I came home from work today, feeling like I'd been at war. I was working with a 12 year old bilingual boy who has yet to learn to write in cursive. Therein lies my title, "A Pox on Public Schools." Children are no longer being taught to write in cursive, probably because computers are so handy. "Experts" think they'll never need it. OK, so in 20 or 30 years, we'll have a few who can write (my boys) and the rest of the population will have to type their name and put an "X" beside it. Shades of the Wild West 150 years ago!
To make matters worse, tiny little hands that can't even reach the keys are expected to learn on computers, meaning they can't type, either. I don't care what you say, "Hunt and Peck" is not as fast or nearly as accurate as learning the keyboard properly because it's type a letter and backspace, type a letter and backspace. Once "Hunt and Peck" is learned, though, it becomes harder to learn to type properly. I have to undo the wrong they've learned before I can teach them to do it right.
This idea that kids are going to "Catch on as they go along" is for the birds. I've worked with this boy on his cursive, but he's advanced in other ways and so we had to do the literature essay before he's comfortable with writing in cursive. It was so confusing for him. It was bad enough that he's yet to have a good grasp of English, but his cursive was a problem, too. His sentences showed confusion about verb tenses and syntax. His cursive was write a letter and erase, write a letter and erase. He confused "b" with "f," "a" with "o," "u" with "v". The list goes on. It took 1 1/2 hours to write 2 1/2 paragraphs.
It's not his fault. He's not the only one who's told me his teachers would explain something and move on. Repetition is vital to learning, but it's not happening in our schools. I'm not blaming the teachers. They have no support from the parents, or the board, and the kids are constantly pushing the envelope. Teachers have no authority to discipline. One obstreperous can ruin a classroom. Plus, teachers are so busy with so many other things. Move 'em along, pass 'em up the line. There's no time to teach. May I remind anyone who's put up with this rant so far, "If the student hasn't learned, the teacher hasn't taught."?
I feel sorry for these precious, precious boys. They have so much to learn just to catch up to their grade level. Very few of them graduate from here. When they get old enough, they want girlfriends, sports, and a car-none of which is available to Shiloh, so they go back to public school. The principal has indicated that sometimes he has to try to teach a boy 2 years in one just so he'll be at grade level when he goes back to public school.
And, we get it done. One mother called the public school to learn about Shiloh. The school told her they didn't know much about the Shiloh, except that when the boys came back, they were better behaved and better students. I'm blessed and privileged to work with these boys, but how many more are getting into trouble at school because they're frustrated?
Refugio wants to learn and he's a smart boy. I'm sure there's hundreds of thousands of Refugios out there who haven't learned because they haven't been taught. Instead, they've been written off as "trouble makers." Their troublesome ways are a cry for help. Wake up, America!
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Weeds
I've finally learned something new about the computer-how to check for spam! Big deal. According to Glen Beck on this morning's radio show that I listen to when I'm driving someplace, The FCC is about to forever change the internet. As usual, they refuse to say what's in the 300+ page bill. Like Obamacare, they want the bill to pass and then tell everyone what's in it. I'm just beginning to take baby steps in understanding this confounded contraption that seems to rule the world and they're going to change it!
So, how are they going to change it and how hard is it going to be for people like me to learn the new way of using it? Haven't a clue. Beck did say it was going to be much slower. Slower than Europe's internet and apparently, they're pretty slow.
Maybe, for me, that's a good thing. Everyone else won't be so far ahead of me and I won't be frustrating them with my ignorance. However, I seriously doubt that's what the slowness is all about. More than likely, it's going to slow down important things, like processing bank data, medical data, and anything else that's more important than me responding on Facebook or babbling on in my blog.
What got me started on this little rant is when I check my spam, the majority of it is in Arabic! How did that happen? I make more mistakes in English than I care to count or admit, so who thinks I can actually understand Arabic? Arabic script is distinctive. I know that's what it is. I just don't know how to read it. Don't care to, really.
How did it get on my computer? Who thinks I am interested in whatever's being offered? All I can say is, I'm so glad there's a delete button! The boys at school like to think they can type-until they start taking classes with me. They may not know as much as they think they do, but one thing's for sure. They know where that backspace button is and beat on it with amazing regularity. Type a letter, hit the backspace, type a letter, hit the backspace.
