tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post1849126257040155693..comments2024-03-26T07:00:11.620-05:00Comments on Wisdom of the Hands: Friendship boxes and grandfathers...Doug Stowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13003845322415622289noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-53020760367386566312012-02-15T21:08:10.501-06:002012-02-15T21:08:10.501-06:00Yes, Thanks. Musique concrete. Except that the con...Yes, Thanks. Musique concrete. Except that the concrete is not said the way we say it when the truck arrives.<br /><br />Children are actually quite easy to occupy if you have interesting things. Parents used to bring bags of things to entertain, but now just bring the iPhone. But then the French seem to do just fine simply asking the children to pay attention to what surrounds them. If you know bout musique concrete, and are willing to find your entertainment in what ever your surroundings are, then you will never be bored.Doug Stowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13003845322415622289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-80308457353295157782012-02-15T19:15:14.706-06:002012-02-15T19:15:14.706-06:00Doug, it is probably musique concrete...does that ...Doug, it is probably musique concrete...does that ring a bell? It is making music out of natural sounds...was a great movement in the early electronic music movement. Good stuff. <br /><br />I think we are all putting too much pressure on the schools and are abrogating responsibility of the family. Too many parents are just plopping their kids down in front of a screen. That was the beauty of my weekend with the kids. No screens, just wood, watching birds at the feeder, identifying them with my bird book, zeroing in with my grandpa's binoculars, and writing out words with my collection of fountain pens. The grandchildren were wonderfully curious, and it was EASY to gratify their curiosity. I fear that we as a society have lost that element of curiosity. It is really NOT difficult to engage them in meaningful activities...really!!! But you already know that :)<br /><br />OK, off MY soapbox!!! <br /><br />Enjoyed your article in the latest FW mag. What a wonderful publication.<br /><br />Hope your visit to Des Moines is a good one. I spent two wonderful years in Iowa City. Iowa is a great state, and you really CAN hear the corn grow in the summer :)<br /><br />JDJDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-87272296713954660292012-02-15T18:56:14.539-06:002012-02-15T18:56:14.539-06:00JD, schools cannot do it all, and developing an ef...JD, schools cannot do it all, and developing an effective partnership between home and school is the overriding reason for the success of the Finnish school system. <br /><br />Cygnaeus and Salomon in Educational Sloyd, deliberately set out to establish the proper relationship between home and school. Without that we are handicapped. Sadly, these days in homes, too many parents don't quite get the necessity of scissors, glue, string, etc. It is so much easier to just turn on the screen. Good work on those boxes, kids.<br /><br />Back at you on the respect.<br /><br />On another subject, one of the music teachers at John Burroughs told me a French term for music that is simply what's happening. I was trying to tell him about the noises in wood shop. Can you tell me what that term was? I would like it spelled out for me to research, and would contact him, but don't have his email address.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Doug<br /><br /><br />DougDoug Stowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13003845322415622289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34011427.post-58442262364295076722012-02-15T18:46:05.048-06:002012-02-15T18:46:05.048-06:00Doug, maybe it is we grandfathers who have to tur...Doug, maybe it is we grandfathers who have to turn the tide in re: our grandchildren who are in schools that devalue working with the hands. It's like most else...values are developed in the home. Perhaps it is time to acknowledge that the schools cannot do it all. Where are the parents and the homes???<br /><br />Thanks for all you do in re: this...<br /><br />With great respect,<br /><br />jdJDnoreply@blogger.com