Latest news with #KenBain
Forbes
6 days ago
- General
- Forbes
Creating A Home Where Learning Thrives
The Learning Household, a new book by Ken Bain and Marsha Marshall Bain, truly resonated with me because it affirms something I have always believed as a parent: the home should be a place where curiosity thrives and learning is part of everyday life. From the time my daughter was a small child, I tried to make sure she was always growing and not just in academic ways, but as a thinker, problem-solver, and most importantly, as a compassionate and emphathetic human being. This book captures this vision well. Bain and Marshall Bain provide a warm, thoughtful exploration of how families can create spaces where questions are encouraged and ideas are debated in respectful ways. They also advocate that every member of the household should be both a teacher and a learner – that means parents and children. They demonstrate how the most meaningful education does not have to come from formal lessons in the classroom. Instead, it can take place at the dinner table, during family walks or visits to the park, and amid shared projects on the weekends. As I read the book, I was reminded of the many times that my daughter asked me question after question about something she wanted to understand – a constant stream of 'why' questions. The first time this happened was when she realized that Barack Obama was the only president in our nation who was Black and that there had been no women presidents of any race. She wanted answers, and as a historian, I made sure to offer a short history lesson for her. This moment often comes to mind for me as my daughter is now 26 and is still asking the same types of questions. One of the book's major themes – fostering intrinsic motivation – aligns perfectly with how I've tried to raise my daughter. Bain and Marshall Bain remind us that curiosity grows when children are given the freedom to explore what matters to them, without the pressure of constant evaluation. For me, so much learning comes from the process of doing things with my daughter and not necessarily the end product. Learning seems to work better when it feels like discovery rather than obligation. The authors also emphasize learning together, which I think is essential to parenting. I have never wanted my daughter to see me as an all-knowing authority. Instead, we have learned side-by-side – whether that meant looking up ideas for a family vacation, getting out of a sticky situation, finding evidence for our political views, or most recently, taking a watercolor painting class together (she's really good and I need work). According to Bain and Marshall Bain, shared learning experiences between parents and children not only expand knowledge but also strengthen connections. One of the aspects of The Learning Household that I liked the most is the honesty presented by Bain and Marshall Bain. The tone of the book is easy-going and not judgmental. They also invoke humor, which I enjoyed. The authors acknowledge the fact that family life can be messy. Every day, there are interruptions, tensions, and days when everyone needs space. However, they show how even those moments can become opportunities to practice resilience, empathy, and problem-solving skills. These are skills that children can carry into adulthood and that we all need to improve. The Learning Household is not a rigid parenting manual. Instead, it is a book dedicated to joy and discovery. For example, the authors offer the following ideas for challenging children to learn: These are just some of the many, many ideas that the authors provide to readers. For me, the book is affirming and inspiring. It reminded me why I worked hard to create a learning household for my daughter and gave me a lot of new ideas for building our relationship as she grows older. Although in many ways the book is for parents wanting to work with their children, and perhaps teachers who want to work with parents, for me, it also felt like a book for parents who might want to work on themselves.
Otago Daily Times
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Bain's dedication, hours devoted to pipes recognised
Alexandra and Districts Pipe Band Drum Major Ken Bain, of Millers Flat, leads the band at the head of the Blossom Festival parade. Mr Bain has been made a life member of the pipe band. PHOTO: JULIE ASHER Joining a pipe band might have been a dream come true but the band was equally fortunate when Ken Bain turned up for practice at the Alexandra and Districts Pipe Band for the first time. This month Mr Bain was made a life member of the band, recognising his dedication and countless hours devoted to the pipes. Mr Bain, of Millers Flat, began playing the pipes as a young lad growing up in the Teviot Valley. In 1954, neighbour Arthur Frame, of Dumbarton, brought then 13-year-old Ken a silver-and-ivory mounted set of pipes from a trip to Scotland. Tutoring from Charlie Sutherland, at Ettrick, and then Alan Porteous while attending Otago Boys' High School set him on his musical path. Ken Bain playing the pipes in 2008. PHOTO: SUPPLIED However, farming and raising a family meant the pipes were put away for many years. It was not until Mr Bain and his late wife, Dawn, retired from their farm to Millers Flat that he began playing again. After tutoring from Roxburgh's kilted pharmacist, Alistair Forbes, who plays outside his shop every Friday afternoon, Mr Bain joined the Alexandra and Districts Pipe Band in 2002. "It was a dream come true," he said. For the next 23 years Mr Bain drove to Alexandra every week for band practice and spent many more hours travelling to perform. "I wore out a car with the travel," he quipped. Taking up the pipes again was hard as it was more difficult to memorise the music when he was older, he said. Presenting the life membership, pipe band secretary Barbara Blackler said Mr Bain was always ready with a joke or funny yarn. He was an enthusiastic member and always keen to put up his hand and be involved in a performance whether for the blossom festival, Anzac parades, fundraising or community events. Nominated drum major in 2021, a position he still holds, Mr Bain was also president in 2009-11. Mr Bain had always been very supportive of new members and had a vision for the future of the band, especially involving young people, Mrs Blackler said. He was also responsible for her holding the role as secretary. After so many years of driving an hour and a-half every week for practice Mr Bain now heads up the road every second week. "I've never been a great piper but I love it."
