I'm currently watching Chihuly: Gardens and Glass - and I am still completely and utterly wowed by Dale Chihuly. His attention to detail, the way he makes glass sing is amazing. Watching him work, in this film and others, reminds me of a delicate dance - and he is a master choreographer working with many talented glass artists. In order to improve the glass as it's being blown, he suggests they just "follow the glass" and "go with it" - the art incorporates the gravity of falling glass, the unavoidable needs of the mediums of heat and light and fire.
At one point in the Chicago gardens Chihuly says "my glass just looks as if it's supposed to be here." Exactly. He has harnessed and emphasised the natural properties of the glass, and made them reflect the nature around them in the plants of the Chicago gardens.
— Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education; former CEO, Chicago Public Schools
The Principal Story tells two stories, painting a dramatic portrait of the challenges facing America's public schools — and of the great difference a dedicated principal can make. Tresa Dunbar is a second-year principal at Chicago's Nash Elementary, where 98% of students come from low-income families; in Springfield, Illinois, Kerry Purcell has led Harvard Park Elementary, with similar demographics, for six years. Tod Lending (Omar & Pete, POV 2005) and David Mrazek followed both women over the course of a school year, discovering each one's unique styles yet similar passions. The Principal Story takes the viewer along for an emotional ride that reveals what effective educational leadership looks like in the 21st century. (from the PBS website)
Simply a fabulous film. A must see for anyone who is concerned about today's state of education. A glimpse into the difficulties that go way beyond NCLB.
I've been doing a lot of satisfying reading lately, primarily from the Journal of George Fox. Brought it with me to Meeting for Worship, and although I rarely feel the need to read while there, it was a highly thoughtful and comforting experience for me to be reading the journal while sitting in an actual meeting for worship. Fox's spiritual travels were extensive, his journey hard, and his unwavering faith in what he knew experientially encourages me in my own faith journey.
I'm carrying around a hardcover edition - I am sure to invest in a softcover for my "glove compartment library" soon. An online version of this and many other Quaker texts can be found here: http://www.strecorsoc.org/quaker.html
When all my hopes in them and in all men were gone, so that I had nothing outwardly to help me, nor could I tell what to do, then, oh, then, I heard a voice which said, "There is one, even Christ Jesus, that can speak to thy condition"; and when I heard it, my heart did leap for joy.
Then the Lord let me see why there was none upon the earth that could speak to my condition, namely, that I might give Him all the glory. For all are concluded under sin, and shut up in unbelief, as I had been; that Jesus Christ might have the pre-eminence who enlightens, and gives grace, and faith, and power. Thus when God doth work, who shall hinder it? and this I knew experimentally.
My desire after the Lord grew stronger, and zeal in the pure knowledge of God, and of Christ alone, without the help of any man, book, or writing. For though I read the Scriptures that spoke of Christ and of God, yet I knew Him not, but by revelation, as He who hath the key did open, and as the Father of Life drew me to His Son by His Spirit. Then the Lord gently led me along, and let me see His love, which was endless and eternal, surpassing all the knowledge that men have in the natural state, or can obtain from history or books; and that love let me see myself, as I was without Him. - George Fox
As some of you know, I've been struggling a bit to get up to speed in a new area of teaching. Still music, yes, but classroom music can be very different from the band classes I'd become used to teaching. Luckily, both involve kids - and that's what makes the difference no matter what I do, what subject I teach, and in what approach I use.
I taught the kids a fairly easy pop song this week, one that realistically most of them had heard before. But we had fun, I accompanied them on guitar (a weak spot for me that's getting much stronger) and I was able to reinforce some musical concepts within a framework where they where already comfortable. We enjoyed music, we enjoyed each other, we were respectful and attentive. This class has many personalities, and is rather large compared to some others in the school - so just all staying to the task might be a challenge. But I was DRIVEN to get that song sung. They felt that. So some simple mistakes, a missed chord here and there - we all kept singing, and enjoyed ourselves in the process.
I will challenge them to greater musical heights, and give them more opportunities to take charge of their learning with new songs. However, it was great to be able to just step back and enjoy the class for what it was, without consideration for an upcoming performance. I think this way of looking at my classroom, with every class being its own "performance", will help me greatly this year in my search to find a home in a new place. This is the week I usually become frustrated with the knowledge that kids will have to perform. And yet it always comes together, if I have done my preparation each week in the classroom, that "performance" falls into place.
Mary Travers, one-third of the hugely popular 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, died yesterday at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut. She was 72 and had battled leukemia for several years. Ms. Travers, who lived in Redding, Conn., joined forces with Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey in the early 1960s. The trio mingled their music with liberal politics, both onstage and off. Their version of “If I Had a Hammer’’ became an anthem for racial equality. They were early champions of Bob Dylan and performed his “Blowin’ in the Wind’’ at the August 1963 March on Washington. And they were vehement in their opposition to the Vietnam War, managing to stay true to their liberal beliefs while creating music that resonated in the American mainstream. The group collected five Grammy Awards for their three-part harmony on such enduring songs as “Leaving on a Jet Plane’’; “Puff (The Magic Dragon)’’; and “Blowin’ in the Wind.’’
from the Boston Globe. This article reminded me of how much I loved music and singing as a youngster, and how much I look forward to still singing with kids.
The People Can Always Be Brought to the Bidding of the Leaders
“Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship...
Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country." - Hermann Goering (as told to Gustav Gilbert during the Nuremberg trials)
Or so I think. My first real day of teaching was yesterday (I only work Mondays and Fridays, and we hadn't had any of those yet). If financially we can make this schedule work without my having to teach more lessons, etc then I think we'll all be happy as a family.
I see myself becoming more involved in a local school, with a small local staff, no more trekking across the state. I still miss my old school very much, but hopefully I will have the space here to do some teaching the way I want to, embark on some meaningful projects for the kids, get a musical community started.
My greatest challenge yesterday was a class of 5/6 graders - simply a challenge because it was a larger class than the others. Still MUCH smaller than my last general music classes, and this time I had a classroom and equipment - I was able to modify the lesson as I went to fit the space. Next week I will be even more prepared, now that I have seen them in the space, and we can get more music done with less administrative babbling from me. I may be able to do something special with this class, as I have the numbers for a real ensemble, to do a real musical, or whatever I can dream up!
I'm excited at the possibilities. I was able to see the whole school body at an assembly as well - I kept thinking "when will the rest of the kids arrive?" - a student body of 73 still seems small to me after a band of 65. So let the school-wide multi-age singing and playing begin! Today I research what we will sing next week, so I can assess where we're going in that direction!
