I remember an old story of a young, stuttering Greek who wanted to become an orator. Every day he put pebbles into his mouth and stood on the stormy seashore screaming at the waves. Oh to be understood!As a teacher, I sometimes feel the same despairing need for fluency. How can I reach them: Those ears anesthetized by i-pods; those eyes so mesmerized by random image assaults of cool, meaningless bangles of trivia; those senses battered by rushing overloads of excitement in games and rides and toys and human drama on the screen.
Oh for a child who can still be amazed!
For that one, I'll spend hours at the beach, stuffing pebbles into my mouth.
Very well said. I know exactly what you mean.
ReplyDeleteoh well said. I have a sneaking suspicion that your kids know you would stand on the beach, mouth full of pebbles for them. That would be a large part of the battle...
ReplyDeleteSo many distractions to slow down the process.
ReplyDeleteThey're still out there. They are more amazable than they want to admit. Keep trying. It's like gardening. You just never can tell which seeds will sprout.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly how you feel.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason Blogger wouldn't let me select. This is from Anthony North
pebbles into the mouth...difficulty to speak well...a possibility to think about the need to sepak well and thoughtful....you made me think about this !!
ReplyDeleteThere is something wrong here. Children, Youth, in fact anyone much younger than ourselves need to rebel. Those rebels and I certainly was one so very many years ago will become wise, staid, dull people who in turn will despair for the young. It is in their nature to develop their own language, to be incomprehensible to all but their peers.
ReplyDeleteApplaud them, the future depends on them to be different.
Your wonderful piece is most thought provoking, but please don't despair, some of those children will amaze you and if you are very lucky they will remember some of the important things that you are trying to say to them.
Hmm. I really wasn't complaining about rebellion here. Most of my students aren't rebelling. They are just overwhelmed with too many images. . . and I'm not despairing, just constantly on the lookout for those students who have some room left for learning.
ReplyDeleteI like what Dee said here. I agree. And a few of those students hear so much more of you than you may realize. I remember so many wonderful words from passionate teachers; I could still hear them through that cloudy state of adolescence.
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