But foist . . . . May’s blog is a minor high point for me. Dave Bakke’s article was the needed catalyst that moved me to vow (to myself) to post something at Honey & Quinine every day, or at least post something FOR every day. Sometimes I posted twice on weekend to make up for not posting the previous day. Knowing Dave is a regular reader here is a kick for the same reason it’s a kick to see John Knoepfle in the audience when I recite my poetry. The attention of Dave, Illinois Times editor Roland Klose, whom I know gives H&Q a 20/20 sometimnes and eveery person who leaves a comment elevates me and “restoreth my soul,” as King Jim might have said.. So thanks to all who have commented, and thanks to all who have not commented. Sometimes the traditionally intangible becomes tangible as you have become tang\ible to me. That’s why daily postings will continue here.
BRAVO to the Spelling Bee broadcast Thursday night. YES, I watched it all.
I had to chuckle over the dust-up created over a bill that would mandate a special quiet period at the start of Illinois school classes. As a substitute teacher and amateur chemist (of words) I can tell you trootfully, such a lofty notion is foo’s gode, the impossible dream. How do I know this?
Some Springfield middle schools schedule a period at the start of the day and right after lunch called “silent reading.” Others have a period in which students are asled to write in their journals, kept in spiral binders in class, and others write a response to a question of the day or complete some word excercises: example Connect the words in the left column to their antonyms in the right column. The silent reading seems to be the most popular approach during the 20 minute buffer between “the Real World” and school. In Perfect World, the period allows students to pray silently if they like. In Perfect World, the class is quiet for 20 minutes. In GetReal World it’s different.
Consider this: You go to the Illinois Symphony. Conductorperson whom I call The Real Deal makes her grand entrance and raises the baton, the signal for the orchestra to turn one eye to the music in front of them and the other eye to her for the downbeat. It’s also the cue to the awed-ience for SILENCIO ALREADYOKAY? though she would never say it that way. In GetReal World there’s a delay of a few seconds for everyone to take a deep breath and ready or not, a w a y we GO! So what does this digression show? Most every audience is as easy to corral as a middle school room full of students.
The idea of a silent time at the start of morning and/or afternoon rounds . . . . TERRIFIC idea. It’s the same idea as a silent prayer, followed by the Lord’s Prayer allows worshippers to clear their heads, their hearts, before the “Sermon on the Pulpit” at some Christian churches. And it’s terrific for the same reason not even Richard Gere could explain to a 13 year young student from the counter-culture east of 11th Street who considers anything coming from the teacher the way Eastern cultures react to a cartoon making “light” of their god.
What an insult to our natural humanity that this notion is opposed by religious zealots and anti-religion zealots! I write these words not trying to capture your attention with my gyrating left hand while my right hand sneaks a silent prayer into the silent, listening or non-listening, air. I write for the freedom of silence. The silent prayer is no threat to the fabric of our community. Neither is the silent glance at Lucy across the aisle whose dress is wonderfully short today.
Some folks would no sooner understand the value of silence than than would understand the value of eating soup with a spoon or saying “thank you” for a kindness given by a stranger.
Silent time, no more than three minutes of completely silent time (the impossible jeem) if understood, if led properly, COULD BE an asset to the learning process! It would be great if it led the way to silent reading, writing in the journal, working on a worksheet, whatever. . . . . and you don’t have to be a Christian or of any other faith or non-faith or absence of faith or non-faith to appreciate it. It clears the head if you want it to. It allows you to position your mental “feet” precisely on the edge of the divinng board, to extend your arms and hands to just above shoulder level . . . . . before thrusting down with your legs and taking the plunge into the day. Only in a classroom can the opportunity be provided to students. It makes emminent sense.
Which is why it will never happen under law. Teachers, even substitutes may indirectly permit it only by slating time for silent something else. If provided as silent time for silent time, as The Real Deal and every teacher know, there will always be someone coughing or clearing a congested throat or teasing the cute boy two rows over and not understanding the purpose of that strange adult standing in front of everyone.
But that’s no reason why we shouldn’t make it a part of class life, do you
Gesundheit!
do you think?
Live long . . . . . . and p;roper.
