Connie Christensen on tue 24 aug 04
Toni wrote:
----- Original Message -----
> I remember being so excited in grade school to get a huge piece of paper
in art class and be able to 'draw anything I wanted.' We had just been to
the circus. I drew a clown....he had huge feet, a small head and a big red
nose and was very bright and colorfully dressed. The teacher gave me a grade
of C, and told me my perspective was way off, that nobody had such big feet.
>
Hi Toni
Did I have the same teacher in grade school? I remember the huge piece of
paper. We were all suppose to do a poster. The teacher had pointed out
various elements and centering things on the paper. Well, I envisioned
something different - the heading to the left and drew a design to balance
on the other side. I can't remember what the rest was. But she taped all the
posters to the front wall and pointed out all the wonderfull things until
she got to mine and immediately criticized me for not having the title
centered. Must conform to get the "A" . I was crushed. I thought I was doing
something different and original and I had really liked my poster until she
told me it was all wrong.
Unfortunately, way to many of us have stories about crushed feelings or
dreams and I'm sure the teachers/parents/whoever had no idea of the affect
their words had on us. I always wanted to be an artist, but in a small town
school, it certainly wasn't encouraged - I was told by my high school
guidance counselor I should become a secretary. That is the last thing on
this earth that would make me happy. I remember walking out of his office
with a feeling of hopelessness, this is going to be my life? (Not meaning
any disrespect to secretaries, it's just not for me.)
Of course, this was a long time ago. Hopefully teachers and parents have a
little more awareness by now and are not as likely to stomp on the dreams of
a child.
Connie Christensen
Arvada, Colorado
Off to visit grandchildren next week to blow bubbles, color outside the
lines and read funny stories out loud. And of course, listen to their
dreams.
Toni Smith on tue 24 aug 04
I remember being so excited in grade school to get a huge piece of paper in art class and be able to 'draw anything I wanted.' We had just been to the circus. I drew a clown....he had huge feet, a small head and a big red nose and was very bright and colorfully dressed. The teacher gave me a grade of C, and told me my perspective was way off, that nobody had such big feet. Later I realized that the problem wasn't mine....that teacher must not have been to the same circus! It was a good lesson for my self esteem to figure that one out myself! Toni in Ohio
Lois Ruben Aronow on tue 24 aug 04
"All grown-ups were children first. (But few remember it)."
"Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is exhausting for
children to have to provide explanations over and over again."
And my favorite:
"Grown-ups like numbers. When you tell them about a new friend, they never
ask questions about what really matters. They never ask: "What does his
voice sound like?" "What games does he like best?" "Does he collect
butterflies?". They ask: "How old is he?" "How many brothers does he have?"
"How much does he weigh?" "How much money does his father make?" Only then
do they think they know him."
Antoine de Sant-Exupery, from "The Little Prince"
My favorite book of all time - even more so as a grown up.
* * * * * * *
Lois Ruben Aronow
Modern Porcelain Tableware
www.loisaronow.com
> I remember being so excited in grade school to get a huge
> piece of paper in art class and be able to 'draw anything I
> wanted.' We had just been to the circus. I drew a clown....he
> had huge feet, a small head and a big red nose and was very
> bright and colorfully dressed. The teacher gave me a grade of
> C, and told me my perspective was way off, that nobody had
> such big feet. Later I realized that the problem wasn't
> mine....that teacher must not have been to the same circus!
> It was a good lesson for my self esteem to figure that one
> out myself! Toni in Ohio
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