Evan & Owen's 1st Performance (A.K.A. My Rant on Art in Education)

For the most part, I am very, very happy with our school choice.  Besides having stellar teachers, the curricular focus couldn't be a better fit for our geeky family.  We are geeks.  But we are geeks who love art and music.  And this is where I struggle with the choices schools and school districts have made... have HAD to make.  My struggles with the district really go beyond the district to the decisions of the politicians.  And if they are to blame, then I blame ourselves, the voters, for electing government officials who think it is a good idea to privatize education, who want to dismantle unions, who focus on blame when they really have no understanding of education or child development and who have allowed Leave No Child Behind to ruin the place where kids could be given a level field of play.

I don't think education is the only field of employment in which it is best practice to reward the behavior you seek.  Why then do we tolerate this punitive, demoralizing system in which schools are penalized, their budgets cut, when their students do not perform well on standardized tests?  Schools that take every child despite the fact that their room is bursting at the seams.  I'm talking here about schools with 80%+ free and reduced lunch.  Inner city schools.  First tier schools.  Are people really so unaware of what it's like to be poor? When Grandma or big brother greets kids at the door because mom is out working her 3rd job?  When Mom or Dad come home so beaten-down from their job search that they have no energy left to prepare a healthy meal, read the kids a story, help with homework or deal with the roller coaster of emotions.  Or how about the parents who might be home, but they don't speak English, are refugees, or who are illiterate?  Why would we penalize those schools for poor test scores?  Why would we assume that the teachers at those schools are somehow failures because those kids are not performing at the same level as the students across town? Students whose mom can stay at home? Whose Grandma comes to the door and immediately picks a book to read to them?  Who have had technology in their hands since their primary years, unknown words explained, hurt feelings met with an ear that wasn't too tired to listen?  Seriously.  I really want to know.  Why!?  As if it's not hard enough to live in poverty, let's take away the most joyful, rejuvenating, spirit-lifting part of the school day and then see if these students will somehow miraculously reach this standard.

Because this school that I love, that I chose to send my kids to after looking at schools all over the cities, this school no longer has art or music.  I have sat on the PTO at this school for 3 years now and have pleaded for the arts, but I finally have realized, they will not come.  Know why?  Because this school has been penalized.  This district has been penalized.  They have not made the bar when it comes to standardized test scores and, as such, they have cut the arts across the board to institute more doses of reading and math.  But guess what.  My kids passed the test.  My kids got soaring colors on that test.  Do you think it's because the teachers ignored the other students and focused on my kids?  NO!  It has absolutely nothing NOTHING to do with the teachers or the school.  They did well on the tests because I started reading to them when they were 4 months old.  4 MONTHS people.  They have two parents at home most nights.  Parents that aren't constantly worried about how we'll make ends meet, who can focus on the development on our kids because we were born into fortunate circumstances ourselves.  We can split up and give them the attention they need.  They have four grandparents who are loving, patient, and have provided them with a wealth of experiences, filling their heads with a rich knowledge base.  And so they are prepared to take these tests that our politicians think are so important.  These tests that have come to define a school and it's students within.

You see those little faces below?  Those little faces spend hours a day doing reading and math.  Know what I did in Kindergarten?  I played, sang the ABCs, had naptime, recess, and art time.  And so did all Americans who are my peers and who also are now voters.  What was your favorite subject in school?  How would you have felt in school if you didn't have it?  In my opinion, schools with  cultural and socioeconomic diversity need the arts even more than the others.  Art is a visual history.  It is a way to share culture and become aware of other cultures.  In both creating and viewing, it elicits and releases emotions.  No matter what language you speak at home, no matter who read to you last night or didn't, no matter what resources you have at your finger tips, you can create and observe art.  In diverse schools, art should be a starting point, not the first thing on the chopping block.

So, after many meetings in which staff has said, "We know and totally agree with you but," our school has finally made a creative attempt to include an arts class.  It is currently called Cultural Arts and is taught by the Spanish teacher.  She is a wonderful lady and has always incorporated music and art into her curriculum, so she believed it would be an easy transition to become the arts teacher. The administration also decided she would direct a performance.  Now. That is something that takes a whole different set of skills, but she was happy to take on the challenge.

