Wonderful conversation! I particularly liked the part about saying no EVEN to good things. This is the type of possibility that I think sometimes isn't seen. I was skeptical listening to the idea of a ban on electronic communication after 5pm, but I see how it is an example of cultivating a kind of silence to allow for new things. And it can be a commitment to others by creating an atmosphere. I mean I've been someone who has fussed too much over school things in non-school hours for large swaths of my time as a teacher. And someone who has totally tried to wash my hands of it outside of school hours.
I left the conversation feeling a sense of emphasis on letting things be in their place and having balance. I also appreciated, while there were the specific examples, that it seemed like Ruth was speaking more about the possibility of a view that could filter into lots of small decisions: there is no thing to do, just a stance that's possible.
In my school, we don't have an explicit policy about refraining from email outside of school hours, but we almost always do, including the principal. I am grateful.
Thank you for your thought-provoking conversation! I love how you pushed for specificity and brought up counter-examples: I can tell you're an English teacher with those expert moves to deepen thinking. :)
Wonderful conversation! I particularly liked the part about saying no EVEN to good things. This is the type of possibility that I think sometimes isn't seen. I was skeptical listening to the idea of a ban on electronic communication after 5pm, but I see how it is an example of cultivating a kind of silence to allow for new things. And it can be a commitment to others by creating an atmosphere. I mean I've been someone who has fussed too much over school things in non-school hours for large swaths of my time as a teacher. And someone who has totally tried to wash my hands of it outside of school hours.
I left the conversation feeling a sense of emphasis on letting things be in their place and having balance. I also appreciated, while there were the specific examples, that it seemed like Ruth was speaking more about the possibility of a view that could filter into lots of small decisions: there is no thing to do, just a stance that's possible.
In my school, we don't have an explicit policy about refraining from email outside of school hours, but we almost always do, including the principal. I am grateful.
Thank you for your thought-provoking conversation! I love how you pushed for specificity and brought up counter-examples: I can tell you're an English teacher with those expert moves to deepen thinking. :)
So good. It's the small shifts that lead to sustainable change.