I Color The Dolphins
at least I think that's what Knox said. Knox is student #3 in my sunday school class. He's a recent addition as of this past Sunday. He tried to join the class a couple months back, but he was still a bit young and didn't take too kindly to being separated from his mother, Fran Thompson.
So this Sunday we took a "rip it off quick" approach: Fran sat Knox down and made a mad dash for the door. He cried for about two minutes and then sat there and stared at us like we were a bunch of loons, which is a fair assesment.
Beth Steele and I decided to combine our classes for song time. We also agreed that we limit the songs we sing with the students to ones that are related to praise songs & hymns the kids are likely to sing when they grow up. Some of the kids songs are so archaic even I, a presbyterian of some 25 years, hadn't heard of them. They were also about as musically palatable as a Wagner opera, that is to say, not at all.
I gotta say, combining classes for song time was a great move. The energy is just far, far better than with just myself, Josiah, & Isabelle apart. Alone, if one child pulls a stubborn and doesn't want to sing, it pretty much kills song time. But once you get numbers going some kindof group-sing ethos takes over, where even if one student doesn't want to sing, it only lasts about 20 seconds and then he/she is swept up in it all with everyone else. This counts for particular songs that particular students don't like. And yes, my kids are just that opinionated. Josiah doesn't much dig "God is so Good" and Isabelle didn't take too well to "Jesus Loves the Little Children." In fact, she'd only sing it "Jesus Loves the Little Kitties", which, well, is likely true, but not all that helpful.
My feeling is that this is a great foundation for two important things, the first being and love for and enjoyment of the corporate singing of hymns. Of course, the OPC does it's best to make sure that any corporate singing of hymns isn't enjoyed, by enslaving our hymns to bad 18th century compositions or turn of the 20th century baptist carnival ditties (think the tune of Trust and Obey for an example: not bad, just kinda circus like). I'm thinking about bringing a guitar into song time for the future, and I'm even thinking about broaching with Beth the possibility of having the kids dance. Odds are I wont get kicked out, but odds are Cornerstone will bring down the ire of OPC huge-logs-in-the-mud. Should be fun.
Other good precedent is that of getting them to enjoy music as a group in general. At this point I might be assuming a bit too much in my role with the kids, that is, who am I to think I should encourage the kids to enjoy concerts? But given Frederick's musical abilities, and Paton's quality taste in music, I'm not sure it's out of line. It's not like I'm issuing them copies of "The Wall", but if someday it makes perfect sense to them to be rocking out The White Stripes, hey, who am I to argue? If on the same hand they get teary-eyed when they sing "Lord, With Glowing Heart I Praise Thee" or "Be Thou My Vision", I declare victory and retire.
So, today's title comes from Knox Thompson. We were coloring our own "Coats of Many Colors" when Josiah derails and decides to draw a picture of a whale. Knox then starts drawing what I guess is a dolphin and pipes up, "I Color the Dolphins." Had me in stitches. So random.
Also, I'm probably going to try to stay with this group: Knox-Isabelle-Josiah straight through to their 4th grade class. Beth Steele and I talked about it and she thinks it's a good idea. After 4th grade hormones and stuff start kicking in and honestly, I don't like adolescents and teenagers. They remind me too much of myself.
Apologies for not getting this post out yesterday.
Josiah Q. Roe | By Josiah Roe | 10:54 AM
Comments
"Apologies for not getting this post out yesterday."
NO! This must not occur again! Do you not realize that we in the blogo-sphere need these posts! I sometimes lie about, curled into a fetal position, as I wait patiently for your next post. The fuzzy glow of my screen saver is all that lights the darkness about me. Ah, but when your Sunday School post hits the web, then, and then only, do I wipe the accumulated drool from my beard and once again remember that all is well. I daresay I would take my life without the reading of these posts.
Okay, okay. Not at all so dramatic as that. But I really do enjoy these posts.
Carl
Posted by: Carl at November 23, 2004 11:52 AM
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