Open Letter to Mr. Vedder

12357…14

Comments

  • Delivered_Wings
    Delivered_Wings Posts: 123
    frank coztansa wrote:
    well then when im a teacher, im gonna come and post here about using PJ in the classroom so then everyone can suck me off too.

    its cool, but c'mon. lets not get crazy here.

    and as far as using GTF, im sure "well fuckers we still stand" is a great song choice for 8th graders :\

    May I ask why you are so hostile about this?
    Be Sound...
  • DontGotID
    DontGotID Posts: 137
    wow. You are my hero. Can you come to East Hampton, NY and become my teacher?
  • chadwick
    chadwick up my ass Posts: 21,157
    frank coztansa wrote:
    well then when im a teacher, im gonna come and post here about using PJ in the classroom so then everyone can suck me off too.

    its cool, but c'mon. lets not get crazy here.

    and as far as using GTF, im sure "well fuckers we still stand" is a great song choice for 8th graders :\

    doorknob cranky frank.
    chill out.
    marylandteacher is a decent dude.
    you on the other hand, i dont know if you are in his class.
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • Lizard
    Lizard So Cal Posts: 12,091
    frank coztansa wrote:
    yeah, this guy is obviously a really smart teach with posting his schools address and phone number on the web for all to see..


    christ towel yourselves off poeple, and come up for some air in between the verbal fellatios. im sure this isnt the first time someone has used *gasp* music in the classroom

    Two words, Frank: SERENITY NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D:p
    So I'll just lie down and wait for the dream
    Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    DontGotID wrote:
    wow. You are my hero. Can you come to East Hampton, NY and become my teacher?


    DontGotId,

    Thanks for your compliments. Overall, the support and admiration that I have received on this BBS is wonderful. I'm proud that a good portion of the PJ community has welcomed me with open arms.

    I'm just glad to be able to share what I am doing. My only hope is that PJ sees the thread and contacts my school. My kids are anxious to learn Eddie's motivation behind Black. Also, they want to know if our analysis of the metaphors, imagery, and symbolism within Black is accurate. So far, no one has really taken issue with my analysis, and that feels like a good thing.

    Frank, what I am trying to do is to spark children. Didn't you have a teacher back in middle school/high school whom you remember as having inspired you? That's all I'm trying to do, and I think the members of this blog realize that. Isn't it worth that? Aren't the lives of today's ' children worth that? That's all were getting excited about. We're building momentum.

    Mr. Bruno
    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.
  • moeaholic
    moeaholic Posts: 535
    MarylandTeacher wrote:
    Frank, what I am trying to do is to spark children. Didn't you have a teacher back in middle school/high school whom you remember as having inspired you? That's all I'm trying to do, and I think the members of this blog realize that. Isn't it worth that? Aren't the lives of today's ' children worth that? That's all were getting excited about. We're building momentum.

    Mr. Bruno

    mr. hand,

    i know frank, and he's not complaining about what you're doing. he's just having a run at people here who are driven to tears over you playing a song in your classroom. props to you for getting your kids eager to learn, but it's not earth shaking, you dig? i suggest you try the same experiment but use a nickelback or creed song and then post about it. i'd bet the farm you'd have a completely different reaction.

    sincerely,
    jeff spicoli


    p.s.
    just having a laugh with the 'fast times at ridgemont high' references.
    "PC Load Letter?! What the fuck does that mean?"
    ~Michael Bolton
  • iluvcats
    iluvcats Posts: 5,153
    Delivered_Wings wrote:
    May I ask why you are so hostile about this?

    that's how he is :)
    he's harmless though.
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    moeaholic wrote:
    mr. hand,

    i know frank, and he's not complaining about what you're doing. he's just having a run at people here who are driven to tears over you playing a song in your classroom. props to you for getting your kids eager to learn, but it's not earth shaking, you dig? i suggest you try the same experiment but use a nickelback or creed song and then post about it. i'd bet the farm you'd have a completely different reaction.

    sincerely,
    jeff spicoli


    p.s.
    just having a laugh with the 'fast times at ridgemont high' references.

    Jeff,

    Funny that you should mention Fast Times...it was one of my favorite movies in high school. I always liked the way that Mr. Hand got Jeff Spicoli to become a real student. In fact, he forced Spicoli to repay those hours that Spicoli wasted in class. In the end, it was worth it. And while Fast Times was funny, what some of my students face ona day-to-day basis isn't funny: arrests, drug use, fragmented home lives, etc.

