Some Important Omissions?

Previously on Gooseberry Lane, I printed the “Assumptions Regarding Secondary School Redesign” that were included in a document from the Connecticut Education Commissioner and the State Board of Education. Looking further at the “Framework of Ad Hoc Committee,” I find the core curriculum that will be required of all students:

Mathematics
- Algebra I
- Geometry

Science
- Biology
- Physics

History & Social Science
- American History: Settlement to the Civil War
- American History: Civil War to September 11, 2001

Literature
- Reading & Writing About Literature
- Reading & Writing About History & Political Science

Humanities
- Art Appreciation
- Music Appreciation
- Portfolio/Demonstration

World Language
- Intermediate proficiency in speaking & writing a single language

I also find “Pathways Leading to Post-Secondary Education or Career Option” that include additional coursework:

Path 1: Math/Science/Engineering
- Mathematics: Algebra II, Calculus A or B
- Science: Chemistry, Biochemistry, AP Biology or Physics
- Computer Science: Computer Programming
- Senior Research Project

Path 2: Humanities
- Literature: Epic & Lyric Poetry, Plays of Shakespeare, the Novel
- Humanities: Art History, Music History
- Portfolio: Studio Art, Dance, Theatre, or Creative Writing
- Senior Project

Where is Music in the Humanities Path portfolio? Where is World History in the core curriculum? Where are the required literature courses that have students reading great novels and plays, rather than just reading about them? For that matter, where is Economics? Better yet, where is the American Government class that will be required coursework for all students, will be worth one credit, and will continue for an entire year? After all, if a democratic republic is only as strong as the “smarts” of the people from whom the government derives power, wouldn’t it be a good idea to ensure that future generations of our country actually understand the government for which they are responsible?

If this “framework” is the starting point, I respectfully suggest that the Connecticut education officials head back to the drawing board.

Grandma Got a Cell Phone

My seventy-six year old mother has finally admitted defeat, if you will, and purchased a cell phone. Why, you ask? She got stuck at the county fair without a ride and couldn’t reach any family members because they were all out and about with their cell phones. It is a necessary evil of living in the 21st century, I guess. I am just thankful that my mother is still willing to embrace new technology. Go, grandma!

OK, Now I’m Concerned

The Plush Duck is definitely in a squawky mood about this topic!

Since listening to the latest radio interview with Education Commissioner Mark McQuillan, where he chatted about redesigning high school in Connecticut, I decided to investigate his plan of action for this lofty goal. Here is what I found on the website of the State Department of Education, quoting verbatim from a document entitled “Framework of Ad Hoc Committee:”

Assumptions Regarding Secondary School Redesign

1. A Connecticut high school diploma will be based upon successful completion of required courses of study using model curricula and benchmark assessments developed by the SDE [State Department of Education].

2 Benchmark assessments will consist of two types:
- End-of-year course examinations
- Performance assessments demonstrating 21st-century competencies

3. A Connecticut diploma will require the demonstration of core and specialized competencies that map onto a set of post-secondary options or career paths.

4. Required courses are year-long, will have credits affixed to them, and will be graded; elective or pathway courses may be semester-long.

5. A minimum number of credits will be required to graduate, in addition to completing required courses, passing end-of-year exams and performance assessments. Letter grades will not be abandoned.

6. Secondary course sequence begins at Grade 8 and ends at Grade 13, allowing students six years to complete their diploma requirements.

7. Future uses of the CAPT examinations after 2012 is uncertain.

Well, praise the Lord, at least he is reconsidering use of the CAPT test! Aside from that, the rest of his plan makes me cringe. Here are just two reasons why:

First, he uses the term “model curricula” in the same sentence as “developed by the State Department of Education.” What I hear: the state not only wants to tell me what to teach but, apparently, also wants to tell me which curriculum I should use for each subject --- the model curricula…developed by the state. Is it just me, or does this smack of central planning of education by the state?

Second, the required courses will “map onto a set of post-secondary options and career paths.” What I hear: the state wants to tell my student which career path she will take, one can only presume, based on her performance in the required courses which will be mandated by the state ala the model curricula. Is it just me, or does this smack of central planning of the work force by the state?

