The University of Wonder

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The University of Wonder

Last summer I got civilized. I was lucky to have 90% of my work be just Oakland A’s broadcasts. Generally, this gave me one week on, then one week off. I used these blocks of time to exercise and create.

To save money this year, Edie didn’t book camps for the kids on some of the weeks I have off. At first I was like, “UGH! My ‘me’ time!” Then I came home from an A’s game on the third of July and the house was empty. Edie and the kids were out at my Ma’s house in Danville for the early morning parade on the 4th. Suddenly I had a whole evening of ‘me’ time, and I missed the kids. Then I realized soon enough they won’t want to spend anytime with me at all.

So I decided to turn how I thought about my ‘me’ time around and look at it another way. Here is an opportunity to set up a free form learning path modeled on a university. I printed up student ID cards and have structured my required reading list, syllabus and core curriculum.

The theme is Water.

The University of Wonder mission statement reads thus:

“Learn Like A River”

 The flow of learning is like water. It occurs in every moment and every interaction; just notice it and play with it.

Like a river there is no teacher, only collaborators and the current. What do you want to learn?

Founding Principles of this university:

1. FUN/play
2. art/ visual expression
3. physical activity
4. insight/awareness
5. science/pollution/electricity/physics
6. writing-poetry
7. philosophy/spirit

Some topics I want to cover are:

1.The nature of water, how does it work?
2. How is water represented in art.
3.How is water used in architecture ? Why?
4.Write a report on your favorite type of water or aspect of water- include poetry in your essays.
5. How is water represented in the Tao Te Ching?

Schedule:

July 11
First class 9am
Theme:refraction
Read chapter 8 Tao De Ching
Albany Bulb Walk--Spraypainting
Saul’s deli
Cement slide with squirt guns
Swim class @4


July 12
First class 9am
 Aqua Adventure Fremont 11am
Theme :hydrodynamics
 Tao De Ching concept:
 Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong.

July 13
Theme: Animals and water
Tao De ching concept: Water symbolizes "finding" a way - a way that was there prior to the water flowing into it and one that is further shaped by the water's flow. Water doesn't fight things, it conforms to them and finds it's way.
Little Farm /jewel lake--Tilden Park
Ducks, turtles frogs
(How is water used on a working farm?)
watercolor and poetry

July 14
Theme: historical representations of water in art and architecture.
San Francisco Day. 
Tao te ching quote chapter 15
Stow lake rowboats, Japanese tea garden. Asian art museum

July 15
Free form art and essays.
Theme : what are the properties of water, besides ‘wet’
Derek works A’s @ 1

July 18
---end of Berkeley Family camp: Is the weekend a sabbatical on the Tuolumne river?
Read Tao Te Ching chapter 76

July 19
playdate with friends of the students- no plans
Read Tao Te Ching Chapter 78

July 20
 Derek works Earthquake soccer at night
Tao De Ching quote: Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them-that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.
Open art and science in morning.


july 21
Tao Te Ching concept:...Muddy water, let stand, becomes clear.
last day of school!
All reports, science experiments and art is due!
Congrats to the grads!

All of this is very ambitious, I know. I want to instill the notion that the university is a place where you decide what you want to learn, and the results you reap are directly related to what you put into your studies.  If one studies hard, one has the opportunity to really learn. --->I say swim in the joy of learning while the water is still deep enough. --->There are many years after the university is done to fuck off.

When I was a student at UCSC, there was a sign on Morrisey Blvd in Santa Cruz just as you exited the freeway. It read, “Water is life, don’t waste it’. The same can be said for learning.








chapter 8 Tao De Ching

The supreme good is like water,
which nourishes all things without trying to.
It flows to low places loathed by all men.
Therefore, it is like the Tao.
Live in accordance with the nature of things.
In dwelling, be close to the land.
In meditation, go deep in the heart.
In dealing with others, be gentle and kind.
In speech, be true.
In ruling be just.
In action, watch the timing
No fight: No blame
One who lives in accordance with nature
does not go against the way of things.
He moves in harmony with the present moment,
always knowing the truth of just what to do.

Tao te ching quote chapter 15

The sages of old were so deep,
no one could fathom them.
Because their minds were beyond understanding, we must be content with describing their appearance.

Careful, like crossing a frozen stream
Aware, as though watching all around
Courteous, like a polite guest
Yielding, like ice on the verge of melting
Simple, like an uncarved block of wood.
Open, like a broad valley
Turbid, like muddy water.

Remain calm, and even muddy water becomes clear.
Remain still, and movement brings you to life.
One who follows the Way does not wish to be always full;
For this reason he can pass through exhaustion and be replenished.

Tao Te Ching chapter 76:

     When people are born they are gentle and soft.
    At death they are hard and stiff.
    When plants are alive they are soft and delicate.
    When they die, they wither and dry up.
    Therefore the hard and stiff are followers of death.
    The gentle and soft are the followers of life.
    Thus, if you are aggressive and stiff, you won't win.
    When a tree is hard enough, it is cut. Therefore
    The hard and stiff are lesser,
    The gentle and soft are greater.

Tao Te Ching chapter 78:

     Nothing in the world is softer than water,
    Yet nothing is better at overcoming the hard and strong.
    This is because nothing can alter it.
    That the soft overcomes the hard
    And the gentle overcomes the aggressive
    Is something that everybody knows
    But none can do themselves.
    Therefore the sages say:
    "The one who accepts the dirt of the state
    Becomes its master.
    The one who accepts its calamity
    Becomes king of the world.
    Truth seems contradictory.