Why "The Cheshire Club?"
Students in schools of the past often participated in recitation, requiring them to memorize long passages from literature or poetry --sometimes famous speeches. As a result, individuals developed their capacity to memorize quickly and to retain that information. Years later they were able to recall what they had memorized as students. So...what 's so important about that in a world where you can quicly look the poem up on the internet? Simply this: It is important to retrieve information from your own inner computer --your personal internet; that ability has both practical and professional perks. Unfortunately, the "memorization skill" is one seldom practiced and given little value in the education of today's students.
...a personal story: I have two grown daughters who were involved in Confirmation classes at our church for three years, requiring them to memorize lengthy passages from the Bible. At first, they both had to practice every day --it was slow. They became frustrated and even angry from time to time that they were required to do something they could look up and read. But guess what happened? After a few weeks it didn't take them as long. After a few months (and this is the truth!) they didn't look at their memory work at all until they were in the car, and I was driving them to the Confirmation class which was only three miles away. They had gotten so good at memorizing that all they needed was the time it took to get there. Did they retain it? Surprsingly, they retained more than you might think. The rest? All it took was a brief look at whatever it was they had memorized, and it all came back. Today's kids need to exercise the memory part of their own brains --its there for them to draw upon throughout their lives. Besides ... it will help them be better card players! : )
Members of "The Cheshire Club" will attend a special celebration in February. How do you become a member? Recite "The Jabberwock" from MEMORY! Our own Cheshire Cat will recite the poem in a very C R E E P Y fashion during our ALICE play.
...a personal story: I have two grown daughters who were involved in Confirmation classes at our church for three years, requiring them to memorize lengthy passages from the Bible. At first, they both had to practice every day --it was slow. They became frustrated and even angry from time to time that they were required to do something they could look up and read. But guess what happened? After a few weeks it didn't take them as long. After a few months (and this is the truth!) they didn't look at their memory work at all until they were in the car, and I was driving them to the Confirmation class which was only three miles away. They had gotten so good at memorizing that all they needed was the time it took to get there. Did they retain it? Surprsingly, they retained more than you might think. The rest? All it took was a brief look at whatever it was they had memorized, and it all came back. Today's kids need to exercise the memory part of their own brains --its there for them to draw upon throughout their lives. Besides ... it will help them be better card players! : )
Members of "The Cheshire Club" will attend a special celebration in February. How do you become a member? Recite "The Jabberwock" from MEMORY! Our own Cheshire Cat will recite the poem in a very C R E E P Y fashion during our ALICE play.
MEMBERS:Lillian - #1
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JABBERWOCKY
(CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON - "LEWIS CARROLL")
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought--
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One two! One two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.
'Twas brilling, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All momsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
(CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON - "LEWIS CARROLL")
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought--
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One two! One two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.
'Twas brilling, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All momsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
