MassHOPE Convention

This past weekend (April 27-28, 2007), Koalagir15 and I attended the 18th annual convention of the Massachusetts Homeschool Organization of Parent Educators, known locally as MassHOPE. I attended this conference for the first time many, many years ago, before I ever started homeschooling. I did not return until 2003. Why the long years of absence? I have no idea. I suppose I could claim a busy schedule or lack of financial wherewithal. Personally, I think it was lack of motivation or arrogance that I “had it all figured out.” Being the mother of a homeschooled high school student and serving as the Coordinator of a homeschool support group have certainly worked to cure me of those two ailments, but I digress…

For me, THE highlight of the 2007 convention was having the privilege to, once again, hear Chris Klicka speak. I was blessed to hear this gentleman give a presentation at that first homeschool convention many years ago when my daughter was only two years old. I don’t recall the topic back then but, this year, the seminar titles were “The Battle for Our Children’s Minds” and “Homeschooling Teenagers: Standing Against the Culture.” To me, Mr. Klicka is one of the giants of the homeschooling movement, serving the community as an attorney with the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) since 1985. He is also the father of seven homeschooled children, the author of a number of books, and an MS patient. To watch him continue on with life (and an abundant life at that) in the face of the challenges presented by his illness is both inspiring and humbling. My water heater running out of hot water or a bad headache can sidetrack my best daily efforts; I cannot imagine the level of mental and spiritual fortitude it takes to live with MS. Needless to say, I respect the man immensely and was ecstatic that my daughter had the opportunity to see and listen to Mr. Klicka in person.

My second convention high point was the general session on Friday night that featured a presentation by Doug Phillips of Vision Forum and the graduation ceremony of (at least) ten homeschooled high school students. In honor of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia, Mr. Phillips gave a speech comparing the settlement efforts in Virginia with those in New England. Having a degree in Political Science with a fair amount of coursework in American History, I found this topic fascinating (so much so that I took notes).

The graduation ceremony was like nothing I had seen before. The emcee for the evening read a personalized description of each student that included their achievements, as well as their dreams and goals for the future. At my high school commencement, the principal read my name. In a class of 227 graduates, he couldn’t do much more. If he had, I would still be sitting in the second row of gymnasium chairs waiting to get my diploma.

Other positives from the convention:
- purchase of Apologia Advanced Biology curriculum (Human Anatomy)
- acquisition of poetry curriculum
- the opportunity to see The Institute for Excellence in Writing curriculum
- the chance to talk with homeschool parents from across New England
- the opportunity to hear about the work of support groups in other towns

MassHOPE 2008 is already scheduled (April 25-26). Mark your calendar today and reserve your hotel room early.

Au revoir, IHOP

About a mile from my house are the remnants of an IHOP restaurant that went out of business several years ago. Apparently, the owners decided not to renew their franchise and the doors were shut. Shortly after closing, the establishment reopened as “Marcy’s Pancake House.” Unfortunately, “Marcy” flipped flapjacks for only a few months when a major plumbing disaster ruined the interior of the restaurant, causing the “House” to fold. Today, the old IHOP bit the dust for good when some large machinery was brought in to tear the building to the ground. For posterity sake, I had to snap this picture. Now the big question is: with IHOP gone, what will occupy the space?

Submarine Photos

I recently received an e-mail message from my husband that contained a link to this LiveJournal page where I found several photographs (like the one at left) of the Russian submarine Kursk after the boat had been recovered and brought into dry dock for salvage. As the wife of a former submariner, I can tell you these pictures are somewhat unnerving, illustrating the kind of damage that can occur when disaster strikes at sea. To learn more about the Kursk incident, consult this Wikipedia page for an extensive explanation of the tragedy. The introduction given there provides a good overview of the unfortunate event.

In August 2000, the Russian Oscar II class submarine (which is the world’s largest class of cruise-missle submarine) Kursk sank in the Barents Sea when a leak of hydrogen peroxide in the forward torpedo room apparently led to the detonation of a torpedo warhead, which in turn triggered the explosion of around half a dozen other warheads about two minutes later. This second explosion was equivalent to about 3-7 tons of TNT and was large enough to register on seismographs across Northern Europe.

Despite a rescue attempt by British and Norwegian teams, all sailors and officers aboard Kursk were lost. A Dutch team later recovered 115 of the 118 dead, who were laid to rest in Russia. The fate of three bodies still unrecovered is debated, but it is generally accepted that they were lost in the explosion.

Also from the Wikipedia article:

Most of the hull of the submarine, except the bow, was raised from the ocean floor by the Dutch salvage companies Smit International and Mammoet in the fall of 2001 and towed back to the Russian Navy’s Roslyakovo Shipyard…Russian President Vladmir Putin signed a decree ordering that all crewmembers will be bestowed the Order of Courage. The captain of Kursk, Gennady Lyachin, was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation.

Thankfully, the international community recovered the Kursk, giving the families of the crew some sense of closure, and the submarine community some valuable information about how to prevent such a catastrophe from ever happening again.

