Life is a Highway

Dear People Who Improve the Roads,

Now that most (maybe all?) of that work in Route 29 is done, I wanted to thank you for how gorgeous it is. Driving through that section after I get off 32 on my way home from work brings a kind of delicious little thrill. So smooth, so open and well, functional! All that waiting was worth it.

You folks do good work. You're out in all kinds of weather and no one is ever happy to see you. The work is hard physical labor and you don't get positive feedback from end-users, I'm guessing. Just complaints.

"How long is this going to take?"

 "Will they ever finish?"

I may not know who you are in real life, but I think of you every time I drive that stretch of road. Somehow I don't think that the community is going to hold one of those nice little wine and cheese receptions for you and show a lovely slide presentation of the highlights of the project. No testimonials from local officials on your dedication and expertise. No article in the newspaper about how your contributions to the community are improving our quality of life.

Why is that?

I would think that every person who worked on this years-long project would like to feel some closure, some sense of appreciation for their work. I wonder if the Maryland State Highway Administration has any way to celebrate completion. You can't exactly stage a ribbon-cutting on a highway. At least, it doesn't sound like a practical proposition.

Anyway, please spread the word around that I'm grateful for what you have done. I'll bet that lots of other folks are, too.

Comments are welcome here:

https://www.facebook.com/VillageGreenTownSquared/?ref=bookmarks

kyo͞ot

I don't do it.

Cute, that is. As far as I'm concerned, "cute" is a four-letter word.

I've been teaching in the field of early childhood for almost thirty years and one thing I have never had the remotest interest in pursuing is "cute".

Young children are curious, enthusiastic, creative, imaginative, thoughtful, and energetic. Their work is play. Their play and playtime creations can be thought-provoking, funny, complex, unusual, deceptively simple, unexpected, engaging.

Teachers are there to support that vital work, and give them the tools to grow as artists, detectives, scientists, creators of worlds and builders of relationships. Too many people think that early childhood is handprint turkeys and identical holiday headbands. How often do we look at videos of tiny performers who were made to get up and parrot adorable songs for the amusement of their elders?

"Oh, they're just too cute!"

No. Just no. The work of early childhood is joyful, and playful, but it is not cute. In my opinion, it is the most important work of all because young children are in such a crucial time of brain development, physical development, and social-emotional development, all of which provide the foundation for everything that comes afterwards.

Everything.

When you witness an excellent early childhood classroom, the words that should come to mind are, "Cool! "Wow!" "Aha!" or perhaps a thoughtful, "Hmm..."

If you were to observe my teaching and you came away saying, "cute!", I would feel that I had failed..

From the blog, Not Just Cute, by Amanda Morgan:

As supervising teachers in the child development lab, my cohort and I would often lament that if we heard one more student teacher describe an activity on her lesson plan as “cute” our heads might literally explode.

Cute is not a developmental objective. Our kids deserve so much more than “cute” when it comes to their education and development. 

If you look at your child and are filled with the joy of how cute they are, that is your right. But it is not the child's job to be cute, nor the preschool teacher's job to produce cuteness. The abilities and imaginations of young children are far, far larger than that.

Give us the room to be bigger than cute. You'll be amazed at what happens.

Comments are welcome here:

https://www.facebook.com/VillageGreenTownSquared/?ref=bookmarks

A New Frame

"Bridges are perhaps the most invisible form of public architecture."*

"Most people don't notice a bridge unless it's particularly ugly or clogged with traffic"

"Bridges become frames for looking at the world around us."

On September 5th work will begin to transform the Route 29 footbridge that connects Oakland Mills with Downtown. This project started with a dream that looked more like this:

And it included crossing capabilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit. The project that was approved and is moving forward does not include transit. I think that's a missed opportunity. But you can't always get 100 per cent of what you want, I guess.

A shoutout to all the folks who dreamed this dream and then worked to make it happen. It's not Bridge Columbia in all its glory, but it's going to be a much, much better bridge.

Comments are welcome here:

https://www.facebook.com/VillageGreenTownSquared/?ref=bookmarks



*Quotes used are from Bruce Jackson: SUNY Distinguished Professor and Samuel P. Capen Professor of American Culture in the departments of American Studies and English.

Thought-Provoking

Crazy day for me today. Parents and students will be visiting classrooms. My brain is going in a thousand different directions.

In lieu of a full-scale blog post, I'm going to recommend that you read this article:

"The Disconnect Between Liberal Aspirations and Liberal Housing Policy is Killing U.S. Cities", by Shane Phillips

It seems to be a relevant read as we are in the throes of APFO-mania around here.

As always--what do you think?

