words through barsmoke
Friday, August 20, 2004
My Teaching Philosophy
(AKA Why I Show Up Each Day)
I believe in a free education. I believe that a look at the entirety of human history indicates a fundamental belief that knowledge, and the manipulation of knowledge, are vital to a meaningful existence on this planet. I believe that schools, if they are to fulfill their most important mission, are a means by which we produce students not merely in name, but in nature. I believe that you should know why you show up here everyday. I believe that students should understand what they are being taught, why they are being taught, and the applicability of what we teach them. I believe that learning is the basis of human experience. I believe that everything in human history points to the importance of learning.
I believe that we live in interesting times. I believe that the exponential growth of knowledge up to this modern point in time makes them so. I believe that in order for things to be interesting, there first needs to be those who take interest. I believe that our students should be taught to be interesting people, capable of pondering, capable of deep contemplation, capable of manipulating their surroundings in a way that makes life meaningful. I believe in a free education. I believe that the educational system is a sure sign of our advance as a society. I believe in a nation, a state, a city, a village, a township, a citizen that values education. I believe that those who value education, value inquiry, value experience, support the work I show up to do everyday. I believe in a free education. Everyday of my life.
(AKA Why I Show Up Each Day)
I believe in a free education. I believe that a look at the entirety of human history indicates a fundamental belief that knowledge, and the manipulation of knowledge, are vital to a meaningful existence on this planet. I believe that schools, if they are to fulfill their most important mission, are a means by which we produce students not merely in name, but in nature. I believe that you should know why you show up here everyday. I believe that students should understand what they are being taught, why they are being taught, and the applicability of what we teach them. I believe that learning is the basis of human experience. I believe that everything in human history points to the importance of learning.
I believe that we live in interesting times. I believe that the exponential growth of knowledge up to this modern point in time makes them so. I believe that in order for things to be interesting, there first needs to be those who take interest. I believe that our students should be taught to be interesting people, capable of pondering, capable of deep contemplation, capable of manipulating their surroundings in a way that makes life meaningful. I believe in a free education. I believe that the educational system is a sure sign of our advance as a society. I believe in a nation, a state, a city, a village, a township, a citizen that values education. I believe that those who value education, value inquiry, value experience, support the work I show up to do everyday. I believe in a free education. Everyday of my life.
Sunday, August 08, 2004
a proposition
in the entirety of native american creation stories, none can be found containing original sin or the notion of a fall from grace. this is a fundamental supposition, completely contrary to the belief system of Christianity. As members of a predominately Christian society, and when considering the entire body of western literature, we must consider the native American and their belief in an initial harmony. effective use of initial harmony would change the dynamics of modern storytelling.
ex. begin a story with initial harmony. nobody is upset, nobody is suspicious, nobody is at fault. the storyline would consider the entrance of a disharmonic presence, and through struggle, a return to harmony. therefore, the “sin” or disharmonic presence, is ultimately fixable.
or
ex. rather than fixable, no occurrence of disharmony need develop. the story would be about the creation of a lasting object. worthy of praise, worthy of attention, worthy of storytelling. things start good, get better, and ultimately transcend.
Monday, August 02, 2004
it’s fucked up these loops that we spin in
for Dave Gangloff
I keep thinking that I need to remember that it is not about me
I don’t need to get all inside myself
picturing my own death
spinning out of control
man wasn’t there a phone call cigarette journal song pen shit pillow food drive
drug project mix tape old movie email game laundry drink news show ball game shower
some other thing but this
I am not leaving and I need to remember that it is not about me
it’s fucked up these loops that we spin in
it’s fucked up that that love swallows everything
and spits it out in a mouth full of sleeping pills.
spw.
8/1/04