Sunday Psalms

MORNING: Psalm 150
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.

Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.

Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.

Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.

Praise Him with cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!


EVENING: Psalm 115
Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But to Your name give glory
Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.

Why should the nations say,
“Where, now, is their God?”

But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.

Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of man’s hands.

They have mouths, but they cannot speak;
They have eyes, but they cannot see;

They have ears, but they cannot hear;
They have noses, but they cannot smell;

They have hands, but they cannot feel;
They have feet, but they cannot walk;
They cannot make a sound with their throat.

Those who make them will become like them,
Everyone who trusts in them.

O Israel, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.

O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.

You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.

The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us;
He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron.

He will bless those who fear the Lord,
The small together with the great.

May the Lord give you increase,
You and your children.

May you be blessed of the Lord,
Maker of heaven and earth.

The heavens are the heavens of the Lord,
But the earth He has given to the sons of men.

The dead do not praise the Lord,
Nor do any who go down into silence;

But as for us, we will bless the Lord
From this time forth and forever.
Praise the Lord!

All Scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible.

Unhooked Generation: Chapter 1

As part of a self-designed Health class, my daughter and I are reading a book by Jillian Straus, a senior associate producer for The Oprah Winfrey Show. The book, titled Unhooked Generation: The Truth About Why We’re Still Single, discusses the attitudes toward and the realities of sexuality, dating, and marriage amongst adults ages 18-35. Publishers Weekly has this to say about the publication:

Straus, a producer for The Oprah Winfrey Show, has lived an independent life typical of her Gen-X peers. But in this perceptive book, based on interviews with 100 heterosexual singles across the country, she concludes that the myriad choices enjoyed by 20- and 30-somethings have led to a sense of hopelessness and cynicism about relationships and a deep fear of commitment that’s often felt as a “fear of settling.” She lists cultural factors that place obstacles in the way of intimacy, among them an obsessive focus on independence and career, the aftereffects of feminism, and reliance on distancing new technologies such as instant messaging and online personals. Straus writes in a lively style replete with buzzwords, yet offers tough conclusions. While both men and women have impossible expectations, Straus observes that Gen-Xers prefer to “upgrade” rather than work on a relationship. And the compulsion to have lots of casual sex with attractive partners conflicts with the goal of finding a mate. The book ends with stories of couples who have succeeded in finding and keeping love. Straus argues convincingly that in order to open yourself to love, you cannot keep your options open --- you have to commit all the way.

I chose to add this book to the Health class reading list so that my daughter would be exposed to, and have the opportunity to discuss, the prevailing attitudes about sexuality, dating, and marriage amongst young people because these are the points of view she will, most likely, encounter when she enters the workforce and/or leaves home for college in a few years. I want her to be armed with as much information as possible before she walks out the door; and, as a parent, I want to be prepared for the challenges she will face, challenges that are (in some ways) much different from those I faced while at university.

I must admit, when I started Unhooked Generation, I was concerned that the overall message would be one of ethical relativity and advocacy for the “unhooked” mindset. Happily, after reading only the introduction, I think Ms. Straus is squarely on the side of commitment. Quoting from the text:

Certain commentators have made the point that an early adult experience of serial monogamy leads to a lot of heartbreak and cynicism, and that it can actually undermine faith in marriage and commitment. One of these is Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, author of Kosher Sex. Rabbi Boteach argues that, by the time you have seriously dated a couple of people, slept with them, and left them or been left by them --- that is, before you ever make it to the altar --- there is “scar tissue” on your heart. Maggie Gallagher, who wrote The Abolition of Marriage, makes a similar case. These books defy the conventional wisdom of our generation...that a series of intimate relationships prior to marriage can strengthen the marital bond, much like training wheels strengthen the skill of bike-riding. The problem is --- as I began to feel after listening to my own heart and hearing the feelings of my male and female friends --- when you painfully experience your training wheels falling off a couple of times, it is hard to trust your bike.

I am also pleased by Ms. Straus’ admission that the birth cohort to which she belongs (Gen-X) yearns for deep emotional intimacy, yet seems so disconnected. Their definition of connection, for example, taken from the “Unhooked Dictionary” in the back of the book, sets an almost impossible standard:

An instant bond beyond physical attraction that we, as Gen-Xers, strive for but can’t always sustain. Can occur along with or separately from the buzz.

Buzz, of course, being:

The euphoria someone gives you when you are in love, usually associated with the early stages of romance.

According to Ms. Straus, Gen-Xers also do not accept marriage as an ideal nor as the singular feminine goal. In fact, they doubt whether love can even last. Sad.

Having been married for twenty-two years myself and being the child of parents who were married forty-six years when my father died, I doubt whether I will be able to relate completely to the paradigm studied in Unhooked Generation. Yet, for the sake of my daughter and her education, I will struggle through it. Rest assured, I plan to “balance” the information obtained from this book with some resources on the biblical view of sexuality, dating, and marriage, resources like Every Young Woman’s Battle: Guarding Your Mind, Heart, and Body in a Sex-Saturated World by Shannon Ethridge & Stephen Arterburn or I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris.