Forgive me, Mr. Commissioner but, so far, all I hear in your framework is central planning and more central planning. The last time I studied the history of the United States, central planning was not a virtue espoused by the Founding Fathers (or, for that matter, by the capitalist system that operates in the United States). Being a political science major, I do recall the use of the term “central planning,” but it was not used in the same sentence as the term “democratic republic.” I will give you two guesses where I have heard that term. Can you pass my exit exam?

Presidential Cancer Forum

Heads up! The 2008 Presidential candidates (well, some of them anyway) will be in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Monday and Tuesday for a discussion of the challenges facing the cancer community: the shrinking budget of the National Cancer Institute, how to reduce annual cancer deaths (600,000), and how to reduce annual cancer diagnoses (1.3 million). No fewer than eight of the current presidential candidates have either survived cancer or had it strike a close friend or relative. That raises hopes in the cancer community that disease prevention could be a priority for the next chief executive. The forums are sponsored by the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and will be moderated by Lance himself and journalist/broadcaster Chris Matthews. The two-hour discussions will be aired live on MSNBC, starting at 11:00 AM both days.

Confirmed attendees (listed alphabetically):
- Senator Sam Brownback
- Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
- Senator John Edwards
- Governor Mike Huckabee
- Governor Bill Richardson
- Governor Tommy Thompson

A Warning Shot

A few months ago, the Connecticut governor appointed a new Commissioner of Education, a development that has been watched closely by all homeschoolers since the new appointee hails from Massachusetts, a state that requires curriculum approval before homeschooling can begin or "be allowed" (click here for a comparison of the two states). Recently, Judy Aron of NHELD and the owner of Consent of the Governed heard a radio interview with Commissioner McQuillan and came away with these points, posted on her blog in various articles:

…He sounded very friendly and nice…but…

- He made it clear that the state must have oversight over homeschoolers.
- The state must insure that there is “a quality program in place.”
- They [the state] must be able to monitor what is going on in the home.
- If children are not getting an adequate education, then the state “must insist” that the child be enrolled in public school.

All this while saying “he fully supports the choice to home educate” and how he applauds parents who homeschool and how homeschooing is wonderful…

So if you do not think that the state will make some moves toward regulations - think again…I am also certain he would implement some sort of testing procedures.

One thing is for sure, he wants to see a plan (that they approve of) and he wants to make sure you are following it and if you don’t your kids will be forced into public school.

Yesterday, Commissioner McQuillan gave another interview, this one to NPR. The focus of the discussion was the reform and restructuring of high school in Connecticut, one of the three major goals enumerated recently by the State Board of Education. Being the parent of a homeschooled high school student, I listened closely to the Commissioner and, frankly, I did not like what I heard. Phrases like “exit exams,” “standardized curriculum,” and “centralized control” were either expressly spoken or implied. If I was waiting for a warning shot across the bow of my homeschooled dinghy, I think that was it. In fact, the whizzing of the cannonball is still ringing in my ears. The only thing that remains to be seen is when and where Mr. Commissioner will begin his assault.

Sleep Hygiene?

I have known for a long time that sleep quality is important to overall health, but I had never before heard sleep behaviors referred to as “sleep hygiene.” Recently, this information came to my mailbox from RealAge.com (see below). Why do I care? Because researchers are seeing a connection between disrupted sleep and an increased risk of blood clots.

Sleep hygiene refers to a list of recommended behaviors and environmental conditions that, when employed singularly or in combination, can improve sleep quality. Research indicates that 70% to 80% of patients with sleep disorders benefit when practicing good sleep hygiene.

Ok. That makes sense. My complexion improves when I practice better skin care, so why wouldn’t my sleep improve when I practice better sleep habits. What exactly should I do to improve my sleep quality? And how does my current sleep hygiene stack up against the do’s and don’ts of sleep habits?

