December,
2001
The story of
a teacher, his
students, and
his lesson in
compassion.
I
thought about
how I might
use the music
of Widespread
Panic to teach
my students
in the upcoming
year, since
this band, this
music, and the
people that
I have met mean
the world to
me, as do my
kids.
I came up with
what I thought
would be a perfect
fit--teaching
the core virtues
of compassion
and generosity
with the song
This Part
of Town.
If you
know the lyrics
to This Part
of Town,
then you know
what I mean.
If you
don't, check
them out on
Everyday
Companion.
It took
me awhile to
decide exactly
how to do this,
but I finally
settled on a
plan, and set
to action.
I made copies
of the lyrics
for all of the
kids, but decided
to let them
listen to the
version on Don't
Tell The Band
before showing
them the words.
After
telling them
that I wanted
them to listen
to a song with
their eyes closed,
and to think
about the images
that they saw,
I
let it play.As
I walked around
the room, I
saw a few kids
moving a bit
and one in particular
that was tapping
his feet. After
they heard the
song, I asked
them what they
saw, the visual
pictures that
the song brought
to mind.
To my surprise,
they were all
over it. A
poor man, being
nice, kindness,
the sunshine,
talking about
things with
someone, not
giving up, etc.
Then I
gave them the
words and let
them read them
over. As
they read, I
asked them if
there were any
words that they
didn't know,
and the only
one that they
were unsure
of was forsaken.
So I read
the line again,
and asked them
what they thought
it meant. To
which a beautiful
child inside
and out, replied,
"to give up
on." In
amazement, and
with a tear
in my eye, I
lauded her with
praise. I then
read the definition
to the class,
and I asked what
she thought
it meant in
this context.
Her answer
was, "maybe
we will be the
ones who are
poor or in need
next time."
I followed that
with another
playing of the
song, telling
them that they
could now read
and even sing
along. As
I walked around
the room, I
was brought
to tears as
they started
to sing the
chorus:
Tell
me brother,
can you see
the sun,
from where you're
standing now,
I've been up,
and I've been
down,
but I've never
been to this
part of town...
I
let it play.As
I walked around
the room, I
saw a few kids
moving a bit
and one in particular
that was tapping
his feet. After
they heard the
song, I asked
them what they
saw, the visual
pictures that
the song brought
to mind.
To my surprise,
they were all
over it. A
poor man, being
nice, kindness,
the sunshine,
talking about
things with
someone, not
giving up, etc.
Then I
gave them the
words and let
them read them
over. As
they read, I
asked them if
there were any
words that they
didn't know,
and the only
one that they
were unsure
of was forsaken.
So I read
the line again,
and asked them
what they thought
it meant. To
which a beautiful
child inside
and out, replied,
"to give up
on." In
amazement, and
with a tear
in my eye, I
lauded her with
praise. I then
read the definition
to the class,
and I asked what
she thought
it meant in
this context.
Her answer
was, "maybe
we will be the
ones who are
poor or in need
next time."