I will keep you updated on our progress through these materials.

Coping With Ripples?

This morning, I heard (yet again) about a school that was closed due to a bomb or shooting threat received since the massacre at Virginia Tech this past Monday. I understand the necessity of taking such action. The fiduciary responsibility of school administrators dictates that they protect the children in their care. But what happens to the education of our children if we continue to allow such threats to disrupt classrooms across our country? Do the affected students have to make up the work missed? Do the schools add days to their academic calendars when classroom time is eliminated? How much instructional time is lost due to drills instituted as preparation for the threat that may come tomorrow? Do public schools have contingency plans to continue classroom instruction if and when a school is locked down? If students are sent home, do they log into a virtual academy so they don’t get behind?

Being a homeschool parent, I don’t deal with such questions. I would truly like to know what happens when the proverbial threat “rock” is dropped into the educational “pond.” What sorts of consequential “ripples” do these threats create, and how does the system cope with them? Please, tell me so I will know. Thank you.

Green Comparison

My husband often reads American Thinker, a blog that is published and edited by Thomas Lifson and whose “About Us” section contains this description, quoting directly from the website:

American Thinker is a daily Internet publication devoted to the thoughtful exploration of issues of importance to Americans. Contributors are accomplished in fields beyond journalism and animated to write for the general public out of concern for the complex and morally significant questions on the national agenda.

There is no limit to the topics appearing on American Thinker. National security in all its dimensions, strategic, economic, diplomatic, and military is emphasized. The right to exist and the survival of the State of Israel are of great importance to us. Business, science, technology, medicine, management, and economics in their practical and ethical dimensions are also emphasized, as is the state of American culture.

I don’t frequent American Thinker; it isn’t that I lack enthusiasm for their writing, I just lack the requisite number of hours in my day to read yet another blog. Instead, I rely on my hubby to forward articles I may find interesting. This is one such article. I received it late last night. In short, it compares the environmental footprint of two different American houses.

The first home is located in Tennessee:

- twenty-room mansion heated by natural gas
- pool, pool house, & separate guest house, all heated by natural gas
- average electricity & natural gas bill: $2400+
- natural gas use: 20 times national average for average American home
- physical footprint: 4 times the size of average new American home
- electricity consumption: 12 times average home in Tennessee
- monthly energy consumption exceeds annual energy consumption of average home

The second home is in Texas:

- four bedroom house with only 4000 square feet
- geothermal heat pumps use ground water to heat & cool the house
- geothermal heating system uses NO fossil fuel
- rainwater & household wastewater is purified & used for irrigation
- native flora surrounds the home

Can you guess who owns these properties? If you answered Al Gore and George Bush, respectively, you would be correct. Apparently, Mr. Gore compensates for the excessive energy footprint of his mansion by purchasing “carbon offsets” from someone whose home consumes less energy. Hmm…someone like George?

So much for environmental awareness.

Yet Another Shooting

I had a pretty normal day on Monday, all things considered. I taught school, did laundry, ran some errands, and went out for lunch with my daughter. I did some cleaning and decluttering in my kitchen, and some additional planning work for my homeschool support group. Like I said, pretty normal. By contrast, I also pumped water from my basement and took a drive down River Road to assess the damage along our local shoreline after the mighty Nor’easter of the past day or so. Many waterfront properties had a considerable amount of debris in their yards, indicating that the river had made its way across the road and then some; not normal, but definitely to be expected after such severe weather.

What was not to be expected was yet another school shooting, this time at a college rather than a high school. Of course, due to my lack of news awareness, I was ignorant of this massacre until almost 3:00 PM when my husband called to say that the children of some of his colleagues, children who attend Virginia Tech, were fine. They were either off campus at the time of the shooting or were elsewhere on the school grounds. Praise the Lord!

Hearing this report made me wonder how many of these shooting incidents have taken place in the United States over the past few years. They seem to be increasing, at least to this homeschool mom, but are they really? A reporter for Fox News must have been thinking the same thing because, not too long after my bewilderment, I found this article detailing the school shootings in our country over the past ten years. Summarizing the information:

2007: 3 shootings, 35 dead, 30 injured

Blacksburg, VA: COLLEGE student killed 32, injured ~30, killed self
Greenville, TX: HIGH SCHOOL student committed suicide at school
Tacoma, WA: HIGH SCHOOL student killed younger male student

2006: 8 shootings, 11 dead, 17 injured

Springfield Township, PA: HIGH SCHOOL student committed suicide
Katy, TX: HIGH SCHOOL student committed suicide
Nickel Mines, PA: five Amish schoolgirls & gunman killed, 6 injured
Cazenovia, WI: student shot & wounded principal,
Bailey, CO: six students held hostage, assaulted, 1 killed, gunman killed
Pittsburgh, PA: five basketball players shot after a school dance
Hillsborough, NC: HIGH SCHOOL student shot & injured 2 other students
Essex, VT: gunman killed 2 people & injured 3 at ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