Behaviors to avoid
- consuming caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol too close to bedtime
- watching television right before going to bed
- eating or drinking 2-3 hours before bedtime
- going to bed before you are sleepy
- exercising too close to bedtime

I don’t usually drink coffee or even caffeinated tea before bed; I have never smoked a day in my life; and if I drink alcohol in the evening (which is rare), I usually imbibe during dinner, having a glass of dark red wine or very dark ale/beer like Guinness Stout.

I do watch too much television and almost always in the evening, usually concluding with the news right before bed. According to the guidelines given above, this behavior should definitely be eliminated or adjusted.

Dinner at my house is usually around 6:00 PM; bedtime is usually around 11:00 PM. That gives me at least four hours between food consumption and sleep. I think I am ok on that front.

Going to bed before feeling sleepy? Who does that? Does such a behavior exist in adults over forty? This is not a problem at my house.

Exercising too close to bedtime is also not a problem in my home. Getting enough exercise at any time during the day is the problem I need to address.

Behaviors to adopt
- using your bedroom only for sleep
- exercising regularly, preferably in the morning or early afternoon
- keeping a regular bedtime and waking time, even on the weekends
- creating a relaxing bedtime routine
- practicing relaxation techniques
- creating a comfortable environment that is conducive to sleep

I may fare a little better per this checklist. I do use my bedroom for reading once in a while, but only as part of my bedtime routine. I certainly do not have a television or a computer in my sleeping quarters. Those items were eliminated from the “doze zone” immediately after college.

As previously mentioned, I do not exercise enough during any part of my day; however, when I do exercise, I do so early in the day (usually around 5:00-6:00 AM).

I definitely have a regular waking time. My alarm clock gets me up every morning at 5:00 AM. Turning in at a regular time every night is a bit more challenging, but as long as I accomplish my bedtime routine, I can usually hit the hay on time. Again, that involves turning off the television set; tough to do at times, but not impossible.

I do have a bedtime routine, but I am not sure it is “relaxing.” It occasionally includes some relaxing activities (like yoga or reading a book), but mostly it is populated by morning preparation tasks --- clothes in the washer, clothes in the dryer, dishes out of the sink, etc. I suppose I could work on this a bit.

Relaxation techniques? Sad to say, I do not utilize these to their fullest capacity, usually because I don’t plan well enough to take some down time either at night or during the day. Again, something I need to work on.

As for my environment being conducive to sleep, my bedroom could use some redecorating, although I would guess that is not what the researchers meant by the word “environment.” If it is what they meant, I am more than willing to address this issue. I have some great ideas for new wallpaper, curtains, and bed linen!

So, that’s my assessment. How do your sleep behaviors stack up against the recommendations?

The End of an Era

I am a little behind on the cycling news since I have been preparing for the new “homeschool” year, but I did find this on the Velonews website yesterday:

Despite one of the sport’s most impressive win records, the U.S.-based Discovery Channel team has failed in efforts to secure a new title sponsor and will cease operations at the end of the season.

Tailwind Sports, the parent company of the team, announced Friday that the program will end with the 2007 cycling season. Tailwind officials were apparently unable to parlay a series of eight Tour de France victories over nine years into a satisfactory sponsorship arrangement.

Wow! Obviously, success doesn’t necessarily breed success in cycling…at least where sponsorship is concerned. If the team with the top winners at the Tour de France and absolutely no positive drug tests can’t find a sponsor, who can?

The team has stated that the decision to cease operation is NOT based on lack of sponsorship but on an antagonistic management change at the Discovery Channel television network, on the current climate of drug controversies within the sport, and on a lack of agreement by various cycling groups/agencies on how to handle drug testing and standards. Even Lance Armstrong alluded to the latter as a reason for closing up shop:

“I do not think you have seen the last of this organization in the sport, but clearly things need to improve on many levels, with a more unified front, before you would see us venture back into cycling.”

So what are American cycling fans to do? I don’t know about anyone else, but I plan to watch the progress of Team Slipstream, managed by former U.S. Postal rider Jonathan Vaughters. So far, the team has signed David Millar, David Zabriskie, Christian Vande Velde, Magnus Backstedt, and Julian Dean. Not bad for a new franchise. It would be great if they could sign the likes of Levi Leipheimer and George Hincapie, too. The former maybe, but the word on the street has Mr. Hincapie riding for T-Mobile in 2008.