I doubt whoever is sending me messages in Arabic is pounding on the backspace button to erase their mistakes, but this is one time they could put it to good use. Sending anything to me in Arabic is definitely a mistake.
So, how are they going to change it and how hard is it going to be for people like me to learn the new way of using it? Haven't a clue. Beck did say it was going to be much slower. Slower than Europe's internet and apparently, they're pretty slow.
Maybe, for me, that's a good thing. Everyone else won't be so far ahead of me and I won't be frustrating them with my ignorance. However, I seriously doubt that's what the slowness is all about. More than likely, it's going to slow down important things, like processing bank data, medical data, and anything else that's more important than me responding on Facebook or babbling on in my blog.
What got me started on this little rant is when I check my spam, the majority of it is in Arabic! How did that happen? I make more mistakes in English than I care to count or admit, so who thinks I can actually understand Arabic? Arabic script is distinctive. I know that's what it is. I just don't know how to read it. Don't care to, really.
How did it get on my computer? Who thinks I am interested in whatever's being offered? All I can say is, I'm so glad there's a delete button! The boys at school like to think they can type-until they start taking classes with me. They may not know as much as they think they do, but one thing's for sure. They know where that backspace button is and beat on it with amazing regularity. Type a letter, hit the backspace, type a letter, hit the backspace.
I doubt whoever is sending me messages in Arabic is pounding on the backspace button to erase their mistakes, but this is one time they could put it to good use. Sending anything to me in Arabic is definitely a mistake.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Thorns in my garden
Wow! It hit me like a ton of bricks this morning. Reading the parable of the soils again spoke to me in a way like never before. Mark 4:7 says, "Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain."
The seed that falls among thorns-yes, "the thorns of the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things" as described in verse 19 is the very place God puts some people. I've always figured people went there on there own, but not according to verse 7. Now, does that excuse the person who lands there? Does that give them right to fall prey to them? No, not at all. The Apostle says in Romans, "Shall we sin that grace may about? By no means."
So what does it mean if we fall in the midst of all that negativity? I believe it means we are to put down roots so deep, we choke out the things around us that are working so hard to choke the life out of us.
This takes me back to when we lived in Pelican Pointe. Asparagus fern are such nasty creatures, the state of Florida has asked nurseries to no longer sell it. Instead, the state now considers it a noxious weed. If you've ever tried to get rid of the stuff, you'll understand. Oh, it's pretty. Such a delicate, lacy green look. In pots in homes and offices in the north, it's beautiful.
But sin, too, is often beautiful to look at. However, when you get beneath the surface you understand why plants around it die. The root system looks something like a spider web. It starts with a nodule. From that nodule multiple roots develop, going in all directions. Each root develops its own nodules that, in turn, produce more roots that have nodules. On and on it goes, ad infinitum. The roots then wrap themselves around the roots of shrubs, flowers, trees that you don't want to die. Is it any wonder Florida doesn't want any more sold?
On top of that, the delicate fern that is so pretty is easily carried by the wind to places where none had grown before. Each spring, it produces berries in clusters, much like grapes. The berries turn and when ripe, drop off the branches and start the process all over again.
I've said asparagus fern is like sin. You either get it all or it comes back. If we happen to be one of those seeds that land in an area that is infested like the asparagus fern infested our shrubs, now what? God never makes a mistake. If He put me there, He has a purpose. And, He did not put me there and say, "You're on your own, kid." He never gives us any more than we can bear. He continually prunes us and pulls the weeds around us-if we're willing.
I'm reminded that God is the husbandman of the vineyard and as he cares for the vineyard, that work is His, like pulling nasty asparagus fern roots was mine. The plant's job-mine-is to bloom where I'm planted. Let's face it. We're in a world that is choking the life out of a lot of us. We all seem to be worried about something, and we all at times fall prey to wanting more money. Those sales pitches can be so enticing.
Seeking the Lord in such a crazy-mixed up world is, I'm convinced, the only answer. That's how I put down roots. The song says if we turn our eyes on Jesus the things of this world will grow strangely dim by the light of His glory and grace. So often, I have tried on my own to get out of the weed patch and frankly, it didn't work. Now, I know why. If I am fruitful and multiply where I am, someday the weed patch will become a beautiful garden.
