learning or competing?

Tulisan dibawah ini diambil dari Lifesigns: Intimacy, Fecundicity, and Ecstasy in Christian Perspective by Henri J.M. Nouwen.

"My own experience is limited to universities. One of the saddest aspect of the lives of many students is that they always feel pressured. The irony is that those who have the luxury of spending time reading the great books of our culture and exploring the intricate beauty of creation find themselves always fighting deadlines. Students complain about the number of pages they have to read or write, and anxiously wonder how they will finish their many assignments on time.

The word "school", which comes from "schola" (meaning: free time), reminds us that schools were originally meant to interrupt a busy existence and create some space to contemplate the mysteries of life. Today they have become the arena for a hectic race to accomplish as much as possible, and to acquire in a short period the necessary tools to survive the great battle of human life. Books written to be savored slowly are read hastily to fulfill a requirement, paintings made to be seen with a contemplative eye are taken in as part of a necessary art appreciation course, and music composed to be enjoyed at leisure is listened to in order to identify a period or style. Thus, colleges and universities meant to be places for quiet learning have become places of fierce competition, in which the rewards go to those who produce the most and the best."

Tulisan tersebut tidak ditulis dalam konteks homeschooling, tetapi sangat tepat mengekspresikan perasaanku ketika belajar di sekolah dulu. Sekolah menjadi tempat untuk mendapat setumpuk PR, membuat tugas, mengerjakan soal-soal ujian, dan berbagai kegiatan lain yang akan ditukar dengan kumpulan angka dalam buku rapor. Yang paling parah, kumpulan angka itu akan menentukan peringkatku diantara teman-teman sekelas. Tidak mau menjadi yang terbelakang otomatis menjadi alasan untuk belajar, terlebih ada iming-iming hadiah jika menjadi yang nomor satu. Apakah itu cara untuk melengkapi diriku dengan perlengkapan untuk hidup dalam masyarakat? Apakah hidup ini sebuah kompetisi?

Aku hanya berharap anak-anak dapat membaca buku, bermain, belajar, dan mengeksplorasi kehidupan sesuka hati mereka tanpa harus dipusingkan dengan nilai atau peringkat di kelas.

Belajar seharusnya menjadi hak mereka, bukan kewajiban.

chrysiridia rhipheus

Beautiful sunset moth. I actually gasped in awe when I saw the pictures.

The caterpillar and The Very Hungry Caterpillar brought me to Eric Carle's website, and one of the FAQ questions about chrysalis and cocoon prompted me to do a bit of research on butterflies and moths in Wikipedia.

Internet is really cool.

Oh, and I stumbled upon Encyclopedia of Life a few days ago. I've started to bookmarks these kind of sites for the future when inquisitive Jove start asking me questions. Err, but after another thought, why should I bother when I can ask him to google for answers himself?

caterpillar on the flower

We found this caterpillar two days ago. It was sitting on a leaf in my neighbor's pink flower plant when I took Jove out to breathe in some fresh air.


I took a picture of it this morning. We visited the caterpillar often during the two days. But this afternoon, it was missing. This evening, when we waited for daddy outside, Jove said that the caterpillar was sleeping being cradled by his mother. I was quite disappointed when I found it gone. I was hoping to see its metamorphosis into a beautiful butterfly.

Thanks to you, La, for The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Jove asked me to read the book to him after each visit to the caterpillar.

on having children

I currently re-read Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. If you have not read it, go and find one. It's a good book about life's greatest lesson. Anyway, I stumbled upon this today:

"Whenever people ask me about having children or not having children, I never tell them what to do," Morrie said now, looking at a photo of his oldest son. "I simply say, 'There is no experience like having children.' That's all. There is no substitute for it. You cannot do it with a friend. You cannot do it with a lover. If you want the experience of having complete responsibility for another human being, and to learn how to love and bond in the deepest way, then you should have children."

From chapter: The Fifth Tuesday - We Talk About Family

The first time I read this book was long ago in my university days, I was not a parent yet. Now that I am one, I am touched in a new way by this chapter on family.

Being parent is indeed a special experience. Morrie put it fittingly in those lines.

another rainy night

It's raining outside now. I love it when it rains (especially if I'm safely inside my room, reading).

Have been reading my old books, and want to share this:

"... God spoiled humans a bit, because He created far too much at the same time. He created so many strage things to look at that many people don't see God. But that's how He managed to hide Himself too. He wouldn't have been able to do that if only four people, three trees, two sheep, and eight camels existed in the whole of creation. If only one fish could be found in the sea, people would probably have noticed how perfect it was. And then they might have started asking who had made it." - Jostein Gaarder (The Christmas Mystery)

reading picture book

He smiled when being talked to, held his head steady for a longer time, and actually paid attention when we read picture book together!

would you choose to live?

i love reading jostein gaarder's. just finished the orange girl. read it, and ask yourself the questions.