Post Category → Teaching

Question & Thought and AND for September 1st, 2016!!!

Question & Thought and AND for September 1st, 2016!!!
Welcome September!
1. Question – Have you ever given yourself credit for one virtue  whether that be ambition, talent, intellect, charm or just plain ol d__________ness?
2. Thought – I can even forgive myself, though when I look back at various stages in my life, I groan. What an ass. What timidities. What stupidities. What indecisions and flounderings.
But then I take another look. I spent childhood and adolescence examining my conscience and finding myself in a perpetual state of sin. That was the training, the brainwashing, the conditioning and it discouraged smugness, especially among the sinning class.
Now I think it time to give myself credit for at least one virtue: doggedness. Not as glamorous as ambition or talent or intellect or charm, but still one of the things that got me through the days and nights. (Frank McCourt, Teacher Man)
“Lose if you must, but don’t lose the lesson.” (Anonymous)
AND:  Too many weird stories in the news at present.  I’m not exactly certain as to why….

+ The EU is telling Ireland that Apple owes Ireland billions in taxes.  The EU is not a taxing agency.  Ireland cut a deal with Apple.  Apple is happy and Ireland is happy.  Why is the EU making waves? Could the EU be concerned with a Trump victory and thus seeing a potential decrease in US corporate tax?  Thus, Apple $$ parked in Ireland may return to the US?  This would ‘disrupt’ EU banking a bit…and the potential windfall from an EU tax on bailing out various countries.  Something to think about…
+ Why would US News and World Report report on a possibility that US Homeland Defense could possibly run the next US election?  Why are we having an incumbent administration be the “over seers” of the election?  Is it constitutional to have Dept of HD involved in elections?
+ What is the story with HRC’s health?
+ Have laws been broken in the Clinton Foundation?  Pay for play, even within a “do-good” foundation is not permitted.  Foreign money is not allowed to enter in the business arena–either for profit agents or not for profit agents–in a pay for play.  The state department could not arrange seating with the Chinese Prez in exchange for donations….that is, not legally.
+ If HRC’s latest emails discussed Benghazi–to the point the State Dept wants to review and redact portions due to classified material–why is that not a news story?
+ Why does the Gov of VA want to let felons vote…when law specifically denies that privilege.
+ Where is the GOP response to these events?  The GOP is proving culpable in this 0 administration.  Why are they silient?
+ Trump meets with Mexico’s Prez.  Why would the Mexican prez want to meet with Trump…before the election?  Is he concerned Trump may win?
This stuff is simply too weird to make up.  HRC is on the ropes…I still believe Trump wins big in November.  I don’t look at polls….but I do look at the criminality of HRC and wonder just how a party could even permit her to run on their ticket.
Reply
 
rem – Have gratitude, do good, and don’t be consumed by life’s commotion.
Question & Thought & ANDs.

Questions and Thought for February 21st, 2016!

Questions and Thought for February 21st, 2016!
Good Sunday Morning!
1. Questions – Who was the best teacher you ever had? If you left home without anything, what would be the first thing you’d ask someone to send to you? What would the temptation to tell people what they want to hear (rather than what they need to hear) be especially strong in Timothy’s situation? Instead, what is Timothy supposed to do?
2. Thought from 2 Timothy 4:1-5. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct; rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (From the Serendipity Bible)
“Again, there is no liberty, if the judiciary power be not separated from the legislative and executive. Were it joined with the legislative, the life and liberty of the subject would be exposed to arbitrary control, for the judge would then be the legislator. Were it joined to the executive power, the judge might behave with violence and oppression.” (Montesquieu – middle 1700s)
rem – I had no knowledge that I had no knowledge.
Question & Thought & ANDs.

Question & Thought for February 20th, 2016!

Question & Thought for February 20th, 2016!
Good Saturday Morning!
1. Question – Thanks folks for being an attentive audience. I’ve been doing this question and thought for some 15 years of so. What are the ‘Hot’ topics? That is easy from the responses I get from you. Sex – Politics & Religion are the buttons which stir so many people. (Not necessarily in that order either.) I often wonder the reasons for such a range in views on sex, religion and politics in America today. I think Solomon wondered the same thing long ago if you read Ecclesiastes. I wonder what role our schools play in all of this?
2. Thought – In 1787, the very year the Constitution was written and approved by Congress, that same Congress passed the famous Northwest Ordinance. In it they emphasized the essential need to teach religion and morality in schools. Here is the way they said it:
Article 3: Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.
​Notice that formal education was to include among its responsibilities the teaching of three important subjects:
  • Religion – which might be defined as a ​‘fundamental system of beliefs concerning man’s origin and relationship to the cosmic universe as well as his relationship with his fellowmen.’
  • Morality – which may be described as ‘a standard of behavior distinguishing right from wrong.’
  • Knowledge – which is ‘ an intellectual awareness and understanding of established facts relating to any field of human experience or inquiry (i.e., history, geography, science, etc.).’ (The 5000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen)
“They’re all in the same plane. they’re all going around in the same direction….It’s perfect, you know. It’s gorgeous. It’s almost uncanny.” (Astronomer Jeffery Marcy describing the solar system)
 
rem – I had no knowledge that I had no knowledge.
Question & Thought & ANDs.

Question & Thought for 2-17-16!

Question & Thought for 2-17-16!
Good Wednesday Morning!
1. Question – You’re about to learn the #1, top secret way to become a dramatically better lover! I have your attention now, don’t I?
2. Thought – Right now, the people reading this can be split into two groups…men and women. The men are thinking, “I definitely don’t need this section.” The women are thinking, “I sure hope the men are paying attention to this section!” (I should mention that my wife is probably thinking, “What the heck is he doing thinking he can teach this subject?”
In the famous science-fiction book, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, there is a female character who has had an overwhelming experience; one she has had a great deal putting into words. When asked about it by another person, she feels frustrated at her inability to accurately describe her feelings. Finally, she says, “When Mike’s kissing you, he isn’t doing anything else. You’re his whole universe.” In other words, the whole rest of the world disappeared and every single cell, fiber, muscle, and thought was fully immersed in the moment.
The secret to becoming a better lover – and a better teacher – is total immersion. Your ability to completely give yourself up to the moment and fully “be” with your students is an awesome and unmistakably powerful technique. I would love for one of my students to be talking with a peer about what is it to be in my class on a daily basis and for that student to say, “When he’s teaching you, he isn’t doing anything else!” Students can feel it when you are totally present.” (Teach like a Pirate by Dave Burgess)
“Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.” (Mark Twain)
rem – I had no knowledge that I had no knowledge.
Question & Thought & ANDs.