The seed that falls among thorns-yes, "the thorns of the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things" as described in verse 19 is the very place God puts some people. I've always figured people went there on there own, but not according to verse 7. Now, does that excuse the person who lands there? Does that give them right to fall prey to them? No, not at all. The Apostle says in Romans, "Shall we sin that grace may about? By no means."
So what does it mean if we fall in the midst of all that negativity? I believe it means we are to put down roots so deep, we choke out the things around us that are working so hard to choke the life out of us.
This takes me back to when we lived in Pelican Pointe. Asparagus fern are such nasty creatures, the state of Florida has asked nurseries to no longer sell it. Instead, the state now considers it a noxious weed. If you've ever tried to get rid of the stuff, you'll understand. Oh, it's pretty. Such a delicate, lacy green look. In pots in homes and offices in the north, it's beautiful.
But sin, too, is often beautiful to look at. However, when you get beneath the surface you understand why plants around it die. The root system looks something like a spider web. It starts with a nodule. From that nodule multiple roots develop, going in all directions. Each root develops its own nodules that, in turn, produce more roots that have nodules. On and on it goes, ad infinitum. The roots then wrap themselves around the roots of shrubs, flowers, trees that you don't want to die. Is it any wonder Florida doesn't want any more sold?
On top of that, the delicate fern that is so pretty is easily carried by the wind to places where none had grown before. Each spring, it produces berries in clusters, much like grapes. The berries turn and when ripe, drop off the branches and start the process all over again.
I've said asparagus fern is like sin. You either get it all or it comes back. If we happen to be one of those seeds that land in an area that is infested like the asparagus fern infested our shrubs, now what? God never makes a mistake. If He put me there, He has a purpose. And, He did not put me there and say, "You're on your own, kid." He never gives us any more than we can bear. He continually prunes us and pulls the weeds around us-if we're willing.
I'm reminded that God is the husbandman of the vineyard and as he cares for the vineyard, that work is His, like pulling nasty asparagus fern roots was mine. The plant's job-mine-is to bloom where I'm planted. Let's face it. We're in a world that is choking the life out of a lot of us. We all seem to be worried about something, and we all at times fall prey to wanting more money. Those sales pitches can be so enticing.
Seeking the Lord in such a crazy-mixed up world is, I'm convinced, the only answer. That's how I put down roots. The song says if we turn our eyes on Jesus the things of this world will grow strangely dim by the light of His glory and grace. So often, I have tried on my own to get out of the weed patch and frankly, it didn't work. Now, I know why. If I am fruitful and multiply where I am, someday the weed patch will become a beautiful garden.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
My bad
I can't begin to tell you how many times I've said to the boys I tutor, "Slow down!" I correct their workbooks, making sure they've found all their mistakes and correct them before I go over it again. A perfect PACE has been rare this year. It disappoints me to see many mistakes, but when a boy gets almost done with the whole workbook and there is a mistake, I am really disappointed. Because it's at the end of the book and because it's usually something silly like a misspelled word, or a missed capitalization, I am disappointed that I can't encourage him with a huge smiley face and he'll get no merits for the merits store.
Unfortunately, when their are many mistakes, it's usually misspelled words, lack of punctuation, or missed capitalization. The answer may be correct, but if he's misspelled it in English, Word Building or Math, I have to mark it wrong. Many of the misspelled words are no more than leaving the "e" off before or "ed" off a verb. Carelessness. In a hurry. They're at an age when they aren't interested in doing their best, just in getting it done.
And, what do I do? Yesterday's blog said the parable of the soils was in Matthew. Wrong! Sorry about that. My bad. I realized my mistake this morning when I went to quote that passage in my Bible study and couldn't find it in Matthew. So sorry about that. The boys aren't the only ones who need to slow down!
Unfortunately, when their are many mistakes, it's usually misspelled words, lack of punctuation, or missed capitalization. The answer may be correct, but if he's misspelled it in English, Word Building or Math, I have to mark it wrong. Many of the misspelled words are no more than leaving the "e" off before or "ed" off a verb. Carelessness. In a hurry. They're at an age when they aren't interested in doing their best, just in getting it done.
And, what do I do? Yesterday's blog said the parable of the soils was in Matthew. Wrong! Sorry about that. My bad. I realized my mistake this morning when I went to quote that passage in my Bible study and couldn't find it in Matthew. So sorry about that. The boys aren't the only ones who need to slow down!
