I’ve always had a strong desire to explore teaching and learning as deep, rich, and aesthetic processes. Beautiful, life-giving, and creative rather than dry, boring, and joyless.
Teaching (as well as learning) requires courage, an open heart, and the willingness to be vulnerable. But instead of noticing and honoring the inherent beauty and vulnerability of educational settings, our focus in education has often been abstract and rule-based, taking us far away from the experience of beauty and depth.
The word aesthetics comes from the Greek word “aisthenesthai” which is the “ability to perceive.” Here’s my blog post on “aesthetic space” in teaching and learning:
https://www.kimhermanson.com/2017/09/05/what-is-aesthetic-space-and-why-is-it-important/