One of the major messages parents and teachers give children is that fitting in is not important – that what’s important is being true to yourself. I think that’s a good and important message, and I’m one of the parents and teachers who deliver it. Sometimes my earnest sermons on personal integrity impress children just…
When I started teaching, one of the rules of thumb I was supposed to learn was that pupils do what their teachers expect them to do. That was hard to believe, at first. The high school seniors I taught frequently did things I never would have guessed they were going to do. I expected with…
One of Caleb Gattegno’s favorite statements was, “Memory is weak.” Another was, “The only thing educable in human beings is awareness.” Teachers try hard to get pupils to understand things. We try to increase children’s awareness. But we also want them to memorize several things, and we have all sorts of ways to try to…
Several of my friends are experts at getting groups of people to sing together, either in harmony or in spirited unison. I respect the kind of talent needed to lead groups that way. I’ve always enjoyed singing in choruses and sing-alongs, and I think group singing is a powerful way to build community. I’m telling…
I don’t own many videos, but I recently bought “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” I have trouble crying, even when I feel tears inside me, and that’s one movie that gets the tears out. Like Mr. Holland, many of us teachers touch many people’s lives in important ways, and yet we can’t help wondering whether we’ve done…
This morning, I discovered that due to illness, a child who was going to visit me could not make it. But I was in a very sociable mood, and since the weather was okay, I decided to get on my scooter and take the bus into town. There would probably be some people there. I…
It’s traditional and usual for children and teachers to look forward eagerly to weekends, holidays, vacations, and daily dismissal. Even those who seem to thoroughly enjoy school usually get excited about times when they no longer have to be there. There’s something intrinsically oppressive about having to stay in one building for most of a…
Some professionals who don’t feel good just stay home. I’ve already written about the difficulties involved in deciding to stay home if you’re a teacher. Because of those difficulties, and/or because of the joy of teaching, teachers frequently go to work when they don’t feel good. They may take medications that control symptoms. They may…
I’ve referred to a few people as my mentors. Caleb Gattegno, I know, is one of them. Pete Seeger is another. The more I master humility (a virtue that doesn’t come easily to me), the more mentors I have. Some of the teachers I work with are becoming my mentors. I e-mail my articles to…
After reading what I wrote about Jimmy, the child who can’t do what the other children can, a friend suggested that I write about Naomi – the child who is quite skilled at basketball, and would like to play “real” basketball with other children who are also skilled. She could play with children who are…