2005: 2 shootings, 11 dead, 7 injured

Red Lake Reservation, MN: nine students killed, 7 injured, shooter killed
Cumberland City, TN: young student killed school bus driver

2004: 5 shootings, 5 dead, 2 injured

Nine Mile Falls, WA: HIGH SCHOOL student committed suicide
Joyce, WA: young student committed suicide in classroom
Philadelphia, PA: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL student killed, guard injured
Washington, D.C.: HIGH SCHOOL student killed, another student injured
Henderson, NV: gunman killed hostage in car on school campus

2003: 3 shootings, 5 dead, 4 injured

Cold Spring, MN: HIGH SCHOOL student killed 2 fellow students
Red Lion, PA: MIDDLE SCHOOL principal killed by student, shooter killed
New Orleans, LA: four teenagers killed fellow student, injured 3 others

2002: 2 shootings, 0 dead, 3 injured

Bowie, MD: MIDDLE SCHOOL student shot & critically wounded by sniper
New York, NY: HIGH SCHOOL student opened fire at school, injured 2

2001: 7 shootings, 7 dead, 18 injured

Caro, MI: HIGH SCHOOL student took 2 hostages, killed himself
Ennis, TX: student took 17 hostages, killed self & female student
Gary, IN: HIGH SCHOOL student, expelled from school, killed classmate
Granite Hill, CA: teacher and 3 students wounded by classmate
Williamsport, PA: HIGH SCHOOL student wounded classmate in cafeteria
Santee, CA: HIGH SCHOOL student killed 2 classmates, wounded 13 others
Baltimore, MD: HIGH SCHOOL student shot & killed classmate

2000: 4 shootings, 2 dead, 6 injured

New Orleans, LA: two MIDDLE SCHOOL students wounded in gunfight
Lake Worth, FL: honor student killed English teacher on last day of class
Mount Morris Township, MI: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL student killed classmate
Fort Gibson, OK: MIDDLE SCHOOL student wounded 4 classmates

1999: 3 shootings, 14 dead, 29 injured

Deming, NM: MIDDLE SCHOOL student killed female student
Conyers, GA: HIGH SCHOOL student injured 6 with rifle & handgun
Littleton, CO: 12 students, teacher & 2 gunmen die, 23 injured

1998: 3 shootings, 8 dead, 30 injured

Springfield, OR: HIGH SCHOOL student killed 2, injured 20
Fayetteville, TN: HIGH SCHOOL student killed classmate
Jonesboro, AR: students killed teacher & 4 girls, wounded 10

1997: 2 shootings, 5 dead, 12 injured

West Paducah, KY: student killed 3, wounded 5 at HIGH SCHOOL
Pearl, MS: HIGH SCHOOL student killed 2 students & wounded 7 others

Total: 42 shootings, 103 dead, 158 injured

Given this information and the magnitude of the Virginia Tech killings on Monday, I truly don’t understand what is happening in our culture that drives people, many of them young, to take their own lives (and the lives of others in the process). Is it a lack of ability to cope with life? Is it the product of violence in our culture? Is it the availability of firearms in our country? The questions could go on and on.

Yet, as a practicing Christian, I wonder if this “school-shooting problem” isn’t related to a lack of spiritual grounding amongst our young people, a lack of grounding in a faith practice that teaches:

- the value of life

…the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. --- John 16:27 (NIV)

- the assurance that, even in the face of tragedy, something positive will be created

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. --- Romans 8:28 (NASB)

- perseverance when faced with challenges

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eye on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. --- Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

I have no answer as to why anyone would commit such a heinous crime. I do, however, have a personal observation: the perpetrators of these crimes seem to be getting more efficient at killing. In 1997, seventeen people were affected in two shootings (5 dead, 12 injured); this year, approximately sixty-five people have been victimized (~35 dead, ~30 injured) in only three shootings…thus far. As the parent of a student who is rapidly approaching her college years, I pray that we, as a society, find some answers as to why these school shootings occur, not just for the safety of our students but also for the survival of our freedoms, as our desire for security may threaten to overrun our commitment to liberty.

Electronic Field Trips Announced!

Colonial Williamsburg has released the list of Electronic Field Trips for the 2007-2008 academic year. I have reprinted the summary here. For more information on cost and sign up procedures, visit the Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trip page. My daughter is very excited about the episode entitled, “Emissaries of Peace,” because it deals with the Cherokee people prior to their march westward. Katherine the Great has discovered, of late, that my maternal family history contains a Cherokee woman named Zula who married a gentleman named Charles Edward Forsythe in Indian Springs, Maryland around 1732. But I digress…check out the listings and sign up today!

