Control freaks!

Is control freakism a form of mental illness?

Is it comparable to or worse than micro managing?

Reading, studying and readying a presentation/portfolio for class has kept me very busy, but I feel compelled to write my thoughts on this. NOW!

In class today, we had 3 guest speakers.

The first was a retired teacher, Marilyn, who volunteers with the Boys and Girls clubs. She read us a rap she had written.

I had my doubts about whether I would appreciate rap, especially from a granny, but it worked! Then she read a sad poem she wrote. It was powerful. She is very down to earth, and I can see how kids relate to her.

The second lady, Kehau, challenged us to "free write" for ten minutes a day. Kind of like free association. Not sentences and no editing. Just whatever occurs to you and comes out.

Not sure I can do this, and not alone in thinking I can't. Old habits die hard. I can (and do) edit as I write! I can do moments, but...

She says this is good "pre" writing practice. I will try. She is very warm and encouraging.

Back to the beginning point: issues of control.

The third speaker storms in, and says we should do the same "to establish authority".

She has already arranged the chairs in close ranks, each with one sheet of paper. We are told to sit up straight, put both feet on the ground, how to hold our pencils (NO pens and NOTHING else on the desk.

I have read this sh*t elsewhere, and it is not only in Lei Kaina's post.

It is classroom management. Procedures.

This wouldn't even have washed with the me I was age 5. I can't even begin to explain how it irks me NOW.

We are back in kinniegarden. Yes, I remember the corner and sitting there for being stubborn. Shades of the long, long ago!

We are told to stand and make hand gestures as we repeat concepts. We are lectured and most of us scramble for our notebooks and we're admonished for it. We are told how to form letters and pronounce words.

Did I learn anything new? NO.

Well, maybe.

I learned I wouldn't even treat a kinniegardener this way.

I would operate on the assumption that they know I care about them to have just enough "control" over them to guide them through what they need to know. I would hope to reason with them, especially since they will be middlel and high schoolers. I would treat them they way I would want to be treated. Not patronized.

Good night. Good morning. I'm tired.