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Original Content at https://www.opednews.com/articles/You-re-Never-Too-Old-Reti-by-Joan-Brunwasser-110118-156.html (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). |
January 18, 2011
You're Never Too Old: Retiree Discovers Passion For Teaching Drama
By Joan Brunwasser
Taking risks can lead to rewarding experiences. Drama was an interest of mine, not something I knew a lot about. I took a risk in offering the first course. Rewarded by a good response from that first class, I was spurred on to trying other ideas and have benefited personally and intellectually from my 'playful' efforts.
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This philosophy of education was part of my training at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where I received in BA Education. At that time, early education was considered glorified baby sitting. Since then, there has been greater understanding of the importance of the early years in laying the foundation for future development.
So, how does this apply to offering courses to older adults? The same philosophy works. I structure the courses so that participants have maximum opportunities for input. We are learning together. A community exists because we are listening and responding to each other. I am not the expert. Obviously, I do a lot of background work in order to structure this and do assume the role of framing and clarifying the discussion. However, class members also do this.
Responses to the course include: "I never thought I could act"; "New ways of thinking have been opened up to me"; "I am having fun learning"; "My family got intrigued and read some of the plays"; "We have discussions at home about the topics". What greater reward could I have than that they are enjoying?
I heard that your classes are so popular now that there's a lottery to decide who gets in. Is that true? What's the optimal number of students and how did you determine that?
Yes, my classes are lotteried. It is flattering! Some people have taken all five of the courses that I have offered. Because I feel that it is important to include everyone who wants to enter the discussion, I have asked for no more than 20 in a class, but have had 25. Decision for who gets involves a system designed by the program. If there are too many wanting the same course, there is a lottery. Some members have taken all five of the courses I offer.
I am now working on a course which involves humor. Some of the plays I have used before are very funny, but I prefer not to repeat. This time I am working on what makes us smile, chuckle, laugh and/or grimace. Why do some of us find certain things funny and others do not? Choosing plays that read well is a challenge because many of the very funny ones have to be seen.
What have you discovered along the way?
Taking risks can lead to rewarding experiences. Drama was an interest of mine, not something I knew a lot about. I took a risk in offering the first course. Rewarded by a good response from that first class, I was spurred on to trying other ideas and have benefited personally and intellectually from my 'playful' efforts.
So it seems. Let's talk about your family for a moment. Who's in this photograph, Elaine?
Elaine, her four kids and grandson Jeremy, Fall, 2010
Jeremy,third from left, is the last of my eight (six girls, two boys) grandchildren to be Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
I have made a quilt for each of them as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah present. Each quilt is different and reflects input from them about how they want it made or something related to their lives.
Perhaps another way to conclude the interview would be: find things to do when you retire, especially ones that are new to you. It's refreshing to go off in new directions (although the quilts are not new, each one of them challenged me to creative something unique to that child).
You're an inspiration, Elaine, and a wonderful teacher. Thanks so much for talking with me. It's been fun.
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BOLLI websiteJoan Brunwasser is a co-founder of Citizens for Election Reform (CER) which since 2005 existed for the sole purpose of raising the public awareness of the critical need for election reform. Our goal: to restore fair, accurate, transparent, secure elections where votes are cast in private and counted in public. Because the problems with electronic (computerized) voting systems include a lack of transparency and the ability to accurately check and authenticate the vote cast, these systems can alter election results and therefore are simply antithetical to democratic principles and functioning.
Since the pivotal 2004 Presidential election, Joan has come to see the connection between a broken election system, a dysfunctional, corporate media and a total lack of campaign finance reform. This has led her to enlarge the parameters of her writing to include interviews with whistle-blowers and articulate others who give a view quite different from that presented by the mainstream media. She also turns the spotlight on activists and ordinary folks who are striving to make a difference, to clean up and improve their corner of the world. By focusing on these intrepid individuals, she gives hope and inspiration to those who might otherwise be turned off and alienated. She also interviews people in the arts in all their variations - authors, journalists, filmmakers, actors, playwrights, and artists. Why? The bottom line: without art and inspiration, we lose one of the best parts of ourselves. And we're all in this together. If Joan can keep even one of her fellow citizens going another day, she considers her job well done.
When Joan hit one million page views, OEN Managing Editor, Meryl Ann Butler interviewed her, turning interviewer briefly into interviewee. Read the interview here.