Hi Mum and everyone:
Mum, I hope you had a lovely week end painting! I've been sick with a cold for the last few days but starting to get the wind back in my sails now. It's amazing how a cold can drain my energy so well. It must be age because when I was younger it didn't do that. Oh well....I'm feeling better now and glad it was just a cold.
I have to say, I really love reading your posts Mum. You seem like such a down to earth person. I'm sorry to hear that your mom is failing. Has she been in the home long? It's so hard to see a loved one suffer. It must be worse to be so far away? I hope your visit with her will be a comfort to both of you. I bet she'll be glad that you remember her story about the black house and how much her comment meant to you. I'm glad that you have such a relationship with your mom that you are able to tell her those things. That is so nice to hear.
GFN: you just had a bad art teacher....
I don't know about that because I had several art teachers over the years. I think I was a bit like your mom in that I just didn't think I had any ability (but I don't know if I can blame it on any one teacher). I do get what you mean though, that my art teachers might have instilled the belief that I did....have ability....had they had the insight you have. So I guess they were not the best art teachers. I don't think I tried to do my best in art either because I didn't think I had it. So why bother? I'm so glad to hear that your goal is:
...for no kids to EVER feel they CAN"T in my classroom.
That is so encouraging for them. And they will greatly benefit by having such an experience in your class. Way to go Mum!!! All systems need more teachers who give that message to kids.
I remember in grade 10, I had a geography teacher who was just there for the money. He would hand out sheets for us to read and write page numbers from the text book on the board for us to study and that was it. He never taught anything. Not one word. If we asked a question he'd say the answer was in the text. He handed out tests for us to do but didn't care if we did them, or if someone else did them for us. As long as we handed them in. My friend did all of my tests and I got an A in geography. I still haven't got a clue about that subject. This guy(the teacher) had a pool business, on the side, and spent his class time doing paper work and stuff to do with that business. What a jerk! People like him give teachers a bad name. Sorry to say.
Plus I remember a grade 10 math teacher who had such a passion and patience for mathematics! She was fantastic. She could explain stuff to a kid 42 times and not sound the least bit irritated. Her explanations were so clear, for me, and I found math suddenly ....easy. I got 99% in that course!! Never to be repeated in my life time. Teachers can make such a difference in a child's life. They are so important in helping kids build self-esteem and in inducing kids with their own passions....their own great desires to learn more!
Thankyou for being such a great teacher, Mum. In my case, home was not a happy place, so school was it. It was the teachers who gave me some of my own passions. Thankyou for reminding me......of that!
GFN