◆ SpookStack

for Negro candidates, and preparing to challenge the local political power structure. The classroom experience and the real life political experience, both for for you and for your students will be linked, and will overlap, This is how the classroom experience will become real. At the same time you will have to balance your local participation with the need to prepare for classes. In some communities iocai activity may go hevond politics, involving direct action, mass demonstrations, jail, etc. You must keep a sensitive ear to the ground so that if this should happen you can make a tactical choice as to the continuing educational program, and its possible modification. Educational techniques will depart considerably from the formal classroom lecture system many workers are used to from college days. Since one of the prime goals is to develop local leadership, it is important to help students express themselves. Hence discussion is the preferred technique. Discussion helps to encourage expression, brings feelings out inlo the open where they can be discussed and dealt with productively, develops participation on many levels, develops group Jayalty and responsibility, and develops critical and self-critical + faculties. as well as the ability to take criticism from others. While short lectures, socio-dirama, reading aloud, and singing can all be used, discussion should be used as 40 a follow-up in almost all cases. Here are some hints for better teaci:ir.z and dis- cussion leadership: 1. Subject matter should always be related to the student's level of experience, and his every-day problems. 2. No expression of anybody's feelings should ever be ignored or passed over. Bring them out and dis- cuss them honestly and with compassion. 3. The classroom atmosphere should be informal, but not sloppy. You may want to arrange seats in a circle, use first names, let the students lead occasionally, etc. 4. Sessions should always be prepared in advance, espacially if audio-visual aids are to be used in the most effective way. 5, At beginning of the session, summarize quickly what was covered the day before, or ask a atudent to do su. At the end of a session, summarize what was covered during the session, or let a student do so, and let the group know what will be done in the next session, 6. Keep the language simple, but don't talk down, At the same time, keep standards always up so that you get an example. 7. Hold your criticisms until a good give~and-take atmosphere has been established between you and the students. Be positive: praise accomplishments when- ever possible, especially before making a criticism. 41 ee |