The title of this post are words I have heard several times while I have been here. You hear that it is "just like that in Korea" or "it's a cultural thing." Somehow we rarely every apply that reasoning to our American ways. Maybe others do, but I find it is rare that we speak of our own ways in that context.
I cannot decide if I like this concept as yet. Sometimes it is just a statement meant to end the conversation and is the only reason given to describe anything.
I guess the closest American term I can come up with is "that's how it has always been done."
My question as I hear these phrases is this; if it doesn't work, what is the harm in trying something else? What will really happen if we try to break out of the confinement of these phrases?
Nothing? Joy? Sorrow? Sadness? Fear? Happiness?
How will we ever know if we don't take that first giant step? If it isn't time to change something maybe we can at least start asking why until we gain a better understanding. What if by taking this one step, we can find a happiness we never knew was there? What if we find a streak of courage inside our own hearts that we didn't know we had? What if we get knocked down and hurt to a point we feel we cannot go on, only to get back up stronger and better than ever?
Will you have the courage today to ask why or just even suggest that something be tried in a different way? Will you risk your heart to tell someone they matter to you or that they have made a difference in your life?
Some things we cannot change, I understand that, but why not try to make better what we can?
Tomorrow I am going to try to make a little change. I'll try something new or I won't be afraid to ask a question that has been plaguing my mind for some reason. I dare you to do the same. Just once. If it doesn't work then at least you know you tried.
Agreed! I made a slight change in getting my beginners started this year. Actually, it's the way I used to do it until I received some strong resistance from a few teachers and backed down on what I knew was best for me and for the kids...having their first day/week with instruments as sectionals rather than everyone show up they day after Labor Day armed with noise makers, sometimes over 50 kids in a 30 minute class. Now that I'm the 4th year in the same schools I've asked the teachers to allow me to do sectionals again for this first time with instrument and they are for it (only with a little resistance from the "highly gifted" teacher). I'm not a fan of Luna, but I do think that a bulk of the fear created was fear of change. I don't know if even Luna himself knows how his legislation is going to change or impact education. We'll see... It needs to be about the kids and people need to be okay that the way they've always done it may not still be the most effective way to reach these ever changing generations of students. I subscribe to the idea that change is good and maybe even a little bit healthy!
ReplyDeleteHealthy is bad though don't ya know? I think the Luna legislation is one prime example that fear tactics can still be very powerful, especially when used incorrectly. I am kind of glad you have had four years in the same schools. What a great blend of new kids yet a familiar environment. I know there will be days where I want to just duck and cover in the familiar but on the days I don't, why not try to change something, even a little.
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