By Emily Weinlick
Planet Homeschool (PHS) teacher Jeanne Bain
enjoys teaching lots of things at PHS: Creative Writing, Speak Up, Impromptu,
Philosophy. Next spring she will be teaching a Fan Fiction class. Jeanne
says she likes to teach classes that get young people “talking to each other
about issues and experiences." In Jeanne’s mind the most wonderful gift in the
world is to be a part of a teenager’s life. She says that there is so much to
learn from them.
Jeanne
started teaching in her basement. Jeanne pointed out, “School was my
favorite thing to play yet my least favorite to attend.” She started her more
advanced teaching around 8 years old by holding a summer camp in her backyard.
When she grew into an adult she started coaching speech and teaching theatre
classes, after she had left the world of professional theatre. When she was in
her twenties she really realized where her heart was… it was with teaching. She
likes to make all her classes engaging and energizing because otherwise she and
her students will get bored. Jeanne says, “The students at PHS teach other so
much, it is through exploration and experience that learning happens so I’m
lucky to just stand back and hold space while it unfolds!”
Jeanne
started teaching at PHS because Kate Searls asked her if she would be
interested in teaching a Creative Writing class. Her son Sam was an amazing
writer and had many creative, and intelligent friends that wanted a writing
class. They preferred a low-pressure class that focused on the creative process
instead of creative product. This was definitely her sort of class! At the time
Jeanne was also an instructor at The Loft Literary Center’s summer youth
program, so to her teaching writing during a school year sounded terrific!
Jeanne says,
“Sadly, I wasn’t homeschooled myself. I went to a traditional school.” Jeanne
didn’t even know any homeschoolers while growing up in a small town in southern
Minnesota. Jeanne said she had a lot of amazing teachers in her school
experience. She had a teacher named Dennis Kalow who taught a class named
“What’s Art All About” that made Jeanne the teacher who she is today. And then
in her college she had a professor named Philip Morseberger who really made her
think about art and life and made a huge impact on her.
Jeanne has
two kids. Aidan is a freshman at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities
campus. Jeanne homeschooled Aidan for 2 years. Alas, he hated it. Jeanne
homeschooled Finn for 1 year. Finn is now in 4th grade at the Cyber Village
Academy.
What does she enjoy most about PHS? She said,
“How willing the kids and teens are to take risks, jump in and have fun. They
aren’t afraid of doing things wrong.”
And
finally some personal info on Jeanne! Jeanne became a Doctor Who fan at the
urging of Victoria Signorellli and Kathleen Willard. She enjoys sewing yet
admits that she isn’t that great at it. She likes cleaning and organizing her
house, yet this will make a laugh because her students think that she is the
most disorganized teacher that PHS has ever had, she thinks. She owns a three-wheel
bike and occasionally rides it. She enjoys family time like most people and
going to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts on her own to work on her novel. And
to wrap this up, Jeanne’s favorite time of year is Fall. She loves the slow
descent into the season of hibernation.
