From: mjm <mmoynihan-AT-wi.rr.com> Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2006 22:02:13 -0500 To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] EDUCATION I am a product of public elementary and high school. At age 5 we lived in a small city and I got to see kindergaden on the visiting day of the year before I would have attended. I had never seen so many art supplies, toys and games in one room. I looked forward to attending. But we moved to a rural area that had no kindergarden at all. At age 6 I attended a one room country school. Myrtle Overson, my 40 something, unmarried, teacher had two years of college and a teacher's license. She managed a classroom of students aged 6 through 18 better than any educator I have known sinse. Most of my time was spent at my desk while the older kids were up front in their basic 3R classes, so at age 6 I got a preview of grades 2 through 8, and knew those materials long before it was formally taught to me. Our "library" was a couple of book shelves at the back of the room. We were free to use the books anytime we wanted. Art and music classes were broadcast from the state capital via the radio once a week. Myrtle played piano and we all sang every day. Myrtle cast me in my first play before I had ever seen a play performed and when, at age 8 I asked if I could write and direct my own play, Myrtle said, of course. We were in an agricultural area, and part of each year we were joined by migrant worker kids, some with very little english language experience. So integration seemed a very usual part of life. Myrtle never advanced someone unless they achieved their learning and so some of the less academically inclined were 18 years old. We all studied together and helped each other as needed. We also played together at recess. Elmer Johnson, a gentle giant of an 18 year year old farm boy, let us climb on him like a mountain and seemed to never tire of giving us high speed merry go round rides. He went on to be a very successful executive in a farm equipment manufacturer. The land in the area had a shallow layer of rich top soil over several feet of clay. The only non farm industry was a drain tile factory. We dug out own clay, made arts and crafts and they fired our creations at the factory. Loving learning as well as understanding how different people learn and taking full responsibility for my own learning were intrinsic to this early formal education. It has served me well ever since and led me in my work as an artist, educator and parent. I will forever be in the debt of Myrtle Overson. Within a few years we expanded into a 2 room school. Miss West, a 19 year old teacher with, again, 2 years of teachers college became my second public school teacher. What she lacked in experience she made up for with humor and love. If I had one wish for children today it would be to have such and amazing educational experience. mjm _______________________________________________ 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