There was this concert on Rave HD which is a tv channel that plays concerts and shows like “Jools Holland” from the BBC which have live music on them. This particular concert was called “Yusuf’s Cafe”. For anyone who was curious, the man now known as Yusuf used to be known as Cat Stevens. I have heard his newest album and despite the name change and persona change, he is still the beuatiful, music making, peaceful spirit that he has always seemed to be. You watch this man play guitar wit his long shaggy gray beard and soulful eyes and smile, and you know he really has an emotional stake in his music. It’s quite beautiful.
He played one of his classic songs “Father and Son” and it made me think. The lyrics and melody are haunting, and tell such a poignant story. He dedicates this version to his granddaughter who is sitting in the audience. She is an infant. “How can I try to explain cause when I do he turns away again, it’s always been the same, same old story , from the moment i could talk, i was ordered to listen.”
Wow. I mean think about that, this man just says it like it is, and scarily enough, it is like this for many young people in the world, and it has been like this for a long time. The minute they find their voice they are told to stifle it, and quiet down because it’s not “appropriate” or the right “etiquette”. It makes me sad when I see beautiful, vibrant children who are silenced because of society’s constraints in all of our damn institutions. I know that being an educator, I am part of one, but I always had this faith, I don’t know why, that schools could be a place of change. A place where you could take risks, and be rewarded. That’s what I thought as a student. Sadly enough, now I realize, that many schools are not like this at all. It’s all about the environment, it’s all about being told that you can use your voice, that you can express yourself. It’s not the idea that you should let a child run free, but rather that you should let them express themselves with creativity. There is nothing more heartbreaking to me than squashing a child’s creativity with one severe blow. No one deserves that and I don’t think teachers should have that kind of power. But they do. And no one questions it. A teacher can be one of the most influential people in your life, but no one ever says thank you.
Well, since this is a blog, I can.
Thanks Mrs. Becken for helping my creativity grow and always believing in me.
Thanks Mr. Wilhelm for supporting me when I took risks in my writing.
Thanks, Mr. Richins for showing me what to NEVER do to BEAUTIFUL, CREATIVE, children who just want to be themselves.
There are a lot more thank yous I could make, but my journey isn’t over quite yet.
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