The Kindergarten Teacher

00:30:25,889 --> 00:30:27,515 They're not songs, they're poems. 375 00:30:31,060 --> 00:30:32,478 It was about the lion. 376 00:30:34,230 --> 00:30:35,606 You see? 377 00:30:43,489 --> 00:30:45,324 What am I gonna do with you? 378 00:30:47,869 --> 00:30:49,662 - Hey. - Becca. 379 00:30:49,787 --> 00:30:52,999 - We have a little bit of a problem. - What's wrong? 380 00:30:53,124 --> 00:30:55,084 Poems are disappearing. 381 00:30:55,209 --> 00:30:56,419 It happened just now. 382 00:30:56,544 --> 00:30:59,505 He was pacing back and forth, I rushed to get to him, 383 00:30:59,630 --> 00:31:02,133 and by the time I got there, he was almost finished. 384 00:31:02,258 --> 00:31:06,679 All I got was, "He has no master when his master is sleeping 385 00:31:06,805 --> 00:31:09,808 "And all his master does is sleep" 386 00:31:11,851 --> 00:31:13,061 Oh. 387 00:31:15,021 --> 00:31:17,606 It's from the point of view of a hunted lion. 388 00:31:19,775 --> 00:31:21,903 I see. 389 00:31:22,028 --> 00:31:25,323 I mean, how often are we missing these moments? 390 00:31:25,448 --> 00:31:29,828 It's hard to say, really. I mean, I try my best, but... 391 00:31:29,953 --> 00:31:32,163 Out of curiosity, who tucks him into bed at night? 392 00:31:32,288 --> 00:31:35,749 - Is it you or is it somebody else? - It's... It's mostly me. 393 00:31:35,875 --> 00:31:38,044 I think that's a time to pay attention to. 394 00:31:38,169 --> 00:31:42,131 I mean, imagine how much incredible poetry is written 395 00:31:42,256 --> 00:31:46,385 in that not-quite-conscious moment just before the lights go out. 396 00:31:46,510 --> 00:31:47,846 Mm-hm. 397 00:31:47,971 --> 00:31:52,892 Hey. You're such a good teacher, you know that? You have a really big heart. 398 00:31:54,268 --> 00:31:56,770 Listen, baby doll. When you're coming up with your poems, 399 00:31:56,896 --> 00:31:58,606 just let us know, OK, so we can help you. 400 00:31:58,731 --> 00:32:01,609 Yeah, cos we don't wanna miss anything, OK? 401 00:32:01,734 --> 00:32:04,112 - Do you have kids? - I do. 402 00:32:04,195 --> 00:32:06,405 - Big? Small? - They're big, they're in high school. 403 00:32:06,530 --> 00:32:10,827 Oh, wow. Well, they're really lucky to have you, you're very attentive. 404 00:32:10,952 --> 00:32:12,536 All right. Let's go, baby! 405 00:32:14,372 --> 00:32:17,917 OK, so let's just work together to make sure that all of his work gets heard. 406 00:32:18,042 --> 00:32:20,628 I'll do what I can do. Bye. 407 00:32:48,239 --> 00:32:51,784 - Hi. Hi, I'm Lisa. We spoke on the phone? - Yes. 408 00:32:51,910 --> 00:32:52,994 - Hi. - Hi, Lisa. 409 00:32:53,119 --> 00:32:56,122 - Is now still an OK time? - Yes, yes, of course. 410 00:32:56,247 --> 00:32:58,707 We memorised a few poems, just for fun. 411 00:32:58,833 --> 00:33:01,252 Mm. Well, he composes, too. 412 00:33:01,377 --> 00:33:02,837 Jimmy? I didn't realise. 413 00:33:02,962 --> 00:33:06,090 Yes, and I wanted to speak to you because... 414 00:33:07,842 --> 00:33:12,806 I imagine maybe you can appreciate how rare that gift is. 415 00:33:12,931 --> 00:33:16,100 I mean, I've been a kindergarten teacher for almost 20 years 416 00:33:16,225 --> 00:33:17,977 and I've never seen anything like it. 417 00:33:18,102 --> 00:33:21,730 And I just want to support it and I want to protect it as much as I possibly can. 418 00:33:21,856 --> 00:33:23,774 - Absolutely. - Talent is so... 419 00:33:25,026 --> 00:33:29,155 fragile and so rare, and our culture does everything to crush it. 420 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:32,700 I mean, even at four or five they're coming into school attached to their phones, 421 00:33:32,826 --> 00:33:34,785 talking only about TV shows and video games. 422 00:33:34,911 --> 00:33:36,830 - It's a materialistic culture... - Mm-hm. 423 00:33:36,955 --> 00:33:42,543 And it doesn't support art or language. Or observation. 424 00:33:42,668 --> 00:33:46,630 Even my own children, who are great, they don't read. 425 00:33:48,007 --> 00:33:51,552 You know, you think, maybe it's just a phase... 426 00:33:54,180 --> 00:33:56,390 But I worry that it's something larger. 427 00:33:59,227 --> 00:34:03,647 A lack of curiosity, a lack of reflection. 428 00:34:03,772 --> 00:34:06,317 No one has space for poetry. 429 00:34:06,442 --> 00:34:08,903 Maybe that's true. 430 00:34:09,028 --> 00:34:12,656 Really, what I want is to speak with his father. 431 00:34:12,781 --> 00:34:13,908 His father? 432 00:34:14,033 --> 00:34:17,578 I wonder if he would allow me to oversee his progress. 433 00:34:20,331 --> 00:34:22,208 Er... Well, he's a busy man 434 00:34:22,333 --> 00:34:25,253 and, frankly, I don't know how much you will get out of him. 435 00:34:25,336 --> 00:34:26,712 Mm. 436 00:34:26,838 --> 00:34:28,047 Have you met him? 437 00:34:28,172 --> 00:34:31,801 No. He doesn't actually even return my phone calls. 438 00:34:33,594 --> 00:34:34,888 Maybe the baby-sitter can help? 439 00:34:35,013 --> 00:34:3