What Do You Think?
A Guide for the Teacher in All of Us
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One of the highlights of the school year was the annual production of a musical. The entire school got behind this effort. The community looked forward to our performances. A large number of students would commit to a huge amount of time rehearsing in order to prepare the show. It was a group effort with many very positive outcomes. During production week, rehearsals would begin at 6:00pm and last until……well if you've ever been involved in production week, you know that time varies greatly! I arrived at the Arts Center for the evening's rehearsal the same time as most of the students were arriving. I walked in with one of the cast members who had just gotten out of an old BMW 318i. Cars are one of my passions so as we walked I commented on her car. "Nice Bimmer (car guy for BMW)" I remarked. She looked at me, wrinkled up her nose and said, "What! My car is ugly!" We started talking about her car. I shared my vision of what an old, somewhat neglected car can look like after some restoration. I told her of the quality of the BMW nameplate. The reputation German engineering had established for their cars. I explained even though it was an older car, some of the older models were better than the new ones. We walked back and I showed her that all the car needed was a thorough cleaning, wax job, and vacuum and it would look great. With a little paint and upholstery work, it would look brand new. "I would love to add your car to my collection" I told her. With that, her view and attitude about her "ugly car" began to change. She began to see the car in a different light. I explained to her that my view of student is the same. All students come to us as the "ugly Bimmers". Some will need a lot of paint and upholstery and some will need polished, but inside is a great car wanting to shine and be noticed. Some will need minor work; polish and maintenance. Some will need constant service, and some may need a complete overhaul. We need to see the potential in all of our students and be willing to spend some time to bring back the shine.
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About the Book
In the not-so-distant past, schools succeeded in teaching students the lessons they needed to survive. They taught students subject matter and manners. They taught respect and responsibility. They had discipline. They made learning fun. They gave one standardized test, which was not tied to school performance or funding—it was to measure student achievement. Teachers taught a curriculum, not “the test.” They propelled the United States to the forefront of education. All this—and time for recess! What Do You Think? will inspire and enhance the following: —Perspective —Compassion —Respect —Attitude —Passion —Joy for the day Through the eyes of a music teacher with thirty-three years experience, Joseph Olivieri shares stories and ideas so parents, grandparents, legislators, teachers, administrators, or students learn the importance of their roles as teachers in everyday life. What do you think?
About the Author
Joseph Olivieri has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master’s Degree in Music Education and Conducting from the University of Colorado Boulder. He has taught students from kindergarten through college and has conducted musicians from the ages of 5 to 85. He retired after thirty years of public school teaching and is currently a teacher and administrator in an independent school. Besides music, he has a passion for restoring neglected cars. He and his wife, Bonnie, live in New Bern, North Carolina.