Category: Edci 532

Hayashi Studio film is a powerful film that looks at the past of Japanese Canadians in Cumberland. As someone who grew up on Vancouver Island and had no knowledge of this studio, I found this very interesting, and it reinforced the idea that they stated in the film of “we are a community and nothing is there now” because “it is not the dominant narrative”. When reading through the Thom’s article and reflecting on the Hayashi Studio video, the importance of photos and documenting while also sharing and hearing from knowledge keepers and elders. Within my practice as a teacher, this has also been true in terms of reporting and teaching diversity (such as First Peoples Knowledge).

Something that stood out in Thom’s reading is the reference to a compass that is spinning continuously in terms of the question “Where am I?”. When first reflecting on this question you can have a specific answer but really there is lots to uncover as Aoki referred to in our previous reading.  I really value the image of a circle and compass as it connects my previous knowledges together, whether that is the Bronfenbrenner theory, the medicine wheel, dance, Technology, Pedagogy, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) Model and even certain aspects of BC curriculum. I value these models as it demonstrates that elements are working together and that it is a continuous process. This emphasizes that there is the ability to return “home” as pointed out by Thom who shared Aoki’s articles. Thus, in terms of this course I believe a circular model is important as we are able to return to various learnings and experiences and connect to present learnings in order to create future ideas and build on others. As such we are able to come “from a completely different perspective” (Thom, 2024, p.6).

All in all, in a world where we lack present engagement. It is my belief that we have a huge advantage in terms of being able to understand our past through pictures as there is easily accessible ways to photograph and share information online. This online global expansion, in my opinion, helps us become more aware of worldwide problems as knowledge is at our fingertips if we carefully research it and are curious about the diverse perspectives. Getting to read, different perspectives and hear of various experiences through various blogs, documents, research is thus empowering to our future and how we can be on a quest and understand our personal growth and journeys.

Thom, J. S. (2024). Understanding Curriculum Amidst Doing Curriculum Research. In P. P. Trifonas & S. Jagger (Eds.), Handbook of Curriculum Theory and Research (pp. 1–25). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82976-6_46-2

“Music is one of the first places where racism breaks down. Music is so easy to get at: You can just sit there, relax and listen. The colour of the person doesn’t matter.” (Morrow, 2013, para 14)

I wanted to start my post with a quote that Mr. Aoki shared to CBC Globe and Mail. As someone who values the Arts, I believe that this statement is true and in my experience music and specifically dance have been great coping mechanisms that have shaped my practice. Much like Mr. Aoki I use music daily in my life. As teachers it is important to understand and dive deep into our pasts to help us understand our roots and better the future. Thus as Aoki shares it is important to uncover and understand ourselves first.

A quote that stood out to me was “I should learn to see life within the fullness of a double or even a multiple vision” (Pinar & Irwin, 2004, p.347). This in teaching is so crucial as many of our learners have diverse backgrounds and we must teach to all their needs and experiences. I believe that my experience of having a disability has shaped some of my experiences and when reading about Aoki’s story, there were similarities. I think reading and learning about past histories allows us as people and educators to understand and be more empathetic. As such doing the best you can to promote change and better the future is important and even more meaningful when you understand and can make connections to your past experiences.

In regards to the key questions where am I currently and where could I be in the future. I feel as though I am a passionate and dedicated lifelong learner who is committed to collaborate and grow. This year, I participated in not only professional practice but also more personal self-care, which has only made me stronger as an educator and person. It was a challenging year for me teaching in my classroom with numerous events. These experiences have only made me grow. In the future, I strive to be a mentor as I have had so many individuals that have contributed positively to my journey.

References

Pinar, W. F., & Irwin, R. L. (2004). Reflections of a Japanese Canadian Teacher Experiencing Ethnicity 1 (1979). In Curriculum in a New Key (1st ed., pp. 333–348). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781410611390-26

Morrow, F. (2013, Feb 19). Harry Aoki, 91, overcame wartime internment to flourish as a musician. The Globe and Mail.  https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/harry-aoki-91-overcame-wartime-internment-to-flourish-as-a-musician/article8876769/?service=mobile