Open Letter to Mr. Vedder

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Comments

  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    CorduroyGal wrote:
    If you were my teacher it would've totally rocked. I've listened to Pearl Jam and have been a committed fan of Pearl Jam for 18 years, and NEVER have I had the chance to experience analysis of PJ lyrics. That's what learning is all about- figuring out our souls and interpreting lyrics and music freely.


    Sadly, I am teaching 6th grade this year, and "Black" is a bit too advanced for the average 11 year old mind...but who knows what the future will hold?

    Maryland Teacher
    Dalai Lama—To say that humility is an essential ingredient in our pursuit of spiritual transformation may seem to be at odds with what I have said about the need for confidence. But there is clearly a distinction to be made between valid confidence or self-esteem, and conceit - which we can describe as an inflated sense of importance, grounded in a false image of self.
  • Lizard
    Lizard So Cal Posts: 12,091
    I just realized your thread title rhymes......
    So I'll just lie down and wait for the dream
    Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
  • RKCNDY
    RKCNDY Posts: 31,013
    I, to wish that I could have had a teacher like you to guide me through English class. I wasn't a bad student, got good grades, but I basically read and spat out what I knew the teacher wanted. When I was in school, it was confined to, "You may read about/create anything you wish, it just cannot be about sex, drugs, or rock n' roll" That made art class really limiting. In 8th grade, I was reading Romeo & Juliet and Animal Farm...now that I'm older, I can appreciate that I read them, but back then, I recall the entire class not understanding/comprehending the context (especially Animal Farm). Being able to give kids something more 'modern', I believe, helps reach out and touch them more genuinely than works that were written long ago. Just like in music, if you're being taught classical music, but want to learn rock, you're not going to be motivated. I know because I didn't care about the piano lessons I took until I finally found sheet music to a piece I wanted to learn. I learned that song in 2 weeks, and by 3 weeks, could play by heart.

    Kudos to a teacher that truly is passionate about their job!
    The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.

    - Christopher McCandless
  • DangDang
    DangDang Posts: 1,551
    MarylandTeacher wrote:
    CorduroyGal wrote:
    If you were my teacher it would've totally rocked. I've listened to Pearl Jam and have been a committed fan of Pearl Jam for 18 years, and NEVER have I had the chance to experience analysis of PJ lyrics. That's what learning is all about- figuring out our souls and interpreting lyrics and music freely.


    Sadly, I am teaching 6th grade this year, and "Black" is a bit too advanced for the average 11 year old mind...but who knows what the future will hold?

    Maryland Teacher

    My 9 year old loves 'Evolution"though. I think they might get that.
  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    Lizard wrote:
    I just realized your thread title rhymes......


    LoL, Lizard ;)
    Dalai Lama—To say that humility is an essential ingredient in our pursuit of spiritual transformation may seem to be at odds with what I have said about the need for confidence. But there is clearly a distinction to be made between valid confidence or self-esteem, and conceit - which we can describe as an inflated sense of importance, grounded in a false image of self.
  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    4and20 wrote:
    I, to wish that I could have had a teacher like you to guide me through English class. I wasn't a bad student, got good grades, but I basically read and spat out what I knew the teacher wanted. When I was in school, it was confined to, "You may read about/create anything you wish, it just cannot be about sex, drugs, or rock n' roll" That made art class really limiting. In 8th grade, I was reading Romeo & Juliet and Animal Farm...now that I'm older, I can appreciate that I read them, but back then, I recall the entire class not understanding/comprehending the context (especially Animal Farm). Being able to give kids something more 'modern', I believe, helps reach out and touch them more genuinely than works that were written long ago. Just like in music, if you're being taught classical music, but want to learn rock, you're not going to be motivated. I know because I didn't care about the piano lessons I took until I finally found sheet music to a piece I wanted to learn. I learned that song in 2 weeks, and by 3 weeks, could play by heart.

    Kudos to a teacher that truly is passionate about their job!

    Thank you 4and20 :P
    Dalai Lama—To say that humility is an essential ingredient in our pursuit of spiritual transformation may seem to be at odds with what I have said about the need for confidence. But there is clearly a distinction to be made between valid confidence or self-esteem, and conceit - which we can describe as an inflated sense of importance, grounded in a false image of self.
  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    DangDang wrote:

    My 9 year old loves 'Evolution"though. I think they might get that.


