thoughts on education

Interesting how the mind works, i.e. how one thought leads to another, to another, etc. Kinda like streams, to rivers, to the sea.

Early in this blog, I had a post on my school experiences as a child. As a very young child I remember doing homework (usually those damn lists of 20 spelling words) at the dining room table in the lodge at the pitchfork ranch. I can still drag up memories of the physical make up of the large dining room. The guests and the help ate family style at three long tables with chairs and benches on either side. Of course, everything was made out of varnished pine, including the building! And, the décor was complete with stuffed animal heads of various sorts and assorted animal skins on the walls. In the fall when dad was off in the mountains hunting we would have only a few guests ,if any, at the ranch and the help was down to one waitress and mom the cook, which she hated but was very good at. After the evening meal and after the dishes were washed and put away, I remember sitting at one of the dining room tables with mom and the waitress (Frita) studying. I especially remember the spelling words because it was like a spelling bee every night! I felt very important that I had all the attention and worked very hard not to let my study partners down. The spelling test was every Friday morning. Every Friday when I got off of the bus there would be Frita and Mom at the bus stop awaiting word on my spelling results. Now you have to realize that this was extreme pressure for me personally because I seldom could do better than 15 correct out of 20 possible and often got less than fifty percent correct. But, it didn’t matter, any result was cheered. On those rare occasions when a hundred percent was achieved it was as though an Olympic event had just been won. Then at the end of the six week grading period we would have to study all the words once again because I would have a grand test of the 120 spelling words! It was like looking into an open grave. Oh how we all suffered! The greatest lesson I took away from this? We. Education is a team effort. I worked hard to make the team proud. I've been working hard every since the pitchfork days! Spelling still makes my stomach upset. At least the dreams have passed! :-)

I was reminded of this experience while John, his dad, and his mother sat at the kitchen table here in Cambria during their recent visit – doing homework. John was missing a week of school and, of course, had homework to do during his absence. I was reminded of the effort it takes on the part of the parents to help with this process and how important this effort is. Often, unfortunately, the student doesn’t have a clue relative to the efforts of his or her parents, let alone an appreciation for the “process”. And, even more unfortunate, I’m afraid is that our society doesn’t have a “clue” as to the importance of this commitment and process. In my view the human interaction as a result of this process is as important as the lessons themselves. Reliance on others, seeing the results of your efforts in the eyes of others, pleasing others, and team effort are valuable lessons.

Lo and behold, this past week, I heard President Obama’s comments as he made a speech on his plans for education. He related how as a child his mother would get him up at 4:30 a.m. to review areas of study within which she thought he was weak and needed help. He said he would often complain about the additional work and the agony of getting up at 4:30 a.m . He said he still remembers her comment after he complained one morning. She stopped what they were doing, looked at him, and said, “this isn’t exactly a picnic for me either, Buster.” Mothers know the commitment it takes to raise a child and both sides of the education equation. If they don’t, they shouldn’t be parents. If society has forgotten the commitment, it must relearn it. Obama’s point was that society must recommit its efforts. Education isn’t just about you. It’s about your commitment to others and to our society. It’s nice when the President of the United States confirms the thoughts you were having at a particular point in time.

If I had one lesson for my grandchildren to learn it would be; much of what we do in life isn’t about us. Much of what we do is for others – and that includes your education experience. You make yourself proud when you make us proud. Now quit complaining about “me” and get to work! It’s what we expect. You should accept no less.

I wish I had taken the time to thank my parents and Frita for their help. But, I guess we give thanks in many ways.

Dad/Grandpa/Gordon/Skip the elder

p.s. Hi Irene. Thanks for listening. :-)