~Teachers~

Teacher ​

This is for Toph since she's the only teacher I know on here. Enjoy.

This collection of poems is about school, teaching, learning and that "ah-ha" moment that makes all the frustration worthwhile. Schools are bureaucratic organizations that emerge out of a myriad of often conflicting laws, school board directives, education school dogma, parent desires and fallible human nature. The miracle of student's survival in this maze is due to caring teachers, and by that I mean the "tough love" type of educators that challenge and uplift the human spirit. More common that a cynic would expect,—rarer than an optimist would hope for.

 

Chaos's Reign

3 May 2005
Corpus Christi, Texas

order and learning—¿how can they both dwell?
with 25 students in one small room,
it seems that one or the other must leave,
yet order is the death of true learning,—

¿is there enough space to let young minds go?
¿is there enough faith to truly explore?
¿is there enough awe of mind's cathedral?
¿is there enough joy for them to lose fear?

yes,—the circumstances have changed so much,
there's ADD and this and that—¡LABELS!
saying—here's a problem—not—here's a child,—
¿what the hell should i care about neatness?

but, I'm just a hired hand now—substitute,
come in for a day or two—babysit,
watch new minds stultified by years of school,
idly building up residues—stuck thoughts,

and i find myself using carrot-stick,
like a young officer would have to do,
to prove that they are in control of troops,
method quick discarded when higher up,

in recognition that our leadership,
with soft words and example bright do more,
than a thousand exhortations or threats,
achieving victories seem effortless,

but I'll be able to start unschooling,
and teaching lifetime learning very soon,—
and hopefully you'll hear laughter and joy,
a few weeks after We start our journey.​

 

School Work

26 April 2005

Corpus Christi, Texas

it's only been a few months in wheelchair,
since numbing of both legs left her cripple,
paralyzed angel once heavenly walked,
now her friends help wheel her around the school,

except—her boyfriend—comes calling too soon,
disrupts her efforts to finish her work,
she's always a smile & never complains,
yet, her teacher asked me, ¿what do you think?

& i knew what she was trying to ask me,
¿would this pretty girl ever recover?
¿& if not, would she have another boy?
¿was this her only chance at romance bright?

for if degeneration continued,
destroying movement & increasing pain,
¿what man besides her father would stand by,
& who would then care if lesson was learned?​

 

One-Hundred Fifty Hours

14 May 2005
Corpus Christi, Texas

One Hundred and Eighty day school year length,
One Hundred and Fifty hours with each mind,—
They seem impossible—odds of success,
The peers all think the institution's jail,

Or at best—factory assembly line,
They are all such discerning consumers,
Don't know to be productive creators,—
But all it takes is a bright spark for fire.​

 

February 23, 1932 (Carmel, California) I am the adventurer on a voyage of discovery, ready to receive fresh impressions, eager for fresh horizons, not in the spirit of a militant conqueror to impose myself or my ideas, but to identify myself in, and unify with, whatever I am able to recognize as significantly part of me: the "me" of universal rhythms. Edward Weston.


In the tone of that great visionary here's my letter for my August 2005 mathematics students:

To my fellow travelers:

This year we will embark together on a voyage of discovery. Our destination is the world of Patterns on the United Student Ship (USS) Joy of Learning. We will jointly build and christen USS Joy of Learning using the strongest, toughest, most durable and resilient materials known to man,—

1. RESPECT,

2. HARD WORK,

3. ENTHUSIASM,

4. IMAGINATION,

5. PERSISTENCE,

6. CURIOSITY, and use repeatedly our most important tool,—

7. Our MINDS and THOUGHTS (Yes, part of our mind doesn't think in words!)

Our mission commanders have informed me that you have been specially selected for this challenging assignment. Exploration of the world Patterns can be difficult and complex, with some treacherous navigation ahead; but, USS Joy of Learning will take us through many fun and funny twists and turns.

I know, that the utmost concentration and dedication we will give this project will result in successful mission accomplishment. For having been there several times (and on each occasion discovering new treasures,) I am anxious to begin our journey. I will be your guide and mentor,—so that each of you gain mastery of our ship USS Joy of Learning; and, will be able to handle her unique time and dimensional warping features so you can visit Patterns whenever you wish.

I must caution you though,—remember above all that the citizens of Patterns have developed mental powers way beyond Earth's puny weapons. We must never be perceived as militant conquerors, but should always strive to develop good relations with these strange ethereal beings using Smiles, a Please and Thank You.

It is my privilege to embark with you upon this journey; for I know we will traverse uniquely vast and beautiful domains.

/signed/​

 

Renga—Teacher

21 May 2005
Corpus Christi, Texas

Never a teacher,—
That destroys a student's trust,—
Merely drill sergeant.

¿How can you teach mind,
When heart is feeling bitter?
Clear lake,—cool still rests.