The bigger question for me: who gets Johann Bruyneel?

Lest We Forget

With the bridge collapse in China, the mining disaster in Utah, the mudslides and flooding in the Midwest, and all the associated victims, it is easy to forget these people after the immediacy of each disaster has passed off the breaking news ticker. Lest we forget the long struggle that victims and their families often face, here is an update on the last remaining survivor of the I-35 Bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Minnesota who remains in the hospital --- Paula Coulter. The information printed here is taken from a hospital website that patients can use to keep family and others updated on their condition.

August 19, 2007: Today, Paula was able to lay horizontally for several hours. Her brain and blood pressures remained at an acceptable level. The sedation medications continue to be reduced, while her stamina for laying flat seems to be increasing. As I wrote earlier, this is key for the lengthy time she’ll need to endure for her back surgery.

August 21, 2007: I know the neurological team met with the family today. Surgery for [Paula’s] back is right around the corner. It’ll be here before you know it.

August 22, 2007: The surgery actually got underway a little after 4:00 PM. It’s an extensive surgery. I understand that doctors will take about 90 minutes just to get to the area where the “real work” begins. Surgery time is expected to be about 6 hours.

August 23, 2007: Paula’s surgery went until 10:45 PM. So, it turned out to be close to 7 hours. Doctors are “very confident” of the results of the surgery.

If you would like to read additional journal entries about Mrs. Coulter and her family, view photos of the accident, or if you would like to donate funds to Caring Bridge, please visit her website.

Disclaimer: I do not know Paula Coulter, nor am I acquainted with her. She graduated from high school just minutes from my hometown in southern Minnesota. I merely feel called to ask the readers of Gooseberry Lane to pray for this woman and for her family while they all face the daily challenges of recovery.

Ramping Up!

While I know that many homeschoolers eschew the “back to school” routine because it is philosophically opposed to what homeschooling is about: living a lifestyle of lifelong learning, recognizing that education doesn’t begin and end annually in September and June, understanding that education occurs constantly (or at least it should), etc. Yet, the structure of a “school year” lends itself quite nicely to planning, especially planning for days of work and days of rest (i.e., God worked and then He rested). That is why, as a Co-Coordinator for the CHOOSE CT homeschool support group, I mark the “beginning” of a “school year” each autumn. That said, in order for our group website to be prepared for work (and for use by our member families) each September, I need to make sure that the information presented there is up-to-date in August, a task that is currently underway.

Another task that has been added to the preparation list: scheduling my daughter’s high school classes. This year I am using Home School, Inc., a free online planning tool that allows me to put all her assignments for every course on a calendar that can be accessed either monthly or daily. I figure the fact that she has to log into the computer every morning to see her tasks will keep her more personally accountable for her work, plus it will prepare her for using the online assignment systems that many colleges and universities have installed in the past few years. Another advantage: Katherine the Great can notify me, through the system, of assignments that are completed and ready for evaluation. I have high expectations for this tool; hopefully, I won’t be disappointed. Maybe I will post an evaluation after my daughter and I have used it for a while.

So, what goes on at your house in August --- ramping up for fall or winding down from summer?

A Perspective on Chores

Well, I would like to say that the results of a study surprised me but, alas, I am a married woman in possession of a great deal of anecdotal evidence regarding men and chores; and, according to the study data, the man at my home is far below average in the housework-help department. Quoting from an article on Fox News:

Overall, men averaged 9.41 hours of housework per week and women 21.13 hours.

Continuing:

[The study] found that the higher the marriage rate in each country, the higher the proportion of housework carried out by women.

British men come in 10th place, performing 35 percent of chores, well below the most egalitarian countries of Denmark, Finland and Norway. The Scandinavian countries, as well as splitting housework more evenly, also have the highest cohabitation rates.