JAMESTOWN UNEARTHED
October 11, 2007
Take a look at how history is written and reevaluated as new methods of study are introduced. Explore the myths and misconceptions of Jamestown in 1607: revisit the documents, artifacts, and other evidence through archaeology. Learn how every generation sees the evidence in new ways, and how this affects our understanding of the past.

EMISSARIES OF PEACE (premiere)
November 8, 2007
During the turbulent era of the French and Indian War, the Cherokee people struggled to presere their independence. Follow Cherokee leader Ostenaco and Virginian Henry Timberlake on their 1762 journey from Chota (the capital of the Cherokee nation( to Williamsburg and London in search of lasting peace.

FOUNDERS OR TRAITORS? (premiere)
December 6, 2007
The months of late 1776 were “the times that try men’s souls.” Join Edward Rutledge, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams as they attend a conference with British admiral Lord Howe, hoping to end the American rebellion peacefully. Discover the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the risks they took.

FOR READY MONEY
January 10, 2008
Join a young merchant apprentice as he learns his lessons in money and accounts. Just as today, everyone in colonial America from gentleman to slave had access to coins, bill, notes, and credit. Discover how the colonial economy worked.

NO MASTER OVER ME
February 7, 2008
Ann Ashby tells the story of her life as a free black during the days of slavery. Discover how she and her husband, Matthew, made a life for their family: Matthew purchased his wife and children and had them freed. This is the story of balancing between slave and free communities in this poignant reminder of what our freedom is really worth.

TREASURE KEEPERS (premiere)
March 6, 2008
You’ve seen their work in every museum --- but what do conservators really do? Learn how conservators prevent or slow the damage caused by “agents of destruction.” Explore how and why preserving history is important for future generations.

THE INDUSTRIOUS TRADESMEN
April 10, 2008
Follow the lives of several journeymen fresh from their apprenticeships in trades and business as they learn how skill and opportunity will impact their careers. Discover which ones will achieve their dreams and become masters of their own shops.

I Would Fail That Quiz, Too

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani had a little trouble answering some practical economic questions the other day at a campaign stop in Alabama. Apparently, a reporter quizzed the former New York City mayor on his knowledge of prevailing food prices. Giuliani’s answer, quoting from an article on Fox News:

“A gallon of milk is probably about a $1.50, a loaf of bread about a $1.25, $1.30.”

The article went to state that:

A check of the website for D’Agostino supermarket on Manhattan’s Upper East Side showed a gallon of milk priced at $4.19 and a loaf of white bread at $2.99 to $3.39. In Montgomery, Alabama, a gallon of milk goes for about $3.39 and bread is about $2.

Don’t feel bad, Mayor Giuliani, I would have trouble with those questions too (and I have a degree in Economics). I don’t drink milk and I often buy bread in a specialty store rather than at my local supermarket. Add the fact that I dislike grocery shopping and I would have failed the pricing quiz too.

Snack Idea: The Banana Dog

One of the homeschool teens that my daughter corresponds with online had an interesting snack suggestion the other day: a banana dog. It is his version of a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Instead of making this perennial favorite on regular bread, he puts the banana in a hot dog bun. How clever! It certainly makes sense, doesn’t it? A banana is shaped like a hot dog, so why wouldn’t it fit better in a hog dog bun than on a regular slice of bread? Call me simple, but I thought this was an ingenious idea. I may even try it someday soon. Keep the creative juices flowing, JP.

Ban Homework? Never!

This headline came across my desk the other day: Parents In Australia Call for Ban On Homework. Quoting from the article:

Homework should be scrapped in the early years of primary school and its place in high schools reviewed amid concerns it is a practice without any academic benefits.

The national umbrella organization of parents and citizens groups, the Australian Council of State School Organizations, has called for a review of the setting of homework, arguing there is no evidence that students benefit from the practice and that it has become an overbearing invasion of family life.

Wow! Homework, the custom of assigning extra work to students so that they can practice the lessons learned in their classrooms in order to further develop and cement new skills, is an “overbearing invasion of family life.” The basis for this statement, according to Terry Aulich, the council executive officer:

There is nothing to [PROVE] homework gives kids an advantage in terms of literacy and numeracy.

That is what Mr. Aulich said. Admittedly, this is what my brain heard: “Education is an overbearing invasion of family life, a downright inconvenience for me and my children.” I wonder if this gentleman would advocate the elimination of soccer practice if his favorite team PROVED they could win games without it? As a homeschool educator, a continuing education student, and the daughter of a teacher, I must confess I am an advocate FOR this particular invasion of family life because, despite the lack of a study demonstrating its benefits, I have seen the results of homework completion reflected in student comprehension. Those who finish homework have a better command of the subject matter at hand; those who refuse to do homework generally don’t understand the subject matter as well.

That said, I would not dispute the fact that the amount of homework assigned is often excessive, especially in the primary grades, possibly giving rise to the physical and emotional exhaustion experienced by students mentioned in the article. The rule when I was in school, and that I have used with my own students, was ten minutes of homework per grade level for the average child. For example, the average first grader should be assigned work that can be completed in ten minutes; the average twelfth grader should be assigned work that can be finished in 120 minutes (or two hours). Of course, non-average students may require more, or less, time to complete their assignments.