Friday, February 20, 2015
Learning
For the past couple of weeks, I've been focused on The Lord's Table Bible study, unaware of what's going on in the world around me. Not that it's a bad thing. The world doesn't care what I think. I love to learn and I am learning at lot from the study. I'm especially learning how little I know, in spite of having learned a lot.
If I could explain: There's 2 types of knowledge-head and heart. In another description, there's memorization and learning. If I memorize something, I'll forget it unless it really gets into my heart and spirit. The only way that happens is to put the knowledge to use. For example, when we learn our times tables in grade school, we memorize over and over until it comes automatically. That, by the way, is my biggest beef about America's public schools. Children do NOT pick up the basics as they go along. Higher math cannot be done without the foundation of the basics. Period. But, I digress. Not only is rote memory of the basics essential, we have to continue to use what we've learned for the rest of our lives. Maybe that's why people can't do higher math after school. We don't retain because we don't use.
Today, athletes speak of "muscle memory." They practice until it's burned into them and comes automatically. I remember reading Terry Bradshaw's first book, how he practiced throwing in the back yard through a tire hanging from a tree limb. When it came time for him to apply what he'd learned, it stood him in very good stead.
Yesterday, I said I know it all. Not a bit sanctimonious, am I? By that, I meant I've been attending Bible teaching churches since I was two years old, been teaching classes since I was twelve years old, memorized thousands of Bible verses in my lifetime, and am a high honors graduate of Moody Bible Institute. That's almost 70 years of learning, but, unfortunately, I haven't applied it consistently. It hasn't gone from my head to my heart.
How does that happen? I've bumbled and stumbled through life, learning, learning, learning, but not applying consistently. The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune would get in the way, choking me. Matthew 4 tells parable about the seeds and the sower. Verse 18 says, "Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful."
Not all of those things are bad. Sometimes the good gets in the way of the best. The Lord's Table says it will teach me how to appropriate that Living Water and Bread of Life that will keep me from hungering and thirsting for things that don't satisfy. I'm more than ready to learn that.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Another paradigm shift
It never dawned on me that others might receive comfort when I share my problems. Not that I'm accusing anyone of being sanctimonious or superior. One of my mentors just shared a beautiful blog, using Elijah's depression as her Biblical basis. Because she shared her heart, I was comforted to know I'm not alone. Her sharing gave me courage to do likewise, in the hopes that someone can be encouraged to know they're not alone.
I've struggled with a weight problem since I was 13 years old-58 years ago was my first diet. Back then, the only recommended way to lose weight was to count calories. That summer, I took off 25 much needed pounds. Unfortunately, the yo-yo cycle began because it didn't take very long to gain it all back, plus. Up, down, up, down. I once told a friend I would die trying to lose weight, but I would never quit. I haven't quit, but unfortunately, a quit-start has also become a vicious cycle.
Each time I try a new program, I'm sure it's the one that will forever fix my weight problem. It hasn't. If my readers haven't figured out by now, or if there are some who don't know me at all, I'm a born again Christian who has all the answers in her head, but they're stuck there. I'm not systematically living them. I know, I know, that makes me a hypocrite. Good news, God isn't finished with me, yet. He also lived and died for the hypocrite, too. He loves me in spite of myself.
That might make the unbeliever think, "If God is so wonderful and so powerful, why is she so fat? If that's what it takes to be a Christian, count me out." Shame sets in, but not enough to bring about change.
The Bible says perfect love casts out fear. Shame probably has a fear base-I'm afraid I've failed the Lord and myself. So, what's wrong? Why can't I break this bondage that's held me for so long? The Bible also talks about cleaning a house and not putting anything else in place of the demon swept out. Back he comes, with 7 more. Before you freak out, I'm not saying I have demons! I'm applying the principle I see in the story. If we don't put something-Someone-in place of what swept out, the demon (problem) will come back with additional baggage. That fact that someone gains even more after she's lost weight is well documented.
That perfect love that casts out fear can only come from One Person-The Lord Jesus Christ. My latest effort is to join an online Bible Study called The Lord's Table. In the few days I have participated, I have begun to learn to feast on Him, bask in His love, and He has filled the empty spot that food only makes worse. It's been a phenomenal experience. Come join me.
