Hello my name is Tyler and I am a primary teacher. The things in my backpack represent who I am at this stage in my life. My backpack is filled with many different items depending on the time of year. What I put out for you to learn more about me are items I couldn’t live without and are usually always in my backpack. My laptop for work, iPhone, my inhaler for asthma, Aleve for my body aches after I play curling, my curling gloves because if they are not kept in there I will lose them. I also have my bible, my notepad and felts. I also included my sunglasses, my headphones and of course Purell. I also have my wallet in my bag. The different forms of text I have I would say are my laptop which I can write in, my iPhone where I can search information quickly, my bible which I can read ancient texts, and of course my notebook which I can quickly write down things or draw pictures. I think what these texts say about me is that I am open to many forms of communication and language. I like to have a variety of ways to produce communication be that in a form of a picture that I have drawn, a letter I have written or something I have read. I think there isn’t anything private hidden in my bag, people who know me would know and wouldn’t be shocked by anything in my backpack. My bag would look a little different 15-25 years ago. I wouldn’t have my bible or my curling gloves or even my laptop. My bag would include Star Trek comics or novels, a big red or black binder, and probably an old mushed up banana on the bottom or old dried up orange peels. If an archeologist was examining my bag I believe they would think that we were in a time where technology filled our lives. They might not even recognize what paper and pens are depending on how far into the future these archeologist are coming from.
Hey Tyler,
Really interesting to get an insight into this! I think a question I have – which I ask many people who carry religious texts and which I do not mean as a challenge at all – is whether you read the bible as literal or if you think it is open to interpretation? I always find it fascinating to see how texts in the bible have shifted as English has changed over the centuries, and often wonder how others read and frame them.
Curious to hear your answer!
Hi Tyler,
Like many ETEC students, I noticed your bag contains a mix of text types from digital to print. Do you think you will ever give up notebooks and felts for digital versions? I was also intrigued by your Bible also and looked for it; is it the black book with the crown of thorns? It is beautiful; and I find it interesting that to me, the image or symbol also tells a story. From the cover, it appears to be a contemporary version? My father preferred to read a modern English version rather than the King James Version. There seems to be a whole history of changing accessibly for common people with this text starting with writing in English rather than Latin. I really like the way you frame your description as it being a representation of you at this point in your life; you remind us that nothing is static, not text, not technology and not the people that interact with the text. Thanks for sharing the things that are necessary to your life!
Hi Rebecca, forgive me for not replying quickly as I am still trying to figure this out. I personally love the old fashioned tools for drawing and doodling. I dont think I will ever give them up. As for the bible, I am reading the New Living translation version.
Hi Jamie thanks for leaving a comment. I am still trying to figure this out, sorry about my late reply. I am new to the bible so I read it and think about how a certain situation would play out in my own life. I hope that answers your question. I took an English course way back in the day and was always penalized for interpreting readings wrong, thank goodness I do not teach like that and believe that everything written can be interpreted differently by everyone.