tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1203348640817509344.post5206902036331659149..comments2023-09-02T08:34:31.037-07:00Comments on Maïté MAPP DTP : "Exchange is the teacher of many things"MaiteMAPPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196585387861533651noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1203348640817509344.post-23370875771379957202017-10-07T02:58:52.188-07:002017-10-07T02:58:52.188-07:00I also have experienced reluctance from other teac...I also have experienced reluctance from other teachers to share their ideas or not open the studio door to visiting teachers. This I can relate to in early teaching days myself as I had worked hard to establish my business from scratch and my practise was 'special' and there were secret methods that needed to be kept!! (loved the secret recipe)! Or else, when the 'competition' gets their hands on your ideas they'll steal your students!!! Not altogether untrue however! This sense of 'lack of trust' comes from living in a fiercely competitive profession and I do believe as performers we are all mostly insecure. As I am now an 'older' teacher my priorities have shifted. I am far more 'child focused' and less worried about what other people might steal! It is with collaboration and friendship that our greatest ideas might unfold together after all. Also, I won't be here forever and other teachers will soon fill my shoes. I believe this is also a dynamic we should use with our children in class. Setting them up to work together to produce something unique rather than setting them up to compete against each other.<br />After 8 months of providing maternity cover for a teacher friend of mine, I enjoyed working with her students and seeing how they had developed in different ways from my own and how the school was managed. But the greatest satisfaction for me was sharing our ideas. Baby has arrived and I was happy to help for a short while, but I don't intend to try to coerce her students across to my school. But, sadly some teachers would. It is with this lack of trust that come the shut door.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176304091027510679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1203348640817509344.post-10848290598240733412017-10-06T00:39:14.063-07:002017-10-06T00:39:14.063-07:00It is comforting to see that I am not the only one...It is comforting to see that I am not the only one experiencing this but at the same time it is sad to see that teachers from 4 completely different parts in the world know what I am talking about. I agree with Parimala that if one decides to be a teacher, it means that one has to give and not keep. I love the idea of guest teachers. I am only at the beginning of my teaching career and my students are still discovering my way of teaching and my style and I am still trying to "sell" myself and my classes, but already I want to invite guest teachers so my students and myself can learn something different and new. I love to watch classes and listen to teachers so I can combine the ideas that I find interesting with my own ideas. It is such an easy and social way to further one's knowledge. But it is sad that there are always "family members" who wish to keep their "recipes" secret. MaiteMAPPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17196585387861533651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1203348640817509344.post-85486637822244684602017-10-03T19:45:16.993-07:002017-10-03T19:45:16.993-07:00I don't know either, but it frustrates me. The...I don't know either, but it frustrates me. The quickest example I can think of is in those recipes that are family secrets--as part of a family where we share all our recipes because we want everyone to enjoy them as much as we do, I never could understand it. And it's the same with dance--why not share as much knowledge and collaborate as much as possible? It's good for us and good for the students too, I think.Hannah Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06395953353915302485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1203348640817509344.post-68293268155913244202017-09-28T08:32:31.810-07:002017-09-28T08:32:31.810-07:00Hi Maïté, you really have touched on a valid point...Hi Maïté, you really have touched on a valid point here that I have a deep understanding for. I have lived now for 17 years in a town where I have felt so alone and a need that I have to "prove" myself to be a part of the dance environment here. I've never felt accepted after hearing from students that I was "to strict", "to English", "to this and that". When I asked other teachers if it would be possible to watch some classes there were always excuses. I never understood why and it hurt and saddened me to the core. When I was asked 4 years ago to teach at the university I felt like I was "accepted", I had passed my long exam period! What changed for me was there were a constant flow of guest teachers, who never said no to me watching their classes. They also had the time to chat after which was a breath of fresh air, they love to chat and I totally threw myself into our conversations. I don't know why certain teachers behave the way they do but unfortunately they do. I have realised that I can be the same and withhold my knowledge (for what it's worth!) to myself or I can share my knowledge with those who think it's of help. I prefer the latter. My knowledge came from somewhere, my teachers at least have some influence in this, and it's not exclusive to me. Like many of us we are givers in our profession and why should it stop at our students and not include peers and colleagues? I have no answer really except I know who I am, and I want to be "generous" with my knowledge and I will be.SamAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11590679680912767605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1203348640817509344.post-42552064906717463272017-09-28T05:29:55.117-07:002017-09-28T05:29:55.117-07:00Hi,
I thoroughly resonate with whatever you have e...Hi,<br />I thoroughly resonate with whatever you have expressed. I guess this is a very common trait in any profession. There are many artists who are egoist due to their very own nature however, one thing I have noticed is that, to be a performer it requires a little ego in an ego centric business, but to be a dance teacher one has to be completely devoid of ego and should always be a giver. I am truly with you to exchange and to stay connected in this journey of learning. Thanks Maitee.Parimala Hansogehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06739471136382953545noreply@blogger.com