File puptcrit/puptcrit.0606, message 196


From: "Alan Cook" <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com>
To: williamhennes-AT-charter.net
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2006 20:33:10 GMT
Cc: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] EDUCATION


As I e-mailed Sandy, you have the right to homeschool your children. A lot of people can't even get their kids onto the school bus, and they won't teach their kids anything. For better or worse, poor teachers get stuck both teaching AND parenting. That's how it is in the real world.

I spent time one summer in Watts (Los Angeles--the site of two major riots last century)  about 5 years ago, teaching puppetry to 3 & 4 year olds who were not yet coordinated enough to cut out shadow puppets. The class was aimed at 8 to 12 year olds, but I only got ONE 8 year old (and she wanted me to cut out her shadow puppets), and felt like I was running a nursery school --which basically I was!  It was very depressing to see so many unmotivated and ignored kids. I had to change the lesson plan to the specific situation, and gave them proects they could handle. To do this class, I had to take time away from forming the Conservatory of Puppetry Arts with my support group, and since the class was not able to meet its oriiginal purpose, I resigned so I could get back to my major puppet project.

I felt sad at leaving the kids--some of them had never had so much personal attention--yes, that IS shocking. I hope YOUR kids know how lucky they are to be noticed.

One thing for sure, if you think that the kids' parent(s) would fill the gap, you are nuts..

I think it is great that you accept parental responsibility, and it would be great if you could teach other parents to do that.

In the meantime, SOMEBODY has to try to fill the gap. And Government takes over when individuals can't. AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE GOVERNMENT, tho I'd never know that with our current greedy regime.

There are many problems in our lives which can ONLY be solved working together, whether in a puppet Guild, on a chatline for puppeteers, workiung in a town, a State or a Nation. If we turn a blind eye to the needs, we perpetuate the problems. I know what Jesus would do--he worried about feeding the hungry and housing the poor.

Best, 

ALAN COOK

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