I was watching seven year old Jackie and some of her friends hurling themselves onto the futon mattress, attempting flips and cartwheels, tricks that Jennie and I would not try unless the lives of our children depended upon it. We’re pretty sure we’d break bones or rip tendons or ligaments, and we probably couldn’t do the moves anyway.
The kids don’t think about failing or if they do they are secure in the knowledge that they can always try again. I wonder if they are entirely oblivious to the risk or if the challenge outweighs the risk. I frankly don’t care which it is; it is an approach to life I hope they keep.
Here at Shared Space we are all flinging ourselves into life full force.
Since mid-February of this year we have been located at the Shops of Hartwell on East Franklin Street (across the highway from Ingle’s). Our neighbors, especially Domino’s, the Salvation Army Family Store, the Woodmen of America, and Three Trees Vet, have been amazingly supportive. They have hardly cringed at the horde of children playing tag or “I-Never” in the tiny courtyard between the shopping center’s two buildings or winced at the screeches of the kids playing “Murder” indoors. Our realtor, Connie Nealy, bent over backward to help us, even selling us a microwave at a ridiculously low price.
But after just four months, we’ve outgrown our one-room schoolhouse. We’ve lucked onto another great rental right in downtown Hartwell. We’ll still be Franklin Street, but now we’ll be across from CVS, two doors down from Subway, and right across Jackson Street from Backstreet BBQ (funny how I’m describing the location in terms of restaurant locales).
Our new space comprises five rooms and a small backyard. We hope to build a small shed and perhaps have a tiny greenhouse. We’ve already put up a temporary sign out front. Please stop by on the Pre-Fourth and tour our new digs.
We will also be running things a little bit differently for the 2012-2013 school year. Because of our larger space and increased expenses, we have raised our tuition and fees. Additionally, all parents will be asked to sign an enrollment contract and tuition will be due in advance, though it may be made in installments.
We will be emphasizing our enrichment classes and our after-school and between school sessions programs and camps. Unfortunately, we will only be able to offer our day program if we have five or more paying students. However, we will be offering daytime enrichment classes for 8th to 10th grade homeschool students in the basic subject areas. These classes will range from $125-250 per semester with discounts for multiple children from the same household or for multiple classes. We also hope to offer sign language and Spanish classes in the evening or on Saturdays. Our Saturday Game Day will also be continuing. We are still looking for a certified yoga instructor.
If there is a class you would like to take or to teach, please let us know.
Launch yourself into life!
Last week at Shared Space on Monday and Thursday nights we held a discussion group for the Hunger Games books. Our friend Kelley led the group on Monday night, and she had a great time as did the participants. On Thursday night the kids ran the group themselves and had a blast creating their own characters.
This week we have an introduction to watercolor class. Jennie’s mom Vicki is the instructor. Her students are primarily mother-daughter teams though my daughter, M.E., participated on her own. Jennie said everyone had a great time. I know each of them is looking forward to Thursday night.
Next week I’ll be leading a poetry writing workshop. Your $10 fee covers both nights. We’ll start at 6 p.m. and go until 7:30 or 8:00. Because we’re only meeting twice, I’d like to hit the ground running, so I’m asking everyone to come in with five copies of a poem they’ve written. The assignment is to pick a fictional or historical character and put her in an uncharacteristic situation or give a “behind-the-scenes” look at the familiar story. If you want to come, let me know and I’ll send you more detailed information with examples from a couple of well-known poets.
I promised on Facebook that I would share my work-in-progress for this assignment, but I can’t get Facebook to recognize the strikethroughs on my first draft, so I’m including my first draft/first revision and second revisions of my poem about Rahab the Harlot from the book of Joshua 2 and Joshua 6:22-25 here. See if you can determine what I changed and why. My goal is always to make a tighter poem. I’ll come to class with yet another revision or three. (I also have another poem about Rahab that is only suitable for those over 18. If you want to see that poem, let me know. If I know for a fact you’re an adult, I will send it to you.)
First draft/first revision:
Rahab Sees Her Husband, His New Wife, and Their Children on the Street
Once I might have saved you
before you abandoned my barren field.
The priests agreed and you bade my father retrieve me
like a poorly made vessel.
I followed him home, eyes, down
until I head the old whore
calling for custom from the windows
above the market.
I have a window, I thought.
I am an empty vessel to be filled. a vessel to be used but never filled.
I am not meant to be a burden though not with child.
Which shames my parents more I cannot tell:
the childless child or the busy whore.
One day lying back on my cushions,
Looking out the
My rooms look out within the city wall
look out into the wilderness on one side
and into the civilization of Jericho on the other.
