Educational Civility and Citizenship
The etymology of civility is from the Latin civilis “relating to a citizen, relating to public life, befitting a citizen; popular, affable, courteous”
I’ve done many blog posts on creating a more positive, nurturing, courteous, friendly, civil classroom or school culture.
I am going to take another pass at it again, but this time, through the lens of a classroom or school culture as it relates to a civilization.
The famous anthropologist, Margaret Mead, was once asked by a student what she thought were the first signs of a civilization in an ancient culture.
One would expect her to answer with things like pottery, tools or everyday objects like statues or jewelry or utensils.
Well, much to everyone’s surprise, Margaret Mead replied that the first sign of a civilization in an ancient culture is actually found in a broken human femur bone that has healed.
What? Quoi? Huh?
AND how does this relate to this blog topic of “educational civility and citizenship”? (more…)