    While getting kids to learn might not be earth shaking to you, what about the one kid whom I spark? What about his/her parents? What if I keep one kid off of drugs, away from gangs, etc? Isn't it earth shaking for them? Frank's languishing seems out of proportion to my post. Perhaps when he has children of his own, he may see things differently.

    In the mean time, using creed/nickleback really sounds great. Now you've got me thinking. : )

    Ciao for now,

    Mr. Bruno
    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
    frank coztansa wrote:
    yeah, this guy is obviously a really smart teach with posting his schools address and phone number on the web for all to see..




    Frank,

    I posted those numbers, public numbers by the way, becuse I do want members of PJ to contact my middle school. My students are curious to know if our interpreation of the metaphors, imagery, and mood are correct. Also, they would love to learn what prompted EV to write "Black." A personal contact from the band could go a very long way in affecting the students. Perhaps that would set them down on a path of life-long learning.

    Mr. Bruno
    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
    McShade wrote:
    This was a great read. thanks for sharing!

    I'd say your students must enjoy your class and having you as a teacher.


    McShade,

    Love the name, by the way. My students do seem to enjoy my classes. Which isn't to say that I don't face the occasional outburst of defiance, anger, or drama. If I didn't, then it wouldn't be the 8th grade.

    But I can say that I am having a tons of fun in the classes. The students get me and keep me laughing, and I return the favor. Next year will be my 4th year, and I still love it.
    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.
  • Brisk.
    Brisk. Posts: 11,578
    wow

    even though i sucked at English Lit, was an awesome read
  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    I BrisK I wrote:
    wow

    even though i sucked at English Lit, was an awesome read

    Thank you,

    Mr. Bruno
    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.
  • chadwick
    chadwick up my ass Posts: 21,157
    Im sorry but nickleback and creed are bunk.
    Flunk that, but whatever, to each their own.
    And by the way, no-one was suckin this dude off to my knowledge.
    But merely complimenting is outstanding enthusiasm with the education
    of young people.
    As well as the sharing of his students excitement about one of our
    favorite Pearl Jam tunes.
    And quite a positive thread to be posted here I might add.
    From what I have seen, their are alot of depressing threads posted in these
    forums.
    Of course they're not all depressing at all, many a thread in here are wonderful positive posts.
    Maybe some of you all enjoy miserable threads of pointless hopelessness.
    I vote chill the heck out and let the dude be.
    for poetry through the ceiling. ISBN: 1 4241 8840 7

    "Hear me, my chiefs!
    I am tired; my heart is
    sick and sad. From where
    the sun stands I will fight
    no more forever."
    Chief Joseph - Nez Perce
  • iluvcats
    iluvcats Posts: 5,153
    I never had a teacher like Mr. Bruno. Hell, once in English in 1977 I stood up front and read a Kansas song called The Wall. There was silence; my classmates only knew songs like Ooogie Ooogie Wooogie Boogie or Saturday Night Fever. I got an A just for going up there and reading.

    Kansas – The Wall lyrics

    I'm woven in a fantasy
    I can't believe the things I see
    The path that I have chosen
    Has led me to a wall
    And with each passing day
    I feel a little more
    Like something dear was lost

    It rises now before me
    A dark and silent barrier between
    All I am
    And all that I would ever want to be
    It's just a travesty
    Towering
    Marking off the boundaries my spirit
    Would erase

    To pass beyond is what I seek
    I feel that I may be too weak
    And those are few
    Who've seen it through
    To glimpse the other side
    The promised land is waiting
    Like a maiden
    That is soon to be a bride

    The moment is a masterpiece
    The weight of indecision's in the air
    It's standing there
    The symbol and the sum of all that's me
    It's just a travesty
    Towering
    Blocking all the light and blinding me
    I want to see

    Gold and diamonds cast a spell
    It's not for me, I know it well
    The treasures that I seek
    Are waiting on the other side
    There's more that I can measure
    In the treasure of the love that I can find

    And though it's always been with me
    I must tear down the wall and let it be
    All I am
    And all that I was ever meant to be
    In harmony
    Shining true and smiling back
    At all who wait to cross
    There is no more
    9/98, 9/00 - DC, 4/03 - Pitt., 7/03 - Bristow, 10/04 - Reading, 10/05 - Philly, 5/06 - DC, 6/06 - Pitt., 6/08 - Va Beach, 6/08 - DC, 5/10 - Bristow, 10/13 B'more
    8/08 - Ed solo in DC, 6/09 Ed in B'more,
    10/10 - Brad in B'more
  • Pearl Jam and toast
    Pearl Jam and toast Posts: 4,475
    MarylandTeacher wrote:
    frank coztansa wrote:
    yeah, this guy is obviously a really smart teach with posting his schools address and phone number on the web for all to see..




