Painting Chinese: A Lifelong Teacher Gains the Wisdom of Youth

by Herbert R. Kohl

As Herbert Kohl approached seventy, he realized the image he had of himself (energetic man in midlife) was not in keeping with how he was viewed by others (wise grandfather figure). To counter the realization that he was growing old, Kohl, a staunch believer in lifelong learning, set out to try something new. While on a walk, he happened upon a painting studio and on a lark signed up for a beginning class. When Kohl arrived for his first lesson, he was surprised to see the students were Chinese children between the ages of four and seven. Now, after three years of study, Kohl tells us what he learned from them. He shares the joys of trying to stay as fresh and unafraid as his young classmates and the wisdom he unexpectedly discovers in the formal tenets of Chinese landscape painting. As he advances into classes with older students, he reflects on how this experience allows him to accept and find comfort in aging. For anyone who feels stuck in the wearying repetition of everyday life, Kohl's adventures will clearly illustrate that you can never be too old to grow from new experiences. REVIEWS: "In this memoir, seasoned educator Kohl (36 Children ) comes to terms with entering his twilight years. Kohl devoted his career to alternative education and to social justice, and in his mid 60s he created and directed a teacher-education program at the University of San Francisco that merged these two passions. In its fourth year, the program folded due to lack of funding, leaving Kohl despondent. On a walk through a predominantly Chinese commercial area near the university, he happened upon a fine arts school and on a whim signed up for beginners' level Chinese ink painting. On the first day of class, he discovered that he was by far the oldest pupil-his fellow students were five, six, and seven years old. He decided to stay, and over the next several years, painting took on a meditative quality for him. Kohl tells of studying alongside the childr

Genres: Art, Memoir, China, Nonfiction, Education, Biography Memoir

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Educator best known for his advocacy of progressive alternative education and as the author of more than thirty books on education. He founded the 1960s Open School movement and is credited with coining the term "open classroom."

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this for different reasons in the second read.

[Lyn Quilty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle, reflective story but I found it somewhat repetitive.

[Kerfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Who can tell the end of the endless changes of things?" --Li Po

Herbert Kohl, activist and educator, approaches old age with trepidation. He knows it will involve change, but he is both reluctant and afraid.

In choosing to become "as a child" and learn something both unfamiliar and demanding as he approaches 70, Kohl finds a guide and an anchor for all the other changes in his life. He is learning Chinese painting, but also a different approach to living. He paints; he reads Chinese literature, poetry, philosophy, history; he studies the masters. He lets go of the life that is leaving him stranded and distressed and begins to move in a different direction, uncertain of either path or goal.

As Kohl relates the lessons of Chinese painting school, he supplements them with his own search for his future, illustrating his questions with both paintings and poetry. His views on ways to educate expand, as he sees for the first time the value of imitation. He finds that he can learn things by copying the masters that constant striving for originality does not teach. He sees the value of patience, ritual, practice without pressure, "...disciplined joyful learning wih no stake other than the process itself..."

I enjoyed Kohl's journey and learned a few things from it myself. Like always leaving space in your work (and life) "for the imagination to spread itself."

"If you learn how to wander wthout a goal, keeping your mind open, new ideas come alive, old problems are resolved."

Kohl starts his seventh decade painting and living with renewed joy and without old expectations.

[Ann Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a marvelous, informative, life-affirming book! Kohl, who has educated thousands of students and future teachers over the years, and whose progressive philosophy has lead him to embrace openness and creativity in the classroom, signs up for a beginners' class in Chinese painting, where his classmates are kindergarteners, the curriculum is based strictly on copying of others' pictures, silence is required, and positive reinforcement is rare. He thrives, eventually becoming an excellent painter (even the Kindle version has illustrations, thank goodness) and learning and sharing much about Chinese culture and painting in the process.

But this is not really a book about teaching, learning, painting, or art. It's really a book about what happens when the career that has nourished you, and brought you such renown, is drawing to a close, and you are facing the blank canvas of the last years of your life, however many or few they may be. Kohl shares his struggles with honesty,grace, and hope. Highly recommended.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quiet book approaches the topic of aging and the wisdom that can be gained from those around us in a gently insistent fashion. Noted educator Herbert Kohl was approaching a crossroads in his life. Unhappy with how a university education program he had created was being dismantled, Kohl happened to be walking through a San Francisco neighborhood when he stumbled upon an ad for a Chinese landscape painting class. It turned out to be exactly what he needed since he ended up painting alongside very young children, many of whose skill levels seemed more advanced than his own. For the next three years, Kohl worked on his painting, and in the process, opened himself to change and new experiences. There is a meditative quality to his writing and a recognition that aging doesn't mean no longer being able to learn or try something new. I was particularly struck by Kohl's humbleness and the honesty with which he describes his struggles as he attempts to paint.

[Laurie owyang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becoming a student in his 'old' age (approaching seventy), and attempting to learn a new skill (Chinese painting in this particular case) helps the author accept and even embrace the aging process. Who knew that sitting in class with five year olds could lead to this? It's a fascinating and humbling journey as he wrestles with his anxieties about aging, mourns the loss of his accomplished career, and acknowledges his arrogance and need for public attention. A book well worth your time and attention.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book is a journey. Through his study of Chinese landscape painting, Kohl address the conflicts and insights that accompany change. In his case, aging and retirement are prominent, but his ongoing attempts to integrate Taoism, painting and poetry with his Western critical/competetive thinking spoke to me.

Note: loaned to Mary

[Judy Iliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! What do you do when you discover your position is being eliminated. You learn to center yourself. In the process you learn about yourself. I believe every teacher should read this book. We, as educators, are too focused on originality and don't give enough credit to the masters who should be emulated.

[Annm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of the book uses Chinese painting to help him through some transitions in life. While i am ot yet near retirement age, as he is in the book, I am old enough to think about that. I am also considering doing something wlse with mylife than ai am curently doing. His issues made me think.

[Henrietta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned from this book that you don't have to be in your 20's anymore to accomplish anything! The writer is an septogonian (hope this is right!) and he's still active and even went thru a "second childhood!"

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kohl was feeling down with his life as an aging educator. He wanted to
try something fresh and new. Somehow he ended up in a painting class,
a class to learn to paint the Chinese way, a class for children.

It was just what he needed.

[Cat Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A succinct and humorous tale of finding humility and artistic discipline in a children's class in Chinese painting. It offers insight into the Eastern way of approaching art through rigorous skill-building that, in time, reveals spirit. Perfect for a lazy afternoon of contemplation.

[D. Lambson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very inspirational

[Odoublegood · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is physically a very pretty book, and there's a lot to be learned from it, too

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I took away some things to think about from the book, the author is so introspective and repetitive that it was a tougher read than it needed to be.

[Edna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a charming book dealing with aging and learning a new skill . I would recommend this book to artists, writers, teachers and anyone who wishes to learn how to meet aging in a positive manner.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting account of the author's use of a new skill, Chinese painting, to accept his aging and transitioning into retirement.