European Identity - Individual, Group and Society - HumanitarianNet

126 EUROPEAN IDENTITY. INDIVIDUAL, GROUP AND SOCIETYrepeat what others will say with greater authority and knowledge.However, I think that educating from this perspective implies a revisionof our attitude towards change, as far as Schools are concerned.In many of our countries successive reforms have taken placethroughout the past years. It is true that many things have changedwith regards to curricula, disciplinary programmes, methodologies andthe influence of the hidden curriculum. However, and at least as far as Iknow, there are aspects which are still hindering and subverting theends and goals at the various educational levels. One of them is thestudent assessment system; others have to do with the identity and thesocial recognition of teachers and schools. It is convenient to identifyand define these obstacles in their respective contexts.Alistair Ross will contribute his experience on these topics andspecially the work that the CE Thematic Network is carrying out.To conclude, I would like to briefly refer to teachers. Their role inthe educational process and in front of the students is highly relevant.However, many teachers, in the midst of so many swift changes andreforms, are experiencing the uncertainty of not knowing what to do,oscillating between the still common approach of that who «knowseverything that needs to be taught» and that who encouragesstudents and jointly does research and looks for solutions.There is a not knowing which constitutes knowledge. We just need tobe daring. We cannot remain motionless in the thick of things, in the heartof change, there where tomorrow´s men and women are being forged.The influence of a teacher in the formation of his students is verysignificant. I truly believe that one good teacher has more influence inthe educational process of a young person and in the development ofhis personality than ten grey teachers. Congratulations!It only remains to be said that I truly hope that all of us who areeducators, one way or another, look up to this task with love andhope. I would like to express this wish echoing another poet andteacher from my country, Sebastião da Gama, who wrote the followingin his diary, in 1948:«... e já agora, para fechar este parágrafo, deixo aquí aquela encantadoraconfissão da Lurdinhas, tão boa indicação do que, em última palabra, debeser o Professor: «Então a gente anda aquí tão feliz e no fim do mês ainda nosdão dinheiro?» 6 .6«... and now, to conclude this chapter, I will quote Lurdinhas´ charming confession,which so rightly reveals what Teachers should ultimately be: « We are so happy here andwe even get money at the end of the month?»» in Gama, S., Diario, Lisbon.