Alana

When I spoke (parenthetically) of schooling I was referring to something entirely different, not a utopia or ideal like ‘beyond school’ (which I have no problem with, by the way; you may have noticed that I like to poke in on your blog now and again; you may remember, too, that I completely get the home schooling revolution, my mother took my little brothers out of public school for several years to home school… and that’s a completely different non-success story for another day). Rather I meant the kind of learning required to produce art, or literature, or anything else creative that doesn’t fall into the mainstream mould described above. Mozart had to be trained to play and write music; you hold a graduate degree in the humanities and invested countless hours learning how to compose elegant prose; I was enrolled in a course with a professional who alternated between teaching us technique and letting us fly free.

I hope you didn’t think I was accusing you of narcissism; my analogy between your writing and my drawing could have led to that misunderstanding and, if so, I do apologize. What I was trying to describe was the kind of ping-ponging I go through when I create something: is it satisfactory because of the fleeting epiphany I feel during a free moment, or is it ultimately fluff, to borrow your own self-deprecating term, imperfect, nothing more than a marker on the broader continuum of my overall progress, and if so, doesn’t that mean it’s time (for me anyway) to go back to the proverbial drawing board with the help of a little more technique? ‘Twasn’t a criticism of you at all.

Of true artists (as opposed to the amateur wanna-be’s like me!) and their narcissism, I know very little (well, that’s only partly true). I was only suggesting that one reason I turn to true art time and again (Milne is a great example here) is because it provides a magical release from my own narcissism!

All the best,
C

@Jeff, Bill, Hannah, Elizabeth, and everybody else who makes me feel like this needs being said: I’m not going anywhere but beyond school. I’ll still be teaching, and reflecting here on how teaching beyond school feels and looks, in my context. So this ain’t goodbye.

@Zorro, your comment was right on so many levels. Google brought you here, but I hope you come back and continue commenting.

Most great artists didn’t need formal schools in the current sense to escape narcissism. And most formal schools today are so irrelevant in their offerings, I’d counter-paradox by saying formal schooling actually drives the young to narcissism.

My notion of education and schooling extend beyond classrooms and teachers, and is thus more in line with big history, not the 2-century blip of prescription-filling that goes on in modern schools.

Anyway, enjoy your drawing and mothering and professoring

Again on the subject of enchanted places, how about having one’s own children? For a very brief while at least (parents out there, would you say the turning point is age 5? right around when we ship ‘em off to school?), the depth and sincerity of their cheer is completely infectious. But there again (thinking out loud) isn’t childhood is a mixed bag of euphoria and suffering? Birth would seem to be a fall from grace; is the womb a garden of Eden?

All best wishes, C
P.S. Please keep in touch, and good luck with your future adventures.

Great post, as always. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve almost done the same thing you’re about to do, but haven’t been brave or sure enough of myself to do so. I wish you all the best, as well as a hearty mazel tov on your decision.

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I’ve learned a lot from your writing and I’m sure others have too.
I’ve also learned a lot from the community that surrounds your blog.
Even though in the future, some kids may not have the privilege to join you in a classroom, I’m sure meaningful, engaging, joyful, learning will continue to benefit those in contact with you.

All the best,
Bill

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