Sept. 06, 2002 - 13:53 PDT

THE WONDERING JEW

Leaves And Things

Beginning in elementary school our kind and knowlegeable teachers - the ones who knew how to reach a child's mind - would have us bring in fallen leaves from the trees, which opened up the world of art and botany at the beginner's level painlessly. Other things we were encouraged to bring in were rocks polished by a stream, the pupae of pre-emergent butterflies all of which were aspects of nature, prime for our attentive study, also for our delectation and also for us to draw and color. Things we brought in were specimens, concrete things, not taught out of a book, but placed before our very eyes, to see, feel, and weigh in the scales of our hands. Our mind were ripe for the planting of the seeds of education and on some of us it took.

Further in school, current events, things we actually read in the newspaper at home, clipped out articles from the newspaper and read and hopefully understood, then taken to class. We would read the article out loud in front of class, explain it and try to defend our viewpoint. As time went on there were other projects for us to do on our own and later disccuss and defent in class.

It has taken me many, many decades for me to see what a wonderful way to teach children that was, gently and kindly were the ways yet clad us in the armor to reject ignorance. We were intrigued and were led to observe things about us that were plain to see and try to fit into our personal universe. In one way you might say that we were taught to teach ourselves, lovingly led at times.

Some of us did learn, and of those who learned, a certain percent made good use of their knowledge they gained in school. And among those a certain percent adopted the practise of schooling themselves on throughout the rest of their lives. Oh my, would that I could go back and take all the benefits offered in school rather than being a street smart rebel.

As they say though, "You can't go home again," nor is it possible to go back in time. I guess the most that a person can do is to encourage those who come after us to learn as much as they can, as soon as they can and to not slip into the apathy of the boob tube rube, slack jawed on their tocus in front of trash programs. To spur them into realizing that boredom is their mortal enemy which comes from inside self and is actually done by self to self.

I think today that the demand for instant amusement has helped form a 'Gimme,' society. One whose members expect to be given enough allowance to do their thing, no matter how expenseive it might be. Thje complaint of, "Mom, I am so bored," is all too often met by Mom jumping through hoops and making the supreme effort to cure their ills - rather than saying, "You have books, toys and friends, surely you have enough gumption to amuse yourself. A lot of Dads don't help the situation either by throwing a few green notes at them to spend at the mall.

As usual the problem is self evident in my sight, but the solution is so complex and beyond my capability that all I can say is, "Pay close attention to Leaves And Things . . . . . . . . . .

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