Smile for each person,
So effortless to gift this,—
Wrapping up mind's joy.

Body, heart and soul,—
Mind requires a trinity,—
For thought to evolve,
A true sensei knows this truth,—
Fuji's white snows cap mountain.​

 

Iconoclast

24 May 2005
Corpus Christi, Texas

Crippled because they don't know lifetime learning skills,
Many go on to teach kindergarten children,
They talk about their Love of kids and ordered homes,
When all they really want's extended naptime long,

Find themselves and Love rejected because children,
Want the user's manual for their weird light speed ships,—
They sense the quantum fluctuations calling them,
To cast forth into exploration's voyage bold,

But all the teacher knows to do is color books,
Or read them fairy tales made to put kids to sleep,
Removing all the horrid content that once made,
Them fables worthy of man's dealings ancestral,

Yes we forget that Jefferson and Washington,
Did not grow up in a factory school house strict,
And Franklin was apprenticed to a printer wise,
¿And Hume and Hobbes and Keats and Plato for a few?

Churchill was nearly broken by the English schools,
¿And to what can we attribute all the World Wars?
Mass produced thought creates mass produced actions strange,—
Tragedy for species young and energetic,

So if you can,—Home School your children by yourself,
Keep them away from the factory system dull,
Awaken in them lifetime learning curious,
Give them a gift that will only grow through their lives,

And if you can't,—then search the huge hay stack of schools,
To find a Stuyvesand or Thomas Jefferson,
Or another place that values individuals,
That challenges and makes them go past their limits,

For then they will have started on a journey vast,
Into and past the intuitions of mankind,
Into God's universe with all that's possible,
Flying soul's raiment iridescent brilliant.​

 

Stalker or Seeker

25 May 2005
Corpus Christi, Texas

Hunting instinct's deep embedded in man,
All the nature versus nurture viewpoints,
Have some share of soul's truth that they bring out,

While the argument goes on unresolved,
Sly man's underlying beast lies hidden,—

Ready to be tamed with Faith's loving grace,
Or turned into deadly killer with pain,—

Argue Tabula Rasa's domain,—But,
Testosterone makes female form hunter,
Precise,—with deadly skills that pursue goals,
Whether other humans or quarks unseen,—

It's up to us to realize this trait,
So easy converts from butter to guns,
For if our madness we cannot contain,
And with a heart that understands train minds,
Someday all humanity it will take.​

 

Because of man's neoteny we continue learning throughout life. It takes two weeks to form a habit. Here's some of the habits I've worked on in my life—they will be passed down to you guys.

Lifetime Habits—Things That Can Help Make Us Whole​

Waking—¡¡THE GOAL!! ¿Doze off after meals? Eat less, drink water, & exercise. 1hr/day24yrs 1yr. Understand the sugar cycle and metabolism.

Sleeping—Enough for mind to reorganize and body to rest. 8 hours is good.

Stretching—Mind & Body. Yoga. Relaxing—Heart (diastolic-systolic) & Breath control. Stress control (cholesterol control) Warming up. Stretch out of sleep, Relax into sleep. Relaxed states can be sleep.

Exercising—Running—Nirvana after a couple of miles. Walking—Counterpoint to running, relieves impact strain. Hiking—walking & observing. Swimming—Low impact, strengthens entire body. Rhythm. Nirvana. Snorkeling—Diving—Swimming underwater. SCUBA extends the experience. Lifting—Building muscle tone, strength & bone mass. Bicycling—Pedaling, gearing, —¡Motion!

Healing—First Aid, CPR, Vitamin C & Water & Aspirin a day. Prevention—Stretch-Warm Up-Relax.

Learning—How to learn. Study habits (Discipline). To learn well—Teach. Memorizing—Mental schemes. Correlating people's names and faces every time (People are #1.) Repetition. Persistence. Involve Body and Emotions and the absurd to create a rich context for association in memory. Training—Animals—Kohler method. Repetition—Praise & praise. To truly learn—train someone else. Persistence.

Reading—Extending Vocabulary means a dictionary and etymology—memorization. Repetition.

Writing—Poetry & prose; Calligraphy, grammar, rhythm, rhyme, communication.

Public Speaking—Toastmasters is a forum for speakers. Thinking, then speaking. Story Telling—Poetry and campfire stories. Poetry's rhythm & rhyme aid memory. Jokes & humor.

Critical Thinking—Reasoning and logic. The core of Left Brain.

Mathematical Reasoning—Part of humanity's heritage. The language of the universe. Functions and functionality. Processes. Root causes. Right brain meshing with left brain—balance.

Washing—Cleaning—Body, clothes & house. Hands and teeth—Dis-ease control. Fasting—Water Only—One or two days a month. Clears mind. Shrinks stomach. Discipline.

Shooting—Dominant eye. Aiming—Pistol, rifle, bow. Targeting in life. Goal setting.

