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Happy Mother’s Day!

Posted on 2014/05/11
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Today is Mother’s Day in the US. It is a day set aside to honor mothers, and those women who have been like mothers to us – perhaps a grandmother, aunt, or stepmother.

Mothers do a lot for us. They take care of us even before we are born. They fed us and clothed us when we were babies. When we were sick, they sat beside us and did everything they could to make us feel better. They taught us our first words and watched us take our first steps. They helped us get through the trials and tribulations of childhood, and taught us how to act like adults. They helped mold us into the people we are today.

If your mother is still alive, give her a call or write her a letter and let her know how much you appreciate her.

The following is a podcast from a few years ago on the subject of Mother’s Day.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address

Posted on 2014/02/28
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November 19, 2013 was the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address.” What was the Gettysburg Address? Why was it significant?

At the time, America was in the midst of a civil war, and in July of 1863, there had been a major battle in which the Union armies had defeated the Confederate armies at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. There was massive loss of life, with nearly 8000 dead from both sides. Since it was the height of summer, these dead needed to be buried quickly. Consequently, some bodies were buried in existing graveyards, but many were simply buried at battlefield sites where they fell. Later, the decision was made to create a cemetery for the Union casualties of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg

Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg (circled)

Although reburial of Union soldiers had already begun in October, the Soldier’s National Cemetery was formally dedicated that November, and it was at this dedication that President Lincoln delivered his now-famous address. Perhaps surprisingly to us, Lincoln was not the main speaker; Edward Everett—who had served in public life as Governor of Massachusetts and president of Harvard, among other things—had a reputation as a great public speaker, and was scheduled to give the main oration. His speech was over 13,000 words long, and took two hours to deliver.

Lincoln’s address, in contrast, was a mere ten sentences, and was over in a matter of minutes. The next day, Everett wrote to Lincoln, “I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes.” In his speech, Lincoln reminded the listeners of the principles upon which the country was founded, and set those ideals in the context of the civil war. He then gave honor to those soldiers who had died in defense of those principles, and exhorted his listeners to continue the fight so the American republic would endure through its time of trial. Here is the full text of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous of American historical speeches. Its brevity and eloquence serve as a reminder that it is not length nor fanciful words that make a classic speech timeless; rather, its timelessness comes from reminding us of these timeless ideals, and inspiring us to live by those ideals.

 

 

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on 2013/11/28
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Thanksgiving-1861Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States.  It is a day set apart to be thankful for the blessings we have, and to remember from whence these blessings come.  No matter how difficult one’s situation may seem to be, there is always something to be grateful for.

In that spirit, read the Thanksgiving Proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln in the middle of the American Civil War.  Even in a time of national crisis, Lincoln could still count our national blessings and find reason to give thanks:

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

Have a happy Thanksgiving, and remember to give thanks to the One who gave you the blessings in your life!

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Education Focus: School Nurse

Posted on 2013/05/06
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nurseSometimes, a student might not feel well at school. Perhaps he hurt himself on the playground, or in gym class. What happens then?

Schools have a nurse on staff to take care of these situations. She has a small office with basic medical needs, like a medicine cabinet, basic first aid equipment, and a cot or couch on which a sick or injured student may lie down. If a student becomes ill or gets injured, he may go to the nurse’s office to rest while the nurse notifies the mother or father, who will then come and pick the student up. Of course, if there is a medical emergency then the nurse will act accordingly and provide emergency treatment until help comes, but generally speaking, most situations are not life threatening, and the student is able to wait until his mother arrives to take him home.

Besides taking care of sick students, the school nurse has other duties to tend to. She can also dispense medication for students who require it – for example, asthmatic students or diabetic students might need such attention. Generally, the parents must give written permission for the nurse to perform this duty, although the exact procedure can vary from school district to school district. The school nurse may also have a basic medical history for each student, indicating allergies or other medical conditions that school personnel should be aware of. Students may also be weighed and have their height measured each year, and this information would be included in the student’s school record. A school nurse could also conduct a basic vision and hearing screening. Students who don’t pass the vision or hearing screening would have a note sent home alerting the parent to the problem, with a recommendation to make an appointment with the eye doctor (optometrist), ear doctor (otologist) or audiologist.

A school nurse might also give health and hygiene presentations to students as well, particularly in grade school. She might give a talk about oral health and demonstrate the proper way to brush and floss. For female students approaching puberty, she might give a talk to the girls about the changes their bodies will soon go through. (Boys would probably be given a similar talk by a male teacher, since school nurses are usually women, and thus would be an inappropriate speaker for boys on the subject of “the facts of life.”)