I believe the problem with homework lies in a lack of time management skill on the part of the student and on the part of the parents, plus a lack of reading skill on the part of the child. Using the aforementioned homework assignment guidelines, families should EXPECT (and allow for) the required homework time EVERY evening, an extremely difficult task given the level of sports participation in some families. Students should EXPECT (and allow for) a period of focus on their studies during a daily homework time. Parents should also make certain their children can read well for their grade level; better skills often result in shorter homework completion times. If superior reading skill is problematic for your child, seek help in this area as soon as possible. The extra effort to improve reading speed and comprehension will eventually pay off for both the student and the family.

My last word of advice on this subject: don’t ban homework and don’t think of it as an “overbearing invasion of family life.” Instead, embrace this time-honored custom of skill practice for what it is: a step in the development of a disciplined mind. Make homework (and education in general) a priority so you can keep it in perspective and, thereby, help your children discern the difference between the love of learning and the practice of discipline.

No Bifocals...Yet

I went to the eye doctor today for the first time since 2004 (not wise since I have a genetic predisposition to blindness). The report is good:

- my optic nerve looks great (for a middle-aged woman)
- my eye pressure was within the appropriate limits
- my pupils are symmetrical
- the vision in my left eye deteriorated a bit

I am inching my way toward bifocals, but I still don’t need them. Hurray! I should expect them within the next year or so but, for now, I don’t need them. Praise the Lord for answered prayer!

Katherine the Great had her eyes examined today as well. Her results were even better: perfect vision. She definitely inherited the paternal “excellent eyesight” gene, another reason for praise. I had glasses in third grade. Ugh!

God is truly great.

Jesus Christ is Risen Today!

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly king, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains which He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured: Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s king, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Sing we to our god above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as His love: Alleluia!
Praise Him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

Teaching ‘Til the End?

Traditionally in the Lutheran church, and possibly in other denominations as well, Good Friday worship service presents the seven last words of Christ for our remembrance and meditation. Normally, the pastor turns to Scripture passages in Matthew for this task. Instead, last night, my pastor chose the passion account in the book of John, which does not contain all seven last utterances of our Lord, only a few of them:

- “Dear woman, here is your son. Here is your mother.”
- “I am thirsty.”
- “It is finished.”

Unfortunately, my favorite passage is not in this list, that of “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

When I was young, the only explanation I ever heard for these words was that, at some specific moment before His death, Christ was so covered with the sins of the people (past, present, and future), it was impossible for God the Father to look upon Him. Being so completely holy and unable to abide sin, and despite the fact that He so completely loved the Son, God the Father could not look on Christ because He was so completely unholy. I believe this to be true.

When I was older, sometime during King Richard’s bout with cancer and while I was attending Bible Study Fellowship, someone suggested to me that those words were not just a recognition by Christ that He was wholly unacceptable to God at that moment, but they also represented one final attempt by Christ to teach the Pharisees (and anyone else who happened to be standing at the foot of the cross) who He was. My initial reaction to this explanation was skepticism…until I read Psalm 22.

For people unfamiliar with the Holy Scriptures, the opening line of Psalm 22 is none other than, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Being thoroughly educated in the writings of Moses, the prophets, and the other giants of the Hebrew faith (like David), the Pharisees who were present at the crucifixion would have known this passage well. Perhaps if they had read their way through it in their minds and carefully observed the events unfolding before them, they may have recognized Christ in the description given there, perhaps not:

1) ...SCORNED BY MEN AND DESPISED BY PEOPLE

Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him… --- Matthew 26:67

They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. --- Matthew 27:30

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. --- Luke 23:35a

2) ALL WHO SEE ME MOCK ME; THEY HURL INSULTS, SHAKING THEIR HEADS...

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” --- Matthew 27:28-29

The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face. --- John 19:2-3

Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads… --- Matthew 27:39

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. --- Matthew 27:41

3) HE TRUSTS IN THE LORD; LET THE LORD RESCUE HIM. LET HIM DELIVER HIM...

“He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King o Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in god. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. --- Matthew 27:42-44

They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” --- Luke 23:35b

4) ...A BAND OF EVIL MEN HAS ENCIRCLED ME, THEY HAVE PIERCED MY HANDS AND MY FEET.

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. --- Matthew 27:27

So the other disciples told him [Thomas], “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” --- John 20:25

5) THEY DIVIDE MY GARMENTS AMONG THEM AND CAST AMONG THEM AND CAST LOTS FOR MY CLOTHING.

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. The garment was seamless, swoven in one piece from top to bottom.

“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They divided my garmets among them and cast lots for my clothing.” So this is what the soldiers did. --- John 19:23-24

Psalm 22 was written by David many, many years before Christ was born, and even more years before He was crucified. Yet, it perfectly describes what happened to our Lord in the last hours of His life. I never cease to be amazed by the ability of God to make everything accomplish so much more than I can comprehend. In the case of these last words of Christ, they recognized that Jesus, the sacrificial lamb, was abhorrent to God because of our sins and they continued to teach until the very end.

