Very interesting take on middle class smugness and conformity. I think a lot parents identify with your frustration at being lectured and told how to live your life and raise your kid.

Right on sister!!!!!!

I'm sorry about this bad experience but people like to tell you how to do things and bring up your kids even if the teachers don't call your kids ADHD. Everyone knows your kid better than you do!!!

Dear Aurore: I just posted The Rolling Stone's Mother's Little Helper for you. Hope it makes you feel better!

Yuk... what a household!!! I agree totally that knowing how to love is the most important thing. Nice piece!!!

This is splendid!!!

You said it, sis!

You're absolutely right. Our kids have been so pathologized. Childhood itself has been pathologized. Imagination, independence, strong feelings, joy itself -- they have all been pathologized. We and our children are all sicko. And people just go along with it. Dreadful.

This is wonderful. Thank you Ann Marie. You are absolutely right.

I love this!!! It's great!!! Yes you are absolutely right.

Very funny but also very thoughtful. I like every word and idea in this little piece.

Thank goodness for some sanity and thank you Ann Marie. This is a breath of fresh air.

Yesssss....!!!!!

Excellent, excellent... You are quite right.

This is the best thing I've read in a long time. Lovely too.

Bravo! I've never thought of music in your terms but, other than some of the horrid lyrics of "modern" music, I've never heard anything mean.

It's great to hear from good teachers. I'm really glad this site gives voice to good teachers. Usually you just hear all the complaints against deadbeat teachers and all the bad things happening in schools. All power to people who are trying so hard to educate our kids, no matter how hard that may be.

I really admire your attitude and patience, Mark. Most people would give up and not care any more. I read your other blog and really admire what you're doing.

This is wonderful. Good luck on your work. Your students are very lucky.

This is really cool Mr. Jackson. All power to you. Please write more.

The article by musician Mark Jackson was a welcome , thought-provoking introduction to the importance of co-operation and in more than just music.
It's a gentle nudge showing us the value, indeed necessity, of such cooperation. In addition, music plays a major role in our lives which often we do not even realize. For those of us who cannot perform in any manner, we still have the wonderful sensation of hearing, and responding to, the music that others create.

Although this influence is often subtle it is there, and we should all become more aware of the influence that it can have in so many different ways. There are tunes and rhythms for every taste. Music can be gentle and soothing, happy and gay and playful, certainly terrible (which we must look out for) and militant.

I think that music can be very good therapy for children , indeed, ll of us. It should be an important part of a child's education. It can soothe and enrich and be fun. It should be a major part of everyone's life, and beginning as soon as possible will help ANY child, and it's not too late to help adults, as well.