PEACE
Joy and Fun
Joy is defined as follows: “Excitement of pleasurable feeling caused by the acquisition or expectation of good; exhilaration of spirits.” One of Beethoven's most famous song titles from his Symphony No. 9 (The Choral Symphony) is the “Ode to Joy.” For some, joy is an intense spiritual feeling that gives one goose bumps" from head to toe. For others, joy is a confirmation that one is making the right decision. Yet for others, joy is knowing that one is on the right track. Joy is a state of sub-consciousness for some without any real thinking or awareness of the situation. Joy just is.
Throughout biblical teachings and readings, we hear familiar phrases like “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” or “Joy to the World.” Most musicians would say, “music gives me a sense of great joy and happiness.” Over the years I have heard musicians say, “it is the joy of musicmaking that gives musicians long life and something to live for everyday.” When you are around youth, there is constant joy in their life or they are seeking to find joy in their life as a ma pursuit. For most youth, sharing time with their friends, listening to music, and eating their favorite foods creates a feeling of great joy and satisfaction. Joy is a natural “high” for youth.
One of the definitions of old age might be the “loss of joy” in one's life. Everyone must find what makes them “tick.” For most it is the endless search for joy in their life. It is interesting that some individuals age gracefully, and others die at very young ages. Good karma is about giving joy to others and receiving that joy in return at a future date. Giving, helping, sharing, caring, sacrificing, praying, meditating, and forgiving all contribute to instant joy. It is amazing how good we feel when we know that our life today made a difference to someone else's success and happiness.
Teachers understand joy. They are in the business of saving lives just like firefighters and police officers. Their track record for saving lives in the classroom is not always 100%, but the intent is exactly that. Teachers start there day with innocence or openness. They receive their students daily and learn from their behaviors, study habits, and thought processes. With their observations, they can begin to change the lives of the students who accept their direction.
Fun is not the same as joy. Fun refers to being foolish, to making Sport, or being amused. We hear students wanting to be entertained at all times. We hear parents when the students come home from school asking their child, “did you have fun at school today?“ What happened to the question, “did you learn anything at school today?“ The amusement at home in the field of electronics is overwhelming with students multi-tasking with television, computer chat lines, computer games, telephone conversations, and home work. For some youth, this is fun and very entertaining. For adults, this is frustrating and confusing. The opposite of fun for many students is boredom. With the evolution of electronic entertainment including CD players, walkman's, diceman's, FM-AM radio, video tape players, and DVD players, excitement with present learning process at most schools is non-competitive on the topic of fun and entertainment.
The salvation of schools is that is the “mall for friends” and the “mall for mentors.” Schools are the magnet for social interaction for most students. Making friends is the major social activity of interest; thus, schools become the important center of life. At the same time, students need help, direction, and guidance. Outside the immediate family, schools are the best hope at helping students through the many crises of the teen years. Teachers have the potential to become mentors to their students , and students have the opportunity to have relationships with teachers whose wisdom will sustain them for life.
Schools should ideally be a mix of being on task, experiencing joy, and having fun. The joy of school will sustain for a lifetime of memories. The fun in school may be short-lived as a memory or short-lived as something worth remembering. There are many teachers seeking a balance in their lives and a balance for the lives of their students. Part of that balance is finding time each day to simply have fun.