Calvin and Hobbes
I had read one time that Bill Watterson, the creator of the comic strip "Calvin and Hobbes," had named his characters after the theologian John Calvin and political theorist Thomas Hobbes. It does not seem likely that there was any defining characteristic shared between the noted historical characters and the comic strip boy and tiger.
Both John Calvin and Thomas Hobbes, at least in their writings, were not known for their humor. Their take on the topics of theology and politics were quite serious and somber. I think it is safe to say that neither men would have been nominated for the "Class Clown" recognition in their respective high schools' yearbooks.
Although John Calvin might have been voted "Most Scholarly" as he was nicknamed by fellow Reformer Philip Melancthon "The Theologian." Thomas Hobbes is best known for his work Leviathan and quote within this work "The life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." Based on this quote it is hardly likely that Hobbes was a teenage free spirit and clown. Although, his quote could describe life for some high school and middle school students. I have found very few people who had a great time in middle school (or, as it was called in my time of growing up, junior high).
My brother Matt send me an article based on a exceedingly rare and recent interview on the reclusive Bill Watterson. When Watterson quit the strip, he was still on top of the comic world. Unlike an athlete or actor who keeps trying to regain prior glory by comeback after comeback (Ali, Jordan, etc.) when it is clear that the time for being a shining star has fallen, Watterson--despite his conflicts with the newspaper on formatting issues and his Syndicate--was still on top of his game. And, he put down his pen and pushed away from his drawing table.
I was sad when he retired. For years, I had cut out his "best" Sunday strips, which were in color, and had them laminated. They looked like place-mats for meals. Then, as part of my early bachelorhood decorating style, I taped them to my kitchen wall. Soon, I had a ten by eight foot collage of the finest Calvin and Hobbes. After moving, and getting married, I believe I tossed them all, although they could be buried in the basement in a box.
My brother also included a link for this Calvin and Hobbes comic. In reference to this comic's point, the use (really overuse and abuse) of Ritalin (and like drugs) tells us more about the problems in the American educational system than the children, mostly boys, themselves. We force energetic boys to sit at desks and act like girls and be social and cooperative. To top it all off, we take away their recess, the one time of day that they can blow off steam and energy--so that they can work at improving their scores on state tests.
And, if these boys act up, we drug them into compliance. Few people really seem to be asking the critical questions of why such medicated children are in such high numbers. As an educator willing to ask the hard question, I propose that we look to changing more the structure of such kids educational and classroom experience rather than merely medicating them to fit their square peg into the round hole of the system. By taking these kids edges off, we are often diminishing who God made them to be. Vocational and technical education--hands on and active--has fallen on disfavor in the U.S. We need to bring it back. Not all kids are book learners, and neither should we force them to be. Some of these students also come from chaotic or over controlling homes. Their disability often has what are termed environmental influences and/or causes.
Another issue this Calvin and Hobbes comic speaks to is the loss of childhood and the reality of the demands of adulthood crashing in on Calvin. Kids these days are forced to grow up quick. Parents may either control most aspects of their lives through "adultified" activities like soccer leagues for five year olds with coaches, uniforms, and the like and, even getting into the "right" Pre-School. Or, kids maybe left to fend for themselves emotionally, psychologically, and physically, because parents are out doing whatever they want to do (basically, adults acting like children). When children are not allowed to be kids, don't be surprised when they are adults, if they never really have grown up. They long for a childhood that never was, innocence ruined by parental over-attention and control and/or abuse, indifference, and neglect.
Parents need to be in their kids world...but leave some space. But not too much. Enough. There are great parents. They know the balance. But, don't equate great with perfect. Only the good Lord is perfect.
Both John Calvin and Thomas Hobbes, at least in their writings, were not known for their humor. Their take on the topics of theology and politics were quite serious and somber. I think it is safe to say that neither men would have been nominated for the "Class Clown" recognition in their respective high schools' yearbooks.
Although John Calvin might have been voted "Most Scholarly" as he was nicknamed by fellow Reformer Philip Melancthon "The Theologian." Thomas Hobbes is best known for his work Leviathan and quote within this work "The life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." Based on this quote it is hardly likely that Hobbes was a teenage free spirit and clown. Although, his quote could describe life for some high school and middle school students. I have found very few people who had a great time in middle school (or, as it was called in my time of growing up, junior high).
My brother Matt send me an article based on a exceedingly rare and recent interview on the reclusive Bill Watterson. When Watterson quit the strip, he was still on top of the comic world. Unlike an athlete or actor who keeps trying to regain prior glory by comeback after comeback (Ali, Jordan, etc.) when it is clear that the time for being a shining star has fallen, Watterson--despite his conflicts with the newspaper on formatting issues and his Syndicate--was still on top of his game. And, he put down his pen and pushed away from his drawing table.
I was sad when he retired. For years, I had cut out his "best" Sunday strips, which were in color, and had them laminated. They looked like place-mats for meals. Then, as part of my early bachelorhood decorating style, I taped them to my kitchen wall. Soon, I had a ten by eight foot collage of the finest Calvin and Hobbes. After moving, and getting married, I believe I tossed them all, although they could be buried in the basement in a box.
My brother also included a link for this Calvin and Hobbes comic. In reference to this comic's point, the use (really overuse and abuse) of Ritalin (and like drugs) tells us more about the problems in the American educational system than the children, mostly boys, themselves. We force energetic boys to sit at desks and act like girls and be social and cooperative. To top it all off, we take away their recess, the one time of day that they can blow off steam and energy--so that they can work at improving their scores on state tests.
And, if these boys act up, we drug them into compliance. Few people really seem to be asking the critical questions of why such medicated children are in such high numbers. As an educator willing to ask the hard question, I propose that we look to changing more the structure of such kids educational and classroom experience rather than merely medicating them to fit their square peg into the round hole of the system. By taking these kids edges off, we are often diminishing who God made them to be. Vocational and technical education--hands on and active--has fallen on disfavor in the U.S. We need to bring it back. Not all kids are book learners, and neither should we force them to be. Some of these students also come from chaotic or over controlling homes. Their disability often has what are termed environmental influences and/or causes.
Another issue this Calvin and Hobbes comic speaks to is the loss of childhood and the reality of the demands of adulthood crashing in on Calvin. Kids these days are forced to grow up quick. Parents may either control most aspects of their lives through "adultified" activities like soccer leagues for five year olds with coaches, uniforms, and the like and, even getting into the "right" Pre-School. Or, kids maybe left to fend for themselves emotionally, psychologically, and physically, because parents are out doing whatever they want to do (basically, adults acting like children). When children are not allowed to be kids, don't be surprised when they are adults, if they never really have grown up. They long for a childhood that never was, innocence ruined by parental over-attention and control and/or abuse, indifference, and neglect.
Parents need to be in their kids world...but leave some space. But not too much. Enough. There are great parents. They know the balance. But, don't equate great with perfect. Only the good Lord is perfect.
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