Enjoying the delightful anarchy of children (as long as it’s not at my expense) I had just finished a school show. Before I could turn off the microphones, a slightly officious administrator had taken the stage (I use that term loosely – there was no stage, it was the gym floor) “Students!” she said in [...]
Archive for May, 2009
New Playground Rules – a story
Posted in School culture, School discipline, Schools, tagged education, recess on May 29, 2009 | 5 Comments »
School plays – Process or Product?
Posted in Schools, School culture, Art and community, tagged school plays, Paul Cuffee School, working with children on May 22, 2009 | 10 Comments »
When I first started working as an artist in the schools, I was often asked to prepare a final performance at the end of my time at a school – a play, a performance of stories and songs, a book or recording. I chafed under this pressure, and fought against it. I felt that all [...]
Frog blog! – the amazing wood frogs and spadefoots
Posted in Books, Children and nature, tagged environment, spadefoot toads, Vernal pools on May 15, 2009 | 4 Comments »
I wrote my book, Night of the Spadefoot Toads, after being introduced to a local vernal pool by my friend Carol Entin. Vernal pools are ephemeral – there in the spring, and dried up and gone by the time the hot days of summer arrive. The very small vernal pool near my house is home [...]
Song As An Organizing Principle
Posted in School culture, School discipline, Schools, Song, tagged singing on May 8, 2009 | 13 Comments »
Earlier this spring I was performing at Northville Elementary School in New Milford, CT. Kids filed into the gym (great acoustics – ask any gym teacher!) and by the time the 250 students all arrived, it was fairly noisy. The principal, Susan Murray, walked to the front of the group and sang, “Ha ha ha [...]
A job swap – artists and bankers!
Posted in Art and community, Artists, tagged Liz Lerman on May 2, 2009 | 4 Comments »
I’ve often thought a great employment program would be to give artists a $1000 each – this would keep them employed for six months at least. Part of being an artist involves being foolish, which is a good thing for those around them. Liz Lerman is an innovative choreographer who has been in the forefront [...]
