tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post6827303491558218918..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: What Can One Say?Teacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-52445433893346612142012-01-01T13:34:17.796-08:002012-01-01T13:34:17.796-08:00I stumbled across this post today and laughed, bec...I stumbled across this post today and laughed, because I am Daron Quinlan. It's not my real name, and if I had said that today I might have attached my real name instead, but such is life, I guess. I wrote it on a parenting board years ago, as part of a discussion on discipline. Another member picked up on it and started using it in her sig, and Jan Hunt saw it there and asked for permission to use it on the Natural Child Project. I said yes. I had used the name Daron online for years - it's from a mishearing of my actual name, which is definitely female, as am I - and the last name is my daughter's but not mine.<br /><br />I didn't realize the quote had become so well-known. Jan did invite me to write an essay but I never did. I've written a lot on the mothering.com boards under the name Dar, if you're curious. My only child is almost 19 and is currently in college full-time after unschooling through high school. She's a lovely person: bright, compassionate, funny, kind, and all-around wonderful, and I miss her a lot when she's away at college - where she's thriving, just by the way. <br /><br />I parented as a single mother and my daughter and I talked a lot, about everything, from the time that she was very little - under 2, because I remember a woman commenting on our conversation once. I didn't do a lot of "not letting" her do things, really. I did much more of "let's find a safe way to do that". Maybe it's semantics, but I found that it worked better, and still does.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-43099677247112248402011-12-14T10:19:11.294-08:002011-12-14T10:19:11.294-08:00Hi Tom, this is an interesting post, but aren'...Hi Tom, this is an interesting post, but aren't you really arguing for more critical thinking skills rather than for obedience? Surely little ones do not have a very good ability to reason, which is why I think you mention safety as an example to follow *particular* rules and norms of society. It seems that rather than arguing for little ones to obey, that we need to foster an ability to get them to question cultural norms, beliefs, etc. and teach them to expand their minds. At least this seems to be the problem by the time I teach them 18 years later. :) Thoughts? You have certainly given me something to think about. Have a great day!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-68530020597147051802011-12-14T09:48:25.541-08:002011-12-14T09:48:25.541-08:00Thank your for this post. I struggle with this mo...Thank your for this post. I struggle with this more at my job (elemenentary school teacher) than as a parent. The school system is set up on obedience and it's hard to avoid it. I try though. I love your blog.Erinhttp://www.urbanmoms.ca/multiplemusingsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-8058632771491247132011-12-13T21:03:55.145-08:002011-12-13T21:03:55.145-08:00@Brenda . . . I'm so happy you looked into Uta...@Brenda . . . I'm so happy you looked into Utah Philips. He was a great American. I love the way he sings this poem like something from a Catholic mass.Teacher Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-76208523644942983462011-12-13T18:38:59.522-08:002011-12-13T18:38:59.522-08:00Tom,
This was a good thoughtful article.
I found i...Tom,<br />This was a good thoughtful article.<br />I found it interesting to read the poem, and later I looked up the writer, Utah Philips - an interesting and inspiring individual.<br />BrendaMullin Avenue Workshophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-77030022548313894102011-12-13T12:45:29.986-08:002011-12-13T12:45:29.986-08:00Excellent post, and I'm happy to start the sha...Excellent post, and I'm happy to start the sharing tree.Aunt Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799746597313773030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-16336446660422408222011-12-13T12:13:45.816-08:002011-12-13T12:13:45.816-08:00Thank you for so eloquently stating exactly how I ...Thank you for so eloquently stating exactly how I feel. I've been having a hard time explaining this to my husband, but I think that directing him to this post will help.<br />--AmyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com