It used to be that some vaccinations (for example, vaccinations against smallpox) were given to the students at school, but now most schools require that students be up-to-date on their vaccinations before they are allowed to register for school. Most parents follow a schedule of recommended and/or mandatory vaccines for children attending public schools, so this is generally not an issue these days.

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Education Focus: School Clubs – Extracurricular Activities

Posted on 2013/04/29
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clubAmerican schools are more than places of schooling, particularly at the high school level. According to American educational philosophy, one of the reasons for school is to help students develop into well-rounded persons. Thus, students are encouraged to develop interests outside of academics, and consequently, many schools offer extracurricular activities.

The nature and scope of extracurricular activities depend on various factors, such as the size of the student body (how many students attend that school) or local interest. Schools with a larger student body will be able to offer their students more extracurricular options than a smaller school, and kids in an urban school are probably not going to be as interested in agriculture-related clubs as kids in a rural school would be.

What are examples of typical extracurricular activities? In high school you might find: theater, speech team/club, debating society, math club, science club, camera club, JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps), automotive club, foreign language club, aviation club, the school newspaper, and the school yearbook. Of course, there are many possibilities – just about any interest or hobby can be organized into an extracurricular club, as long as the interested students can find a faculty member to act as an academic advisor. The role of the academic advisor is to provide oversight, guidance, and stability to the group, as well as make suggestions regarding things like excursions or projects.

There are numerous benefits to extracurricular activities. Participation in a club gives student the chance to develop greater breadth in their knowledge and expertise of a hobby or interest. Guest speakers, conferences, and discussion groups can also help students think about possible future careers, whether that career is directly related to the extracurricular club or not. Extracurricular activities give students the opportunity to develop leadership skills and learn time management skills. These clubs can help students make the connection between the subject matter learned in the classroom and real life. And last but not least, participation in extracurricular activities might even result in a scholarship, which would help students to prepare for the financial challenges of attending college.

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Culture Focus: Drinking Age

Posted on 2013/04/24
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shotPeople like to drink.  They enjoy beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages.  However, in the US there is a minimum age for the purchase and public possession of alcohol.  We call this the “drinking age.”

Historically, most states (with few exceptions) had no drinking age, meaning that anyone could make, purchase, and/or consume alcohol, regardless of age.  In 1919, an amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed, instituting a national ban on the sale, production, and transportation of alcohol. The passage of this 18th amendment was known as “Prohibition,” since it prohibited alcohol.

Prohibition was a social experiment that ended in failure, and in 1933 the 21st Amendment was ratified, repealing Prohibition.  After the repeal of Prohibition, most states established a minimum drinking age of 21, which was the same as the age of majority (the age at which a person would be legally considered an adult).

The drinking age remained largely unchanged until the early 1970s, when some states lowered their drinking age – some to 18, some to 19, some to 20.  This was no doubt influenced by the ratification of the 26th Amendment, which had lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 and essentially changed the age of majority to 18.  In lowering the drinking age, some states placed additional restrictions on the 18 – 20 drinking crowd, such as limiting drinking in this age group to beer and wine but excluding hard liquor; other states imposed no restrictions.  Not all states lowered their drinking ages, however.  Of the fifty states, twelve states had a purchase age of 21 since Prohibition and never changed it.  But from 1969 – 1976, a majority of states (30) had lowered their drinking age.

However, problems began to arise as a result of the lowered drinking age.  18-year-olds, some of whom were still in high school, frequently used their legal status to buy alcohol for their underage friends.  Teen drinking became a huge problem with often deadly consequences, as many were involved in car crashes from driving under the influence of alcohol (driving drunk).   Consequently, there was a push to raise the drinking age back to 21, and in 1984 the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed by Congress.  This act required states to raise their purchase/public possession age to 21 by 1986; states that did not comply would lose ten percent of their highway funds.

It should be noted that the National Minimum Drinking Age Act only deals with the purchase and public possession of alcohol.  Most states permit underage drinking in certain situations – for example, as part of a religious ritual (Communion) or under the supervision of a parent.  But the drinking age effectively prohibits underage drinking.

Consequently, turning 21 is an important event to most young adults – they are able to drink legally.  Many people celebrate their 21st birthday by going to a bar or a restaurant and imbibing.  Of course, people who are not interested in drinking alcoholic beverages to begin with don’t bother with such drinking celebrations, and have a normal birthday party instead.