Ah, ha! There it is…the crux of the study: cohabiting couples are more likely to split housework evenly than those who are married. Apparently, after marriage, both sexes revert to stereotypical roles: women give up “fighting for their rights;” men get out of housework. Again, quoting from the article:

“Marriage is generally accompanied by expectations of permanence that may not be the case in a cohabiting relationship,” says the research by American academics to be published in the Journal of Family Issues. “Cohabitors, therefore, may be more prone to aggressive bargaining when it comes to exchanges of time and effort in the household, and less willing to do more than what they perceive as their fair share.”

Farther along in the report:

Frank Hanna, co-founder of the Mediation Agency and author of a book on conflict resolution, said, “With cohabitation, to put it bluntly, there [is] no contract and the likelihood of a more peaceful relationship is higher than in a marriage. When marriage takes place, the race is over. Men see the requirement to behave as starting to diminish.”

So, this is what I am hearing, correctly or not: cohabitation is better than marriage because the uncertainty that comes with a lack of commitment keeps both parties in the relationship “on their toes,” so to speak, because both parties understand they could be replaced (or either party could abandon the relationship), unless:

- each examines the relationship on a routine basis to ensure equality of roles and tasks within the partnership at all times, with no one being responsible for “more than their fair share” at any moment

- each actively and aggressively negotiates for this aforementioned equality

- each strives for peace within the relationship at all times (although I am not sure how tranquility is achieved through active, aggressive bargaining but, again, I am an old married woman who long ago gave up her “right” to a housework-free life)

- each “behaves themselves,” avoiding at all costs the stereotypical roles assigned to men and women within a relationship

With standards like these as a requirement to maintain a relationship, it is a wonder anyone ever gets married, or even remains in a cohabiting relationship. I would think the items listed above would lead to fewer couple relationships in general because each standard lends itself to a “when the going gets tough, everyone bails” mentality. Commitment in a relationship should work as an incentive to stay and work through relationship difficulties (even arguments over the equality of chores), not as a carrot to “keep the edge in a relationship,” as if both parties were operating in the free market of coupling where the competition is fierce and either party can move on to greener pastures at any time. Maybe that is a more accurate description of the coupling landscape these days; in which case, I thank the Lord that I am married because I don’t need that kind of stress in my life.

My experience: everyone hates chores. Yet, if men refuse to do them because “it isn’t their job” and women spurn them to “stick up for their rights,” the consequences get ugly pretty fast --- the home becomes a pigsty, the children do not learn to take care of themselves or to help others, and life becomes an endless series of ‘action items” stretching out before the family like some torturous obstacle course because no one has mastered the mundane to make time for the extraordinary.

Admittedly, I have a less-than-perfect household where I do more chores than the other members of my family, but my husband labors 60-75 hours per week in a job that often requires weekend work and intermittent travel; and my daughter is in her last few years of high school with a rigorous course of study and college admissions looming on the horizon. At this point in my life, being a wife and a mother are more about support of others than about equality for myself.

No, in the end, I believe that concern over the equality of tasks in a relationship, and cohabiting for that matter, are both inherently self-centered. Instead, I prefer this maxim:

Sitting down, He [Jesus] called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” --- Mark 9:35 NASB

What’s Next?!

WARNING: This particular entry contains wording from a quote that some may consider a bit explicit.

I don’t think it is a big secret amongst my friends and acquaintances that I disagree with the way the German state handles various issues, like homeschooling. Now, an article on LifeSiteNews.com (that I came across while reading Principled Discovery) shows just how far the German government has fallen into the pit of moral bankruptcy, at least in my opinion. Apparently, the German Federal Health Education Center, or Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung, has published two forty-page booklets entitled “Love, Body and Playing Doctor.” Directed at the parents of very young children, pre-schoolers, and Kindergarteners, these brochures offer advice like this:

Fathers do not devote enough attention to the clitoris and vagina of their daughters. Their caresses too seldom pertain to these regions, while this is the only way the girls can develop a sense of pride in their sex.

Reportedly, the booklet goes on to say:

The child touches all parts of their father’s body, sometimes arousing him. The father should do the same.

