Education News | Page 35 inclusion , and to become aware of historical oppression , with Indigenous people , Black people , and so-called people of colour ."
The Play , Art , Narrative ( PAN ) summer institutes that Patrick and Karen taught for many years were also intended to open students ’ eyes to the structural and systemic racism in educational practices , in what teachers do . " If I ' m to believe the feedback from students , it changed a lot of teacher ' s ideas and ways of thinking about teaching , so that was , I think , pretty good work ," says Patrick .
The work we do is " hugely significant ," says Patrick . " Our students will be with kids about 197 days of the year for almost 6 hours per day . It is vitally important that we not only prepare students for this incredibly sensitive and important work , but also that we help them understand the realities of school life , and help them to look beyond the students in front of them to see the lives of those students and understand the importance of developing relationships with them and their families . The importance of this work behooves us to make sure we are doing all we can to help our preservice and in-service teachers become empathetic , authentic , and good listeners ." relationships with people and listen to people — really , really listen to people so they know you heard them . It ' s not about whether you agree with them or not . Let them know you heard them and that you understand how they are feeling or thinking about a situation ."
After retiring at the end of June 2022 , Patrick says , " I had a very privileged and charmed life . I was really lucky to work with great faculty and support staff . I loved it there . I found everything that the Faculty was doing intriguing . I worked alongside six deans while I was there . In my travels through the committees and programs I was involved with , faculty engagement was really refreshing and hopeful ."
Affirmation of a job well done came in the form of the International Play Association ' s Right to Play award which honoured Patrick in October for his career-long advocacy and service promoting the child ’ s right to play . A former student of Patrick ’ s , Whitney Blaisdell who nominated him for the award , says , “ Many may agree — this honour is very welldeserved .” ( Click the photo below to view a slideshow .)
Patrick ' s advice for the Faculty mirrors what he learned in his search for a good teacher : " Build