    I will have to think about Evolution...you've given me food-for-thought.

    Matt
    Dalai Lama—To say that humility is an essential ingredient in our pursuit of spiritual transformation may seem to be at odds with what I have said about the need for confidence. But there is clearly a distinction to be made between valid confidence or self-esteem, and conceit - which we can describe as an inflated sense of importance, grounded in a false image of self.
  • Waves4to6ft
    Waves4to6ft Jerz Posts: 108
    Wow, that's great work,.. Really inspiring... May use it one day in my class... Perfect for 7/8th grade when kids are prob having their first break-up.... I'm a teacher too and Jeremy is a great song/poem/story to obv teach kids about teenage suicide.0
    If I don't see you no more in this world, I'll meet you on the next one...
  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    Waves4to6ft wrote:
    Wow, that's great work,.. Really inspiring... May use it one day in my class... Perfect for 7/8th grade when kids are prob having their first break-up.... I'm a teacher too and Jeremy is a great song/poem/story to obv teach kids about teenage suicide.0


    Black really does touch upon loss, so it would tie-in well with first break-ups, especially because those break-ups tend to be both emotional and heart-felt.
    Dalai Lama—To say that humility is an essential ingredient in our pursuit of spiritual transformation may seem to be at odds with what I have said about the need for confidence. But there is clearly a distinction to be made between valid confidence or self-esteem, and conceit - which we can describe as an inflated sense of importance, grounded in a false image of self.
  • guitar59
    guitar59 Posts: 1,221
    Unthought Known...my son, who was in 6th grade last year thought it was the best song ever. I am teaching 6th grade this year and thought I might fit it in somehow. The other one I love is Force of Nature. ;)
    I think now that he is in seventh grade I may give him the lyrics to other songs...printed out and see how he responds. It really makes a difference when they are read and not just heard. He's been listening to Pearl Jam for years, but it wasn't until Backspacer that he really started paying attention to lyrical meaning.
  • gloree-g
    gloree-g Posts: 1
    This is awesome! What better way to reach kids at this age, because middle school years can be tough! I applaud you for first being a teacher (let alone an 8th grade teacher) and second for using the lyrics to this wonderful song to reach these kids. My daughter was in 8th grade last year and I know it can be hard to reach some of these kids now. What an great way keep their attention and to get them to be interested in poetry.

    My daughter got to go to her first Pearl Jam concert at the Key Arena last September. She was excited to miss some school, hang out in Seattle and to go to the concert. Her English teacher had made comments about how he was a Pearl Jam fan and when she returned back to school after the concert, she gave Mr. D some Pearl Jam stickers she picked out for him. She said the first thing he did as class started was he took the Pearl Jam stickers and stuck them up in the classroom where everyone could see them and that is where they stayed for the whole year. She thought that was the coolest thing a teacher could do. So just with that action, my daughter and Mr. D hit it off. With his action, she remembers him and still talks about him. So I'm sure these kids will remember you!

    We need more teachers with creativity to teach our kids and to keep them interested in school! So great job!

    g.
  • Black73
    Black73 Posts: 1,018
    MarylandTeacher wrote:
    CorduroyGal wrote:
    If you were my teacher it would've totally rocked. I've listened to Pearl Jam and have been a committed fan of Pearl Jam for 18 years, and NEVER have I had the chance to experience analysis of PJ lyrics. That's what learning is all about- figuring out our souls and interpreting lyrics and music freely.


    Sadly, I am teaching 6th grade this year, and "Black" is a bit too advanced for the average 11 year old mind...but who knows what the future will hold?

    Maryland Teacher

    Hey Teach! I'm happy my 11 year old to-be is outside that average...he openly tells anyone who'll listen that Ten is his favorite album, and Black is the best song off the album. Any chance you might change your username to WisconsinTeacher?

    Keep up the good work with our youth!
  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    Black 73,

    Thanks for your kind words.