    Frank,

    I posted those numbers, public numbers by the way, becuse I do want members of PJ to contact my middle school. My students are curious to know if our interpreation of the metaphors, imagery, and mood are correct. Also, they would love to learn what prompted EV to write "Black." A personal contact from the band could go a very long way in affecting the students. Perhaps that would set them down on a path of life-long learning.

    Mr. Bruno
    that ain't gonna happen (and whether or not they've been on this board much at all is up for question) but I admire your optimism :p;)
    Come on pilgrim you know he loves you..

    http://www.wishlistfoundation.org

    Oh my, they dropped the leash.



    Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!

    "Make our day"
  • moeaholic
    moeaholic Posts: 535
    chadwick wrote:
    Im sorry but nickleback and creed are bunk.

    i rest my case.
    "PC Load Letter?! What the fuck does that mean?"
    ~Michael Bolton
  • brokenarrow
    brokenarrow Posts: 478
    Nice Mr. Bruno!
    My hat is off to you as well for inspiring your students to read, think, come up with their own ideas and interpretations and feel a part of a process that gets them interested in learning.

    One of the teachers at the middle school I worked at (p.s. I'm a secretary not a teacher), had his kids study the lyrics to 'Evenflow'. They were discussing the homeless crisis in America, he asked me what I thought of using a current narrative rather than just blah,blah statistics zzzzzz.....

    I thought it was a great idea and the feedback was ultimately that the kids really enjoyed it, they had good ideas about the problem and it got them to think of possible solutions... (Naturally he cut out the 'fuck it up' lyric as they were only in the 8th grade also).
    He also informed them that their secretary was a GIANT Pearl Jam fan so I went up a few notches in their book! ;)

    Kick ass Mr. Bruno, wish I had teachers as cool and open minded as you~


    'Evenflow'
    Freezin', rests his head on a pillow made of concrete, again
    Oh, Feelin' maybe he'll see a little better, set a days, ooh yeah
    Oh, hand out, faces that he sees time again ain't that familiar, oh yeah
    Oh, dark grin, he can't help, when he's happy looks insane, oh yeah

    Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
    Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away
    Someday yet, he'll begin his life again Life again, life again...
    Kneelin', looking through the paper though he doesn't know to read, ooh yeah

    Oh, prayin', now to something that has never showed him anything
    Oh, feelin', understands the weather of the winters on its way
    Oh, ceilings, few and far between all the legal halls of shame, yeah

    Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
    Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away
    Someday yet, he'll begin his life again
    Whispering hands, gently lead him away
    Him away, him away...
    Yeah!
    Woo...ah yeah...fuck it up...

    Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
    Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away
    Someday yet, he'll begin his life again, yeah
    Oh, whispering hands, gently lead him away
    Him away, him away...
    Yeah!
    Woo...uh huh...
    yeah, yeah, mommy, mommy...





    (Hi Share!)
  • kinetic
    kinetic Posts: 148
    MarylandTeacher wrote:
    Jeff,
    While getting kids to learn might not be earth shaking to you, what about the one kid whom I spark? What about his/her parents? What if I keep one kid off of drugs, away from gangs, etc? Isn't it earth shaking for them? Frank's languishing seems out of proportion to my post. Perhaps when he has children of his own, he may see things differently.

    Ciao for now,

    Mr. Bruno

    Now, now, now. Mad props to you and all that for not deciding that teaching stinks after only 3 years. And what you're doing is frankly terrific, in a terrific way, with terrific goals. Seriously.

    But lots of other teachers have used lyrics of popular songs to reach kids. I know I have, as have at least 10 of my peers just in my one school. It's not a ground-breaking teaching technique (not that you were saying it was, of course). Sometimes it can give us a Robin Williams moment.

    What you did on the Pit appeared disingenuous and self-serving (what a great teacher you are!), because you also posted the project instead of simply asking for contact info. Contact info is pretty easy to find, and it looks like you're looking for applause when you tell us what you did with your kids.

    Many educators use popular lyrics to enthuse kids, but few teachers have attempted to gain access to the musician to discover if our interpretations were correct, and for the truth behind the song.