Otago Daily Times
27-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Kale crop above the rest — literally
Sheep and beef farmer Ken Bain, of Hindon, stands in his kale crop, which won him the top prize at the 2025 Taieri Winter Crop Competition. PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUE Taieri Winter Crop Competition Strath Taieri farmer Ken Bain's homecoming features an award-winning kale crop. The Hindon sheep and cattle farmer was crowned the winner of the 2025 Taieri Winter Crop Competition, taking out the section for a kale crop cultivated on a hill. His kale crop was easily the best he had ever grown but he was surprised to win. He had expected a farmer growing a crop on flat land to take out the top honour. "Their ability to grow crop and their tonnages is so much better down there." He had entered the competition for the past two years and it was first time he had won a prize. SovGold kale seed from Agricom was sown across more than 6ha at the start of November last year. Consistent rainfall throughout the season had helped growth. "This season has been phenomenal." Dairy bulls and cows would begin eating the kale next month. Sheep would be kept out of the top crop. "It's not really a sheep crop, it is reasonably high." The success of the crop was also down to the quality of the paddock, which had not been ploughed for 25 years or more. "This paddock may be old but it has never faulted in growing grass." He liked ploughing paddocks and this one was due. "I'm old school; ploughing has always worked for me." He was planning to test the soil to find out why the paddock performed better than others on Willowlea. A shelter belt of pine trees protects the crop from a cold westerly wind and helps keep the soil temperature up. Mr Bain and his wife Alison bought the 160ha farm Willowlea in Hindon two years ago. He was raised on the farm, which was then more than 1800ha, owned by the government and called Parero. His late father Graeme Bain was a manager on Parero, working for a salary from the Department of Lands and Survey. To buy the farm where you lived as a boy was satisfying. "I've worked for other people all my life and now it is just Alice and I that I have to worry about. "You don't have to please anyone else — it is good." On Parero, his family lived in a house which had since been demolished. "I used to get on a bus at that gate over there to get to primary school at Lee Stream." Parero became three ballot farms in 1978. "When this was settled, Dad drew his own ballot farm at Black Rock." His mother Lorraine died about two years ago. "She knew we bought this place before she died." His path to owning Willowlea included studying at Lincoln University, working as a PGG Wrightson stock agent in Owaka for more than two years, managing Stoneburn Station, in East Otago, for five years and entering an equity partnership in a sheep and beef business in Kyeburn. The equity partnership ran its course and allowed them to buy Willowlea. Willowlea was "in good heart" and there were no plans for any major development, thanks to work of past owners including Graham White. Livestock set to spend this winter on Willowlea were about 200 rising 1-year-old dairy bulls, mostly Holstein Friesian, 120 dairy cows, 750 quarterbred lambs and 200 in-lamb ewes. "Our system is reasonably simple." The farm operation includes another 120ha lease block in Berwick. About 160 rising 1-year-old Holstein Friesian and Hereford cross bulls, weighing about 215kg each, were set to be sold privately to make the most of the buoyant beef market. Many of the bulls were from dairy farms owned by Mrs Bain's brothers on South Taieri, the Sutherlands. "There is a shortage of stock out there, that's why we are getting rid of 160 bulls. That's the beauty of bulls, unlike lambs, where you've got a maximum weight you can take them to. With bulls you can keep putting the weight on them." • The crop competition and auction raised $84,000 for three rural study scholarships ($6000), Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust ($27,200), Otago Community Hospice ($29,000), Outram School hall audio visual equipment upgrade ($6100), Outram Historic Path shared pathway ($6600) and Outram Lions and Rotary clubs ($9000).