    Matthew
    Dalai Lama—To say that humility is an essential ingredient in our pursuit of spiritual transformation may seem to be at odds with what I have said about the need for confidence. But there is clearly a distinction to be made between valid confidence or self-esteem, and conceit - which we can describe as an inflated sense of importance, grounded in a false image of self.
  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    gloree-g wrote:
    This is awesome! What better way to reach kids at this age, because middle school years can be tough! I applaud you for first being a teacher (let alone an 8th grade teacher) and second for using the lyrics to this wonderful song to reach these kids. My daughter was in 8th grade last year and I know it can be hard to reach some of these kids now. What an great way keep their attention and to get them to be interested in poetry.

    My daughter got to go to her first Pearl Jam concert at the Key Arena last September. She was excited to miss some school, hang out in Seattle and to go to the concert. Her English teacher had made comments about how he was a Pearl Jam fan and when she returned back to school after the concert, she gave Mr. D some Pearl Jam stickers she picked out for him. She said the first thing he did as class started was he took the Pearl Jam stickers and stuck them up in the classroom where everyone could see them and that is where they stayed for the whole year. She thought that was the coolest thing a teacher could do. So just with that action, my daughter and Mr. D hit it off. With his action, she remembers him and still talks about him. So I'm sure these kids will remember you!

    We need more teachers with creativity to teach our kids and to keep them interested in school! So great job!

    g.

    Thank you ;)
    Dalai Lama—To say that humility is an essential ingredient in our pursuit of spiritual transformation may seem to be at odds with what I have said about the need for confidence. But there is clearly a distinction to be made between valid confidence or self-esteem, and conceit - which we can describe as an inflated sense of importance, grounded in a false image of self.
  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    Lizard wrote:
    I just realized your thread title rhymes......


    LOL, Lizard...I noticed that, too; but it wasn't intentional, it just worked out that way. 8-)
    Dalai Lama—To say that humility is an essential ingredient in our pursuit of spiritual transformation may seem to be at odds with what I have said about the need for confidence. But there is clearly a distinction to be made between valid confidence or self-esteem, and conceit - which we can describe as an inflated sense of importance, grounded in a false image of self.
  • Brandy1964
    Brandy1964 Posts: 32
    I am so truly thankful that there are still teachers/people like you out there. I have two young sons and I could only hope that they find themselves with such an amazing mentor as yourself. Thank you for restoring my faith in the educational systems of this country. BTW do you have a website? If not you should, so the kids not lucky enough to be in your classes can benefit too!
    "BE SOUND..."
  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    Lauren Marie,

    Thank you for your kind words. :P

    By the way, I did catch one of my 6th graders reading my Open Letter to Mr. Vedder (that I have up on my bulletin board). When I told him that I had sent a copy of the letter to Pearl Jam, his jaw went agape, bless his little heart. He couldn’t believe that you can actually do some really cool stuff with what you learn in English Class!

    Thanks again,

    Matt
    Dalai Lama—To say that humility is an essential ingredient in our pursuit of spiritual transformation may seem to be at odds with what I have said about the need for confidence. But there is clearly a distinction to be made between valid confidence or self-esteem, and conceit - which we can describe as an inflated sense of importance, grounded in a false image of self.
  • dawnella
    dawnella Posts: 26
    That was beautiful work. If more teachers had their students learn that way. Maybe more kids would stay in school.
  • molhatchet
    molhatchet Posts: 10
    Interesting and heartfelt interpretation to this song I must say. I was 15, almost 16 years old when it first came out I lived in the dark world in that time. I remember "feeling" the song "Black", never thinking about it. I just FELT it. That whole album was a pillar in my private Hurricane hell, when nothing was stable in my life. SOMEONE ELSE felt what I was feeling and they were older than me.
    I just hung onto the knowledge that someone else felt those feelings that I did, all through my growing up, and they were SINGING about them.
    Those feelings faded away over time but I would sling shot back to them when another song came out that said all that I couldn't when it came to how I felt.

    I am glad that there is a teacher like you out there. Keep being you
    True freedom is a freedom from the chains you've wrapped around yourself.
  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    dawnella wrote:
    That was beautiful work. If more teachers had their students learn that way. Maybe more kids would stay in school.

    Thank you, Dawnella :)
    Dalai Lama—To say that humility is an essential ingredient in our pursuit of spiritual transformation may seem to be at odds with what I have said about the need for confidence. But there is clearly a distinction to be made between valid confidence or self-esteem, and conceit - which we can describe as an inflated sense of importance, grounded in a false image of self.

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