The way you measure a society’s soul is by the way that it treats its children.
Nelson Mandela
Issue No. 79 – 2nd November 2009
Welcome to Kidz Newz especially to all new subscribers, particularly those from the recent workshop at Millfield Prep School in Glastonbury. Kidz Newz is a regular newsletter with information and teaching tips for anyone involved with young children. You are receiving this because you have attended one of my workshops, purchased a book, or you have requested to be on the mailing list. Thank you. Please forward this to anyone you feel it may be of interest to. Feedback is welcome.
PD Updates
Watch this space and check on the website for future PDs.
New Products Available
You will be pleased to hear I now stock two of Jennifer Jefferies products – the book and the aromatherapy oil ‘Calm Kids’. Jennifer is a well-known naturopath, author and speaker. If you are interested in these or any other of Jennifer’s products, visit www.kidzfizbiz.com.
Employment Opportunity – Be your own boss!
Looking for a part-time teaching opportunity? Love working with children? Love teaching music and movement? I am looking for people to train to run their own business as Kidz-Fiz-Biz operators. Good retruns and lots of fun. If this is something of interest to you now or in the future, please contact me at info@kidzfizbiz.com or phone 0410 642 781.
The Love Story of The Ampelmann
Throughout the Western world when pedestrians face traffic lights, there is a ‘little green man’ and a ‘little red man’ to tell you when it’s safe to cross the road. That is, except for East Berlin. Here they have ‘Ampelmann’.
I have recently returned from my first trip to Berlin and while there I took a four-hour walking tour of the city. Our tour guide was a knowledgeable Brit called Zach, who brought all the various buildings, churches and squares to life, enthralling us with his stories of power and intrigue. The one I found most interesting and certainly the most endearing, equalling the events surrounding the fall of The Wall, was the love story of the Ampelmann.
Ampel means traffic light in German. In East Berlin the traffic light man (Ampelmann) is unique, looking nothing like the traffic light man we all recognize. He is short and squat and wears a hat! The hat is different depending on whether he is green or red.
When The Wall fell on 9th November 1989, successfully re-uniting East and West Germany, the East Germans were able to start enjoying all the freedoms and benefits, luxuries and opportunities that the rest of the country had been enjoying for so long. Everything was being standardised across the country. That included the Ampelmann. When it came to replacing him with the western version there was an uproar, a protest including petitions, that almost rivalled those for tearing down The Wall. Incredible!
To the bureaucrats, the Ampelmann was a symbol of the past, a quaint relic of a bygone and a shameful, best-quickly-forgotten era. To the people, however, he symbolised something completely different. To the people he was a comforting and familiar symbol in a sea of confusion and change. At a time when absolutely nothing looked or felt the same any more, when there were no longer the same securities, the people clung to the last vestige of a familiar past, albeit a past largely of repression and restriction.
It is human nature for people not to like too much change too quickly. Although this bizarre reaction took the bureaucrats by surprise, they relented and allowed the beloved Ampelmann to remain. Today there are shops and sections in department stores dedicated to Ampelmann paraphernalia.
If there is a moral to this cute and endearing tale it is probably that we often overlook the human condition in the midst of political upheaval. It is the simple pleasures that people enjoy and remember in times of chaos. Even in an intolerable situation, life was not all bad. There were some simple pleasures and certainties in their lives. Ampelmann became the symbol of all that was good about their past, even if the only thing that was good was Ampelmann.
Quote of the Week
It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult. Seneca
Entertainment
LEXOPHILES (Lover of words)…
- The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.
- A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France, resulting in linoleum blown apart.
- You are stuck with your debt if you can’t budge it.
- Local Area Network in Australia… The LAN down under.
- He broke into song because he couldn’t find the key.
- A calendar’s days are numbered.
- A lot of money is tainted: ‘Taint yours, and ‘taint mine.
- A boiled egg is hard to beat.
- He had a photographic memory that was never developed.
- A plateau is a high form of flattery.
If you are wondering what happened to numbers 1-10, please refer to the last newsletter. Click on www.kidzfizbiz.com to access.
NOTE: No trees were killed in the sending of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
From DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com
Feedback
The most useful thing was using simple things and creating many activities from them. It was very worthwhile for K-3 teachers. A great presenter and good explanations. Catherine Rudd, Glengarry Primary School, Perth.
The most useful thing was the different ways to use music & objects. I loved that it was hands-on and informative. Emma Groves, St Josephs’ Catholic Primary School, Launceston, Tasmania
About The Author
Marlene Rattigan B.A., Dip. Ed. (ECS), CELTA
Marlene Rattigan is an Early Childhood teacher, a teacher of English as a Second Language, and from 1987-2000 was a nationally accredited fitness leader. Her background is in music education. A keen interest in motor development in children led to the creation of Kidz-Fiz-Biz which she taught successfully for 13 years. Marlene also conducts workshops for children, teachers and parents at schools, in the community and at festivals. She has produced teaching manuals complete with audio CDs which are an extension of her ‘Kidz-Fiz-Biz’ program.
Kidz-Fiz-Biz
PO Box 6894, East Perth WA 6892, Australia
T: +61 8 9325 1204 M: +61 (0) 410 64 2781 E: info@kidzfizbiz.com
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Until next time … continue being a legend in your classroom.
Marlene Rattigan, Editor
Kidz Newz
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