Linda Spalding
Stephen Haff is a man of enormous energy and commitment with a vision that encompasses teaching through open discussion with children who are first generation immigrants. It’s a tall order but Stephen’s vision also includes a commitment to listen and to these children, to take them seriously as thinkers. This year they are reading Don Quixote in translation and composing their own version of the story as both a musical and a comic book. This involves music composition, illustration and editing, not to mention problem solving, focusing, and the intense pleasure of group creation. Which part of the chapter we just read, Stephen asks, is going to be part of our comic? It has to be simplified, right? Yes, the children decide, and then they debate the essentials of story line. While all this is going on, there is graceful and fair social interaction: manners, patience, trust and truthfulness. And the children, age 7 to 17, are reading Cervantes! I was honored to be a guest at the Saturday class, which features writers and other creators. I read a chapter of my latest novel and it was tough going emotionally but the children were attentive and affectionate and extremely engaged. They are asked to explore meaning! They are provided the example of tolerant curiosity while doing so. In my book, they are as lucky as milk-fed kittens to have such an opportunity. May they flourish individually and collectively.