I see the world passing by on either side.
Lying back on my cushions, one day
With someone outside the wall, I saw—behind my john—over my john’s shoulder–
two Hebrews scaling past my window
The john’s back was behind my john I beckoned to them
and the rest, as they say, is history
save to say your wife the Hebrews the Hebrews led
your wife, her robes your blood—or maybe it was the blood
of your infant son—spattering her face, blinding her.
In the end she will be is their harlot
and I shall be am their saviour.
Second revision:
Rahab Sees Her Husband and His New Family in the Street
Once I might have saved you
before you abandoned my barren field.
The priests agreed. My father retrieved me
like a pot he’d made poorly.
Following him home, eyes down, I heard the old
marketplace whore calling for custom from her window.
I have a window, I thought, and a voice.
I am a vessel to be used though never filled.
Which shames my parents more I cannot tell:
the childless child or the busy whore.
My rooms within the city wall
look out onto the wilderness of the desert on one side
and onto the civilization of Jericho on the other.
From either window, the world passes me by.
One day, looking past a grunting john, I saw
two Hebrews scaling by my window. I beckoned
and the rest is history, save to say
when Joshua’s men lead your wife with your blood—
or maybe it will be the blood of your infant son—
spattering her face, blinding her,
she will be their harlot
and I their savior.
The other day our student Bryan came up with a great question just out of the blue, between games of Rook and noodling on the computer. “What,” he asked, “is your favorite thing about the Civil War?”
At first I wasn’t sure what to he wanted to hear: the murder? The mayhem? The gore? The shattering of a nation? The loss of lives and property on a scale not yet seen by humanity? Or was it the net result: slavery was finally abolished even if African Americans are often even to this day not treated equally to their white compatriots?
Nonplussed I countered, “What do you mean?”
“What do you like to learn about?”
“Oh,” I said, the light dawning. “You know, I like to study the battles, the generals’ strategy, the tactical side of it.”
Jennie said, “I like learning about the prisoner of war camps. Andersonville is fascinating.”
It was a wonderful question and sparked a conversation about POW camps and concentration camps, but it was not a question that would ever have been addressed in an ordinary school setting. If Bryan had popped up with that question, apropos of nothing, in the middle of a 5th grade class, his teacher would have put him on hold or ignored him or swatted the question away like an annoying insect. What would Bryan have learned from that?
In an ordinary classroom, kids like Bryan whose thoughts race like squirrels back and forth across their neurons are taught that curiosity is a thing to be squashed or at least put back into the nest for a more appropriate time. They cannot carry a thought through to a satisfactory conclusion. How many teachable moments are lost in such a setting?
In an unschooling atmosphere not only are children free to ask the questions but their mentors are free to answer them. Every day at Shared Space Bryan or Jacob or Victoria will ponder a question about history or literature or science and Jennie or Alex or I will answer or, better yet, say, “I don’t know; let’s find out.” We love that.
Next week starts our spring and summer scheduling at Shared Space. We are really excited about our offerings. During the month of May, we will be closed during the day on Mondays.
Monday, May 7 and Thursday, May 10, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Hunger Games discussion group, hosted by Jennie Evans. All ages welcome! Cost: $10 (covers both nights).
Monday, May 14 and Thursday, May 17, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Watercolor Basics and Materials, taught by Vicki Gurley. An introduction to selecting and caring for watercolor materials and general instruction in their use. There is a limit of 10 people, so make your reservations now! All ages welcome! Cost: $10 (covers both nights).
Monday, May 21 and Thursday, May 24, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.: Introductory Creative Writing Workshop (Poetry), led by Margaret Sanders. An introduction to the writing workshop with an emphasis on poetry. We will learn proper workshop etiquette. Because we only have two sessions, students will be asked to read several poems and bring a poem they’ve written to the first class. Limit of 8 people. All ages welcome! Cost: $10 (covers both nights).
Mondays, June 4 -July 23, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: American Sign Language, taught by Judy Stech. All ages welcome! Cost: $100 per person or $250 for a family of 3 or more. 25% is due at registration, 25% is due at first class, 25% is due on June 18, and the final 25% is due on July 2.
Our summer program will begin Tuesday, May 29. Cost is $65 per child per week or $15 per day per child. Four-day weeks (Memorial Day week, Fourth of July week, etc.) will be $55 per child per week. There is a 15-child limit, so make your reservations early!
To reserve a spot for any class or for our summer program, please drop by Shared Space at 1087 E. Franklin Street, Hartwell, in the Domino’s shopping center, next to Three Tress Vet. Or call Jennie Evans at 706-376-8681. No reservations accepted without a deposit.
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