It must be awful being a teenager today. Too old to play with lego, too young to appreciate prog rock. We have a lot of teens in our class. Some of them are into prog rock, so the world hasn't quite gone over the edge. I don't know if they're into lego, I didn't ask.
Managing young people is a difficult job. I found that the best thing to do is "allow" them to train their way. Not run riot, or let them think they know best (which, of course, they do!) - but to let them find their own level and train for whatever reasons they have.
Some of them are very enthusiastic, technically very competent and skilful. Others like the club for socialising. But when they are given the space to get on with it, over time, each one of them has found the "groove". Last week saw some excellent training from everyone without me having to offer too much "encouragement" or "motivation"!
It's a bit like filtering water. Leave it to stand in its own time and soon the mud will settle.
The trick to progressing teens is to let them develop at their own pace. Some will go through their grades quicker than others, but that doesn't really matter. The experience of training is more important, and quite often the Dojo is a good refuge from the troubles of exams, schoolyard politics and the tribulations of growing up.
I know an instructor who was great with young people, mostly because everyone thought he was a big kid. Or was it because the young people had grown up too quickly? That would be sad.
A good philosophy is to allow everyone to experience themselves in their own nature, without imposition. (Men in suits have tried to impose themselves on nature, but it won't work and there'll be trouble. ) It's a tough philosophy, this one. We all have to learn to let go and let things be. It's for the best.
I thought I'd post some philosophical prog rock in case any of our lot are reading this!
(Listen to the lyrics...)
Saturday, January 24, 2009
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6 comments:
Supertramp have stolen Scooter's music. I hope he knows about it. =P
ROFL I hope you're joking!!!
:)
OK I know who you are!!!!!
:)
Bah,
Post some heavy metal next time.
You know who I am......
(Resident injury master + attendee of saturday sessions)
=P
Heavy metal....
OK. Now then, do you mean Motorhead, Black Sabbath et al or some nu dudes I've never heard of?
:)
(And yes, I know who *you* are too!)
Here are the lyrics to the song in the video....
When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful,
A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical.
And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily,
Joyfully, playfully watching me.
But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible,
Logical, responsible, practical.
And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable,
Clinical, intellectual, cynical.
There are times when all the worlds asleep,
The questions run too deep
For such a simple man.
Wont you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
But please tell me who I am.
Now watch what you say or they'll be calling you a radical,
Liberal, fanatical, criminal.
Wont you sign up your name, wed like to feel youre
Acceptable, respectable, presentable, a veg'table!
At night, when all the worlds asleep,
The questions run so deep
For such a simple man.
Wont you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
But please tell me who I am.
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