"The free play of art is the result of mastery. " --Ernst Fischer, The Necessity of Art

"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them." --Ladybird Johnson

"...a well-trained ear, a well-trained intelligence, a well-trained heart, and a well-trained hand...." --Zoltan Kodaly

2/4/11

Reality: daily life

Second Grade, this afternoon...


Me    Oh, would someone close the door?  Matt  forgot.

Arthur  (another student)   He always forgets.  He'll never learn.

Me (and other children)   Arthur!  That's not fair.  Just because someone made a mistake doesn't mean they'll never learn.

Arthur    Well,  he won't.

Me     Hey, wait a minute.  Everyone makes mistakes.

Arthur    Not me.

Me  (laughing)  All right then! In that case, that was your first one---because EVERYONE makes mistakes.  Even grownups.  It's just part of being human.

Arthur    Nope.  Not me.  I'm nearly perfect.

Me (smiling incredulously, because he was clearly utterly serious)   Well, good for you. But no one is perfect.  That's why we have to give each other some space to learn.

Arthur   Well, not me.




*Arthur and Matt are, of course, not these 7 year old students' real names.

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