This blog is dedicated to sharing the concept that our hands are essential to learning- that we engage the world and its wonders, sensing and creating primarily through the agency of our hands. We abandon our children to education in boredom and intellectual escapism by failing to engage their hands in learning and making.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Today in the Clear Spring School Wood Shop
Hearing about Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain's insistence on receiving his bonus reminded me of last week when Stephen, a first grade student told me that he didn't want to make toy cars to give away, he wanted to keep them for himself.
But today, in grades, 1, 2, 3, 4, 11 and 12 we will be making toy cars for holiday distribution through the local food bank. Other classes will resume their toy making efforts on Wednesday and Thursday.
How do we reshape our culture toward becoming a place of giving and responsibility toward others? For some, the lessons come early. For some the lessons come late. For John Thain, these lessons have been painfully embarrassing, and he has withdrawn his request for $10,000,000.00. One could hope that such forms of embarrassment would become widespread. Can you imagine a world in which service to others is valued more highly than personal wealth? It is the world of the hands.
The photo above is from the 1st and 2nd grade class, sanding toy cars and the photo below shows our progress so far.
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