Because of the allure of “forbidden fruit,” many underage young adults try to get a hold of alcohol anyhow.  Sometimes they might arrange to have someone over 21 purchase the alcohol for them (this is illegal, though), or they might steal alcohol from their parents’ liquor cabinet.  But quite a number will attempt to get around the drinking age by making a counterfeit ID, and using this fake ID to get into bars or to purchase alcohol.  Naturally, states try to counter this by making driver’s licenses and other government-issued IDs tamper-proof and/or difficult to counterfeit.  But it seems like no matter how difficult it is to make a fake ID, there are those who figure out how to get around it somehow.  However, most people comply with the law (more or less) and wait until they are “legal” before they try purchasing and consuming alcohol on their own.

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Education Focus: Driver’s Education

Posted on 2013/04/22
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drivers edFor many American teens, getting a driver’s license functions as a “rite of passage.”  It marks a concrete, visible step towards adulthood and independence.  Small wonder, then, that teenagers are keenly interested in getting this important document.  What must a teen do to get a driver’s license?  The precise answer depends on what state the teen lives in.  I will outline for you the basic requirements that the State of Illinois sets forth for teens who wish to get a driver’s license.

When a student turns 15, he can enroll in a driver’s education course, either through the public school or through a commercial driving school.  Upon passing a written test covering the “rules of the road,” along with a vision test, the student can get a “learner’s permit.”  With a learner’s permit, the student will be able to practice driving on the road, provided he is accompanied by an adult, licensed driver.

The driver’s education course actually consists of two components.  The first is the in-class component (also known as “book”), which has an “emphasis on the development of knowledge, attitudes, habits and skills necessary for the safe operation of motor vehicles including motorcycles insofar as they can be taught in the classroom, and in addition the course shall include instruction on special hazards existing at, and required extra safety and driving precautions that must be observed at, emergency situations, highway construction and maintenance zones, and railroad crossings and the approaches thereto.”  This classroom instruction is required to be at least 30 hours.

The second component of driver’s ed is practical, known as “behind-the-wheel.”  Students are instructed in driving a dual-control car on public roadways with a certified driver education instructor.  This practical instruction is required to be at least 6 hours.

To be eligible to take a driver’s ed course, the student must be enrolled in high school (which may be a private school), and receive a passing grade in at least eight courses during the previous two semesters prior to enrolling in a driver’s ed course.  In other words, the students cannot slack off academically.

Once the student has successfully completed both the in-class component and the behind-the-wheel component of the driver’s ed course, he will receive his “blue slip.”  The blue slip is official acknowledgement of passing the driver’s ed course, and the student will need to take that with him when he goes to get his license.  However, having a blue slip is not sufficient – the student is supposed to complete at least 50 hours of practice (in addition to the behind-the-wheel instruction), and he must have had his learner’s permit for at least 9 months before he can even think about applying for his license. He must also be at least 16 years old.

When he has fulfilled the practice and time requirements, and he has his parents’ or guardian’s permission, he can go to a Secretary of State facility (also called “Department of Motor Vehicles” in some states) to take a driving test, or “road test.”   The driver’s license examiner will test the prospective driver on various aspects of driving and driving safety:  driving down public roads, stopping properly at stop signs and traffic lights, using turn signals properly, parallel parking, and so on.  If the student passes the road test, he will get his driver’s license – an important milestone on the way to becoming an adult!

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Education Focus: P.E.

Posted on 2013/04/15
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pe classMost middle/junior high / senior high school students have P.E. classes.  “P.E.” stands for “physical education.”  There are various reason why school require their students to take a P.E. class – also called a “gym” (from gymnasium, the type of room the classes are held in) class.  The Greeks had a saying:  “A sound mind in a sound body” (mens sana in corpore sano, which is actually a Latin translation of the original Greek phrase!).  They believed that physical fitness was an important part of mental fitness, and just as the mind needs to be trained, so does the body.  P.E. classes are thus an important component of this training.  They also provide students with the opportunity to burn off some excess energy, which in turn will help them to concentrate better when they return to the classroom.

Students in younger grades generally don’t have gym every day, but they do get the opportunity to run around and play at recess.  When they do have gym class, the focus tends to be on organized activities that are easy for younger children to play and understand.  Games like tag or kickball are common activities in these gym classes.

Older students usually have gym every day, partly because they have outgrown recess.  They are more skilled and coordinated, so it is easier for them to play sports like basketball or volleyball.  Sometimes a P.E. class might offer the chance to play individual sports such as tennis or swimming, but usually the emphasis is on team sports.  They might also have tests in a P.E. class, but such exams usually test knowledge of game rules and the like.

Sometimes, if a high school student is on a varsity team, he might be exempted from P.E. classes for that quarter.  That means that he would not have to go to gym class, and could use the time as a study hall instead, for example.

