(ThyBlackMan.com) Nikki Giovanni’s presentations at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens and later in the day at the Schultz Center was filled with spunk and intellectual challenges to think outside the box when teaching children to inspire creativity and transformative ideas for future careers. Engagement, inspiration, mentoring and building a relationship are important between teachers their students and parents.
Ms. Giovanni an educator at Virginia Tech University for over
25 years and an internationally recognized poet and author shared
with the audience of Duval County Public School educators and
administrators that their choice of career is vitally needed, because
of the great influences teachers still have on generations of children
from Pre-K to even higher education.
“If everybody became a poet, the world would be much better.”
Sharing her life experiences, her writings, family upbringing, cultural
relationships that bind us as a community and nation, and even child
rearing adventures; Ms. Giovanni sought to connect with the audience to paint a poetic picture that education is transformative and continuous.
Referencing current events of the intricate relationship to past histories of the south and the current political, economic and educational settings influence on education and applying in the school environment; influencing the quality of life we seek to obtain and share with future generations.
The audience was entertained by her wit and wisdom, challenged by
her educational task to be better educators for all students, and tasked as professionals to be the best educators that can be to strengthen student knowledge and engage students to continue learning as a lifelong adventure.
Introduced by Francis Driscoll a recognized author located in
Jacksonville, Florida, Ms. Giovanni through the efforts of Director of
Early Childhood Education Sonya McSwain of Duval County Public
Schools and her highly talented team of educational specialists and
the involvement of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Jacksonville Alumnae
by Veronica Tutt, President, Ms. Giovanni shared valuable professional development best practices and strategies that benefited the attending teachers.
Some of Ms. Giovanni’s ideas were culturally sensitive because of
the cultural references and history of the north and south from the
Civil War to Civil Rights and changing historical conflicts of social
struggle, engagement and racial division. The direction was to show
that we must create a society that recognizes past historical situations but be willing to unify and move forward for the generations that are to come. Quality education is the direct path to guide all children to build a better future for everyone. A noteworthy statement from Ms. Giovanni was her reference to STEAM and that African American children need to be involved in the quest to explore space. Stating their contribution (African American children) is important because of how African Americans of the past contributed to the building of this nation, so African Americans are vital to all aspects of national growth.
A quote from Ms. Giovanni shares how we should respect each other
and treat each other with dignity. “There is always something to do. There are hungry people to feed, naked people to clothe, sick people to comfort and make well. And while I don’t expect you to save the world I do think it’s not asking too much for you to love those with whom you sleep, share the happiness of those whom you call friend, engage those among you who are visionary and remove from
your life those who offer you depression, despair and disrespect.”
Nikki Giovanni.
Staff Writer; William D. Jackson
Find out more about this talented writer over at; OCS For Education.
