I went birding again today in MacArthur Park with students and parents of Leo Politi Elementary School in Pico Union. The principal and one of the teachers joined about 30 students and as many parents in a lively perambulation around the lake. As it was the time before, this was a wonderful outing, a perfect teaching experience that linked school and neighborhood, parent and child, nature and city, learning and life. We saw over 30 species of birds, and many of the parents were just as amazed at what there was to see in their familiar and very urban park.
From the ubiquitous pigeon to the red-tailed hawk perched up on the "Westlake Theatre" sign to the visiting Ross' Goose, American Wigeons, and Ring Necked Ducks we all enjoyed a couple of hours with our avian family. To see these students (who might be in my class at YOKA in a couple of years!) soaking up knowledge--checking in the book, looking at the birds, asking questions--provided a clear template of what learning should be like, whether it's in the classroom or out of it. A big congratulations to principal Rumble for leading his students on this little adventure and to my friend Judith, a veteran birder, for initiating this series of walks.
(And what does this have to do with the "sturm und drang" of my previous post? Beats me....it's so confusing!)
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