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Education Focus: Student Government

Posted on 2013/04/08
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student governmentA student in middle school / junior high or high school may have the opportunity to participate in student government.  One way he may participate is by running for a specific position on the student council, such as representative or president of the student body.  These positions generally just play an advisory role – their votes do not carry any authority to make changes within the school.  But they do function as a sort of liaison between the students and the faculty.  Student government gives the administration the opportunity to hear the “voice” of the students.  It allows them to make their opinions known.

Admittedly, sometimes running for a position in student government is little more than a popularity contest.  Nonetheless, it gives all students a chance to participate in the democratic process, either as a candidate or in the act of voting.  Participation in student government also allows students to develop leadership skills, thus preparing them to be active, informed citizens of a democratic republic.

Although the student government has a decidedly limited role, there are some endeavors that it may undertake to leave its mark on the school.  For example, they may choose to set up or sponsor a class project, like a fundraiser for a worthy charity.  Alternatively, they could organize to bestow a class gift or legacy on the school.  This is particularly common with a senior class, who will be graduating and moving on to life beyond high school.  They could thus inspire future students to think about the world outside of their own class and consider how they may leave the school a better place than when they first entered its halls as freshmen.

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Writing Assignment: At a Funeral (Solution)

Posted on 2013/04/06
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John F. Kennedy. Funeral and temporary grave, November 25, 1963

John F. Kennedy. Funeral and temporary grave.
November 25, 1963

1.    What event do we see in this picture?
In this picture we see a burial.

2.    What kind of attire are the people wearing?
The people are dressed in black (dark) clothes.

3.    Why are they dressed this way?
They are dressed this way, because they are in mourning.

4.    What is the woman carrying?
The woman is carrying an American flag.

5.    Do you recognize who the woman is?  Can you guess which famous event this is?
The woman is Jackie Kennedy.  This is the burial of President Kennedy, November 25, 1963.

6.    What is a polite way of referring to a dead body?
A polite way of referring to a dead body is to say “the deceased.”

7.    Who prepares the body for burial?
A mortician (also called an undertaker) prepares the body for burial.

8.    What is the name of the process of preserving a body for burial?
Embalming is the process of preserving a body for burial.

9.    What do you call the container the body is placed in?
The container that the body is placed in is called a casket, or a coffin.

10.    What do you call the sadness that you feel when someone dies?
The sadness that you feel when someone dies is called grief.

11.    What is the name of the memorial service for the person who died?
The memorial service for a person who has died is called a funeral.

12.    What is another name for “burial”?
Another name for burial is interment.

13.    What is the name of the little building that a body is interred in if it does not go into the ground?
If a body is not buried in the ground, it may be placed in a crypt or mausoleum.

14.    What is an alternative to burial?
Cremation is an alternative to burial.

15.    What is the name of the container the ashes are placed in?
The ashes from cremation are placed in an urn.

16.    What is used to mark the grave?
A headstone, gravestone, or tombstone is used to mark the grave.

17.    How is the casket transported to the cemetery?
The casket is transported to the cemetery by a hearse.

18.     Who carries the casket to and from the hearse?
Pallbearers carry the casket to and from the hearse.

19.    When a member of the military dies, how may he be honored?
When a member of the military dies, he may be buried with full military honors.

20.    What is a wake for a public figure called?
A wake for a public figure is called “lying in state.”

Paragraph:  At a Funeral

What sort of mourning or funeral customs does your culture observe?  How are people buried?  What does a typical grave look like?  Write a brief paragraph about your culture’s funeral or mourning customs.

Kennedy funeral procession leaves White House, November 25, 1963

Kennedy funeral procession leaves White House.
November 25, 1963

It is customary to wear black to a funeral.  Black is the color of mourning, and in the old days, a widow would dress in black for a period of time following her husband’s death.  It was also part of tradition for her to wear a veil over her face.  If black clothes are not worn to the funeral, then the clothes should at least be dark colored, conveying somberness.  A military man may wear his dress uniform for the funeral, especially if the deceased was also a member of the armed forces.  If it is a funeral for a policeman or fireman who died in the line of duty, then his fellow policemen/firemen would also wear their dress uniforms to the funeral.

In the picture of Kennedy’s burial, you can see that Jackie Kennedy is dressed in black, and a veil is covering her face.  You can also see several members of the military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Special Forces – attending to the graveside service as a military honor guard.  In addition to being Commander-in-Chief (as all Presidents are), President Kennedy had served in the Navy in World War II, so the American flag draped his coffin, and he was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.  If you go there today, you will see that his grave is marked with an always-burning fire, called an “eternal flame.”

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