Back from aFRicA!
Well I returned home from Africa late last night. What a great trip! Huge thanks to Chico for being a fantastic host, as well as to Steven & Evi, and everyone else.
If you have sent me an e-mail and not recieved an answer yet, I will be returning it all in the next few days. I will also update the BLOG in the next day or so with a post about my trip, as well as some possible pics.
I recieved a lot of response regarding the teacher post.
The trip came together in such a way that the theme of teachers and teaching took center stage. I have a lot I want to share regarding this as time goes by.
Almost all the response was highly positive, and much of it from school teachers in various parts of the globe. This was nice to see and read.
I recieved only one negative e-mail. I don't blame the writer of the e-mail, as I honestly don't think they understood the spirit of the message I am trying to convey. And I do wish teachers the best in future dealings. Teaching has to be one of the worlds hardest porfessions, and they have my sincere respect.
Below is part of my response to this e-mail. I will post regarding the Africa trip, and more thoughts, within the next few days. . . . .
"You wouldn't believe the crap we have to go through. Our students are not willing participants. They did not sign up for the class unlike MMA/BJJ students."
I understand that very important distinction.
"We have 32+ teenagers in our classrooms."
I hear you.
"Many who can't read/write properly (don't get me started on the failings of the elementary school)."
Better not, I hear that criticism of teachers is looked on poorly by some.
"You want us to foster the creativity and not be "controlling" or "petty". I work with several great teachers that bring out amazing abilities from their students."
I have no doubt, this is why I did not say all teachers. Of course, I was specifically speaking towards the bad teachers.
"You need to realize that you can NOT let the student determine the curriculum/daily lesson. If you asked my sophomores what they wanted to do you would get from 99% of them: 'Can we have a free day'."
Yes, I would refer you specifically to schools, teachers, and methods that do allow he students such freedom, and do produce remarkable performance in the students. There are many out there today, and hopefully, many more to come as the future marches on.
"The real issue is parents. They don't a) Know how to discipline their child b) don't have/want to spend the time to help them read, learn, etc c) Care."
Wow, I guess I should could just remark: before you criticize you need to spend a day with one and see "how the shoes fit". But then again, I do not know if you have ever spent Years with certain children day in and day out, night and eveing. So I could not really comment on your experience level there.
"This year is a turning point. My students have more apathy than ever before. My colleague has had 2 students tell him in front of the class that "I don't care" when he was trying to impart some information (with his high tech multi-media smartboard device mind you). I could go on and on but you understand my point."
I have to ask whether you really feel this last Year really was some sort of turning point in the collective generations of children and their behavior. Or is it perhaps due to you, and your possible outlook or perception?
And have you considered that possibility?
"You are more than welcome to come into my classroom anytime you are in Phoenix. Maybe you need to write about how parents are poisoning society when they are not qualified to raise their children."
Is it be better to judge parents, as opposed to judging teachers?
And if so, how so?
Or is better to possibly consider alternative methods for either, and discuss those in context, rather then judging anyone?
And if are discussing better methods, or alternative methods, based on the need which is evident in that some teachers, or parents, or insert any category here, perform poorly, would we then be guilty of judgment? Or is it rather a conversation which could promote positive change?
Just some thoughts. Enjoy the day.
-Matt Thornton
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... ........ .....
On another note, a friend sent me this and I found it quite moving:
Subject: I wish you "enough"
At an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the door she said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough.
Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed good-bye and she left.
He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?"
Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing. Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever
good-bye?" I asked. I am ill and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, her next trip back will be for my funeral," he said.
"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, 'I wish you enough'.
May I ask what that means?"
He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone. He paused a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more. When we said 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them. He continued and then, turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory:
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough Hellos' to get you through the final 'Good-bye'." He then began to sob and walked away.
My friends and loved ones, I wish you ENOUGH!!!
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire lifetime to forget them.
If you have sent me an e-mail and not recieved an answer yet, I will be returning it all in the next few days. I will also update the BLOG in the next day or so with a post about my trip, as well as some possible pics.
I recieved a lot of response regarding the teacher post.
The trip came together in such a way that the theme of teachers and teaching took center stage. I have a lot I want to share regarding this as time goes by.
Almost all the response was highly positive, and much of it from school teachers in various parts of the globe. This was nice to see and read.
I recieved only one negative e-mail. I don't blame the writer of the e-mail, as I honestly don't think they understood the spirit of the message I am trying to convey. And I do wish teachers the best in future dealings. Teaching has to be one of the worlds hardest porfessions, and they have my sincere respect.
Below is part of my response to this e-mail. I will post regarding the Africa trip, and more thoughts, within the next few days. . . . .
"You wouldn't believe the crap we have to go through. Our students are not willing participants. They did not sign up for the class unlike MMA/BJJ students."
I understand that very important distinction.
"We have 32+ teenagers in our classrooms."
I hear you.
"Many who can't read/write properly (don't get me started on the failings of the elementary school)."
Better not, I hear that criticism of teachers is looked on poorly by some.
"You want us to foster the creativity and not be "controlling" or "petty". I work with several great teachers that bring out amazing abilities from their students."
I have no doubt, this is why I did not say all teachers. Of course, I was specifically speaking towards the bad teachers.
"You need to realize that you can NOT let the student determine the curriculum/daily lesson. If you asked my sophomores what they wanted to do you would get from 99% of them: 'Can we have a free day'."
Yes, I would refer you specifically to schools, teachers, and methods that do allow he students such freedom, and do produce remarkable performance in the students. There are many out there today, and hopefully, many more to come as the future marches on.
"The real issue is parents. They don't a) Know how to discipline their child b) don't have/want to spend the time to help them read, learn, etc c) Care."
Wow, I guess I should could just remark: before you criticize you need to spend a day with one and see "how the shoes fit". But then again, I do not know if you have ever spent Years with certain children day in and day out, night and eveing. So I could not really comment on your experience level there.
"This year is a turning point. My students have more apathy than ever before. My colleague has had 2 students tell him in front of the class that "I don't care" when he was trying to impart some information (with his high tech multi-media smartboard device mind you). I could go on and on but you understand my point."
I have to ask whether you really feel this last Year really was some sort of turning point in the collective generations of children and their behavior. Or is it perhaps due to you, and your possible outlook or perception?
And have you considered that possibility?
"You are more than welcome to come into my classroom anytime you are in Phoenix. Maybe you need to write about how parents are poisoning society when they are not qualified to raise their children."
Is it be better to judge parents, as opposed to judging teachers?
And if so, how so?
Or is better to possibly consider alternative methods for either, and discuss those in context, rather then judging anyone?
And if are discussing better methods, or alternative methods, based on the need which is evident in that some teachers, or parents, or insert any category here, perform poorly, would we then be guilty of judgment? Or is it rather a conversation which could promote positive change?
Just some thoughts. Enjoy the day.
-Matt Thornton
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... ........ .....
On another note, a friend sent me this and I found it quite moving:
Subject: I wish you "enough"
At an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the door she said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough.
Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed good-bye and she left.
He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?"
Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing. Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever
good-bye?" I asked. I am ill and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, her next trip back will be for my funeral," he said.
"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, 'I wish you enough'.
May I ask what that means?"
He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone. He paused a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more. When we said 'I wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them. He continued and then, turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory:
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough Hellos' to get you through the final 'Good-bye'." He then began to sob and walked away.
My friends and loved ones, I wish you ENOUGH!!!
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire lifetime to forget them.
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