Good grief, 9yr olds GT teacher says 'closer to the heart' is about

[berettafan]

following your heart and that everyone has to do that whereas my son's interpretation of the song being about humanity and brotherly love was wrong.

oh and she asked my son why he picked such a short song.

the project was pick a song with poetic elements in it then answer a few questions about what elements it has and what the meaning is.

endless discussion online about the meaning behind rush lyrics can all be stopped...a 4th grade gifted and talented teacher in a town of 3,000 people has the answer.


**** me what an uphill battle school can be when you pay attention.

[DanielDudley]

Each must play his part.

I think the great thing about art is that it is open to multiple interpretations, and it can be interesting to compare and contrast. Ultimately, it is about inspiring the interpreter, and not about beating down imagination.

And of course great themes can be reinterpreted as we learn and grow, or even with our moods. I think however, that your son should follow His heart, and continue to think about art from his own unique perspective. From what I can tell, he has a good perch to gaze from.

[Baz]

Are you saying she discounted your son's interpretation?

In favor of her interpretation?

[berettafan]

Yep, she flat out said he was wrong and the correct response was what she said.

Son said she did this to nearly every kid in the class (they all chose their own songs).

My wife was beyond angry and ready to let the teacher have it but has since cooled down. We told our son the deal with art is that no one person can define what it says/means. Pretty much what Daniel said above.

As it happens the whole exercise had him paying a little more attention to lyrics in music but all that was likely dashed with her ignorant 'oh that's a short song' comment and telling him he is wrong.

[Icemaster]

Have him ask her for her interpretation of Posthuman by Marilyn Manson. She if she gets that right. But then again 'right' is probably whatever she defines it to be.

[mattdavis11]

Should have picked OPP. She's down with that.

[MRM]

Sounds like your son is today's Tom Sawyer - always hopeful, yet discontent. Just remind him that as he's fighting the good fight against repression and smothering authority, that his reserve is a quiet defense, riding out the day's events. Changes aren't permanent, but changes is. As long as he remembers that nothing that happens in high school means anything he'll be a modern day warrior and he'll catch the spirit.

[Baz]

She sounds like she's on a power trip.

Your son will be OK - because his parents stay involved with his life.

There's no escaping ignorant adults in our world.....in the end that is a lesson in and of itself.

[GWN7]

Why not write to Rush and ask them?

Their contact form is on there web site: RUSH | Official Website

The song is credited to all the members but a friend of Neil Peart helped with the lyrics (John, Micheal Talbot)

Have your son explain why he's asking and he might get a response.

[AFC-911]

I always thought Closer to the Heart was the crappiest Rush song.

[stealthn]

Tell him to change his song to "Baby got back" and the reason is it reminds him of her...

[Tervuren]

There are songs out there - that either I'm too dense to get, or they written to be VERY open to interpretation.

I think the second group is very interesting - as the song can reach out and touch a wider audience that finds an idea in the song they connect to.

As for following your own heart, Solomon said something about that, heh.

Sometimes, there are songs I like at first, then for some reason I take some words in a certain way, and suddenly don't like it anymore.

Iron Maiden's, The Longest Day would of been an interesting pic, describing the song as being about the landings at Normandy in WWII seems hard to argue with, how could she disagree?

[oldschoollear]

Ask her what 46 and 2 is about and sit back and enjoy.

following your heart and that everyone has to do that whereas my son's interpretation of the song being about humanity and brotherly love was wrong.



oh and she asked my son why he picked such a short song.



the project was pick a song with poetic elements in it then answer a few questions about what elements it has and what the meaning is.



endless discussion online about the meaning behind rush lyrics can all be stopped...a 4th grade gifted and talented teacher in a town of 3,000 people has the answer.





**** me what an uphill battle school can be when you pay attention.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

We have assumed control... We have assumed control... We have assumed control...

[IROC]

Good thing he didn't pick "Beneath, Between, Behind". She would have kicked him out of the class for being un-American.

The Trees would have been easier.

[VaSteve]

My 10th grade biology teacher played us The Trees and talked about it in the context of the lesson. He was pretty cool.

[widgeon13]

Doesn't the saying go, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Teacher is an idiot.

[71scgc]

He shoulda did "Louie,Louie"

No one knows the words to it. And it's REAL long...

Carter

[Icemaster]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

My 10th grade biology teacher played us The Trees and talked about it in the context of the lesson. He was pretty cool.

Had a HS English teacher did that with Led Zeppelin's Gallows Pole. Gave me a respect for teachers that use any means possible to pass on a lesson. Reaching kids means finding the lingua franca, aint easy. Those that do are the ones we remember.

[herr_oberst]

Hey! Teacher! Leave those kids alone!

Reminds me of a test question from one of my HS teachers:

"Water is the most natural (blank)"

There was only one correct answer.