Excuse me if I think this sounds more like a guidebook for pedophiles than advice for the parents of young children. Even more frightening, the booklets received a 93% approval rating from a sample of parents, educators, and child psychologists who prescreened them prior to publication.

I guess G. K. Chesterton was right:

“When men cease to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing; they then become capable of believing anything.”

Scoop, Nuke, & Grill

With my husband working past 5:00 PM on most nights, sharing a car, and preparing for the upcoming school year, the dinner schedule at my house is a bit challenging these days, tempting me to forego kitchen chores for the local restaurant. To deal with this time crunch and my addiction to restaurant and convenience food, I started a food experiment this week: scoop, nuke, & grill. The scoop is my crock pot; the nuke is my microwave; and the grill is, well, my George Foreman® countertop grill. The last all-important ingredient: one copy of Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly: Healthy, Low-Fat Recipes for Your Slow Cooker by Phyllis Pellman Good. The idea is to put an entree or side dish in the crock pot, microwave a fresh vegetable, and grill some meat or fish.

So far, the lab rats (aka my family) have responded positively. No one is complaining about the crock pot food being too heavy. No one is grumbling about the food being too dry or overcooked. No one is whining about not eating out for dinner. In short, no one seems to be fussing at all. Not bad for the second day of an amateur gastronomic study.

Meal #1: Hungarian goulash over brown rice
Meal #2: Crab cakes & “stir fry” veggies

Word Puzzle

This afternoon, I revisited some parts of the French curriculum that Katherine the Great will be using this fall. When I opened one of the books, low and behold, I found a word puzzle from the 2005 handbell tour folded up inside. The choir director had this particular brainteaser available as a team problem-solving exercise to occupy some of the long hours on the bus ride between Connecticut and Illinois. Give it a try and see how you do! I will post the answers in a few days.

Example: 12 = M in a Y (12 months in a year)

26 = L of the A
7 = W of the W
1001 = AN
54 = C in the D (with the J)
9 = P in the SS
88 = PK
13 = S on the AF
32 = D at which WF
90 = D in a RA
3 = BM (SHTR)
29 = D in F in a LY
64 = S on a C

Drug Testing for Mr. Bonds?

Ok, call me a whiner, but I have a question: did any independent anti-doping agency procure a blood and urine sample from Barry Bonds last night after he hit his 755th home run? Maybe they did and I just don’t understand how baseball drug monitoring works. I think the United States Anti-Doping Agency should have tested Mr. Bonds and should take his home-run record away if it is discovered that he used performance-enhancing drugs. After all, if WADA and the UCI test cyclists who win races (after each race, mind you), why shouldn’t baseball players be tested after setting performance records?

Are baseball players subjected to random drug testing 24-hours per day, 365 days per year? Do they have to notify their teams or the baseball officials of their whereabouts so that random drug testing can be enforced? Are baseball players required to pay back their entire annual salary if they are caught doping? Do they receive a two-year suspension from the game after their first drug offense? Do they receive a lifetime ban from the sport after their second offense? To my knowledge, the answer to all these questions is “no.”

If Americans are serious about teaching their children to be drug-free; if they want their kids to “just say no to drugs,” maybe Americans should implement tough doping standards for baseball. After all, it is “America’s favorite pastime” and the source of many role models for America’s youth.

Just a thought from a whiny cycling fan.

Sit Still & Listen

Way back when I was in elementary school, every day my class started with either a recitation of the pledge of allegiance or the singing of the national anthem. Back then, I didn’t have an opinion about whether these were positive activities, or whether they infringed on my rights, I just said the pledge or sang “The Star Spangled Banner” with all the other kids and got back to the business of learning. This morning, I was reminded of that bygone activity as I sat on base waiting for “colors.”

For the non-military types who read Gooseberry Lane, “colors” is that time each day when the flag is saluted and the national anthem is played. Active duty military members stand at attention. Civilians who happen to be walking on base are required to stop while the anthem is played; some of these individuals put their hands over their hearts while others just stand quietly. Anyone who is driving a car is required to stop. Once the national anthem is finished, a seven-note tune is played to signify an end to this morning ritual and a return to normal activity.

