Sands of Time to Grains of Thought
- S.A.G.E. Vision
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
It has been stated that over the course of a journey, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Sentimentality aside, in the oversaturated media environment that the blogosphere occupies, it might be suggested that absence leads to the evaporation of readership. Although it has been over a year since our last post for S.A.G.E., that span of time has been marked by significant events and milestones encompassing the learning, leadership, love, and loss that define the arc of life. In many instances, the pause in sharing our thoughts on this platform became a necessary vehicle in deepening the reflective practices that emerged from our individual and collaborative endeavors. From working with prospective educators in Nagaland, India, engaging the thoughts of some of the most passionate educational thinkers of our day, coping with personal loss, to the exhilaration that comes with finding meaning through purpose, our year has opened up avenues that allow S.A.G.E. to pivot from a mere repository of thought to a framework that takes ideas composed to a transformative vision of application.
When we first began to venture toward contributing to the reimagining of education, a simple yet complex idea emerged: “Nothing changes if nothing changes.” At this point in time, those words could not hold a greater truth. An honest assessment of the structure, culture, and demands within the public education sector has demonstrated that institutional survival will always take precedence over learning. It is for that very reason that our desire to develop a framework capable of creating meaningful change is steadfast. From our earliest entry into the system, learning has always been at the core of our vision and at the heart of the ecosystems of thought we have facilitated. Even within the confines of a teacher-centered system built on unrealistic directives, overloaded curricula, and expectations that do not align with learners’ natural development, we have managed to circumvent these institutional defaults in an unwavering attempt to foster the essence of learning. We are deeply rooted in this belief, with a committed footing toward advocating for a shift in mindset that liberates learners from the systemic dogma that is antithetical to the identity, hope, and joy that come from learning. Breaking from traditional ways allows innovation to take hold. In doing so, a shift from the constraining experiences that expect the learner to fit into the system becomes a natural process where systems are instruments designed to enhance and inspire.
Our year of reflexive practices, along with reflective examination, symbolizes the space, time, and introspection that research has demonstrated as critical to sustained attainment. To that end, S.A.G.E. begins a new chapter in which words are mechanisms for action, and active engagement becomes the vehicle for sharing findings, advancing theoretical musings, while bringing the essence of our vision to reality. For those who have remained with us, we look forward to utilizing this platform to document the exciting shifts we believe will help create pathways of excellence for all those passionate about learning.
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