I read this book in prepartion for a talk by Daniel Pink that the Holland Area Arts Council and other local organizations sponsored. I've been excited about hearing this author speak for about a month now as I could tell from his style of writing that it would make for an interesting visual display. Also, having read his bio on-line I knew that he was a former speech writer for Al Gore; I figured this gave him a few points in the public speaking department. I have attended lectures from other prominenet authors who were lousy speakers. Mr. Pink, thankfully, was not in that category, and lived up to my expectations by giving an interesting talk yesterday at West Ottawa's Performing Arts Center.For me, a stay-at-home mom with an engineering degree and a law degree, I found his talk personally enlighteneing. First, the stay-at-home mom part required me to think how could I possibly attend a lecture at 4:00 in the afternoon? As any parent knows this is a hard time of day, especially when you have elementary aged children as I still do. My oldest child expressed interest in the topic, my younger child has a hard time sitting still for anything. Then, of course there was the outrageous ticket price $35.00 each. Was this worth it for an eleven year old? As I began outlining the options to the younger child she decided she would rather go with me than suffer through any of the other babysitter options. Mostly because I really wanted to hear this speaker and it seems rare for Holland Michigan to host such events, I decided to make it a family affair.
Getting to the event on time was a challenge. I took daughter #2 out of school a bit early, but forgot that children this age are always hungry and failed to provide a snack. Not enough time to swing home especially with the coal train blocking the tracks forever. We were seated ready to go at 3:50. Now, the Holland part hits home, I am the only person who thought that bringing anyone under the age of 21 to this event was appropriate. To top it off, I am dressed like a mom carpooler and half of the auditorium is blocked off for business purchased seats. The guy seated next to us appears to be a pilot for United and can't let go of the Blackberry. I have an "old fashioned Blackberry"( a notepad and pen) which I try to "text message" on to keep the eleven year old interested. True to form, for the mostly business crowd, the event is delayed by folks networking who can't seem to sit down until about 4:10. Twenty minutes of answering the question, "What time is it?" During this period when it's after 4:00, I say to the eleven year old, "Look you may be uncomfortable here I can easily take you home before it starts and come back later to get your sister." No the excitement has taken hold and part of her wants to see what the grownup are up to. So we commit to Mr. Pink and
finally he is introduced and we're off!
The first comment on my paper Blackberry is " This guy looks like Danny Tanner from Full House". My response, "Yes and they are both named Dan!" We continue as I half listen, half text like the pilot next to us. Daniel Pink talks about growing up in the midwest and going to law school because it was a "good thing to do" to ensure your employability. He talks about how the world is changing and we shouldn't educate our children for our past and not their future. I'm now glad that I brought my children. The future is their world and they need to have a say in it. I want them to think toward the future. The i-pod display is particularly interesting. I would not have an i-pod or know how to use it if it weren't for my kids. They are helping me prepare for the future as well. He talks about his six abilities that matter most. It starts with design, goes on to a discussion about empathy. The eleven year old texts," What number is he on now?" She is listening!! My heart leaps. She takes her own note- "Can a computer do it faster?"
The lecture wraps up with a focus toward education and he compliments the West Ottawa School District for the beautiful facility. He says, "You would be surprise how many schools I've visited that look like they are stuck in the seventies." I'm proud to live in this district! He states that he observed the juried art show at the arts council and he hopes that some of those folks are contemplating careers in science. I couldn't have agreed more. Math and science are trump cards he says. You need to stay strong in those areas. I'm thinking about my high school aged daughter now who needs to hear that. She would love to draw and create all day long. He talks about employers who hire Georgia Tech graduates asking the college not to send"bubble headed weenies" as job applicants. This leads Georgia Tech to include other factors in their admission decisions such as giving weight to students who play a musical instrument! Having worked as an engineer for 15 years, I think well roundedness is helpful. I think back to my undergraduate days in engineering and the English Professor emphasizing to us "techies" that yes indeed we were all still human and "Humanities" matters even to engineering students. We of course, at 18, thought we didn't need to mess with any more English classes.
Now the lecture is over and my younger daughter is still laughing that Daniel Pink forgot to draw the eyebrows on his first self portrait. I'm thinking back to the book where he talks about drawing and learning to really see. One of the abilities that matter most, he calls symphony. In this section of the book, he talks about learning to see negative spaces. I remember getting the FedEx symbol and seeing the arrow in the negative space. I also remember at the end of that section, there is a Hershey Kiss with a "whimsical negative space". I didn't really see what he saw in the Hershey symbol. I promise myself to get the book out and try again. I'm glad to still be learning and I enjoyed this book and the lecture. I hope it inspires all of us to think more about how we educate our children.
Another great story on color and moods. I think this is why we all feel happier in the spring the world has more color!
A great poetry book focused on color!
A book, according to the cover, for ages 9 and up. Its focus is a child's perspective of the building of the atomic bomb. It was a wonderful historical fiction read!
Fannie Flagg is one of my favorite authors. The book spans fictional Elmwood Springs, Missouri from 1946-2000. Neighbor Dorothy runs a newsy radio show from her house complete with a Cocker Spaniel under the desk. These are characters that you don't easily forget .
