Terry Brookes, vice-chairperson for Yellowknife Education District No. 1SA国际影视传媒檚 board of trustees, spoke to Yellowknifer recently what heSA国际影视传媒檚 learned as a trustee after nearly 30 years of service.

What is one interesting experience that youSA国际影视传媒檝e had during your time as a board trustee?

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 a tough one because thereSA国际影视传媒檚 lots.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was just down in Vancouver the previous week at the British Columbia School Trustees Association. (I was) in a big ballroom and (there were) brand new trustees and also veterans.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e having the same problems we do and that (creates a sense of) connection and you can relate to things.

SA国际影视传媒淭here are other people working on the same solutions (with) different ideas. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a real pleasure to see that.

SA国际影视传媒�(Education) is a broad topic. We might be ahead here, and behind there, and so itSA国际影视传媒檚 back and forth. That often happens in these conferences.SA国际影视传媒�

Brookes also cited a comment he heard while in Vancouver.

SA国际影视传媒淧olitics is what gets you elected. Governance is what gets things done.SA国际影视传媒�

Could you tell us about your job as a board trustee and how that relates to teaching?

SA国际影视传媒�(Teaching is) one of the few occupations where (you are thrown) into a classroom with a bunch of (grade two students) and (are) expected to survive. It takes support. It doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 matter how much academic training you have.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 an experience of how to handle 20, 25, 30 kids. It takes a real talent. I am envious of that because I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think I could do it but thatSA国际影视传媒檚 okay. ISA国际影视传媒檓 there to support those who can.SA国际影视传媒�

Brookes created an upside-down triangle with his arms and hands to help convey his next point.

SA国际影视传媒淚 am here at the bottom. ISA国际影视传媒檓 there to support the structureSA国际影视传媒� the upper level, the kids and the teachers.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 the integration of education, learning, and experience going on. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 my focus.SA国际影视传媒�

Could you share some of your philosophies on education?

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 want my grandchildren (to be) educated (the same way as) my children. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 not a criticism of the teachers of the time. (The next generation) will know more and should be able to do better (than the last generation).

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 always amazed when I read magazines on how (people) learn (and) how the brain works, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 not a one-stop for everybody. Some people are reflective learners, and some people are very tangible learners. Some people are intellectual, like they can look at something and they think about it and they learn (that way). Every child is different.

SA国际影视传媒淭o see the SA国际影视传媒榤agicSA国际影视传媒� occur, as kids have the SA国际影视传媒榓haSA国际影视传媒� moment, if you want to call it that it just amazes me.SA国际影视传媒�

Brookes compares education of times past, memorizing the solution to a single problem versus the modern approach of focusing on problem solving which applies to a variety of things.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to say (students are) filling up their brains. TodaySA国际影视传媒檚 philosophy, whatSA国际影视传媒檚 often called SA国际影视传媒�21st centurySA国际影视传媒� is more along a problem solver. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not rote learning (a memorization technique based on repetition).

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 so much stuff out there that we canSA国际影视传媒檛 teach you, but what we can teach you is how to understand, analyze, and problem solve an experience.SA国际影视传媒�

Students adapt to their environment

Brookes describes another issue surrounding the abilities of students, and uses a cartoon to help illustrate his point.

SA国际影视传媒�(Imagine) sitting at a desk and across (from you are a) bunch of different animals, (including) a fish and a monkey,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚f I rate intelligence by your ability to climb trees, a fish is a pretty stupid animal, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 adapted to its environment. We have to measure each individual to their special skills, and we need to tell them that (they are gifted in other areas, and not being able to climb a tree) doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 hold (them) back.SA国际影视传媒�

Brookes reinforces his point with another example.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 a magician (myself), and (once I) watched (another) card magician. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 really good. He sits in a wheelchair, and he has (only) one hand. How would I do that (if I had that limitation)? We havenSA国际影视传媒檛 counted him out because heSA国际影视传媒檚 in a wheelchair or heSA国际影视传媒檚 one-handed. He was enjoyable. He was adding to society. Everybody has skills to move forward. Everybody has skills to contribute. Part of school is to be able to bring those out, and I canSA国际影视传媒檛 do it. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 teachers and all the staff.SA国际影视传媒