What in the World Happened to Philip Kovacs?

On a day NPR proclaimed the death of art, something else decided to throw a knife in my reactive gut.
Art, like the Greek pantheon, has apparently become completely irrelevant to the "public"-art, like the Greek gods, needs worship at the altar -to justify museums and masterpieces.
No one cares about the art, they seem to tell us.
What now for art?
No one cares, I think it says, in this new century, of art on walls.

Then I read this, by the guy formerly known as a leader against NCLB. Someone I truly respected for a petition he drove home to try to stop NCLB-he put his dissertation money where his mouth was.
And, no, I'm not going to argue, take on the points about tenure that infuriate me in that Huff Post piece (I hate the pop ups you deal with when hitting a Huff Post piece),  not even here to discuss it. If tenure is lost to this kind of thinking, much like art lost to the fact we didn't teach it, or allow it, or "need it in the 21st century," we are rapidly getting a world I do not want for my children or grandchildren. I needed tenure to write this blog, to speak my truths and to pen the few good things I have here. If that has no value to another I cannot do more than I have to stand as representative of it.
I hope Philip was not abducted and a zombie is filling in. That would be a bummer.


BECAUSE I'm ready to do some writing to the Philip Kovacs.
I SHOULD have done it last year when I first read a letter he sent to his child's teacher-at the same grade level I was entering teaching. But I waited. I waited because last year presented challenges I could not publicly discuss, even WITH tenure.
And that may well be so this year. But this year I'm writing a response to Philip Kovacs, bit by bit, as I teach. And if you haven't read his letter to a teacher I'm taking on as about myself, then you should. Also it might make this make a little more sense...... because the "Dear Philips" that will follow here in my blog will be referencing that letter.

Dear Philip,

I started to write to you many times after reading your letter.
And then I waited a whole year and used it to help me through a very difficult school year where finding my way wasn't easy. I was just taking a Transitional Kindergarten, four year olds that turn five in the K year,  and it was tough. For many reasons. But now, after a year under my 30 year teaching belt I'm going to take your letter to heart. I'm going to share with you what you said that's on my mind, and what I'm doing-as if you were both parent and listener.

Let's start with this, from your letter to your child's first teacher. Right now before I meet my class as I prep,  it speaks to me. (Kids come in a week)

"I’d like him to end the year a little kinder, a little more courageous, and a little more compassionate."
Yes, Philip, that  makes good sense to me as a place we can start.

Your child deserves a room where that is the way we do things. Last year, my first year in TK, at the start that was a challenge I did not see coming as a challenge. I so appreciate you said "end the year." Thank you. It takes time and whether you realize it or not I need the arc of time to do that work.

Children had anxiety last year entering to a level that shocks me still as I recall the days, children were acting out...and it took me awhile to achieve kindness as our value, but we did become kind, soft, and subtle. I was able to do so using my years of experience frankly, more so than in twenty years I think. I had to pull upon how to build relationships with each individual child. And establish trust. Ask for help for some, go to my District, allow others into the dynamics to help me.  And I had to learn this age group again.

I just ordered a book, " Addressing Challenging Behaviors in Early Childhood Settings" by Dawn Denno, Victoria Carr and Susan Hart Bell- it's an inch thick and I'm starting it tonight hoping for thoughts on how to help children. It was recommended but I don't know yet..  I also spent the week remaking my room-thinking about kindness-and how we might start from day one building that together. How to have circle time, caring time. How to start the day in ways children will enjoy-less about the rigidity of the form.
I'm not a newcomer to this. But I can tell you that children last year struggled at first with all this.
And I was held "responsible," which took time.
It takes time to help children learn to wait their turn, offer friendship, share, not punch someone in the face.
But this year I'm going way slower and with rituals, rhymes, routines in our first months all about kindness.

You'd probably like that "Little Bear"- the videos -will be shown for ten minutes after we come in from outside play so we can cool down, have our restroom break, and see Little Bear demonstrate kindness.
So far I haven't seen something better or more reassuring. I gave myself permission to do that.

Would you like to see the room? I have changed a few things already from these pictures.
I'm rather pleased-we have a brand new carpet.
I've never worked in a more equipped room, not while teaching in public education. Plus add in I've got a lot organized from my storage-and spent thousands. Want to know what I want? I'll show you. I want these. I want to regularly use a puppet theater. (I pray it gets donated)
So here is the room.
(If I figured out the way to embed it.)



There is a book that I use personally as my "backstory" as I teach, it sits in my thoughts and I turn to it at the end of each day,  especially in the area of kindness and care it's the backbone of my program, the foundation if you will. It is something that was written by someone on my Facebook if you want to know her, Greta Nagel. She's an incredible being.
The book is:

The Tao of Teaching: The Ageless Wisdom of Taoism and the Art of Teaching

 She has one for parents as well. It is excellent, the only "parenting" book I recommend besides Dr. Spock and a great book Wonder Child, that you can get for a penny-so little. Penny for your thoughts I suppose. Oh and this one.

That might be some homework for you.

Right now I am in the week before my school starts, and I am thinking about the class as I once thought about my three children while they were in my womb.
We have yet to meet, but I am full of hope and nervousness and it all sits in my consciousness as the start of a journey. Doubting my abilities and decorating.
I'm reading the curriculum happily, as I once read those books I just recommended. Waiting for the days to come when I know I'll sleep very little, and find myself inadequate.

But I certainly will be back here to tell you how things are going, use a quote from your writing, and talk to you as if you were THAT father in my room,

My best,
Mrs. Puglisi