writing and communication
[email protected]
This is commentary on a small slice of life of a friend's son who is very
schooled. I got to visit his Jr. High a few years back on the night when parents
visit each classroom to see the coolest stuff, and the science fair was on.
He wasn't yet into the arts then.
What can one really say? "Superb and gratifying" don't do it. REALLY don't
do it for me.
So the son, now in high school, is going to go to a statewide gifted arts
conference. Honestly the conference will probably be a blast, and I've seen
some of his art and it's the kind of stuff corporations will pay big bucks for
for artsy new buildings, and he could become rich and famous. Or not. But it's
really good stuff. Interactive sculpture that makes you think. And my friend
Michael, whom I see every year or two and have dearly loved since we were
teens in college, wrote this in the cover e-mail and it's funny and cute for him
to have written:
"Yes, I unabashedly am living vicariously through the kid. I tried living my
own life, but vicarious is definitely better."
***********
"I am thrilled that so many of my students have been selected for this
honor," said Kristine Hatanaka, the Artistic Director for the Art program at the
academy. "The recognition of their talent and hard work is gratifying."
Benjamin Hersh, a Junior at Culver City High School and one of the winning
students, said, "This has been a truly superb experience for me, and a
delightful opportunity for academy members to seek recognition for their continuously
growing skills."
***************
Benjamin doesn't speak that way. He hardly makes eye contact with adults.
He expresses the posture and vocal inflections that say "boredom and disdain."
Very school-kid behaviors, in that way. Many one-word answers without joy,
in real life. Restlessness. But... He has a touch of the Asperger's. Not
obvious at first, but his parents have thought so for years. Yet he's zipping
along in the arts. And he's not going to the convention for writing or
speaking. <g>
The page goes on to say this:
-=-The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts at Culver City High School
offers a comprehensive arts curriculum after regular school hours for students who
are committed to excellence in Art, Film, Theatre, Dance and Music.
Established in 1996, AVPA enjoys tremendous community support from SONY and other
design, recording, and theatre companies in the area.
-=-
That's very cool. I'm not commenting on the whole larger picture, which is
admirable. Just the stiltedness and emptiness of the comments. Form
without substance, but that's what's desired and rewarded, schoolishly.
Sandra
schooled. I got to visit his Jr. High a few years back on the night when parents
visit each classroom to see the coolest stuff, and the science fair was on.
He wasn't yet into the arts then.
What can one really say? "Superb and gratifying" don't do it. REALLY don't
do it for me.
So the son, now in high school, is going to go to a statewide gifted arts
conference. Honestly the conference will probably be a blast, and I've seen
some of his art and it's the kind of stuff corporations will pay big bucks for
for artsy new buildings, and he could become rich and famous. Or not. But it's
really good stuff. Interactive sculpture that makes you think. And my friend
Michael, whom I see every year or two and have dearly loved since we were
teens in college, wrote this in the cover e-mail and it's funny and cute for him
to have written:
"Yes, I unabashedly am living vicariously through the kid. I tried living my
own life, but vicarious is definitely better."
***********
"I am thrilled that so many of my students have been selected for this
honor," said Kristine Hatanaka, the Artistic Director for the Art program at the
academy. "The recognition of their talent and hard work is gratifying."
Benjamin Hersh, a Junior at Culver City High School and one of the winning
students, said, "This has been a truly superb experience for me, and a
delightful opportunity for academy members to seek recognition for their continuously
growing skills."
***************
Benjamin doesn't speak that way. He hardly makes eye contact with adults.
He expresses the posture and vocal inflections that say "boredom and disdain."
Very school-kid behaviors, in that way. Many one-word answers without joy,
in real life. Restlessness. But... He has a touch of the Asperger's. Not
obvious at first, but his parents have thought so for years. Yet he's zipping
along in the arts. And he's not going to the convention for writing or
speaking. <g>
The page goes on to say this:
-=-The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts at Culver City High School
offers a comprehensive arts curriculum after regular school hours for students who
are committed to excellence in Art, Film, Theatre, Dance and Music.
Established in 1996, AVPA enjoys tremendous community support from SONY and other
design, recording, and theatre companies in the area.
-=-
That's very cool. I'm not commenting on the whole larger picture, which is
admirable. Just the stiltedness and emptiness of the comments. Form
without substance, but that's what's desired and rewarded, schoolishly.
Sandra
Gold Standard
This thread compels me to write about my 16 yo son Andrew who has Asperger's
and who has been unschooled for a couple of years now. Before that we were
part of a Summerhill type private school. He is a filmmaker and creative
writer. He hates to follow someone else's idea of a schedule, and really has
his own rhythm in life (I guess we all do...his seems more unique to me).
