Open Letter to Mr. Vedder

[MarylandTeacher]

That's the way to get kids exited about learning! I have 2 sons in middle school and a daughter in high school who would be thrilled with that assignment. Keep up the good work!

oceanflower,

The kids do seem to be interested in the subject matter. Many can relate to the pain in Black because many of them have suffered some form of loss: parent leaving, death of a loved one, etc.

They actually whined again today when I took the lyrics back from them (before we had completed the song). I haven't let them read the final stanza. It's part of a reading/predicting/reaction teaching style that I use. They are hungry for more....can you imagine what will happen when I actully allow them to hear a "reading" of the poem "Black?"

Keep your fingers crossed,

Mr. Bruno

[MarylandTeacher]

my god how i would have loved to have a teacher like you.....
great work.

btw - dumb question from a non-American; what age are we talking about when speaking of 8th grade..?

8th grade ranges from 13 to 15 years old. Most are around 14.

And you're question was not dumb. : )

Mr. Bruno

[MarylandTeacher]

whoa if i would of had one teacher like your self i would of been extremly lucky i hope your students realize this if not now then in the future that they were fortunate to have a teacher like your self ,i wish my 2 kids get to be taught by someone as yourself keep up the great work.....

josevolution,

Thanks for your kind words. Teaching means the world to me. It's worth the long hours, the prep-time, and the frazzled nerves. This kind of feedback refuels me.

I only hope that PJ will see this and answer the question that has my classes burning: What inspired Eddie to write "Black?"

[MarylandTeacher]

Great stuff. I often use my English Language "skills" to analyse songs like that. Keep up the good work.

Mike_Muse_Rage,

It sounds like we are cut from a similar cloth. When I actually started looking at the lyrics of songs, a whole new world opened up to me. I can only hope that my students will do the same with other songs, books, and the world around them.

I want them to question and learn from everything!

Mr. Bruno

[OneLove]

Mr. Bruno, I can only hope that I will be half of the teacher that you are
Inspiring dosn't even begin to describe your post!

I was in the 8th grade when that song came out (or around that age, anyway), I remember how comforting that song was the first time I heard it. There was something about that album, the age I was, and feeling so uplifted and understood in a way that no one else could offer me at that time. To this day I can still listen to many pearl jam songs, through more experienced eyes (or ears, I suppose), and find new complexities within the lyrics that give me an even deeper appreciation of the song, and why all those years ago it "clicked" the first time I heard it.

It is amazing to me that you have been able to enlighten and connect with your students in such a meaningful way. The world needs many more people like you out there~ hats off to you.

As I was reading your post & repsonses, I thought about a CD that I picked up about a year ago rather randomly. It is a string quartet tribute to pearl jam. Release is one of the songs on the album, and although it is not performed by pearl jam, the music has a way of capturing the mood of the song beautifully. I remember when I heard that particular cut the first time, it gave me chills all over again. Perhaps the relationship of the words, the song, and the music without words would be an interesting thing to explore
Just a thought~

Thank you for your post. You are an inspiration!

Heather

[MarylandTeacher]

[quote="chadwick"]I am speechless after reading about your 8th grade classes.
As well as i am speechless to you as a teacher and a human-being.
You are without a dought one great inspirational teacher, human-being.
May your students be led down a floral path of beauty with you as their
gifted immaculate guide.
As i read your thread i could have cried, i actually probably should have.
But i was reading aloud so i could share this story with my mom.
So i held back a few tears.
How i wish you were in my life when i was an 8th grader.
For me 8th grade is when i started smoking pot and partying.
This led my life into many long years of nothingness.


Chadwick,

Thank you for your words. Initially, I hesitated to post my analysis. I wasn't sure how it would be received. I'm glad that I did.

Art is what happens when we allow ourselves to feel. When we summon the courage needed to confront those emotions, and if we have the strength to put them on paper, then we embrace our humanity. Where do you think "Black" came from?

Don't hold 'em back.

Mr. Bruno

[MarylandTeacher]

Wow that was incredible! Good work analyzing all of that and putting it into such good words! I remember for a juxtaposition project in English 12 I decided to use the song Black, it's just absolutely incredible in terms of symbolism and metaphors and all of those literary terms. It was the first review of a poem where I got an A, it just had so much to write about and everything. Too bad I never had a teacher like you for that though, I'm really jealous of your students. Keep up the awesome work, and maybe some of them will be converted into major Pearl Jam fans!

canuck_rocker,

You're right on the money. "Black" is rich with imagery, metaphors, and symbolsim. It's a great work.

Quite a few bloggers have mentioned that they wish that they had had a teacher like me. Hearing that is gold to my ears. Thanks.

And yes, I do hope that a few students will become PJ fans! : ) I have already had a few students download "Black" after we discussed it in class. I can only hope that I have inspired them.

