Hands Back Hands Forward

The metaphors we use in our daily conversations are so powerful.  The convey imagery, suggest relationships, and in just a few words, tell entire stories.  Context and timing matter in their telling, as do how we incorporate them into speech or writing. Metaphors can enlighten, engage, confuse, or alienate audiences, depending on how and when we use them.

I have often reread Jeanette Armstrong’s article entitled “Let Us Begin With Courage” as a fantastic reference for understanding the Okanagan-specific term En’owkin as a framework and metaphor for education. En’owkin calls to mind the imagery of “liquid being absorbed drop by single drop through the head (mind)”, describing the integrative, gentle, nurturing process of learning. En’owkin is also the name given to the learning center by the community Elders, as well as the name of the process of collaborative community decision making. Within this one word is packed a metaphor for learning, a process of problem-solving, and culturally-centric framework for supporting the community.

Conversely, I remember how a poorly chosen school metaphor abruptly triggered my defenses. I was the new teacher at a district-wide professional development day, one of few visibly racialized teachers in the two hundred or so faculty. Most of the day was a blur of new names and faces, but I distinctly recall the superintendent saying one single sentence: “we’ll just circle up our wagons and wait it out.” I couldn’t hear anything after that except my own heartbeat in my ears. Was she assuming all these teachers would be in the wagon train with her? All I knew was that historically, my people were not wagon riders.  At that moment, I knew I was not in a community that was inclusive of me.

What are the metaphors we use when we talk about education?  What language do we use to describe schools, teaching, and our classrooms? What are the images we invoke when we talk about classrooms as battlegrounds or students as customers?  How do these metaphors impact our relationships?

Armstrong, J. (2004). Let us begin with courage. The Center for Ecoliteracy. Retrieved from http://www.ecoliteracy.org/essays/let-us-begin-courage