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SELF START. Pick up a GREEN disclosure document off the front table Silently read the disclosure document. RULES.
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SELF START • Pick up a GREEN disclosure document off the front table • Silently read the disclosure document
Well-meaning but misinformed people think animals in the wild are “happy” because they are “free”. These people usually have a large handsome predator in mind, a lion or a cheetah. They imagine this wild animal roaming about the savannah on digestive walks after eating a prey that accepted its [death]… or going for callisthenic runs to stay slim after overindulging. They imagine this animal overseeing its offspring proudly and tenderly, the whole family watching the setting of the sun from the limbs of trees with sighs of pleasure. The life of the wild animal is simple, noble and meaningful, they imagine. Then it is captured by wicked men and thrown into tiny jails. Its “happiness” is dashed. It yearns mightily for “freedom” and does all it can to escape. Being denied its “freedom” for too long, the animal becomes a shadow of itself, its spirit broken. So some people imagine. This is not the way it is. Animals in the wild lead lives of compulsion and necessity within an unforgiving social hierarchy in and environment where the supply of fear is high and the supply of food low and where territory must constantly be defended and parasites forever endured. Animals in the wild are, in practice, free neither in space nor in time… Animals are, [careful], one might even say reactionary. The smallest changes can upset them. They want things to be just so, day after day, month after month. Surprises are highly disagreeable to them… If you went to a home, kicked down the front door, chased the people who lived there out into the street and said, “Go! You are free! Free as a bird! Go! Go!” do you think they would shout and dance for joy? They wouldn’t. Birds are not free. The people you’ve just evicted would sputter, “With what right do you throw us out? This is our home. We own it. We have lived here for years. We’re calling the police, you scoundrel.” Don’t we say, “There’s no place like home?” That’s certainly what animals feel. Animals are territorial. That is the key to their minds. Only a familiar territory will allow them to fulfill the two imperatives of the wild: the avoidance of enemies and the getting of food and water. A sound zoo enclosure= whether cage, pit, moated island, corral, terrarium, aviary or aquarium- is just another territory… In a zoo, we do for animals what we have done for ourselves with houses: we bring together in a small space what in the wild is spread out. One might even argue that if an animal could choose with intelligence it would opt for living in a zoo, since the major difference between a zoo and the wild is the absence of parasites and enemies and dealing with a scarcity of food.
Well-meaning but misinformed people think students without rules are “happy” because they are “free”. The life of the free student is simple, noble and meaningful, they imagine. Then it is captured by wicked men and thrown into tiny classrooms. Its “happiness” is dashed. It yearns mightily for “freedom” and does all it can to escape. Being denied its “freedom” for too long, the student becomes a shadow of itself, its spirit broken. So some people imagine. This is not the way it is. Students without rules lead lives of compulsion and necessity within an unforgiving social order in an environment where the supply of fear is high and the supply of food low and where territory must constantly be defended and parasites forever endured. Students without rules are, in practice, free neither in space nor in time… Students are, [careful], one might even say reactionary. The smallest changes can upset them. They want things to be just so, day after day, month after month. Surprises are highly disagreeable to them… If you went to a home, kicked down the front door, chased the people who lived there out into the street and said, “Go! You are free! Free as a bird! Go! Go!” do you think they would shout and dance for joy? They wouldn’t. Birds are not free. The people you’ve just evicted would sputter, “With what right do you throw us out? This is our home. We own it. We have lived here for years. We’re calling the police, you scoundrel.” Students are territorial. That is the key to their minds. Only a familiar territory will allow them to grow and learn. A sound classroom- whether science, history, English, math, foods, or music- is just another territory… One might even argue that if a students could choose with intelligence it would opt for being in school, since the major difference between a school and being without rules is the absence of parasites and enemies and dealing with a scarcity of food.
CLASSROOM PROCEDURES WITH MRS. RALPH
DAILY ROUTINE …LET’S BREAK IT DOWN… WICKA WICKA
Grab your assignments for the day, at the bookshelves/table near the door
Every day we will have aSelf Starter- a question, picture, or anything on the board. Come in quietly and begin the self starter every day. • We’ll also have time for class business (Business Time) right after the self start: I will remind you of upcoming quizzes, events, etc.
After, that, we start the lesson. Wootwoot.
Readings/Weekly Quizzes Every week or every other week you will have a quiz. The quiz will be based on your homework readings that I assign you.
Unwelcome Materials • Food (water and gum are totally fine) • Cell phones/Ipods/electronic devices of any kind.
Hall Passes • Next week you will each get two hall passes to use for 1st term. • That’s all you get- don’t lose them. • Don’t ask to go in the middle of me talking. It’s awkward. For you and me.
Class Norms • Pencil sharpener- don’t get up and sharpen during lecture time. Just grab a new pencil if you can. (From the box on the bookshelf) • Sleeping- just don’t do it. • Chatting. Go ahead and chat (don’t be silent and awkward)- just don’t chat while I’m talking. • Whining. I super hate it. Let’s be real.
Try to listen to all instructions. I know I shouldn’t have to tell you this… BUT…
ABSENT? Check my website!!!!! • http://ralphworld9th.wordpress.com Or… I will have an absent bin for you in the classroom. You can go to the absent bin for any assignments you might be missing.
Assignment Policies • 30% any assignment that is LATE. • But it’s ok- because I have EXTRA CREDIT. • Retakes on quizzes- not tests. 20% off for a retake.
Do your best to keep track of things. Use your class folder to help you organize things for my class. • Remind 101: Text @worldralph to 801-999-0985
