Sunday, May 29, 2016
O Captain! My Captain!
This poem was written by Walt Whitman for Abraham Lincoln at his death. I read it at the funeral of my grandfather, a retired Navy Captain and pilot in WWII and the Korean War.
I found this poem a fitting tribute for my grandfather -- a Harvard-educated renaissance man, lover of poetry, graceful ballroom dancer, a veteran -- dashing and courageous. He introduced me to the poems of Robert W. Service and the stories of Bret Harte.
My father is a veteran, also, and my uncle flew combat air missions in VietNam. David's grandfather and at least one of his great uncles were veterans, as well. The USS Loeser (pronounced LOH-zer) was named after David's "Uncle Art," who was killed in WWII.
On Memorial Day we remember those who died in war. And by extension, it seems right to remember those who are and were willing to die in war.
Soldiers and farmers are frequently given as examples for believers in Scripture. I am blessed to have both in my family.
(This copy from Poetry Foundation website):
I found this poem a fitting tribute for my grandfather -- a Harvard-educated renaissance man, lover of poetry, graceful ballroom dancer, a veteran -- dashing and courageous. He introduced me to the poems of Robert W. Service and the stories of Bret Harte.
My father is a veteran, also, and my uncle flew combat air missions in VietNam. David's grandfather and at least one of his great uncles were veterans, as well. The USS Loeser (pronounced LOH-zer) was named after David's "Uncle Art," who was killed in WWII.
On Memorial Day we remember those who died in war. And by extension, it seems right to remember those who are and were willing to die in war.
Soldiers and farmers are frequently given as examples for believers in Scripture. I am blessed to have both in my family.
(This copy from Poetry Foundation website):
O Captain! My Captain!
Related Poem Content Details
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
Source: Leaves of Grass (David McKay, 1891)
Monday, May 9, 2016
So This Happened
I'm often the last to read the thing everyone is buzzing about, but in case you missed it, too:
Confessions of Liberal Intolerance is an article about intolerance of and condescension towards different ideas in academia, written by (progressive) Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times. Interestingly, in the article some black professors describe being discriminated against as Christians and conservatives in academia as being like the prejudice they face outside of it.
Heterodox Academy's line-up of contributors.
Confessions of Liberal Intolerance is an article about intolerance of and condescension towards different ideas in academia, written by (progressive) Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times. Interestingly, in the article some black professors describe being discriminated against as Christians and conservatives in academia as being like the prejudice they face outside of it.
Heterodox Academy's line-up of contributors.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
My Friends' Moms
I love this piece. Thinking of all of my friends' moms growing up, and the Navy moms on different bases, and my own delightful friends who mother my own kids, too, in their own way.
The New Yorker, My Friends' Moms
The New Yorker, My Friends' Moms
A Naranj and Other "Mondegreens"
[edited]
A discussion of how the mind interprets sound into words and then meaning.
The New Yorker, The Science of Misheard Lyrics (and other Words)
A discussion of how the mind interprets sound into words and then meaning.
The New Yorker, The Science of Misheard Lyrics (and other Words)
Friday, May 6, 2016
Last Day
It's 10:30 pm on a Friday night and I'm about to clap shut my laptop. Today is my last day as a homeschooling mom.
I have taught anywhere from one to three of my kids at home for the past 12 years. (And none of them have ever been in five-day school.) All three are headed to a regular, brick-and-mortar, five-day-a-week school next year for 8th, 9th, and 12th grade. Radical.
Like all big endings, it has been a little anticlimactic: hassling one child to finish one final test, shuffling through files, last minute grading, an impromptu grocery store run, realizing transcripts will be polished up next week rather than today. Not with a bang but a whimper.
But it feels momentous to me.
Thank you, and goodnight, to homeschooling's curious, wild, busy, funny, angsty, peaceful, "lovely, dark, and deep" ride.
Our family has been viewed as kooky and offbeat.
We been viewed as conservative and authoritarian.
We've been viewed as rebels, madmen, and saints.
Of course we are none of these -- or perhaps all of these. Just like any family trying to creatively "do" life in the way that seems to fit with our lifestyle, resources, values, and needs.
I've been a terrible mom, I've been an amazing mom -- sometimes all in the same hour.
My children are quirky in some ways, brilliant in some ways, regular in most ways. Just like yours.
I have a shrewd, natural test-taker, and one who used to bomb standardized tests.
I have kids with different learning styles, different strengths, and different test scores. I have a math avoider and one who "hates" reading. (Though lately this kid has started talking animatedly about his reading.) One has been in learning therapy pretty regularly (and benefited greatly).
I have a philosopher, an engineer, and a pragmatic businesswoman. I have a child who carefully lines up pencils and ruler in the workspace and keeps a detailed calendar; I have one who can't find homework.
I've taught my kids in China and America, on the east coast and in the southwest. In the kitchen, in the bedroom, in the library, in the car.
I've used material from the internet, from neighbors, from friends, from books.
I've personally seen and experienced the kind of resources and co-ops that spring up in freedom-rich cultural and legal environments (Texas!) -- and the dearth of same in educationally narrow-minded and culturally parochial parts of the country.
Some of my best friends are other homeschooling moms. And some of my other best friends are not. I have gained wisdom from both about parenting.
The kids and I have worked so closely together, with all of our flaws and strengths. I have learned some basic things.
It's counter-intuitive, but start work each day with the youngest before you work with the older kids. Make sure everyone reads aloud each day. Let each do math at the time of day when they are mentally fresh. Take a short break every 30 minutes. Pick the curriculum that appeals to you as much as it appeals to them. Encourage each kid to study in his own way (eg, one kid may study by orally telling you all about what is going to be on the test, one kid may study by making flashcards. Both ways are fine and I only figured that out this year). Three words: Saturday morning chores. Have a short family devotion every morning -- ie, reflect on the forest before you head for the trees. Laughter really is the best medicine. Laugh easily, pray hard.
