The power of a good television show
For all of you who still cling to that misguided belief that television has nothing good or worthwhile to offer, I'm here to say that you need to join us and watch a few of the truly extraordinarily good, thought-provoking shows on the tube/computer/smartphone/whatever these days.
I am watching the last season of Parenthood, in which Adam and Christine start their own school. The school opens and, almost immediately (and realistically) they are faced with the lunch vendor walking out, unable to meet all the special dietary needs of the students, and they can't find another.
So Adam says no problem. They will just start a culinary program as of that day and the kids will work with Adam in the kitchen and learn to cook their own lunches.
YES, ADAM!! FLIP THAT CONCEPT! I started taking notes, planning to use this for my blog.
Then the "class" happened and there was chaos and I thought I saw what was coming. Here was the part where they realize they have to have some kind of license to do this or they have to pass health inspections or that parents have to sign permission forms first. They will learn a valuable lesson and NEVER be innovative again. I started to feel disappointed.
But guess what? That didn't happen! Instead, they get a call from a mom of a kid in the culinary class later that evening, and she is thrilled because her kid was thrilled. She saw him learning and loving it! That mom thinks Adam is a genius. She knows good teaching when she sees it. She doesn't need a test to tell her. Go figure!
A good television show knows how to gloss over what doesn't matter and get to the meat of the issue. Adam will probably put rules, etc. in place as the class progresses to make it safer and less chaotic. He has common sense. He will probably have to deal with making the culinary program legit in the eyes of the law. And, face it, if he puts systems in place, it will be easier on him and the students as well.
Never is the government or any kind of outside authority mentioned in the episode because that just isn't important. What is important is that a kid was thrilled to be in class and his mom was thrilled for him. It is about meeting a child's needs, not those of a test publisher.
It's about parents and teachers working together. It's about learning.
So go out today -- or stay in and watch a good show-- and learn something!
I am watching the last season of Parenthood, in which Adam and Christine start their own school. The school opens and, almost immediately (and realistically) they are faced with the lunch vendor walking out, unable to meet all the special dietary needs of the students, and they can't find another.
So Adam says no problem. They will just start a culinary program as of that day and the kids will work with Adam in the kitchen and learn to cook their own lunches.YES, ADAM!! FLIP THAT CONCEPT! I started taking notes, planning to use this for my blog.
Then the "class" happened and there was chaos and I thought I saw what was coming. Here was the part where they realize they have to have some kind of license to do this or they have to pass health inspections or that parents have to sign permission forms first. They will learn a valuable lesson and NEVER be innovative again. I started to feel disappointed.
But guess what? That didn't happen! Instead, they get a call from a mom of a kid in the culinary class later that evening, and she is thrilled because her kid was thrilled. She saw him learning and loving it! That mom thinks Adam is a genius. She knows good teaching when she sees it. She doesn't need a test to tell her. Go figure!
A good television show knows how to gloss over what doesn't matter and get to the meat of the issue. Adam will probably put rules, etc. in place as the class progresses to make it safer and less chaotic. He has common sense. He will probably have to deal with making the culinary program legit in the eyes of the law. And, face it, if he puts systems in place, it will be easier on him and the students as well.
Never is the government or any kind of outside authority mentioned in the episode because that just isn't important. What is important is that a kid was thrilled to be in class and his mom was thrilled for him. It is about meeting a child's needs, not those of a test publisher.
It's about parents and teachers working together. It's about learning.
So go out today -- or stay in and watch a good show-- and learn something!
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