With the freedom of unschooling, we were able to hook up with a local movie
producer here in the Phoenix area, who is now producing Andrew's first film,
a dark comedy/horror. This producer has let the whole creation and
production of Andrew's movie come from him, and has been an unbelievable
support and resource. Tonight there are local actors coming over to do a
read-through of the script. Andrew went to Sundance Film Festival a few
weeks ago with the film producer and made some connections. When Andrew is
working on the film, he has light in his eyes, makes eye contact, and is
just so alive. You'd not know he has had such major communication and social
issues in his life. This is so different from when he was in school
following a "school" schedule. He was (and sometimes still is) just like the
boy you described Sandra, flat affect, bored-looking, no eye contact. If he
was in school full time, I don't know what he would be doing or enjoying at
this point, since he wouldn't have had the time to pursue his passion. I am
so glad we are free. I hope that boy gets more joy too.
Jacki
-----Original Message-----
From: SandraDodd@... [mailto:SandraDodd@...]
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 10:21 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] writing and communication
This is commentary on a small slice of life of a friend's son who is very
schooled. I got to visit his Jr. High a few years back on the night when
parents
visit each classroom to see the coolest stuff, and the science fair was on.
He wasn't yet into the arts then.
What can one really say? "Superb and gratifying" don't do it. REALLY don't
do it for me.
So the son, now in high school, is going to go to a statewide gifted arts
conference. Honestly the conference will probably be a blast, and I've seen
some of his art and it's the kind of stuff corporations will pay big bucks
for
for artsy new buildings, and he could become rich and famous. Or not. But
it's
really good stuff. Interactive sculpture that makes you think. And my
friend
Michael, whom I see every year or two and have dearly loved since we were
teens in college, wrote this in the cover e-mail and it's funny and cute for
him
to have written:
"Yes, I unabashedly am living vicariously through the kid. I tried living
my
own life, but vicarious is definitely better."
***********
"I am thrilled that so many of my students have been selected for this
honor," said Kristine Hatanaka, the Artistic Director for the Art program at
the
academy. "The recognition of their talent and hard work is gratifying."
Benjamin Hersh, a Junior at Culver City High School and one of the winning
students, said, "This has been a truly superb experience for me, and a
delightful opportunity for academy members to seek recognition for their
continuously
growing skills."
***************
Benjamin doesn't speak that way. He hardly makes eye contact with adults.
He expresses the posture and vocal inflections that say "boredom and
disdain."
Very school-kid behaviors, in that way. Many one-word answers without
joy,
in real life. Restlessness. But... He has a touch of the Asperger's. Not
obvious at first, but his parents have thought so for years. Yet he's
zipping
along in the arts. And he's not going to the convention for writing or
speaking. <g>
The page goes on to say this:
-=-The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts at Culver City High School
offers a comprehensive arts curriculum after regular school hours for
students who
are committed to excellence in Art, Film, Theatre, Dance and Music.
Established in 1996, AVPA enjoys tremendous community support from SONY and
other
design, recording, and theatre companies in the area.
-=-
That's very cool. I'm not commenting on the whole larger picture, which is
admirable. Just the stiltedness and emptiness of the comments. Form
without substance, but that's what's desired and rewarded, schoolishly.
Sandra
Yahoo! Groups Links
and who has been unschooled for a couple of years now. Before that we were
part of a Summerhill type private school. He is a filmmaker and creative
writer. He hates to follow someone else's idea of a schedule, and really has
his own rhythm in life (I guess we all do...his seems more unique to me).
With the freedom of unschooling, we were able to hook up with a local movie
producer here in the Phoenix area, who is now producing Andrew's first film,
a dark comedy/horror. This producer has let the whole creation and
production of Andrew's movie come from him, and has been an unbelievable
support and resource. Tonight there are local actors coming over to do a
read-through of the script. Andrew went to Sundance Film Festival a few
weeks ago with the film producer and made some connections. When Andrew is
working on the film, he has light in his eyes, makes eye contact, and is
just so alive. You'd not know he has had such major communication and social
issues in his life. This is so different from when he was in school
following a "school" schedule. He was (and sometimes still is) just like the
boy you described Sandra, flat affect, bored-looking, no eye contact. If he
was in school full time, I don't know what he would be doing or enjoying at
this point, since he wouldn't have had the time to pursue his passion. I am
so glad we are free. I hope that boy gets more joy too.
Jacki
-----Original Message-----
From: SandraDodd@... [mailto:SandraDodd@...]
Sent: Friday, February 25, 2005 10:21 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [AlwaysLearning] writing and communication
This is commentary on a small slice of life of a friend's son who is very
schooled. I got to visit his Jr. High a few years back on the night when
parents
visit each classroom to see the coolest stuff, and the science fair was on.
He wasn't yet into the arts then.
What can one really say? "Superb and gratifying" don't do it. REALLY don't
do it for me.