Hunting—Wood lore. Stalking. Killing what you eat.

Fishing—Spear gun, net or hook. Wile and patience.

Gardening—Flowers, vegetables, fruits, herbs. Eating what you grow. Pruning

Animal Husbandry—Caring—Killing what you eat. Domesticating and training (Kohler)

Cooking—Whole healthy food ($/ounce). Eating what you grow or kill.

Eating—Chewing (30 times/mouthful). Relaxed activity. 20 minutes on salad & soup. A conversation and enjoyment for fulfillment.

Drinking—Pure water often. Wine and beer moderately. Distilled spirits—¡Caution!

Playing—Music (melody and harmony and rhythm); and, just plain fun,

Singing—First instrument. Portable instrument. Everyone has a voice.

Dancing—Rhythm, Beat—Partner. Exploration.

Building—Making shelter, construction. Organizing & creating organizations. Sculpting—Clay & wood, rock or soap. Woodworking—Cabinetry, chairs, bowls, . . . Modeling—Reduction of large to small. Flying rockets and planes.

Visualizing—Photographing—Octave of Light. Zone System—(Seeing). Drawing—Right brain. Sketching and painting. Pre-visualization—Goal setting & achievement. Cartooning and Doodling.

Acting—Life is play (& a play.) Memorization. Dramatics, inflection, posturing & posture.

Working—Leaving things better every day. Earning $ (Energy). Legacy. A life of service. Persistence.

Gambling—Risk Assessment & Taking & Aversion & Bluffing. Gaming—modeling of interactions. Playing—More than nickel-dime-quarter poker is fun. Only mortals gamble. Can be addictive.

Negotiating—Dyadic, group, national, international. Strategic bargaining. Haggling.

Saving—¡$1/day is $365/year! ¡8 interest doubles principal in 10 years! Most millionaires saved up a bit at a time.

Loving—Lifetime partner's best. Abstinence's better than a bad relationship. Sharing.

Giving—Caring—Donating—Giving blood often. Volunteering. ¡¡Giving a Damn about more than just our own problems!!

Dying—Hopefully consciously. Do it right by living fully.

 

My Last Day In Public School

22 September 2005
Corpus Christi, Texas

So our kids don't know their fractions,
They cain't multiply or divide,—
A percentage or decimal,
Is strange creature that pursues them,—

¿How dare you impute our system?
We select the best and train them,
Put them into gifted classes,
Make sure they accelerate.

Well as far as all the others,
You can clearly see, ¿Can't you, Sir?
That not every child can be taught,
Some kids you just must entertain.

So don't remediate basics,—
Cover higher order thinking,
Probability and patterns,
Mean, median and mode and range,

Hell,—They're illiterate you see,
A bit of innumeracy,—
Will just ensure we have a pool,
Of ready fools to cheat and lead,

Yes,—many will go be jail bait,
Most minimum wage all life work,
Yet many will find their way out,
Past bureaucracy into light,

Reach Idea's world and unbind,
Learn to think, contribute and dare,
Develop great treasures of mind,
Despite a system that can't care.​

 

Disheveled Thoughts All Crazed

27 October 2005
Corpus Christi, Texas

¿Is there reality hidden subtle,—
Where others sweep about and live their lives?
¿Or there a lack of sherpa guides for realms,—
Where soul soars freely above mortal cares?

Between belief and understanding lies
A valley vast and rich with offerings,
That all can see with walk's exertion firm,
On travels mystical and lyrical,

Surreal and imaginary days,
Of golden fay and gem studded thought-crowns
Relieving heart of frowns and tears that drown,
But these fields must be sown with sweat's clear salt,

No other liquid can nourish mind's growth,
Despite belief alcohol's elixir,
Ambrosia for creativity,—
Only habits of daily planting set,

A patient gardening and weeding done,
Consistently and with persistence firm,
Will coax from mind's idea ground flowers,
That bloom perfume or give forth fruit so sweet.​

 

Reading-Riting-Rithmetic

1 November 2005
Corpus Christi, Texas

at a distance orange school bus drives by
fixed its route on black asphalt straight lined roads
rigid schedule sets budding minds carried
bound itinerary for each subject

symbols breakfast, lunch and dinner dining
forced frenzied feeding continuous day
acid reflux cogitates and digests
white paper stuff,—filled gills,—bulimia

anorexia's vomit strewn about,—
i think i'd cut myself a thousand times
if i had to endure as mindless drone
assimilating dribble spitted source

that barely dictionary usage knows
in little fortress penitentiary
plus and minus gold stars and detention
school's unspoken use of fear and power

strict discipline enforced adult to child
douses spontaneous outbursts of love
kills creativity that makes child's joy
brings dull-repetitious monotony

fattens young minds for entertainment's kill
bloats soul's sensations for drug enhancement
creates child's perceptions illiterate
for promised rigor and relevancy.​