Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2006 20:56:23 -0400 From: Sandy Barton <sandbar-AT-wowway.com> To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] EDUCATION Alan Cook wrote: >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. > > Alan, First encouraging thing I've heard you say. Acknowledging that the Constitution says nothing about education (and that the US Dept. of Education website actually says that education is the responsibility of those at the local level not the feds) does not mean that we should be turning a blind eye. To the contrary, it means that we should all be using our skill and talents to help fix the problems around us. I've done community theatre, served on boards, etc. all gratis. I saw the opportunity to make a difference in the community and I volunteered. I've done puppet shows and career days at inner-city schools and community centers and never expected payment from them. Other gigs carried me through. Call it paying it back or paying forward, whichever, but I got some breaks when I was young and I'm trying to give some breaks as well. I'm a firm believer in cultural literacy, so I tell the familiar stories. That's why I'm a puppeteer. Check out www.johnpatrick.ca/ for more on what cultural literacy can do for a community. But telling stories, whether through theatre or puppetry is one way I try to affect the little corner of my world. Homeschooling and homeschooling support are others. I may not be able to reach the millions of hurting, but I can reach a handful. And I can reach a new generation with my children and their friends so that they can reach even more. I mentioned to Alan privately that my sons do outreach work: one to the homeless and poor of New York City, the other to troubled teens at a residence camp in Arkansas. What is it they say, "Each one, teach one?" Well, I've got two sons planning and doing bigger things so much earlier in life than I ever dreamed of doing. So, while we're fussing and bickering over the possible demise of PBS (for which I, too, would mourn), I'd like to encourage that we each one teach one instead of expecting Uncle Sam to take care of the problems we see around us. Sandy SDG _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org Archives: http://www.driftline.org
Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005