Lord, grant me the wisdom to listen and to learn whenever you are teaching. Amen.

Curling Kudos!

Hearty congratulations to Team USA on their victory over Canada Wednesday night at the 2007 Men's World Curling Championships in Edmonton, Alberta. With a 6-5 defeat of Sweden yesterday, the curlers have secured a spot in the final four-team tournament. Two brothers, Todd and Kevin Birr, from Mankato, Minnesota (my college town) are members of Team USA.

If you are unfamiliar with curling and want to learn more, visit www.usacurl.org. For an explanation of curling basics, with animation, click here.

Why Strip the Altar?

Last night, my daughter and I attended our first Maundy Thursday service at our new church. That seems rather odd as we have been worshiping there for almost a year but, for some reason, Maundy Thursday 2006 was spent elsewhere. Anyway, what I found interesting was this explanation of “stripping the altar” that was included in the service bulletin and read aloud by the pastor at the end of worship. I have been a Lutheran all my life and, frankly, cannot recall ever hearing an explanation of why this activity is included in the Maundy Thursday service. I very much appreciated this information and have decided to share it with you here.

Stripping of the altar (removing all ornaments, linens, and paraments) is an ancient custom of the Church done on Maundy Thursday. It is symbolic of the humiliation of Jesus at the hands of the soldiers.

After the Last Supper, less that 24 hours remained in the earthly life of our Lord. Events moved rapidly: prayer in Gethsemane, betrayal by Judas, arrest, mock trial, painful beating, the trudge to Golgotha and execution.

As His life was stripped from Him, so we strip our altar of the signs of life to symbolize His purposeful, redemptive suffering and death for us. Plants are new life springing forth. In the passion and suffering of Christ, human life ebbs from Him. In recognition of this we remove the palms from our altar.

PALMS ARE REMOVED.

Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.” The events of Golgotha snuffed out the human life of Jesus, the Light of the world. As even creation was dark when He suffered, so we extinguish our candles and remove them.

CANDLES ARE EXTINGUISHED AND REMOVED.

Our offerings represent one way of serving God and others. They reflect Gods greatest offering to the world and to us in sending His Son, Jesus, in human form. As the offered body of Jesus was removed from sight in burial, so we remove our offerings.

OFFERINGS ARE REMOVED.

The missal stand holds our worship books that guide our worship life together as we sing praises to God. As Jesus suffers, joyous songs are not heard. As these sounds of joy are removed from our lips, we remove the missal stand.

MISSAL STAND AND SERVICE BOOK ARE REMOVED.

Jesus’ offered Body and His shed Blood have been give to us in, with, and under the form of bread and wine in this Holy Mystery. As He was removed from us in the grave, so we remove the elements and vessels of this Sacrament.

COMMUNION VESSELS ARE REMOVED.

Our altar is in the form of a table. It is here where our Lord Jesus serves us as both host and meal at His banquet feast. The coverings and paraments are made of fine linen; material appropriate for feasting with our King. As our King’s body was stripped in crucifixion, so our altar is stripped of its coverings.

ALTAR PARAMENTS ARE REMOVED.

The Paschal Candle is carried from the baptismal font to the rear of the sanctuary where it is extinguished. There is no benediction or postlude at the end of this service, which indicates that the service has not concluded. [Our worship continues on Good Friday.]

Appropriate Museum Behavior

I am the daughter of an artist/elementary teacher. Consequently, as a child, I was introduced to all manner of art media --- painting, textiles, sculpture; you name it, I saw it. Whenever time, money, and opportunity permitted, I was subjected to art museum field trips in Minneapolis, fully a two-hour drive from my hometown (by the way, I enjoyed those excursions a lot and found them incredibly interesting). Still, as part of all my museum outings, I was taught one very important rule of behavior: KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF THE ARTWORK.

Or, in the case of a 22-year old Pewaukee, Wisconsin, man: KEEP YOUR FEET OFF THE ARTWORK. Read for yourself the unfortunate result of his complete lack of self-control, as recounted in an article from Fox News:

A man who claimed he found the subject disturbing put his foot through a 17th-century painting valued at $300,000 at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

David Gordon, museum CEO and director, said the 1640 work, “The Triumph of David” by Ottavio Vannini, was hanging in the museum’s Early European Gallery when the incident happened Wednesday.

The oil painting depicts the end of the biblical tale of David and Goliath, with David carrying the severed head of the giant Goliath, Gordon said.

“[The man] was kicking it, aiming his blows at the head of Goliath, and then he pulled it off the wall and started kicking it,” Gordon said.

A museum employee and security guard tried to restrain the man, and eventually he stopped, took off his shirt and lay on the gallery's floor, Gordon said.

