- Learn to Sew: I inherited my grandmother's sewing machine this year, and I am going to put it to good use...the ultimate goal is to sew my own clothes, to learn the ins and outs of sewing, to be able to make gifts for people using my newly learned craft...I've wanted to do this for a long time...this is the year...
- Read 2 books a month: Now, for some of you this may sound like the easiest resolution ever...I learned this past semester that personal reading can quickly take a backseat when you are teaching literature and having to read so much of that on your own...I love to read and want to do more of it, reading what I desire to read...I'm starting with Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution and How It Can Renew America...I got it for Christmas and it keeps calling my name...
- Thomas and Teresa: Zac and I love making music and are in the beginnings of creating it together, just the two of us...we've aptly named our little duo "Thomas and Teresa" after two of our favorite Christian mystics (Thomas Merton and St. Teresa of Avila)...we've got the equipment...we've got the desire...we just need to make it a priority...stay tuned...
- Write...and Write...and Write...: I'm committing to write SOMETHING everyday...to help, I'm working through a book of prompts by the glorious Natalie Goldberg, called Old Friend from Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoir...I want to document every day of my life this year...because I have a sneaking suspicion that 2009 is going to be a beautiful mystery...
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Resolve...
I know, I know...it's resolution season...the moment before the calendar changes when we think of things we wish to improve about our existence, and we commit to work towards a goal...I've had a love/hate relationship with New Years resolutions...some years I have utterly cringed at the mention of them, others I have been sparked to commit to my own...in 2009, I am resolving to do many things, but I am optimistic that these things will not only lead to positive changes...they will also be refreshing for my spirit and soul...and so...I resolve....
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Dear Virginia...
Families across our country, across our world, cherish and hold close traditions for this miraculous season...several years ago, I started my own, personal tradition...each year, I read a letter that appeared in a New York City newspaper in 1897, written by the editor in response to an 8 year old girl's question...Is there a Santa Clause?? We could spend hours debating the pros and cons of Santa, arguing over his political correctness, but this editor, so many years ago, got it...of all the letters I have ever read, this is the most perfect...I pass my tradition on to you all this year...ENJOY...
Dear Editor,
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says "If you see it in The Sun it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O'Hanlon,115 West 95th Street,New York City
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love, and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias'. There would be no childlike faith, then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fill the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, not even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, cold tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view - and picture the supernatural beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
Editorial Page, New York Sun, 1897
To you and yours, I wish you a most blessed holiday...believe and never lose childlike faith and wonder...
Dear Editor,
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says "If you see it in The Sun it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O'Hanlon,115 West 95th Street,New York City
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love, and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias'. There would be no childlike faith, then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fill the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, not even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, cold tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view - and picture the supernatural beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!
Editorial Page, New York Sun, 1897
To you and yours, I wish you a most blessed holiday...believe and never lose childlike faith and wonder...
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Damage Control
As some of you may know, I am in my first year of teaching...junior English...it's pretty amazing...some days are better than others, as I am still creating my "teaching persona"...that is, how I poise myself in the classroom, how I handle tough situations, and how I interact with students. Each day, I grow more and more confident in my abilities and my intellect, which is a big deal for me. I am not a shy person, but it has taken some time to strike the balance between "you can't do that in MY classroom" and "I care deeply for every single one of you as a human being and as my student"...today was a hard day...
Last week, I used a Flobots song as part of a lesson on poetic meter and rhythm, attempting to reach my students who so desperately need extra motivation in school. That day, I received rave reviews from students, with comments like "This was the best class...EVER!" and "We should listen to songs like this more often!"...I was overjoyed that there was finally a breakthrough...but for every action, there is an equal or opposite REaction...and today, I had to do damage control...I received an email from a superior who informed me that a parent alerted them to profane language being used in my classroom. Granted, there were two instances of profanity within the song in question...after reading the email, I was crushed...I had so many thoughts racing and overwhelming my psyche...because of an activity that I created, a student felt uncomfortable in my classroom...it has been my primary goal from Day One to create a comfortable, homey atmosphere in B20, and in 4 minutes and 39 seconds that was destroyed for someone...it has taken me the entire day to fully wrap my mind around the situation...my principal has been understanding and encouraging, which I appreciate more than words can express...I apologized to all of my classes and have promised myself that it will never happen again...sometimes, it is hard to find the middle ground between art and education...hopefully, tomorrow is a better day...
On a lighter note, and as a testament to the hilarity that ensues in my classes everyday...last week, we read and responded to the poetry of Emily Dickinson. For most of the final day, I heard groans and confused yelps...the bright spot came in 6th hour when one of my students said, "This chick is depressing...somebody needs to take her to Florida!!!" I rest my case that 11th graders are infinitely entertaining...in SO many ways....
Last week, I used a Flobots song as part of a lesson on poetic meter and rhythm, attempting to reach my students who so desperately need extra motivation in school. That day, I received rave reviews from students, with comments like "This was the best class...EVER!" and "We should listen to songs like this more often!"...I was overjoyed that there was finally a breakthrough...but for every action, there is an equal or opposite REaction...and today, I had to do damage control...I received an email from a superior who informed me that a parent alerted them to profane language being used in my classroom. Granted, there were two instances of profanity within the song in question...after reading the email, I was crushed...I had so many thoughts racing and overwhelming my psyche...because of an activity that I created, a student felt uncomfortable in my classroom...it has been my primary goal from Day One to create a comfortable, homey atmosphere in B20, and in 4 minutes and 39 seconds that was destroyed for someone...it has taken me the entire day to fully wrap my mind around the situation...my principal has been understanding and encouraging, which I appreciate more than words can express...I apologized to all of my classes and have promised myself that it will never happen again...sometimes, it is hard to find the middle ground between art and education...hopefully, tomorrow is a better day...
On a lighter note, and as a testament to the hilarity that ensues in my classes everyday...last week, we read and responded to the poetry of Emily Dickinson. For most of the final day, I heard groans and confused yelps...the bright spot came in 6th hour when one of my students said, "This chick is depressing...somebody needs to take her to Florida!!!" I rest my case that 11th graders are infinitely entertaining...in SO many ways....
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