tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post3429670898536581374..comments2024-02-06T04:26:33.866-06:00Comments on To Keep Things Whole: Perception and PerspectiveMark Crottyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17099567332113135358noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post-45104878447695964032010-10-06T16:54:29.863-05:002010-10-06T16:54:29.863-05:00Thanks so much for the tip. Sincerely, Sylvia V.Thanks so much for the tip. Sincerely, Sylvia V.Sylvia Venablenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post-38031258657511954532010-10-06T15:58:52.339-05:002010-10-06T15:58:52.339-05:00Sylvia, the Palmer title with which I'm most f...Sylvia, the Palmer title with which I'm most familiar is The Courage to Teach. This is the one purely focused on education.Mark Crottynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post-57096703046294849832010-10-06T14:14:07.277-05:002010-10-06T14:14:07.277-05:00Thanks, Mark. For all our edification, would you ...Thanks, Mark. For all our edification, would you submit a title or two by Parker Palmer which we might read? Thanks, Sylvia V.Sylvia Venablenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post-75040346557485861902010-10-06T13:21:17.423-05:002010-10-06T13:21:17.423-05:00Thanks for the kind words, Brett. Your insights br...Thanks for the kind words, Brett. Your insights brought to mind two things. One of my wife’s favorite expressions is “You can make straight A’s and flunk life.” I think we can all come up with examples to prove that. The other is the story of Joe Ehrmann, former Baltimore Colt who is now the football coach at Gilman School. He tells his players that the coaches’ job is to love them and that the players’ job is to love each other. There is a wonderful book titled "Season of Life" about him.<br /><br />And Sylvia, thanks for the thoughts. One of the great educational writers is Parker Palmer. He’s not a theoretician. Instead, he muses on what it truly means to be a teacher. One of his most important lines is “You teach who you are.” Your comments reveal that notion beautifully.Mark Crottyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09972646076834199680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post-79775939711372004282010-10-05T07:45:23.910-05:002010-10-05T07:45:23.910-05:00Ah, yes...the eternal question of how to keep the ...Ah, yes...the eternal question of how to keep the brain engaged, sharp, and receptive! As an educator at St. John's for 23 years now, I have two nouns that preclude all others in the scenario of how to keep students engaged: passion and variety. I have been teaching German for 26 years, and I never teach the same material the same way. This search for innovation renders the subject ever fresh and new, and keeps me from sounding stale and complacent. Additionally, my passion for travel, language, and culture--nay, for life itself--must be the cornerstone of the transmission of my knowledge quotient to others. Without those two qualities, my material and my persona become trite, passionless, airless entities, and I have no business in the classroom. And I might mention one more quality: a genuine love of my student clientele, both individually and collectively, perhaps more than any other aspect of my teaching, should inform my days. The combination of those three features, I hope, will be my legacy for years to come. Kudos to you, Mark Crotty, for pondering the essential fulcrum that drives the wheels of teaching and learning. As ever, Sylvia Venable, PhDSylvia Venablenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7129899644952196274.post-27008009568439756312010-10-04T20:51:19.158-05:002010-10-04T20:51:19.158-05:00Mark, you have obviously shared your heart on your...Mark, you have obviously shared your heart on your first blog. My wife,Sanka, reminds me daily that "life begins at the end of our comfort zone". If we can teach our children to use their talents, share their gifts, and respect themselves and friends while learning something along the way, we have done our jobs. Warren Buffet wrote that the best business advice he gave someone was to give "unconditional love". I agree with Mr. Buffet. I sometimes feel we get caught up in kids' brains when we should invest more in their hearts. We are excited about your perspective and look forward to your leadership. Blessings, Brett StalcupBrett Stalcupnoreply@blogger.com