So, what are the consequences to an individual who destroys a 376-year-old painting? The penalty for this Pewaukee man has yet to be determined. However, my sixteen-year-old daughter has an idea for justice and restitution: force Mr. Disturbed Vandal to pay all costs associated with the full and complete restoration of the painting. If restoration of the painting is impossible, then Mr. Vandal should pay the commission fee for a gifted artist to paint a replica of “The Triumph of David.” In both cases, my daughter believes the perpetrator of this crime against an historical artifact should also repay the original value of the painting, $300,000, in addition to the aforementioned expenses. I think I would have to agree with her; however, I would require Mr. Vandal to receive extensive psychological counseling as well.

To quote my very frank and opinionated child: “Get over yourself. It’s art.” To which I would have to add, “If you don’t like the painting, just walk away.”

The Face of Cancer in My Life

When my husband developed medullary thyroid cancer in 1993, a doctor told me that, within ten years, two out of every three people in the United States would either be a cancer patient or would know a cancer patient. Well, we are now fourteen years from 1993 and I believe his prediction may be coming true. I recently took stock of the people I know, or have known, and the people I know of through other people, who are either fighting the disease, have survived the illness, or have died from it. This is only a partial list:

Wife of my high school English teacher
My high school orchestra/choir director
My high school physics teacher
Homeschool friends (2)
My husband
Husband of waitress at local restaurant
Waitress friends from local restaurant (2)
My maternal grandfather
My fraternal grandmother
My godparents
My uncle
Sunday School teacher at my former church
Parents of my best friend
Father of musician friend
Father of a dear friend from high school
Music teacher
Neighbors from Minnesota (3)
High school classmates (2)
Mother-in-law of handbell choir member

What does the face of cancer look like in your life?

With every minute of 2006, two Americans were diagnosed with cancer and one died. Think about that! That is like re-living the horror of 9/11 every two days for the entire year. --- Lance Armstrong

Dirty Purse

In the monthly newsletter from Backus Hospital, a medical facility about thirty minutes from my home, I recently found an article about how my purse could make me sick. Frankly, I never thought of my purse as a filthy, germ-laden harbinger of disease, but this article definitely set me straight. Listen to this:

When tested for bacteria, purses can be a culprit for hosting salmonella and E. coli, which can cause food poisoning and gastrointestinal problems, and pseudomonas, which cause eye infections.

Think about where you put your purse. If you have ever put it down on the floor of a public bathroom, or even on a restaurant floor, it can pick up germs and even fecal matter.

Fecal matter? Yuck! While I usually don’t put my purse on the bathroom floor (I use the little hook on the back of the stall door), I have been known to put it on the floor of a restaurant.

Robin Heard, nurse epidemiologist at Backus Hospital, said women often put their purses on the floor of their cars. Then if a purse is put on the counter or kitchen table when you get home, it can transfer bacteria.

I must admit, I really didn’t think about this a whole lot, but I can see how, if my purse makes contact with any space that comes in contact with my shoes, fecal matter and related bacteria could go anywhere. After all, I may have walked across a lawn that was used by small rodents, feral cats, who knows…

The article continues to explain how cloth purses harbor more bacteria than leather or vinyl purses, and recommends using anti-bacterial wipes to periodically clean your purse. You can bet I will be stocking my car with a box of those babies today! Maybe if I had done that a month ago, I wouldn’t have gotten sick with the flu.

I learn something new every day.

Flocking Remembered

I saw an advertisement in the hallway of my former church the other day. It announced the availability of “flocking” as a fundraiser for the congregational concert handbell choir. Apparently, the choir is planning a summer tour that requires some extra funds. I recall fondly the last time the bell choir ventured forth with “flocking” as a fundraiser. It was in the spring of 2005, the last year Katherine the Great played with the group. At the end of that fundraising effort, I took the entire flock of flamingos home for a bath. When they were laid out to dry in the driveway, I snapped this picture.

For those of you who maybe interested in conducting your own flamingo flocking fundraiser, or if you are unfamiliar with “flocking,” check out these websites for more information and a complete explanation of what it means to “get flocked.”

Fundraising Ideas & Products Center
Flamingo Flocking

Folding the Flag

This bit of information came to me from the Cedar County [IA] Genealogical Society newsletter. They reprinted it from the Scotland County [MO] Genealogical Society newsletter, Volume 19 No. 3 July 2005.

At military funerals, have you ever noticed how the honor guard pays meticulous attention to folding the American flag thirteen times? You probably thought this was to symbolize the original thirteen colonies, but we learn something new every day.

The first fold of the flag is a symbol of life.

The second fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.

The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.

The fourth fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace, as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

The fifth fold is a tribute to the country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.”

The sixth fold is for where people’s hearts lie. It is with their heart that they pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all.

The seventh fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect their country and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic.

The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.

The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood and mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The tenth fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first born.

The eleventh fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies, in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The twelfth fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The thirteenth fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding them of their nation's motto, “In God We Trust.”

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy today.