POST-CONFLICT PEDAGOGY

Education is crucial to students' success and driving economic change. A strong democratic government should translate into improved gender and race equality at home and school. Education Professor Jonathan Jansen is a South African education leader who has developed a postconflict pedagogy that creates a more equitable school culture Jansen's "postconflict" pedagogy stemmed from his experience in transitioning a previously white university into a multicultural learning environment. In summary, Jansen's book, "Knowledge in the Blood: Confronting Race and the Apartheid Past" (2009: 262-278), outlines the following concepts:

The importance of listening

Disruption of received knowledge

Significance of pedagogic dissonance

Reframing victors & victims

Acknowledgement of brokenness

Importance of hope

Value of demonstrative leadership

Necessity of establishing riskaccommodating environments & changing

Source:Jansen(2009:262)

Jansen emphasises how in authoritarian societies, the natural compulsion of the teacher is to tell, demonstrate authority, and impart knowledge Jansen (2009: 263) maintains that in a post-conflict pedagogy, the teacher "consciously positions herself to listen for critical dialogue to take place in divided societies, schools, and classrooms on subjects of history, identity, and power "

Redefining my classroom practice and teaching process to a "post-conflict pedagogy" was difficult, but it gave my students hope I showed my students that I heard them and that things could change.

I told them they were valued and created space for them to grow their creative power. I still stay awake at night thinking about systemic change for global equality. I see potential for greater change by increasing access to technology, sharing transformative practices, and increasing social mobility.

I dream of the day no student struggles for bread or access to education I know this dream is going to require a radical shift from parents, government, and educational institutions. It's a dream I am committed to for the long haul on multiple fronts, but starting with one curriculum and one class at a time gave me a chance to ground my dreams in immediate change. South Africa may have transitioned politically to a democracy more than 20 years ago, but it is still a divided society - and sadly race and gen div sto see of c list ove div wit com and