So the son, now in high school, is going to go to a statewide gifted arts
conference. Honestly the conference will probably be a blast, and I've seen
some of his art and it's the kind of stuff corporations will pay big bucks
for
for artsy new buildings, and he could become rich and famous. Or not. But
it's
really good stuff. Interactive sculpture that makes you think. And my
friend
Michael, whom I see every year or two and have dearly loved since we were
teens in college, wrote this in the cover e-mail and it's funny and cute for
him
to have written:
"Yes, I unabashedly am living vicariously through the kid. I tried living
my
own life, but vicarious is definitely better."
***********
"I am thrilled that so many of my students have been selected for this
honor," said Kristine Hatanaka, the Artistic Director for the Art program at
the
academy. "The recognition of their talent and hard work is gratifying."
Benjamin Hersh, a Junior at Culver City High School and one of the winning
students, said, "This has been a truly superb experience for me, and a
delightful opportunity for academy members to seek recognition for their
continuously
growing skills."
***************
Benjamin doesn't speak that way. He hardly makes eye contact with adults.
He expresses the posture and vocal inflections that say "boredom and
disdain."
Very school-kid behaviors, in that way. Many one-word answers without
joy,
in real life. Restlessness. But... He has a touch of the Asperger's. Not
obvious at first, but his parents have thought so for years. Yet he's
zipping
along in the arts. And he's not going to the convention for writing or
speaking. <g>
The page goes on to say this:
-=-The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts at Culver City High School
offers a comprehensive arts curriculum after regular school hours for
students who
are committed to excellence in Art, Film, Theatre, Dance and Music.
Established in 1996, AVPA enjoys tremendous community support from SONY and
other
design, recording, and theatre companies in the area.
-=-
That's very cool. I'm not commenting on the whole larger picture, which is
admirable. Just the stiltedness and emptiness of the comments. Form
without substance, but that's what's desired and rewarded, schoolishly.
Sandra
Yahoo! Groups Links
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/25/2005 5:50:49 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,
jacki@... writes:
Andrew went to Sundance Film Festival a few
weeks ago with the film producer and made some connections. When Andrew is
working on the film, he has light in his eyes, makes eye contact, and is
just so alive.
===============
Wow. Fantastic story. School would've probably told him he couldn't go to
the festival because he would miss a math test or some lameness.
13 years or so ago there were two stores being told by homeschoolers. Kinda
sickening stories. One was of a kid who'd been invited to go on tour in
Europe with an orchestra or choir. Her school said no and her parents said
okay. The other was, I think, a violinist with a change to go to Australia.
School said no, parents thought that reasonable.
HOW ON EARTH could *ANY* semester of any school at any level begin to
compare to a trip to another continent to do something real with and for adults AND
kids, something life-changing... ? And how could those kids' parents have
bowed down to the school?
In the case of my friend's son, he's gotten an opportunity by being in
school, but Jacki's story is better, to me, because instead of her son applying
through school for a school-sponsored thing, he influenced individuals as an
individual, in the real world.
GOOD FOR HIM!!!
Thanks for telling that story.
-=- I hope that boy gets more joy too.-=-
Well he's an only child, and I've never seen parents more dedicated or
gentle and kindly with a child. Other than school, which none of them question,
he seems to have an enviable, ideal homelife and that's wonderful.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
jacki@... writes:
Andrew went to Sundance Film Festival a few
weeks ago with the film producer and made some connections. When Andrew is
working on the film, he has light in his eyes, makes eye contact, and is
just so alive.
===============
Wow. Fantastic story. School would've probably told him he couldn't go to
the festival because he would miss a math test or some lameness.
13 years or so ago there were two stores being told by homeschoolers. Kinda
sickening stories. One was of a kid who'd been invited to go on tour in
Europe with an orchestra or choir. Her school said no and her parents said
okay. The other was, I think, a violinist with a change to go to Australia.
School said no, parents thought that reasonable.
HOW ON EARTH could *ANY* semester of any school at any level begin to
compare to a trip to another continent to do something real with and for adults AND
kids, something life-changing... ? And how could those kids' parents have
bowed down to the school?
In the case of my friend's son, he's gotten an opportunity by being in
school, but Jacki's story is better, to me, because instead of her son applying
through school for a school-sponsored thing, he influenced individuals as an
individual, in the real world.
GOOD FOR HIM!!!
Thanks for telling that story.
-=- I hope that boy gets more joy too.-=-
Well he's an only child, and I've never seen parents more dedicated or
gentle and kindly with a child. Other than school, which none of them question,
he seems to have an enviable, ideal homelife and that's wonderful.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
nellebelle
>>HOW ON EARTH could *ANY* semester of any school at any level begin tocompare to a trip to another continent to do something real with and for adults AND kids, something life-changing... ?>>>>>>>>>
When my bil took his family to Vietnam for a vacation, the schools wanted to send homework. My sil told them she was taking her kids to ASIA and they would not be doing homework there, thank you. She did agree to have each of the kids write some kind of report though.
Mary Ellen
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]