FOUR DKG – VOICES FROM EUROPE (Part II)

Here are interviews with DKG members telling how their membership in DKG has been of benefit to them. For one of them it was the support in a difficult life situation; for another it was the educational discussions locally and internationally. An early career teacher talks about the important support from an experienced chapter member.  A now deceased member said that she joined DKG because she wanted to have influence on situations for female educators. The full text that she left behind is found on the website of DKG The Netherlands.

The names of the persons have been omitted to protect the person’s integrity.  The texts of the voices have been brought to us by EEC state representatives and have been edited by Marianne Skardéus, International EEC.

Voice 3

Kadri, Estonia: I interviewed a young teacher about her novice teacher years.

Elena started working as a teacher 2 years ago. The teaching profession was not her first choice. Before starting as a teacher, she worked and studied to be a material scientist. Elena speaks many languages. While she was studying abroad, she started to help her friends and family who needed help with different languages. Elena’s native language is Russian, and she is fluent in English, German, and Estonian. Therefore, she tutored many people in language learning. This is how she discovered that she really wanted to teach for the rest of her life. So, she started studying in Tallinn University to get a degree for language teaching and in January 2022 Elena defended her master thesis.

“It has been the most interesting year of my life; I have learned so much. This has been such a chance for me, and I have been trying to make the most out of it.”

Elena was very motivated to become a teacher. Still the first year was hard for her. Besides the new occupation and new work tasks, Elena had to do extra work because the school she worked in was not a regular Estonian general education school and the methods that she needed were not taught at her university. Elena describes how chapter member M was a great help and support.

“I needed help to find teaching literature because I was not familiar with it. In the International Baccalaureate program, the grading is different, and I needed help to assess in a way that was adequate. These were overly critical components for me. I got more help than I was expecting. If I had any questions, then I could ask at any time any time for help from M." 

Elena also describes how M showed her how to organize the whole learning process and build up the course. This was very useful and important. All tips, big or small, were proven useful, especially the ones about classroom management. M also visited Elena’s classes to see and give feedback, which gave Elena more confidence in her choice of methods and planning. Elena emphasizes that in theory she knew how to do it but all the practical tips on how to really do them were extremely helpful.

Elena appreciates that M is still there for her even when not working at school anymore.

VOICE 4

Ria from the Netherlands:  Transfer thoughts from a deceased member

Cor, a member from the Netherlands, unfortunately passed away on January 5th. She was a dear member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, and to commemorate her, this text, written by herself, is still on our website for a while.

Cor said:

“During an educational study trip to Russia in 1972, I had become acquainted with the then State Inspector for Secondary Education in Amsterdam. In 1977 this contact resulted in a question about if I would be interested in membership in the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. It had something in common with service clubs like Rotary and Lions. I knew the Lions Club, so I thought, ‘Why shouldn`t I become a member? I will find out by trying.’  And so it happened that in December 1977, along with others, I became as a member of the Beta chapter. The objectives were interesting. It was and is an organization for women. And in the 1970s, women's emancipation was a much-discussed topic even in education. We had just passed the period in which women who got married were dismissed by the school board. There were still very few women in managerial positions. The idea then, at least among the colleagues who joined, was that together we might be able to have influence; that by becoming more visible as a group, we would also be listened to and be more visible.

The international contacts followed, exchanging ideas and learning from each other's educational systems. There was also the opportunity to visit schools in other countries and meet new colleagues.”

Cor was asked:  What do you like/dislike about your membership? Here is her response:  “What I have pleasantly experienced with DKG over the years is that there is always a listening ear from someone who also knows what you are talking about, someone who does not think ‘here she is again’ but understands you and enjoys sharing experiences and new insights. The contacts with colleagues from other countries have also proved inspiring, especially in Europe during the Regional Conferences but also in the individual exchanges with members of chapters in Europe.

 My wish for Delta Kappa Gamma Netherlands is that it may grow and flourish until the end of days. As a society we have something to offer in terms of personal contacts and the possibilities of foreign contacts.

There is a saying about ‘Rise, shine and sink.’ We are certainly not ready for the latter yet.”

Things of importance for us in DKG:

Listening and giving good advice.

Being together, seeing energetic and skillful colleagues.

Strengthening professional skills and exchanging views.

Celebrating occasions together.

Increasing the international dimensions of the society globally and locally.

Honoring members, who are no longer amongst us, for their dedication to the Society.