Comments on: Animal School Movie

By: JKR

JKR — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:27:37 +0000

Amen, Kathie. Well said!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 18:29:07 +0000

I showed this video to my third-grade classroom to talk about fair not always being equal in the classroom. I read aloud the script as the students watched and read along. It sparked an amazing discussion about teaching and learning in our classroom. I could just feel our classroom climate change during this valuable time in discussion!

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:59:45 +0000

I wish My parents had cared enough to even think about this from the beginning.. I still struggle with school, I was taken out on and off so many times eventually it was hard to see it as important because so many other things were happening in my life. Believe it or not, but yes a child can go through enough to feel that way. In my parents eyes, school is most important now, but it’s still all about them. They don’t understand very much about me. I’m constantly telling people about things I feel interesting just because I feel a need to share it with them so they have something to go off of. But who I am? They’re completely lost, they can not see past themselves. I know this, and my schooling, is all to their benefit not my own. They are both very self focused and very self pleasing.

By: Alison Lundgren

Alison Lundgren — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:41:31 +0000

I love this video and have watched it many times over the years. As with anything, every individual percieves things differently. As the parent of a child with fluctuating mental health issues, this video helps me remember that while there are a lot of challenges, especially with school, my daughter also has many strengths and gifts that people who are focused on her difficulties will never have the opportunity to experience. Every child is unique and “do well if they can” but some simply do not have the skill set for certain things and need support while they may excel at others.

By: Tamara

Tamara — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:15:25 +0000

Certainly many children can and do succeed at school. But as the parent of three children with varying degrees of special needs, this video really spoke to me. I have worked intensively and extensively with each child, and I am in close contact with their teachers, yet they still struggle. Although the teachers are concerned and supportive, the subliminal (or maybe not so subliminal) message of school far too often is that there is only one “right” way to succeed, which is a far cry from reality. I have made a point of trying to expose my children to successful, self-supporting adults who have not followed a traditional career path (some of whom have the same disabilities as my kids) in order to show them that what may be a “negative” in the school environment can actually become a positive in world at large. And for me, that is the whole point of this video.

By: joel

joel — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:36:12 +0000

youtube has, I believe, illegal (and hard to see) copies of this video…

Joel

By: joel

joel — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 03:33:00 +0000

I think the point with the duck is to not just “work extra” on weak areas. But work hard on the stregths also…. That will be the childs advantage in life, the strengths… Take advantage of advantage you have, that is also what makes us different.

By: Erin Philleo

Erin Philleo — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:30:17 +0000

Thanks! Can you tell me his name? Perhaps he is published somewhere.

By: Ellen C. Braun

Ellen C. Braun — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:14:25 +0000

Hi, I wish I could help, however the composer’s site has been down for a few years and I have not been able to make contact with him. I’ll contact you if that changes; it is a beautiful piano piece!

By: Erin Philleo

Erin Philleo — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:10:13 +0000

Sorry to be a little off topic, but I am a private piano instructor, and a student of mine saw this video and loved the piano music. Can you please tell me who the composer is so I can buy the sheet music for her?
Thanks!

By: Ellen C. Braun

Ellen C. Braun — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:39:46 +0000

Hi Joanna, here you go: http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/animal-school-text.html

By: Joanna

Joanna — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:12:43 +0000

I wanted to use the words to the animal school video in my classroom. Do you have a printed version available?

By: Ellen C. Braun

Ellen C. Braun — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:46:55 +0000

Copyright rules only allow you to post a link to RaisingSmallSouls’ video- not to grab the video and post it elsewhere, sorry about that.

By: Ellen C. Braun

Ellen C. Braun — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:46:14 +0000

Sure, Emily, here is the link to purchase it- http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/catalog.html

By: Emily

Emily — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:32:45 +0000

I would like to post your “animal school video” on my facebook page. Is there anyway to do that?

By: Leah

Leah — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:53:38 +0000

It was stated, “Is it good for someone to be skilled at math and barely able to read and write? I don’t think so.”

Don’t read more into this story than was intended.

A duck CAN’T climb, etc. Only a few people can’t learn to read and write, but some can read better than others.

The point is that we all have different abilities. Every child in America won’t be average. It’s impossible. Think about it. What does ‘average’ mean?!

I homeschooled my children until they went to college. One of them would have been labeled special ed because he didn’t learn to read until he was 10yo, BUT he built his first computer less than 2 yrs later. If he’d been in a regular school, he’d never excelled as he did. (And he’s now got a 3.7 GPA in college!)

I’m now teaching in a small private school and am saddened by the children who have trouble adapting to it all, when they would do so much better at home, as my son did. I do the best I can, but there’s only so much I can do. I feel like my hands are tied.

This is a great story, just don’t read too much into it. We aren’t animals.

By: Nic Askew

Nic Askew — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:12:17 +0000

‘animal school’

The animals sat in a circle.
A frog and a dog. A cat and a mouse.

And assorted friends of different sizes.
The small girl spoke excitedly as her well loved
collection of toys faced one another.

‘They’re at school. Night school’ she laughed.

‘They’re learning how to read & to write, and
to pour tea for each other. And to grow
peas. And to make useful things.

And the dog is trying to love the cat, and the mouse
is trying to love the snake. Even though he hasn’t got any legs,
and can be a bit grumpy in the morning.