Mr. Bruno

[MarylandTeacher]

Its a song off Yield....(the best PJ album)

I'll have to check out Yield. : )

Thanks for the tip,

Mr. Bruno

[MarylandTeacher]

October22,

Thanks! : )

Mr. Bruno

[MarylandTeacher]

Mr. Bruno, I can only hope that I will be half of the teacher that you are
Inspiring dosn't even begin to describe your post!

I was in the 8th grade when that song came out (or around that age, anyway), I remember how comforting that song was the first time I heard it. There was something about that album, the age I was, and feeling so uplifted and understood in a way that no one else could offer me at that time. To this day I can still listen to many pearl jam songs, through more experienced eyes (or ears, I suppose), and find new complexities within the lyrics that give me an even deeper appreciation of the song, and why all those years ago it "clicked" the first time I heard it.

It is amazing to me that you have been able to enlighten and connect with your students in such a meaningful way. The world needs many more people like you out there~ hats off to you.

As I was reading your post & repsonses, I thought about a CD that I picked up about a year ago rather randomly. It is a string quartet tribute to pearl jam. Release is one of the songs on the album, and although it is not performed by pearl jam, the music has a way of capturing the mood of the song beautifully. I remember when I heard that particular cut the first time, it gave me chills all over again. Perhaps the relationship of the words, the song, and the music without words would be an interesting thing to explore
Just a thought~

Thank you for your post. You are an inspiration!

Heather

Heather,

Follow your heart. I did. I suspect that you will, too. Teaching is a calling. You know it deep in your bones when it is right for you.

I was older than the 8th grade when Black was released. I think that PJ struck a chord with the American public when they released "Black." I want my students to connect to that as well. I want them to stand back in slack-jawed awe when "Sheets of empty canvass, untouched sheets of clay" pours from the speakers. I want them to take it all in, savoring every note, every heart-wrenching metaphor, and every agonizing symbol. In short, I want to awaken them to the universe that is Art, Music, and Literature (they all connect at some point...and, if we are lucky, we can catch a glimpse of what they offer us).

Perhaps, if I am lucky, then they will see themselves in the lyrics.

Keep your fingers crossed,

Mr. Bruno

[ledbetteroregon]

i know that you really want an answer to where black came from. I always look for that in the songs i love. A lot of Pearl Jam songs can be referenced back to something, but then there are a lot where they are up for grabs. But sometimes during interviews, during concerts, etc, Eddie will give us an explanation or an insight into a song. example, corduory, dissident, betterman, etc. But as far as i know, i've never seen a quote from any of the band members specifically about Black. It just seems like one of those emotional experiences in life that you don't really want to explain in detail.

[MarylandTeacher]

i know that you really want an answer to where black came from. I always look for that in the songs i love. A lot of Pearl Jam songs can be referenced back to something, but then there are a lot where they are up for grabs. But sometimes during interviews, during concerts, etc, Eddie will give us an explanation or an insight into a song. example, corduory, dissident, betterman, etc. But as far as i know, i've never seen a quote from any of the band members specifically about Black. It just seems like one of those emotional experiences in life that you don't really want to explain in detail.

edbetteroregon,

I'm not looking to corner band members. My students, both young and inquisitive, are just looking for answers. They want to know the fuel behind Eddie's fire. My suspicions are that "Black" was fueled by the hurt felt after a bad break up. That's my two-cents worth.

That, and my school just wants a post card/phone call from the band. : )

Mr. Bruno

[ledbetteroregon]

edbetteroregon,

I'm not looking to corner band members. My students, both young and inquisitive, are just looking for answers. They want to know the fuel behind Eddie's fire. My suspicions are that "Black" was fueled by the hurt felt after a bad break up. That's my two-cents worth.

That, and my school just wants a post card/phone call from the band. : )

Mr. Bruno

Thats what i think its about too and i'm sure that's what most listeners get out of it as well. That would be awesome if you do get some type of response from someone associated with the band. keep us posted on this all.

[PJSEMPRE]

I hope Ed Vedder contacts your school.
Good lucky!

[share]

Mr Bruno

you have to keep going

present tense!! - one of the most beautiful poems ever written that happens to be a pearl jam song


do you see the way that tree bends?
does it inspire?
leaning out to catch the sun's rays
a lesson to be applied
are you getting something out of this all encompassing trip?

you can spend your time alone, redigesting past regrets, oh
or you can come to terms and realize
you're the only one who can't forgive yourself, oh
makes much more sense to live in the present tense

have you ideas on how this life ends?
checked your hands and studied the lines
have you the belief that the road ahead ascends off into the light?
seems that needlessly it's getting harder
to find an approach and a way to live
are we getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?

you can spend your time alone redigesting past regrets, oh
or you can come to terms and realize
you're the only one who cannot forgive yourself, oh
makes much more sense to live in the present tense


personally I'm amazed at how people underestimate the depth of kids that age

13 & 14 year olds are brilliant and insightful and open and very very deep - it's a great age - I've got my artwork and writings from that age - I almost wish I could go back and tap some of that unjaded creativity