I've struggled with a weight problem since I was 13 years old-58 years ago was my first diet. Back then, the only recommended way to lose weight was to count calories. That summer, I took off 25 much needed pounds. Unfortunately, the yo-yo cycle began because it didn't take very long to gain it all back, plus. Up, down, up, down. I once told a friend I would die trying to lose weight, but I would never quit. I haven't quit, but unfortunately, a quit-start has also become a vicious cycle.
Each time I try a new program, I'm sure it's the one that will forever fix my weight problem. It hasn't. If my readers haven't figured out by now, or if there are some who don't know me at all, I'm a born again Christian who has all the answers in her head, but they're stuck there. I'm not systematically living them. I know, I know, that makes me a hypocrite. Good news, God isn't finished with me, yet. He also lived and died for the hypocrite, too. He loves me in spite of myself.
That might make the unbeliever think, "If God is so wonderful and so powerful, why is she so fat? If that's what it takes to be a Christian, count me out." Shame sets in, but not enough to bring about change.
The Bible says perfect love casts out fear. Shame probably has a fear base-I'm afraid I've failed the Lord and myself. So, what's wrong? Why can't I break this bondage that's held me for so long? The Bible also talks about cleaning a house and not putting anything else in place of the demon swept out. Back he comes, with 7 more. Before you freak out, I'm not saying I have demons! I'm applying the principle I see in the story. If we don't put something-Someone-in place of what swept out, the demon (problem) will come back with additional baggage. That fact that someone gains even more after she's lost weight is well documented.
That perfect love that casts out fear can only come from One Person-The Lord Jesus Christ. My latest effort is to join an online Bible Study called The Lord's Table. In the few days I have participated, I have begun to learn to feast on Him, bask in His love, and He has filled the empty spot that food only makes worse. It's been a phenomenal experience. Come join me.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
'Sup?
Twice in the past week, a friend has commented that I've not blogged in a while. Bless you! Someone (at least 2) are reading my blog!
Lately, I've been focused on a new Bible study entitled The Lord's Table. What's it about? More importantly, what's it teaching me? I'm learning to see what God wants to take out of me as well as learning what I can get out of Scripture.
There are so many distractions in my life that has woven a thick curtain between the Lord and me. My prayer life had become ritual, my Bible reading, duty. But, The Lord's Table has begun a journey enabling me to explore how to have the joy of my salvation restored.
I have long known that the way I eat has been the fabric of so much of that curtain. Unbeknownst to me, attitude was an even heavier fabric. I've tried to be grateful for all that happens in my life, but even that had become hypocrisy. "I said 'thank you,' now give me what I want." Really Christ like, huh? NOT.
So the first thing I had to deal with was my attitude. Attitude, I've learned has a great deal to do with the abundant life Jesus promised. When we truly seek Him, life becomes abundant. When I'm grateful, I don't have time to enviously drool over food that skinny people eat with abandon and no consequences. I don't have time to resent their slim bodies and wonder why God didn't give me one.
Prayer is becoming once again a time with meeting with the God of the Universe. Imagine that. The God of the Universe wants to meet with me! How humbling. Bible study is rich with life changing words that gets into my spirit. How gratifying.
How abundant. Stay tuned. That was just day 1.
Lately, I've been focused on a new Bible study entitled The Lord's Table. What's it about? More importantly, what's it teaching me? I'm learning to see what God wants to take out of me as well as learning what I can get out of Scripture.
There are so many distractions in my life that has woven a thick curtain between the Lord and me. My prayer life had become ritual, my Bible reading, duty. But, The Lord's Table has begun a journey enabling me to explore how to have the joy of my salvation restored.
I have long known that the way I eat has been the fabric of so much of that curtain. Unbeknownst to me, attitude was an even heavier fabric. I've tried to be grateful for all that happens in my life, but even that had become hypocrisy. "I said 'thank you,' now give me what I want." Really Christ like, huh? NOT.
So the first thing I had to deal with was my attitude. Attitude, I've learned has a great deal to do with the abundant life Jesus promised. When we truly seek Him, life becomes abundant. When I'm grateful, I don't have time to enviously drool over food that skinny people eat with abandon and no consequences. I don't have time to resent their slim bodies and wonder why God didn't give me one.
Prayer is becoming once again a time with meeting with the God of the Universe. Imagine that. The God of the Universe wants to meet with me! How humbling. Bible study is rich with life changing words that gets into my spirit. How gratifying.
How abundant. Stay tuned. That was just day 1.
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