"Good morning class! For this day, I will be your teacher in arts and literature class. Now you can call me Ms D, Ms E, Ms Anam, Ms Dada or whichever you want, just address me as your teacher is fine."
That would be my introduction to the class. Being a teacher is an honor and to be proud of. The enthusiasm, the vitality and the pride of guidance to bestow upon who listens.
"From the looks of it, I am guessing you had known me somewhere, but I want you all to focus on seeing me as your teacher and discard all the ideas you heard about me. I am your teacher, only a teacher."
I am not just anyone, or anybody, and I am aware of that reputation. I am the most well-known Filipino Artist and Creator in the field of Arts and Crafts even in design, culture, and literature.
And I want that reputation to be the backbone or support, not something that will hinder me to do things that people usually and normally do. I've started at the bottom too, and I deserve to start at the bottom when starting to explore something new, or per se, I can go back to the basics again when repeating something I had walked on before, like this path and nothing's wrong with that.
It's like having a new lens, a new set of eyes on the things I had.
If ever I am to be the teacher for a day, I will let my students experience things they wanted to experience even if they still had not yet experienced it, not yet.
I believe, the lesson is still intact for every experience so whichever 'thing' they choose it's for them.
I will be their teacher for three things and three activities.
First, I will be their Actor teacher; I will teach them to act like real people in the fictional world of them.
What I meant by real people is their character.
What I meant is their character is the experience they wanted to be in this life.
Whichever it is based on their age and state of mind.
Whatever it is.
"Take out any piece of paper, no formats, any format that is available to you or comfortable to you and write.
1. If you had to choose the other 'you' in the other world what 'you' would you choose?
2. And can you be that 'you' now? Can you act like them now?
3. Why yes and why not? it's okay if you can't reason out why but please, take note of your yes or no answer.
I want you all to contemplate this question and write something about it. Any length is fine.
And whatever you wrote about it. We will be going to act them later after we finish the second activity.
Within our acting session, there will be no excuses, whether you answered yes or no on why, you will still act upon your written other 'you' and I am going to participate too so don't worry."
That would be the 1st Activity.
Second, I will be their Homeroom teacher. I call this home because I don't know what to name it, but you may decide perhaps a self-discovery teacher?
No other lesson, just activity for an hour.
"I will let the class explore outside, roam, run if you want to, but the main direction I want you to follow is to search and find a thing you find interesting outside that you didn't own, collect one sample of it if you can't take it, take a picture of it will do.
My number one rule is to follow what calls your attention, calls you to take it, find yourself staring at it before taking to keep it.
My second rule is to avoid the things you are familiar with, or things you had, already have or own.
My third rule is to not cheat, do not copy other people's collected pieces outside because you can't decide what is yours, or you don't know what's yours. Take your time outside and listen to what calls you.
Returning back to the room with the taken piece with you, sit tight and wait for others and contemplate what you find interesting in the piece you're staring at.
Can you share it with others in the class on what, how and why you find it interesting? Let's chat about this with others.”
That's it for now, next is our break hours, a time for our last important session of the day.
Back to our acting class
No excuses, that's my rule in this acting session.
Whatever you wrote about your other 'you' is what you should act on for 10 minutes.
The class dynamic began to switch roles upon acting their other 'you'.
I've seen quiet ones began to argue with their opinions
I've seen drowsy ones begin to be active, some acted as if they're on stage, as if performing.
I've seen the bully ones begin to form friendships.
I've seen the preyed ones begin to choose what their space is and fight for it.
I've seen a lot that I cannot describe.
And I am here, seeing myself fitting the shoes of my students.
As if I am a teacher.
As if this is not for a day only.
And you know what,
If I ever face my other self in this world, my other existence in this world.
I will be the teacher for her.
I will teach these things to her.
I will.
Twin? Yes, I don't mind introducing her as my twin sister.
We had the same face after all, just different selves.
So that no one would suspect :>
I must protect her at all costs :>
Posted on @deintywoodtales (dada on tumblr)
Deinty Woodtales © Amanda A.M, 2023