I'm thinking about what happens to the wonder and curiosity when we start to school. Of course some of us continue to "wander in wonder" -- but mostly what happens is that timelessness gets yanked out of us. Slamming our wonderment into sections of clock time all-but-eliminates our abilty to BE in eternity-time. Know what I mean? After we become thoroughly embedded in the hours, minutes, seconds world, it's darn near impossible to return to No-time. Except through the arts. We can "lose time" in music, dancing, writing, painting. . .
DUBIN!!!!! The wonder of it all, indeed! This is SO right on. My 18-month old grandson is a constant reminder of this sense of joy, of the now, of wonder: everything is new, everything is possible, there is no artifice, no agenda other than LET'S PLAY!!! He's so pure in his play, it's literally intoxicating. Like Pops singing "What A Wonderful World." He is not just singing a song, he is living the life of the song as he shares it with us. Wow, every time. My aim is to spend the rest of my life exploring the WONDER of everything around me, as little Tate reminds me at every turn.
That WOW is also true for Gene Wilder and that miracle of a song. I was 15 years old when my mother I insisted I take my sister to the nearby movie theatre on Mission Street in San Francisco to see Willy Wonka. I was not happy about it, but off we went. My sister liked the movie, I absolutely LOVED it! It had magic and mystery, a golden ticket, badass songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley (including an all-timer "Cheer Up Charlie"), some unexpected plot twists, and a miracle of a performance by Gene Wilder. It sent my imagination and curiosity on fire, for which I'm eternally grateful.
You're right: we need Acting Human more than ever. Thank you for this gift of a post and the reminders to live life alive. It's easy to let fear erode our humanity, our sense of play and wonder.
Let's push back on that, shall we? Not sure if Substack works this way, but here's a link to a kids song I wrote called "Do You Wonder?" Happy to share it with you and your readers. Thanks again!
"Wonder encourages us to see life not merely as a series of tasks or routines but as a series of delightful experiences waiting to be discovered."-- Good stuff. A nice reminder for one's soul to wake the freak up:)
You hit so many nails on the head with this piece, you’ve built the foundation to a house!
Our educational system is indeed designed to train obedient workers, as opposed to critical or creative thinkers. I saw this with my own extremely bright and creative children, who were mostly bored with school.
My wife and I began researching homeschooling for my youngest and discover this amazing essay in Harpers Bizarre called, Against School by John Taylor Gatto. We pulled our daughter out of school in the 6th grade and unschooled her until she wanted to return in the 8th grade. She would say she hated the experience today, but it did make her noticeably more independent than her friends. It was hard to implement a homeschool reality at that point because she was already too used to the system.
I’m happy that my older daughter plans to homeschool and has already begun with my very funny, bright and creative 3 year old grandson. I’ve heard of a lot of parents beginning to opt out of the system, which may be the most hopeful indicator for the future.
I'm thinking about what happens to the wonder and curiosity when we start to school. Of course some of us continue to "wander in wonder" -- but mostly what happens is that timelessness gets yanked out of us. Slamming our wonderment into sections of clock time all-but-eliminates our abilty to BE in eternity-time. Know what I mean? After we become thoroughly embedded in the hours, minutes, seconds world, it's darn near impossible to return to No-time. Except through the arts. We can "lose time" in music, dancing, writing, painting. . .
Easily digested and yummy. Give me more.
DUBIN!!!!! The wonder of it all, indeed! This is SO right on. My 18-month old grandson is a constant reminder of this sense of joy, of the now, of wonder: everything is new, everything is possible, there is no artifice, no agenda other than LET'S PLAY!!! He's so pure in his play, it's literally intoxicating. Like Pops singing "What A Wonderful World." He is not just singing a song, he is living the life of the song as he shares it with us. Wow, every time. My aim is to spend the rest of my life exploring the WONDER of everything around me, as little Tate reminds me at every turn.
That WOW is also true for Gene Wilder and that miracle of a song. I was 15 years old when my mother I insisted I take my sister to the nearby movie theatre on Mission Street in San Francisco to see Willy Wonka. I was not happy about it, but off we went. My sister liked the movie, I absolutely LOVED it! It had magic and mystery, a golden ticket, badass songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley (including an all-timer "Cheer Up Charlie"), some unexpected plot twists, and a miracle of a performance by Gene Wilder. It sent my imagination and curiosity on fire, for which I'm eternally grateful.
You're right: we need Acting Human more than ever. Thank you for this gift of a post and the reminders to live life alive. It's easy to let fear erode our humanity, our sense of play and wonder.
Let's push back on that, shall we? Not sure if Substack works this way, but here's a link to a kids song I wrote called "Do You Wonder?" Happy to share it with you and your readers. Thanks again!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXJbLPn6_7c
Sweet song, Loren! Your grandchild is so lucky to have you -- "growing up" together -- Acting human together!
Thanks, Connie! Appreciate your sweet note.....
"Wonder encourages us to see life not merely as a series of tasks or routines but as a series of delightful experiences waiting to be discovered."-- Good stuff. A nice reminder for one's soul to wake the freak up:)
Good morning :)
Touche'
You hit so many nails on the head with this piece, you’ve built the foundation to a house!
Our educational system is indeed designed to train obedient workers, as opposed to critical or creative thinkers. I saw this with my own extremely bright and creative children, who were mostly bored with school.
My wife and I began researching homeschooling for my youngest and discover this amazing essay in Harpers Bizarre called, Against School by John Taylor Gatto. We pulled our daughter out of school in the 6th grade and unschooled her until she wanted to return in the 8th grade. She would say she hated the experience today, but it did make her noticeably more independent than her friends. It was hard to implement a homeschool reality at that point because she was already too used to the system.
I’m happy that my older daughter plans to homeschool and has already begun with my very funny, bright and creative 3 year old grandson. I’ve heard of a lot of parents beginning to opt out of the system, which may be the most hopeful indicator for the future.
https://www.scribd.com/document/99657318/John-Taylor-Gatto-Against-School