So, here we are, the night of the performance.  My parents came down from northern Wisconsin to watch.  We walk into the gymnasium.  There is a swarm of parents and students trying to figure out what's going on, where to get their costumes, where to sit.  There are no where near enough chair. It is loud and chaotic, but the kids are so cute, nobody really cares.

I received a note, months ago, that Evan should wear brown or yellow to the performance.  Weeks later he finally was able to explain to me that he would be a deer.  Owen's note said he would be a bull and he should wear black. Other than this, I had no idea what we were about to see.

Jim said that Evan reminded him of himself at the performance.  He can be such a ham at home, but when the spotlight is on, he suddenly freezes.

Evan was to the lead the deer through the tunnel during their animal song.  Somehow he found enough courage to do it.

After the Kindergarteners finished, they were sent to go find their parents.  Again, chaos ensued.  Then, a bunch of families started to leave.  Now there were scattered open seats and some people started to fill them in.

Meanwhile, the next group was trying to get organized and started.  We decided to stay in our seats despite our poor view, in hopes of getting on with the program.

I think Owen liked wearing his mask.  I think he felt inconspicuous.  Plus, he could get away with not singing.

Here are my attempts to video from our seats.  It's pretty shaky.  All of the songs except for one were in different languages so I never really knew what they were singing about.  I'm not sure the kids did either.  At least mine didn't.

Both my little performers in their costumes.

Ya-ya and Bumpa stayed the night.  Before they left the next day, we played a lengthy game of UNO with Evan because none of us had to run off to work, or catch two buses to the grocery store, or sit on hold with the insurance company because there's no way the bill can be paid.  We were able to focus just on him because while we played, Mia listened to books being read to her on the iPad, with words highlighted.  She was learning.  He was learning.  We were bonding.

I often call us the Lucky Lettses.  This is why.  When you are lucky, it's your responsibility to pay it forward and to advocate for those who don't have it as easy.

Field Trip to Minneapolis Art Institute

 One of my favorite perks being a stay at home mom is that I get to chaperone field trips.  I know some people dread the thought of riding a bus full of noisy overly excited kids, but I love it!  With only one day of rest from our Florida trip, I was a little nervous if I'd have enough energy to keep the kids focused and engaged on this trip to the Minneapolis Art Institute, but I had no need to fret.

 We had the most. amazing. tour. guide. EVER!  That's her, through the window, bending down to get eye to eye with the kids, while Owen answers one of her brilliantly open ended questions that directly evoked the answer she wanted while simultaneously affirming the students as art critics-in-the-making.

To prove the effect this wonderful woman had on Owen and myself, I need to now admit that I am indeed two months behind on my blog.  Today, as I was trying to recall the details of the point she was making in this picture, I asked Owen if he could remember the year of this car and the previous photo we saw (both the same year.)  Without hesitation, he said, "1936."  I was thinking 1938, but to find the photo, it would be so much easier if I knew the name.  I then asked Owen if he by chance remembered the name of the photo.  Again, without hesitation or prompt he answered, "Migrant Mother."

This photo by Dorothea Lange in 1936 was our first stop at the museum.  Our tour guide told us that we would be talking about the theme of "power" throughout our tour.  The kids were prompted to determine that this photo showed powerful emotions of sadness and worry.  The next stop was the car you see in the previous picture: the Tatra T-87.  The car was designed in Germany during the same year that "Migrant Mother" was photographed in the US.  The car originally sold for $25,000 and now goes for $125,000.  The kids deduced that the car included the power of speed because of it's innovative aerodynamic design, but that it also represented the power of money since most people at that time could not afford to spend that kind of money on a car.  I was impressed.  Our talented tour guide had captured our attention.

 Next stop: Samurai.    We observed the detailed costume of a samurai warrior including a headpiece topped with a gold praying mantis and thick brushes over the eyebrows to deter swords.

