Here is a letter we received from Mexico after Kris Ellingson, former student of Bob Valiant, had spent a little time on ksdcitizens.org.
I have now read through a portion of your Kennewick site, ksdcitizens.org. What a great site. Instead of responding to some of these, I will write directly to you, and you may use it or not, as you feel it would help.
Several articles caught my attention. First I should explain that I now have a B&B in the Yucatan, Mx. but along the way since moving here in 1990, I have also built and operated one of the first purified water plants out here in the rural area of the peninsula. (Coca cola put most of us small plant operators out of business, but that is another story).
Before that, I was a highschool art teacher, teaching jewelry making and ceramics; and for 22 years later, a goldsmith. I designed and made jewelry. I graduated from university with a BS degree.
I also design and build here, mostly houses. I taught husband Santiago how to weld, so we could make our own furnishings, gates, windows, etc.
My skills are rather diverse. Why did I think I could do all these things and do them well? Because I had Dr. Bob Valiant and other teachers like him, in HIGH SCHOOL, 45 years ago. Most of the skills I have, and the knowledge that I use in everything I do, I learned in a small highschool in rural eastern Oregon, not in the University. Although I graduated very high up the list in college, my real skills came from highschool, and one class in college: basic design with Don Duncan.
What Valiant and the others taught was the whole program, not just passing a test. Yes, I still remember what pi is, 3.141617 if I am remembering correctly. And yes, I have been “teaching” for years down here, mostly science and math in anything but a formal setting, but everything else too. How to apply what you already know to the real world, and how to learn what else may be of benefit to you as you go through life. And how to have enough self-confidence to be able to change your direction and be successful at it.
I liked very much what Wendy London had to say, in her comments about “college isn’t necessary for everyone”. If you have a well formed mind, some creativity, enthusiasm and interest, you have a freedom of spirit to explore the world that is extremely satisfying and challenging.
But if the schools drop every kind of art projects, or vocational skills programs, and concentrate on just passing tests and reading and math skills, the nation is going to be in a bad way. Certainly students need reading ability, and basic math skills, but not to the exclusion of everything else. “The highest proportion of college graduates in the world”… I hope someone is going to be there to fix the cars, the plumbing, the refrigerators and washing machines, the DVD’s and computers, and farm for all these geniuses. And I hope someone will still be there to create. Art is just simply creating. So is building a computer program.
We had a guest here this morning. He had a flat tire. Husband Santiago finally had to go help him. I overheard Santiago later telling the girls on staff: this man may be a doctor, or a professor, or an engineer, but if he can’t change a tire because he can’t use the jack correctly, how will he get anywhere?
Kris