Most of these things I learned the hard way. And so many other things I still have not figured out. Homeschooling did not come naturally to me.
Somehow, the kids are alright. Not amazing. Not terrible. Like yours.
Gooodnight, homeschooling. I'm going to miss you.
And tomorrow I am finally going to catch up with the laundry.
I have taught anywhere from one to three of my kids at home for the past 12 years. (And none of them have ever been in five-day school.) All three are headed to a regular, brick-and-mortar, five-day-a-week school next year for 8th, 9th, and 12th grade. Radical.
Like all big endings, it has been a little anticlimactic: hassling one child to finish one final test, shuffling through files, last minute grading, an impromptu grocery store run, realizing transcripts will be polished up next week rather than today. Not with a bang but a whimper.
But it feels momentous to me.
Thank you, and goodnight, to homeschooling's curious, wild, busy, funny, angsty, peaceful, "lovely, dark, and deep" ride.
Our family has been viewed as kooky and offbeat.
We been viewed as conservative and authoritarian.
We've been viewed as rebels, madmen, and saints.
Of course we are none of these -- or perhaps all of these. Just like any family trying to creatively "do" life in the way that seems to fit with our lifestyle, resources, values, and needs.
I've been a terrible mom, I've been an amazing mom -- sometimes all in the same hour.
My children are quirky in some ways, brilliant in some ways, regular in most ways. Just like yours.
I have a shrewd, natural test-taker, and one who used to bomb standardized tests.
I have kids with different learning styles, different strengths, and different test scores. I have a math avoider and one who "hates" reading. (Though lately this kid has started talking animatedly about his reading.) One has been in learning therapy pretty regularly (and benefited greatly).
I have a philosopher, an engineer, and a pragmatic businesswoman. I have a child who carefully lines up pencils and ruler in the workspace and keeps a detailed calendar; I have one who can't find homework.
I've taught my kids in China and America, on the east coast and in the southwest. In the kitchen, in the bedroom, in the library, in the car.
I've used material from the internet, from neighbors, from friends, from books.
I've personally seen and experienced the kind of resources and co-ops that spring up in freedom-rich cultural and legal environments (Texas!) -- and the dearth of same in educationally narrow-minded and culturally parochial parts of the country.
Some of my best friends are other homeschooling moms. And some of my other best friends are not. I have gained wisdom from both about parenting.
The kids and I have worked so closely together, with all of our flaws and strengths. I have learned some basic things.
It's counter-intuitive, but start work each day with the youngest before you work with the older kids. Make sure everyone reads aloud each day. Let each do math at the time of day when they are mentally fresh. Take a short break every 30 minutes. Pick the curriculum that appeals to you as much as it appeals to them. Encourage each kid to study in his own way (eg, one kid may study by orally telling you all about what is going to be on the test, one kid may study by making flashcards. Both ways are fine and I only figured that out this year). Three words: Saturday morning chores. Have a short family devotion every morning -- ie, reflect on the forest before you head for the trees. Laughter really is the best medicine. Laugh easily, pray hard.
Most of these things I learned the hard way. And so many other things I still have not figured out. Homeschooling did not come naturally to me.
Somehow, the kids are alright. Not amazing. Not terrible. Like yours.
Gooodnight, homeschooling. I'm going to miss you.
And tomorrow I am finally going to catch up with the laundry.
"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace at home." Goethe
Thursday, May 5, 2016
What's Deuteronomy Got to Do With It?
One segment in Nancy Guthrie's series "Help Me Teach the Bible"
Scott Redd on Deuteronomy
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/help-me-teach-the-bible-scott-redd-on-deuteronomy
In this audio, Scott lays out ideas for how to teach and explain Deuteronomy to lay people. Included is the following: a discussion of the context for the book historically and a descriptive word picture of what is happening among the Israelites at the time, the covenantal framework of the book, the idea of using the Ten Commandments as an outline for the laws, a handling topics like slavery and punishment within the context of Scripture, and how we are to view sacrifice and purity laws, theocratic laws, and moral laws as believers today -- as not one jot or tittle of the law has passed away. Scott also discusses something he calls Mosaic Eschatology -- Moses looks ahead, and at the end of the discussion, grave errors he has encountered in approaching teaching OT Scripture.
"The Old Testament is not rejected, denied, or refuted by Christ and the apostles...They [the OT books] still make claims on us....How do they, in light of the work, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ."
"We are still called to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, and all of our selves, and all of our strength today."
Scott Redd on Deuteronomy
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/help-me-teach-the-bible-scott-redd-on-deuteronomy
In this audio, Scott lays out ideas for how to teach and explain Deuteronomy to lay people. Included is the following: a discussion of the context for the book historically and a descriptive word picture of what is happening among the Israelites at the time, the covenantal framework of the book, the idea of using the Ten Commandments as an outline for the laws, a handling topics like slavery and punishment within the context of Scripture, and how we are to view sacrifice and purity laws, theocratic laws, and moral laws as believers today -- as not one jot or tittle of the law has passed away. Scott also discusses something he calls Mosaic Eschatology -- Moses looks ahead, and at the end of the discussion, grave errors he has encountered in approaching teaching OT Scripture.
"The Old Testament is not rejected, denied, or refuted by Christ and the apostles...They [the OT books] still make claims on us....How do they, in light of the work, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ."
"We are still called to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, and all of our selves, and all of our strength today."
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