I had the opportunity to interview Francisco Cepeda. Francisco has over 12 years of experience in the education system, as a teacher and a school counsellor (from kindergarten to grade 12). He has counselled students from all backgrounds and diverse histories concerning issues such as trauma, social emotional skills, and higher education.
Cepeda reflected on some memorable moments that he experienced as a school counsellor. He said that he had been taught to advocate for himself and his students. Often times, advocating directly involved being at odds with administration. Cepeda explained that school counsellors are often given other tasks which are not truly associated with their responsibility in the school.
Francisco and I chatted about homeschooling, as he and his wife currently homeschool their son. Francisco pinpointed some of the benefits of homeschooling, such as:
- Flexible schedule
- Field trips that double as hands-on history lessons
- Ability to travel
- Freedom to customize your method of teaching your child
- Tailored learning experiences to fit the needs of your child
We had an in-depth and informative conversation about the pros and cons surrounding technology. As a teacher, Francisco has seen both sides of technology, and shares his own take on what he believes should be the norm in the education system. He reminds us to have a balanced perspective on the use of technology in this Information Age.