 The museum was busy with many tours from different groups.  You could tell they all were trying to stay on schedule.  When we rounded the corner for our next exhibit, the previous group was still settled in.  That did not deter our amazing tour guide.  She turned our attention to the windows in front of us and began to talk about the architect who designed the museum.  The windows intentionally "frame" the skyscape of the city.  We gazed out the window, soaking in the view of our own skyline, with Washburn Fair Oaks park in the foreground.

Our final exhibit, before lunch and our scavenger hunt, was this Native American elk hide coat.  We learned that the coat was covered in the symbol of the Thunderbird which would only be worn by a very powerful person in the tribe.

After lunch, our groups separated and continued on a scavenger hunt in the areas we visited.  The kids worked as a team and we quick to find their items.  I think we were the only group that finished the hunt successfully.  We found things like a "parade" in the Ancient Asian section, beading in Native American section and a beach in the Impressionist area.  I was really impressed with the quality of our visit and plan to take my own kids there sometime this summer.

Sanibel

We spent our last day in Florida in Sanibel.  Our trip happened to cross dates with Jim's brother, Tom's, family vacation to his in-law's place down there.  Above is my extremely photogenic niece, Addie.

As soon as we hit the beach, Owen and Ellie took off, wandering their way as far away from the rest of us as we would let them go.   

 

They have their own little secrets and discussions and are already entering the phase of being too cool to hang out with their family.  I take comfort in the fact that they are both smart, kind, aware, and empathetic.

Addie was busy working on a sand castle which Mia quickly latched on to.  Evan totters between wanting to hang out with Ellie & Owen and wanting to play, like the younger girls.  It's so hard to be in the middle.

Margs take her time warming up.  Grandma lured her into her lap.

The kids wanted to swim and the ocean was a little too cold, so we headed up to the clubhouse to swim in the pool.

They have a small water slide where the bigger kids practiced "dismounts."

Do you want to know how I got this picture without somebody making a silly face?  I offered a silly picture first and then several more after.  Evan and Addie could make silly faces at the camera all day and never run out of different faces and positions which throw them into fits of giggles.

Finally we coaxed the kids back down to the ocean.  Connie and Jim persuaded Ellie and Owen to walk out to the sandbar.

 

 Addie wanted to join them, so Tom joined in too.  They stayed out long enough for a photo of their achievement and then came back to shore.

 

Evan and Addie were "bored" so Tom and I started a sand castle with them.

There's just something about sand castles that draws people in.  Not only did the big kids come in to help, each creating their own castle around the river, but nearly every person who walked past would stop and compliment the kids on their creation.  Sand castles are timeless.  They connect people.  They are a reminder of youth, innocence, carefree, sunny days and boundless imaginations.

  When they tired of building the sand castles and rivers, we collected "decorations."  Pieces of coral and washed up twigs became landscaping.  Shells and rocks became doors, windows, and sidewalks. 

Our flight didn't leave until 9:00, but we still had some things we needed to do.  Jen & Tom took their family back to Jen's folk's place to get washed up for dinner.  Then we all met at the beach on Captiva Island where Jen & Tom were married 11 years ago!  That was my first trip to Florida and it was so magical.  I remember thinking at that time that I hoped we would someday meet there again with our own kids who were still just a glimmer in our eyes.

We wanted to watch the sunset there, but we also needed to eat before we headed to the airport.  We had one more stop to make on Memory Lane.

During our stay 11 years ago, we enjoyed a wonderful full Letts Clan dinner on the patio here at RC Otter's.  This place survived Hurricane Charley in 2004 completely unharmed.

  The doodles on the table were quite different than those we enjoyed years back.  Seeing the cousins here, all together, warmed my heart so much.

I am amazed as I watch the beautiful, loving relationships between our kids blossom.  To me it is like watching the most marvelous garden grow.  The roots go back generations and stemmed from those  who modeled love and respect.  It is cultivated by us, as parents, through the unpredictable weather of parenthood.  We face the elements, trying to protect and shelter, providing sunshine and disguising nutrients.  And now those relationships are cultivating, blooming and will someday mature to a level in which they harvest a fruit of kindness, joy, courtesy, and support that will nurture their own relationships and those whose lives they touch.