Comments are welcome here:

https://www.facebook.com/VillageGreenTownSquared/?ref=bookmarks

Showing Up

The Lower School "read" at SSFS this Summer was Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. The book takes a hard look at issues of shame and what it takes to get beyond shame into a state which she describes as wholehearted living. I found the book a difficult read, not because I disagreed with its premise, but because I felt so personally convicted by the message. In particular, I saw how necessary it would be for me to let go of perfectionism and what people think.

Sometimes you have to stop telling yourself that your work has to be perfect and, instead, be willing to show up and do what you can do without judging yourself and sabotaging yourself. Perfectionism is ultimately paralyzing. Being willing to show up and do the work with all of one's imperfection is where that daring greatly comes into play.

These concepts serve as a backdrop for me to this week's announcement by Courtney Watson that she is entering the race for State Delegate in 9B. This quote from the campaign press release struck me:

“The thing about Courtney is that she is tenacious and energetic. She gets right to the heart of the matter and works quickly to find a solution. When the devastating flood hit Ellicott City last year, Courtney organized a donation drive for flood relief supplies that were critical to the recovery of businesses and residents. She doesn’t just talk, she takes action,” said Angie Tersiguel, owner of Tersiguel’s French Country restaurant in Ellicott City. 

Showing up. The narrative of Ms. Watson' life since her loss in the County Executive race in 2014 has been rich with incidences of showing up to do the work. Founding Bridge to Give on Facebook to connect ordinary HoCo residents with ways to help their neighbors in need. Working with others to collect books for children in the Sandtown neighborhood in Baltimore City. Springing into action after the flood in Ellicott City to provide residents and businesses with neccesary supplies. Serving on the Clinton campaign, making connections with people throughout the state of Maryland. Supporting efforts to move the Confederate monument from the courthouse grounds.

It's easy to withdraw when you experience loss. I know this from personal experience. It takes bravery and inner strength to learn and grow as much from loss as from success. The political landscape in Annapolis is full of starts and stops and frustrating obstacles. A successful state delegate is one who makes connections, looks for new solutions, and most of all, keeps showing up to do the important work.

I look forward to observing Ms. Watson's campaign. She is in an excellent position to take the positives of her ability and experience and use them to serve a community she knows and loves. 

Comments are welcome here:

https://www.facebook.com/VillageGreenTownSquared/?ref=bookmarks

A Hero's Welcome

Acting Superintendent of Schools Michael Martirano is making a big splash going from school to school during the inservice days leading up to opening day. He has been greeted by high school bands, cheerleaders, glow-in-the-dark percussion ensembles, and even made an entrance through the River Hill High School inflatable football tunnel in billowing clouds of smoke.

What is this all about?

Local residents who have endured carefully crafted media releases over the last few years can be forgiven for having a jaded mindset when looking at these celebratory images. Is it just more of the same but with a different slant? Are we in danger of getting suckered once more because we're just so relieved to be starting something new?

I haven't been present at any of these events but the information I am taking away gives some decent clues as to what the underlying message is. The hero being heralded at each of these events is not the Superintendent. It's the teachers and school staff. And the students they serve.

The message is loud and clear that Dr. Martirano knows that our teachers care about students and want to do their best possible job teaching and lifting them up. The stories he shares are about building relationships and putting equity in education at the forefront. He's opening the door to amplifying teacher voice and challenging those teachers to amplify student voice.

If the former administration was all about controlling the message, this one seems to be reaching out to students and teachers and saying: you are the message. The school system celebrates you and supports you.

The Superintendent  is coming into a system where teachers have been demoralized, misrepresented, micromanaged, and ignored. It looks like he is seizing his "15 minutes of fame" to establish a relationship of compassion and trust. In my opinion, it is well worth the investment of time and effort to make that happen.

It may look a little wacky to those of us on the outside. But if it breathes some joy into places that have felt very little in recent years, it will do a world of good.

Comments are welcome here:

https://www.facebook.com/VillageGreenTownSquared/?ref=bookmarks

Reader Request

So, I need your help

I'd really like to win Best Blogger in the Howard Magazine Readers' Choice "Best of Howard County" Awards. Voting runs until the end of August. (Limit one ballot per person and per device.) So this isn't a crazy clickfest, you'll be glad to know. Just look for Category 62.

If you have another favorite, that's okay with me. But if you're a frequent reader of my blog I'm hoping you'll consider casting a vote for me and helping me by spreading the word to others--the more the merrier!

Readers of my blog are smart, committed, compassionate, and engaged citizens who have done amazing things to help make our community a better place. Surely nudging a little hometown blog along should be a piece of cake.

Thanks for reading.