Some inspiring thoughts: Composer, music theorist, writer, teacher, and artist John Cage's "Rules" (Source)*
* UPDATE: While these Rules have often been attributed to John Cage (who valued them highly), it is now recognised that the author is Sis Corita Kent. Thanks for those who tweeted this correction.
If you find this version difficult to read, we've transcribed the essence of it here:
| Rule 1: | Find a place you trust, and then, try trusting it for a while |
|---|---|
| Rule 2: | (General Duties as a Student) Pull everything out of your teacher. Pull everything out of your fellow students. |
| Rule 3: | (General Duties as a Teacher) Pull everything out of your students. |
| Rule 4: | Consider everything an experiment. |
| Rule 5: | Be Self-Disciplined. This means finding someone wise or smart and choosing to follow them. To be disciplined is to follow in a good way. To be self-disciplined is to follow in a better way. |
| Rule 6: | Follow the leader. Nothing is a mistake. There is no win and no fail. There is only make. |
| Rule 7: | The only rule is work. If you work it will lead to something. It is the people who do all the work all the time who eventually catch onto things. You can fool the fans—but not the players. |
| Rule 8: | Do not try to create and analyze at the same time. They are different processes. |
| Rule 9: | Be happy whenever you can manage it. Enjoy yourself. It is lighter than you think. |
| Rule 10: | We are breaking all the rules, even our own rules and how do we do that? By leaving plenty of room for “x” qualities. |
Helpful Hints:
Always Be Around.
Come or go to everything.
Always go to classes.
Read everything you can get your hands on.
Look at movies carefully and often.
SAVE EVERYTHING. It may come in handy later.
How do your 'rules' help children to grow their key competencies?
Share your comments below.
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DK
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Interesting provocation when placing the concept of 'rules' in the Early Childhood context. Many of us as teachers in this sector, feel uncomforatble with the concept of Rules. And all that this may infer for us. However when I think about the level of negotiation that occures, often naturally as boys interact together, working out the 'rules' that supports their play/interactions with one another, rules are obviously a very important tool to chn play. Interesting to hear what you think
Rule no 6.Follow the leader. Nothing is a mistake. There is no win and no fail. There is only make.
I love these rules, and have reflected on them at some length. If I were to pick just one it would be, "The only rule is work. If you work it will lead to something." I mean, you have to goof off too, and you have to let the steam down… but keep coming back to the work.
I really like these however I was left feeling like something was missing "I feel like I need something more…". I wanted to add stuff like 'be passionate, challenge the status quo, love stuff and share it, be a humble but excited learner, teach others what you are good at and lastly…. work to live and try not to live to work!
Found this 'food for thought' and really liked the link to 'brain pickings' above – thanks for including. Sometimes we think we are so innovative today but great to sometimes stop and consider the innovative thought of educators of the past – love the last 'rule' 'We are breaking all the rules, even our own rules and how do we do that? By leaving plenty of room for “x” qualities'. The other day I heard the story of toddler rule breaker who when faced with the challenge of masking tape on the floor that divided a room into two areas – one for children and one for adults – he pulled up the masking tape – yay!