Jeffrey Francom

Thursday, March 5th 9am

"The student is infinitely more important than the subject matter." This well-known quote is attributed to Nel Noddings (1929-2022), who believed that caring should be the foundation of every K-12 education, and that our primarily responsibility as educators is to model caring behavior, engage students in dialogue, give opportunities to practice, and acknowledge (or confirm) progress when it occurs. Students are deeply influenced by the manner in which they are taught. Each semester, I invite undergraduate music education students to reflect on their secondary choral experiences. Most share examples of engaging repertoire, inspiring mentors, lifelong friendships, and unforgettable memories. Too often, they speak also of erratic conductors who swear or throw objects in fits of anger, or in other ways, demonstrate a sincere dislike for teaching. This session, co-presented by two undergraduate students from Idaho State University, will share specific strategies for establishing an ethic of care in the choral ensemble. Examples of modelling, dialogue, practice, and confirmation will be given primarily from work we do with the Pocatello Women's Correctional Center (PWCC) Choir. This session will also include survey results from 150 undergraduate choral students; resources from Fred Rogers, François Clemmons, and others who share similar philosophies about kindness in the classroom; and information about how to start a prison choir in Idaho.