Mike Watson (PC 93-95) is a geography teacher. For the last three years he worked at Waterford KaMhlaba UWC where he was able to extend his UWC experience to another level.  Mike is now back in his native Montreal taking some time out before he heads back to school.

 

“There is no single experience that convinced me that I wanted to make a career out of teaching, but two early experiences as a ‘teacher’ confirmed my passion for working with people and sharing my knowledge and skills.  Both occurred when I was a student at UWC: the first was as an English tutor, helping new students to improve their language skills to cope with the demands of life at Pearson College; the second was part of one of my service activities working as a SCUBA diving instructor, teaching physically disabled adults to SCUBA dive. Both these experiences showed me how incredibly rewarding it can be to give a little of yourself to help others learn or discover something that benefits them or enriches their lives. The satisfaction that derives from this is invaluable. 

 

“I consider myself a passionate learner. Being a teacher allows me to share my knowledge and passion with others, but also challenges me to continue to learn and question and reevaluate my own knowledge and understanding of the world. I also care deeply about the health of this planet and I feel a great sense of responsibility to try to help protect it.  Education is one of the most powerful tools in this struggle. Of course education has always been important, but now more than ever before we need, as David Orr, a thought-provoking educationalist, puts it, ‘planetary education’. The idea that I can help shape and direct young peoples’ attitudes to the world around them and give them tools to make good decisions offers powerful motivation as a teacher.  Indeed I know very well the incredible impact that a number of teachers had on my own development, and I think as teachers we are always trying to be that person – the one who inspires students to become passionate about learning and to be active and involved citizens.

 

“I have always been an optimist and an idealist. Admittedly, it is increasingly difficult to remain optimistic when we are constantly assaulted with news from Iraq, Darfur or Somalia, or when we read the latest reports on Global Warming and recognize the tremendous impacts that our actions are having on our remarkably fragile planet.
However despite these tremendous challenges I maintain an incredible belief in the power of humanity.  I am convinced that people are not as reckless, uncaring and irrational as our collective behaviour might suggest, and that people can and do change. And I believe that as educators we are in a unique position to shape and direct that change for the better.

 

“My hope is that we (as educators but also as individuals from all walks of life) will rise to the considerable challenges we face and that we will do so without losing our ability to enjoy life and all the little wonders it provides.

 

“Also, I agree fully with Christian Hodeige, recent Chair of the UWC International Board, about the new UWC mission statement: it gets better with repetition.  In that spirit, and at the risk of being too much of a UWC patriot, my hope is that we (as individual citizens, and not only as a UWC movement) will make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.