I mean, isn't that the dream of parenthood?  That these little people you've created will go out in the world and make it a better place?  A more loving place?  Well, it takes a village and, I think, cousins are a really important part of that village.  They know you your whole life.  They know where you come from and they don't judge it because they sprang from the same seeds.  They give you a perspective of yourself that nobody else really can as they truly understand your family, but can still offer insight from an outside point of view.

And so we ended our trip to Florida in a way I had only dreamed about before.  I left will a feeling of warmth (not just from the weather.)  I hope to ride this wave the the long Minnesota winter and remind myself of it's lessons thereafter.

Stump Pass Beach State Park

 We knew today would be overcast, so we planned to visit a state park.  Jim did some research and found Stump Pass Beach State Park not too far south.  They occasionally have manatees that winter there, but we did not see any.

 I got a kick out of the boys who kept running ahead, enjoying their time together, away from school.

Stump Pass is actually thin strip of land that's only about 1.5 miles long with coastal waters and dunes on one side and a serene inlet on the other.  When we reached the end of the pass, we found a sandbar.  You could actually walk out on the sand bar over to the island that runs the length of the inland side.  

 
Here we found all sorts of treasures including coral and a horseshoe crab.

 The park also has tons of little "shell trees."  Jim was not impressed with these, but I just thought it was so cool.  It's like collective art.  A collage of travelers.

 The air was cool today, but the inland waters were warm.  The kids spent a long time wading...

 and searching the sand.

On the way back down the pass, we came across this area that looked just like something out of a Salvador Dali painting that we had in our first apartment.  It was eery and beautiful.

Spencer Hattie Letts and Friends

The wind was chilly today.  We decided to get breakfast at our favorite spot, Rotten Ralph's, while we waited for the sun to come out.

 
 The clouds still were thick after lunch, but some of us still decided to brave the beach for a bit.  Despite the chilly wind, we managed to relax a little.  Mia enjoys the sand so much.  Not much can take distract her from her sand creations.

 This was my occasional view as I lifted my head up from my book, Winter of the World by: Ken Follett, which is part two of a century long trilogy.

 Jim brought Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance along to read.  I am eager to read this book when he's done.  When he's reading it, there aren't too many things that can draw his attention away either.  But wait... what's that they see?

 It's Spencer!  Yesterday the kids made friends with a sea gull which they named Spencer Hattie Letts.  Evan was sure the one looking at him here was Spencer himself, who must have flown up from Longboat Key to play with us again today.

 Luckily, Grandma showed up with some bait.  And by luckily, of course, for me it was unluckily because I do not want to have bird droppings on me.  Connie knows this which is why she had the kids come down the beach with her a ways.  The sea gulls must already know Connie, because she barely set foot on the beach when they took flight towards her.  They made a quick loop around and, in this picture, are coming in for a lower swoop.

 Jim actually got up, left his book, and joined in on the fun.

I somehow need to figure out how to make house work have this same magnetic effect on my family.  How great would it be if I just held up a cracker and they all came running over to lend a hand?  Hmm.

Our Favorite Beach: Longboat Key

 Today we went back to our favorite beach over in Longboat Key. 

 We hit the beach and they took off running.

 The kids played with the surf, trying to get as close as possible without letting it touch their feet.

They ran up and down the shore a dozen times.

 Although it wasn't hot, it was warm enough to enjoy the water a little.

 Grandma took Mia out on her shoulders.

 Jim did the same with Evan.  On the way back in, they spotted a ray near the shore.  I was glad Evan got to see it since last year he was the only one to miss out on the ray & hammerhead shark.

 They were pretty pumped.

 The sun peaked through for a bit.  Mia and Evan took time out to get creative in the sand.  

 

Meanwhile the pelicans fished right off shore.

Towards the end of our stay at the beach, the kids made friends with the sea gulls again.  This one is named Spencer Hattie Letts.  It truly appeared to be playing with the kids.  They would chase it down the beach.  If they turned their backs to it, it would loop around, seeming to want their attention.

A beautiful day in Florida ends with a beautiful sunset.

This one was enjoyed just by Grandma, Mia and me right across the street from their condo.

I use to hate the feel of sand in my toes, but I am coming to enjoy it, knowing that with it brings relaxation and warm memories.