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	May 27, 2003

REALITY CHECK FOR TEACHERS, LOVERS, WRITERS, AND LOVERS OF LANGUAGE A thoughtful and provocative quote from educator John Holt (1923-1985) from How Children Learn: We teachers - perhaps all human beings - are in the grip of an astonishing delusion. We think that we can take a picture, a structure, a working knowledge of something, constructed in our minds out of long experience and familiarity, and by turning that model into a string of words, transplant it whole into the mind of someone else. Perhaps once in a thousand times, when the explanation is extraordinarily good, and the listener extraordinarily experienced and skillful at turning word-strings into non-verbal reality, and when the explainer and listener share in common many of the experiences being talked about, the process may work, and some real meaning may be communicated. Most of the time, explaining does not increase understanding, and may even lessen it. 10:07:21 PM  trackback []  comment []

CARRY ON Sitting here listening to some old Crosby Stills Nash & Young songs, and it occurred to me how powerful many of the lyrics of that era were. I must be getting old, or listening to the wrong stuff. If anyone can point me to some recent music lyrics that are as eloquent, spare and moving as these two from Stephen Stills, I'd be grateful; I'd like to have my belief in the importance and power of contemporary music renewed: 4+20 4+20 years ago I come into this life The son of a woman And a man who lived in strife. He was tired of being poor, And he wasn't into selling door to door, And he worked like the devil to be more. A different kind of poverty now upsets my soul. Night after sleepless night I walk the floor and I want to know Why am I so alone? Where is my woman can I bring her home? Have I driven her away? Is she gone? Morning comes the sunrise And I'm driven to my bed. I see that it is empty And there's devils in my head. I embrace the many colored beast. I grow weary of the torment, Can there be no peace? And I find myself just wishing That my life would simply cease. Helplessly hoping Helplessly hoping her harlequin hovers nearby Awaiting a word. Gasping at glimpses of gentle true spirit He runs, wishing he could fly, Only to trip at the sound of good-bye. Wordlessly watching he waits by the window And wonders At the empty place inside. Heartlessly helping himself to her bad dreams, He worries Did he hear a good-bye? Or even hello? They are one person, they are two alone, They are three together, they are for each other. Stand by the stairway You'll see something certain to tell you Confusion has its cost. Love isn't lying, it's loose in a lady who lingers, Saying she is lost, And choking on hello. They are one person, they are two alone They are three together, they are for each other. 6:29:07 AM  trackback []  comment []

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