From the first informal note to the last emotional wrap-up, this piece is a delight. Neenah seems to find that place that we all dream about - being in the middle of a story, to gather the sound and feelings and heft of it - and yet, somehow, completely trustworthy as the objective and calm voice we listen to to guide us through the information, presented in all its variety.
But, that's too many words to say that this piece flows like a river, completely at ease with its youngest and oldest informants, introducing us to our own country in ways we've never heard or thought about.
And, gosh, it seems so effortless. But we know better.
Anybody who can should put this on the air - there's a big chunk near the beginning which will reward your listeners for listening at Christmastime, if you've got an opening right away - otherwise play it anytime in the 21st Century...
This is an extraordinary program! I enjoyed it at every level. The program took me places I'd never been, introduced me to circumstances I'd never much considered, introduced me to people who made me think (and feel) about ideas and education in new ways. And I smiled and laughed and just thoroughly enjoyed the journey.
This is really just a gorgeous piece that is full of ideas yet moves so gracefully scene to scene, building a larger story from so many small ones, so many lovely details and sounds and characters. And it's an important story. Don't be fooled that the focus on one room schools makes this something quirky and small and on the sidelines of the big questions about education. This piece is all about some of the biggest questions facing education today - small schools versus large ones, the importance of relationships and mentoring, how schools reflect and connect their communities, how the daily details and little moments are often more significant than the large movements in education reform can capture or appreciate. I recommend this program highly. I say... play this in your one hour special slot if you have one, play it/ repeat it over the holidays when you need GOOD programming to fill up your air while your staff takes a break from the daily grind.
Comments for The One-Room School in the Twenty-First Century
Produced by Neenah Ellis
Other pieces by Neenah Ellis
Rating Summary
2 comments
Steve Mencher
Posted on November 28, 2006 at 10:28 AM | Permalink
Review of The One-Room School in the Twenty-First Century
From the first informal note to the last emotional wrap-up, this piece is a delight. Neenah seems to find that place that we all dream about - being in the middle of a story, to gather the sound and feelings and heft of it - and yet, somehow, completely trustworthy as the objective and calm voice we listen to to guide us through the information, presented in all its variety.
But, that's too many words to say that this piece flows like a river, completely at ease with its youngest and oldest informants, introducing us to our own country in ways we've never heard or thought about.
And, gosh, it seems so effortless. But we know better.
Anybody who can should put this on the air - there's a big chunk near the beginning which will reward your listeners for listening at Christmastime, if you've got an opening right away - otherwise play it anytime in the 21st Century...
Emily Hanford
Posted on November 17, 2006 at 05:12 PM | Permalink
Review of The One-Room School in the Twenty-First Century
This is an extraordinary program! I enjoyed it at every level. The program took me places I'd never been, introduced me to circumstances I'd never much considered, introduced me to people who made me think (and feel) about ideas and education in new ways. And I smiled and laughed and just thoroughly enjoyed the journey.
This is really just a gorgeous piece that is full of ideas yet moves so gracefully scene to scene, building a larger story from so many small ones, so many lovely details and sounds and characters. And it's an important story. Don't be fooled that the focus on one room schools makes this something quirky and small and on the sidelines of the big questions about education. This piece is all about some of the biggest questions facing education today - small schools versus large ones, the importance of relationships and mentoring, how schools reflect and connect their communities, how the daily details and little moments are often more significant than the large movements in education reform can capture or appreciate. I recommend this program highly. I say... play this in your one hour special slot if you have one, play it/ repeat it over the holidays when you need GOOD programming to fill up your air while your staff takes a break from the daily grind.