I got this from Anny. It could start a series that could be very helpful to us:
Hi Ben,
Here are some thoughts I’d love to share with the group, based on my reading of The Art of Possibility.
My school recommends summer reading for faculty and this year our elementary division was asked to read The Art of Possibility, by Rosalind and Benjamin Zander. Ironically, at first I grumbled about having some poorly written pop psychology pushed upon me when I could have been reading Alfie Kohn or Malcom Gladwell or somebody I’d been wanting to read when I had time. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that not only is TAOP wonderfully readable, but it is exactly what I needed to help me put a positive spin on things, after wallowing in negativity for much of the past year. In these difficult financial times, our independent Quaker school, normally accustomed to the Quaker decision making process of group discussion and eventual consensus, has been hit with a series of unwelcome top-down decisions, resulting in personnel cuts that affect vital programs, and lots of sad, mad, bad feelings.
In The Art of Possibility, the writers suggest 12 practices which define “novel ways of defining ourselves, others, and the world we live in,” using the metaphor of music and the arts.
Practice 1: It’s all invented
In ‘It’s all invented,’ the basic premise is: “It’s all invented anyway, so we might as well invent a story or a framework of meaning that enhances our quality of life and the life of those around us.” (p. 12) The epigraph for this chapter tells about two shoe marketing scouts sent to a remote region of Africa to find new sales opportunities. One writes back: “Situation hopeless– they don’t wear shoes,” while the other writes triumphantly: “Glorious business opportunity! They have no shoes.”
This made me think back to when I arrived at my school to teach elementary Spanish 10 years ago. I found out the week before school started that the previous Spanish teacher had departed suddenly, leaving no evidence of a curriculum behind. My first reaction was “Situation hopeless– no set curriculum” and it took me days, weeks, months, years to reach my current sense of “Glorious opportunity– no set curriculum!” I feel this especially now that I understand so much better how children acquire language and what strategies lead to success for all. The freedom I was granted to invent was, in fact, a great gift.
If folks are interested, I’d be happy to share the rest of the 12 practices as I digest them.
Thanks!
Anny Ewing