Letter from America.
“During the Summer of 1964, from the end of June until the end of August, I was a field assistant at the McGill Sub-Arctic Research Laboratory at Schefferville, Quebec …”
In 1964, I was in my second year of my B.Sc (Hon) degree in Geography at the University of Birmingham. This letter was sent to The Lamp, the school magazine at Chiswick Grammar School for Boys. It was sent to me this week by Andrew Ronay, an old school friend, who had retained a copy.
Last Thursday, Heather and I attended the Kings Edgehill School IB Arts Show in Windsor.
Heather’s sister Sandy is the Art teacher. Afterward, we went to Bent Ridge Winery. From the patio, we could see the white, ski runs at Martock. I had not fully appreciated the local geography before.
From Sandra Barry, I received the link to an online presentation by Merilyn Simonds on her book ‘Woman, Watching’.
Of particular interest to me was her other writing: ‘A New Leaf: growing my garden’ and ‘Gutenberg’s Fingerprint’. In the video, she also referenced her latest non-fiction ‘Still Life with Beth’ (to be published).
These three experiences lead me to the following observations. I was struck by the contrast. Between my grammar school education in England, over sixty years ago, and the private school, multi-national program offered at KES in Windsor. I then contrast the lifelong learning described by Merilyn Simonds. In this case, a woman (Beth) and her life between 70-100 years.
How do we share our experiences with the next generation (or two, or three)? What do we gain from teaching the next generation, given the changes in society, and technology? Does a teacher ever retire? Or are they simply transformed into an elder? Or a watcher?
Postscript
Sandra Barry forwarded to me a blog by Sarah Emsley ‘Old Rusty Metal Things’. I thought it was relevant to this discussion.
Acknowledgements
Andrew Ronay forwarded the ‘Letter from America’ text in the Lamp. Sandy Stewart invited us to the IB Art Show. Sandra Barry shared the link to Merilyn Simonds’ presentation. Edward added the graphics and links. Heather shared both the Art Show and watching the Simonds video.
Reference
Merilyn Simonds video presentation on her book ‘ Woman, Watching’.
Sarah Emsley blog ‘Old Rusty Metal Things’.
Ernest Blair Experiment 