Peabody #2

Eddy left me alone with Marla and the kindergarteners. Luckily things went smoothly.

I was put on hot glue gun duty and spent my observation time participating in the class. The students continue to work on their 3-D Utopia projects. As I crouched on the floor with the glue gun in hand, I watched rainbows slink around the room. There is a sense of magic at this age (not mine, (necessarily) but in early childhood). I watched students with the materials. I observed them as they set out to problem-solve. Their ability to learn through exploration is apparent, and I like that the Peabody challenges its students to apply critical and creative thinking stategies at such a young age. At the same time, it seems like the children are engaged with the work.

I also got a chance to know Marla. Perhaps like many other people, I have a handful of interests, and at times, it has been difficult for me to choose which direction to pursue. For me though, Marla, is an example of how one person's meandering (progressive, independent) paths can happily converge. I have faith that my interests will converge anyway, but, she and the Lead Teacher have served as reminders that there are many options in life. There are many different kind of schools, many different visions, and versions of education, but that chosing what is appropriate will be a unique task for each of us.

There were two things that stood out for me in our conversation. One was how important it is to find out if an institutions philosophy on art education resonate with our own philosophies, and the other is that it is possible to create your vision, if it does not exist. Marla and the teacher at Reggio Emilia are the foundation of that school because of someone, or a group of some one's visions. These ideas are important things to remember. My desire is to be fulfilled and challenged in whatever work I do, and in order to do that, I think it is important to be honest about what my abilities, my needs, my hopes and beliefs are, and to be willing to take risks when their is necessity or promise.