Teaching letters

Abstract

This article presents a hypothetical series of letters from an anonymous social work student at Flinders University describing their learning. The student is writing to Charles–Louis de Sécondat, Baron de la Br ède et de Montesquieu, in keeping with the Baron’s famous, anonymously published Lettres persanes (Persian Letters). The student’s letters highlight the progress of education in general and social work education in particular from the 18^th Century to the present time. They illustrate the author’s approach to teaching and learning, and some of her strategies for effectively teaching social planning and social work ethics.

Montesquieu wrote his Lettres persanes in 1721 as a vehicle for commenting on life and culture in contemporary France. This paper presents a series of hypothetical letters to Montesquieu from a social work student at Flinders University describing her learning. These letters were presented at the Australian Universities Teaching Committee National Teaching Forum in 2002 to convey the educator’s approach to teaching. While the letters conclude with a peroration in which the educator outlines the conceptual framework underlying her teaching, the article concludes with a reply from ‘Montesquieu’ on the letters and the student’s response.