    You said that personal contact from the band could go a very long way in affecting the students and perhaps that would set them down on a path of life-long learning. Frankly, that's a pretty massive burden to put on anyone, and that bothers me. Just do your admittedly fine job, but don't publicly blackmail the band into responding to you. So if a kid drops out, it's because Eddie didn't call? Let them live their lives. And remember that they NEVER discuss the "real" meaning behind any song, so you're kind of barking up the wrong tree there if you want Eddie to tell you that you're right. The beauty of the lyrics is that you partly own them when you interpret them yourself. Might want to tell the kids that, too.

    He'd be glad you're getting kids to think at all, though.

    Sorry if this seems unnecessarily harsh.

    See, if Samuel Clemens had a website, I could have posted my PhD thesis and asked him what he really meant about Huck Finn, threatened to drop out of school if he didn't answer. You know, because it meant a LOT to me to know that he heard my interpretation and told me I was right. Then did a reading for my class. With some signed posters.

    Dr. Kinetic
    When you're married, you'll understand the importance of fresh produce.
  • frank coztansa
    frank coztansa Posts: 196
    MarylandTeacher wrote:
    Frank,

    I posted those numbers, public numbers by the way, becuse I do want members of PJ to contact my middle school. My students are curious to know if our interpreation of the metaphors, imagery, and mood are correct. Also, they would love to learn what prompted EV to write "Black." A personal contact from the band could go a very long way in affecting the students. Perhaps that would set them down on a path of life-long learning.

    first off, you said when i had kids maybe id see things differently. i certainly wouldnt be too keen on my kids' teacher posting thier schools # and address on the web for all to see. public or not, thats just not something that you should be doing. period.

    2nd, who is to say what interperation of black, or any other song, is correct? you should be teaching your students that that is the beauty of music. songs, poems, movies, etc. mean different things to different people, and nobody can tell them they are wrong. not even eddie himself. he wrote black about someone or something. but if black means something totally off the wall to some kid, thats fine too.

    as far as PJ playing a personal concert in your classroom or something to that effect, not gonna happen.
    www.myspace.com/pitheory
  • MarylandTeacher
    MarylandTeacher Posts: 233
    Brokenarrow,

    I always loved the sound of Even Flow...it's candy to the ears. When teachers are willing to try something new, then they start to create possibilities. I was nervous the first time I tried "Black" in my classroom. I'm glad that I did.

    PS...I made sure that I thanked our school's secretaries the other day (National Secretaries' Day!)

    Mr. Bruno

    brokenarrow wrote:
    Nice Mr. Bruno!
    My hat is off to you as well for inspiring your students to read, think, come up with their own ideas and interpretations and feel a part of a process that gets them interested in learning.

    One of the teachers at the middle school I worked at (p.s. I'm a secretary not a teacher), had his kids study the lyrics to 'Evenflow'. They were discussing the homeless crisis in America, he asked me what I thought of using a current narrative rather than just blah,blah statistics zzzzzz.....

    I thought it was a great idea and the feedback was ultimately that the kids really enjoyed it, they had good ideas about the problem and it got them to think of possible solutions... (Naturally he cut out the 'fuck it up' lyric as they were only in the 8th grade also).
    He also informed them that their secretary was a GIANT Pearl Jam fan so I went up a few notches in their book! ;)

    Kick ass Mr. Bruno, wish I had teachers as cool and open minded as you~


    'Evenflow'
    Freezin', rests his head on a pillow made of concrete, again
    Oh, Feelin' maybe he'll see a little better, set a days, ooh yeah
    Oh, hand out, faces that he sees time again ain't that familiar, oh yeah
    Oh, dark grin, he can't help, when he's happy looks insane, oh yeah

    Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
    Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away
    Someday yet, he'll begin his life again Life again, life again...
    Kneelin', looking through the paper though he doesn't know to read, ooh yeah

    Oh, prayin', now to something that has never showed him anything
    Oh, feelin', understands the weather of the winters on its way
    Oh, ceilings, few and far between all the legal halls of shame, yeah

    Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
    Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away
    Someday yet, he'll begin his life again
    Whispering hands, gently lead him away
    Him away, him away...
    Yeah!
    Woo...ah yeah...fuck it up...

    Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
    Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away
    Someday yet, he'll begin his life again, yeah
    Oh, whispering hands, gently lead him away
    Him away, him away...
    Yeah!
    Woo...uh huh...
    yeah, yeah, mommy, mommy...





    (Hi Share!)
    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.

Categories