Sunday, April 13

168 spoons in 90 minutes - successful, but foolish


Kindergarten kids plainly drew a spoon footprint on a thin piece of wood and we cut it out for them. Then they were to sand...
First through third grade got a block of wood where they had to sketch a top view and a side view of their spoon design. With a band saw both contours were to be cut out. The block then was kept intact, taped together with a piece of tape to keep the seven piece puzzle together until the kids opened them up and found "their" spoon hidden in the middle. From 4th grade to high school, the children carved with gouges.
Unfortunately there was only two 45 minute sessions alloted per class. It is foolish to attempt to wing such a project in such little time. The prep and post-prep work was enormous, and that after having taught six classes every day.
But the children loved it, insofar this gig was successful. A small public school where the majority of children created their own individual spoon - somewhat unheard of!





So yes, I left the island on this morning ferry in peace, knowing that I put a droplet into the bucket of intellectual and abstract learning. May that drop dilute this illusionary materialistic vision that the human brain is the only isolated precious organ we have to succeed in this life.
Accomplishment is, in my view, not measured by what you think you can do, but by looking at what you actually have been able to create.
A surgeon transplants a heart. Only after the new heart starts beating, he or she can claim victory. All this has been achieved by the skill of human hands, not the human brain alone. If we don't bring the two together again, zombies will eventually inhabit the earth, incapable to take hold of the next task "on hand".

2 comments:

Ingrid said...

awesome feeling that there are pockets of allowed 'learning'. No doubt the state's standardized test is not given priority..or at least has not allowed to spoil their fun..
if you were here Zee, you'd have a great audience at either of my kids' montessori schools..
great pictures...LOVE the boat picture too. My mom is visiting from Holland, it's a two edged sword. I miss her when she's there, and don't really know what to do when she's here. I grew up as an adult 'without' her, alone and emigrated in Canada..I have changed so much, broken the family traits that have been passed down for a few generations..it reminded me with sadness why I had left physically so far removed in the first place.
That put a stop on my melancholic 'what if I had stayed..'!
I feel that of all people, you'd understand that sentiment..kinda schizophrenic in a way to be still the product of that past, but changed enough to be a product of the present..
hugs
Ingrid

Zee said...

I'll be "there" someday Ingrid.
A typical nomad does not keep still.
Yes, I exactly know of the dynamics with your mother. For your reconciliation, mine is worse and needs more "maintenance".
I guess we could have a contest!
Do you think I would win? I do!