping rapidly and efficiently.” It is such an intense sport and I thoroughly enjoy his comparison of parkour to education. There are (and will continue to be) many obstacles that we as educators will face going into the field of education. However, Genereux states that we should see these challenges as a parkour obstacle and jump, climb, and leap over it. If we fail, we fail, but we will get right back up and continue to be fearless when facing these challenges. As Ralph Waldo Emerson states, “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up each time we fall.” It is also important for students to see the teacher as human. Witnessing us rise from our struggles and failed attempts will allow students to feel ‘okay’ when they make their own mistakes, and will see that it is possible to rise from them.
Learning is a journey that teacher and student should face hand in hand and although it is scary, some important lessons can be learned by diving in head first together. This is a skill that is easier said than done, but should be constantly pursued.
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