For me, “colors” is (loosely) the military equivalent of “quiet time” in my Christian circles. It is that time of day (usually in the morning) when I acknowledge something bigger than myself and when I check-in to make sure my attitude and actions are where they should be. Truthfully, it hasn’t always been that way. In years past, I would often avoid the base during “colors” because it threw a wrench my time management scenario; it delayed my morning regimen and forced me to be still for (horrors!) all of about three minutes. Now that I am older (and not necessarily wiser), I realize that the problem wasn’t time; it was attitude. I didn’t want to humble myself or assess my convictions. I just wanted to get on with my life.

Sad to say, that is often how I feel about my “quiet time.” It interferes with my morning chores; it demands that I slow down; it reminds me that I need to acknowledge something bigger than myself (God as the higher authority in my life); and it makes me examine my attitude and actions (recognizing when my life is moving in a direction that is displeasing to the Lord). All I need to do is sit still and listen.

Two simple actions…so hard to accomplish.

Bridge Thoughts

I have watched way too much TV news coverage about the bridge collapse in Minnesota today. I sent e-mails to the friends and family members I could not reach by phone last night. Everyone is fine, but I just can’t quite wrap my brain around the fact that the most heavily traveled bridge in my home state is now lying in the Mississippi River.

It was reported most of the day that recovery efforts were progressing much slower than expected due to conditions in the river. In that particular location, the Mississippi is not only muddy, but the current is quite fast. Apparently, in an effort to lessen the impact of that current, rescue officials have attempted to lower the river level by using a nearby lock and dam system. The dive teams have also been hampered by the amount of debris in the water, no surprise given what transpired but definitely not beneficial to the operational goal of recovering victims. And while this work plods forward, the families wait…

I remember exactly where I was when 911 occurred. I now remember exactly where I was when the I-35W Bridge collapsed. Then, as now, I pray for the victims and praise God for the miracles that occurred within such an unspeakable tragedy, miracles like the rescue of all those school children who were trapped in a bus and the gentleman who drove off the structure just before it fell. It is during times like these that I miss being in Minnesota.

Bridge Collapse

This evening, as I was conducting my online errands, I found this breaking story on Fox News:

Tons of concrete have collapsed and survivors are being carried up the riverbank. Both the northbound and southbound lanes of 35W are lying in the Mississippi River, according to local CBS TV affiliate WCCO.com.

Pieces of bridge wreckage lay on the east bank of the river, while large portions of concrete roadway lay on the west bank. Rescuers are scrambling to help people caught on parts of the roadway in the river gorge, according to the Star-Tribune.com.

There are multiple cars still in the river and a couple cars on fire. According to one witness, there was a school bus full of children on the bridge. MyFOX9 reports that the school bus landed on all fours after the collapse and all the children are safe.

And this from another article, also on Fox News:

The entire span of an interstate bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River during evening rush hour Wednesday, sending vehicles, tons of concrete and twisted metal crashing into the water.

Needless to say, I could not believe my eyes and I immediately attempted to contact friends and family in the Minneapolis area to make certain they were ok. At this point, all seems well with my Minnesotans.

The I-35W Bridge crossed the Mississippi River very near the University of Minnesota, between the historic Stone Arch Bridge and the Cedar Avenue Bridge. A major crossing in the Minneapolis area since its construction in 1967 (when I was only six years old), the I-35W Bridge carried ~140,000 cars per day. Built as a deck-arch truss bridge, the structure had no support piers in the river; rather, the bulk of the span was held up by support piers on the riverbank instead, an innovation that permitted unimpeded passage of river navigation. It was not considered a “pretty” bridge, especially when compared to the Stone Arch structure; yet, it was a workhorse of the Twin Cities transportation network, with four lanes of traffic traveling in each direction. The total length of the bridge was 1907 feet, with the longest span being 458 feet.

I have crossed this bridge more times than I can count. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would collapse.

Photo taken in May 2006 by Todd Murray.