And then they’re all going to learn how to dance
and to sing. Together. And to make each
other laugh, and be happy.’

And as the possibility of such a school lived in her
imagination, its probability lived in the world.

from Soul Biographies ‘Short Words Series’

By: Heather

Heather — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:30:32 +0000

This video was very thought provoking, and kind of depressing. It paints a picture of a school system that works for no one. Are there any animals that can succeed at running, climbing, flying, and swimming? Is there no way for concerned educators and parents to help children who are struggling in one subject or another? I knew plenty of very successful students growing up who thrived in the public school setting, and have been pleased with my own children’s public school education although not everything has been ideal. I think that public schools have made a lot of progress in recognizing individuals’ needs in recent years. This video reminds me of the attitude of parents who expect public schools to take over their God-given responsibility to provide their children with the best life experiences to help them strive in any environment. I see school as a great chance for my kids to learn how to deal with other people and be part of a group, learn and practice basic skills, and I am grateful when dedicated teachers do reach out to my kids, but I still feel that the buck stops with me and my husband when it comes to their education, and we participate in many educationally enriching activities at home. For example, I taught my kids how to read before kindergarten like my parents did with me, and am shocked when I hear parents complain that the school still hasn’t taught their child to read. This attitude of “the school failed my child” is like blaming McDonald’s for America’s obesity epidemic. When my kids are struggling with something in school I feel that it is my responsibility to help them practice it at home and put the time in that the public school teacher obviously does not have for each child. Maybe the point of the video is that without actively concerned parents, no child can succeed in public school. I agree that parental support is very important, but there are some talented kids out there who are good at “running, climbing, flying, and swimming” even without the support of their parents. I am glad that I had to take all the basic subjects and was able to do well in them, and I do think it is good for everyone to take all the subjects even if it is not their strong suit.

And what about that fish? Didn’t he get an A in swimming?

By: ChrisB

ChrisB — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:02:18 +0000

I’m just curious if the student who’s great at math but not at English should be allowed to fail at English. That seems to be the point of the video.

Is it good for someone to be skilled at math and barely able to read and write? I don’t think so.

By: Sherry

Sherry — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:18:13 +0000

I found this video very touching and powerfully put indeed. It reminded me that I am doing fine as a homeschooling Mom as well. I have a hard-of-hearing daughter that struggles with many subjects but she loves to read and she loves to sew. Both of those I have let her excel at, and have allowed her to go to classes to advance her sewing. We still work on the other subjects but I don’t push, or prod past what she’s able in those areas. Anyhow, this movie was good and moved me to tears. Thank you for the reminder that each of my kids is special and entirely different from the rest.

By: Jane Black

Jane Black — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:57:20 +0000

Dear Ellen,
Last year at our opening Staff meeting, I had the honoured job of reading the Animal School words as the first ‘Moment of Sharing’ for our 2008-2009 school year….many thank yous for sparking conversation, stimulating much discussion and a perfect story that I discovered to begin our school year…for the children!
JBB

By: Tami

Tami — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:56:23 +0000

Thank you so much for this video. I hope that all who see it will read through the other reviews so that they can see the broad range of perspectives before taking offense. We all know that there are some, like the fish, that cannot thrive or even survive in General Ed. There are the exceptions like the bee. But the exceptions cannot and should not make it the rule.

By: Nichole

Nichole — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:02:18 +0000

This is exactly how I interpreted the fish portion. I sort of think of those who have special needs who are able to function and thrive in the classroom as a bee also. One who is ‘measured’ and ‘tested’ but moves on anyway. Perhaps I interpreted it wrongly, but I was very inspired by this.

By: Chicago

Chicago — Thu, 21 May 2009 01:05:25 +0000

*I posted this higher up on the thread, not realising I could simply post down here.
So a repost, if you will.*

I was a fish when I was in school. For years, the “experts” insisted inclusion was in my best interests. I was a very bright girl, with behavior/emotional disorders in the late ’70’s and into the ’80’s. It was a screaming disaster! I spent most of my time in the hall or the office, doing my school work alone. I was unable to cope with the crowded classroom, and would frequently become overwhelmed. This manifested either in acting out, or simply sitting at my desk weeping.

Finally, I was placed in a full program special ed placement. I went from a girl who hated school, to president of the Student Council in high school. What a relief it was to me to finally be with other children who needed help coping, without the stigma of “special help” that a resource room brought.

I went on to a successful life, only because I was given the help I needed.

Maybe your child can benefit from inclusion. This fish could not despite years of misguided attempts. Not all disabilities are the same

By: Chicago

Chicago — Wed, 20 May 2009 03:28:45 +0000

I was a fish when I was in school. For years, the “experts” insisted inclusion was in my best interests. I was a very bright girl, with behavior/emotional disorders in the late ’70′s and into the ’80′s. It was a screaming disaster! I spent most of my time in the hall or the office, doing my school work alone. I was unable to cope with the crowded classroom, and would frequently become overwhelmed. This manifested either in acting out, or simply sitting at my desk weeping.

I went on to a successful life, only because I was given the help I needed.

Maybe your child can benefit from inclusion. This fish could not despite years of misguided attempts. Not all disabilities are the same.