A rare post from the wombat burrow! Like many others on the JMDL, I really enjoyed reading Warwick McFadyens interview with Arthur Kratzmann. I was always aware that he was an Australian but knew little else about his background and his serendipitous connection with young Joan. As an Australian who often feels somewhat marginalized from everything Joni Mitchell, it was really great to discover more about the significant Australian influence on her creative development. I wish she had spent more time down under. I would have liked to have seen a few rosellas (remember these Catherine!) flying through her lyrics! Anyway, what a great teacher Mr K. must have been and I wonder how many other children benefited from his encouragement.
While on the subject of education, some of you might be interested to learn that Joni Mitchell made an appearance in one of the English papers in this years Higher School Certificate, the senior school exam here in New South Wales. The chorus and several verses of Big Yellow Taxi were set as one of several environmentally related texts on which students were required to answer a number of analytical questions. In the second section of the paper they could then choose to write a letter to Joni Mitchell responding to some aspect of the lyrics and describing a related experience in which they had to reflect upon a change that had taken place in a person, place or time. The most general comment from adults hearing about her appearance in the exam was but the kids wouldnt know who Joni Mitchell is! I think they might have been surprised. Anyway, if youngsters didnt recognize the name, they probably would have recognized the song!! Perhaps Bob M. will have to open an Examination category along with Fiction, Poetry etc. in his Joni in Literature project. :-) Best wishes to all for a happy, peaceful and relaxing Christmas & New Year. John (in Sydney) Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now
