Stephen Downes

Readers understand, I think, that I endorse pluralism, and I think this is a good overview of what the concept means: "We understand pluralism as resting on two core pillars of reciprocal recognition and belonging: Reciprocal recognition means acknowledging the dignity, experiences and contributions of different groups in society. Belonging goes further than individual feelings of inclusion; it also means being meaningfully recognized within institutions and having real opportunities to shape collective life." I was thinking of that this week when reading In Education, for example, Jennifer MacDonald's review of Leddy and Miller's (2024) Teaching Where You Are: Weaving Indigenous and Slow Principles and Pedagogies (sadly behind a paywall). There's a skill - and it's hard, I think - to find that line between respecting values and feeling obligated to endorse those values as principles that guide one's own life.