tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1936548617533052912024-03-05T06:41:36.864-08:00Heaven is a SchoolThe best teachers have teeth marks on their tongues.
--Alfie KohnAngelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193654861753305291.post-56401342027946715462018-03-24T15:44:00.001-07:002018-03-24T15:44:41.903-07:00How to Make Your Auditions Outstanding <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello again! It's been a while since I've posted, but today I want to talk about theater auditions, and how you can make yours stand out. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Over the last few years, I have been to lots and lots of auditions, hoping to land a part in a show. When it comes to auditioning, I've received tons of good advice by talking to the directors whom I've worked with, but it has also helped to experiment on my own and find out what kind of audition is best for me, so if you want to see for yourself what works, go try it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> In this article, I'm going to give you some tips on both choosing the best monologue, and displaying your best work on the day of the audition. I also want to talk a bit about the idea of competition, but I would like to start with the most important thing to keep in mind; be yourself, and have fun!! Auditions can be nerve wracking, especially if you don't have much theatre experience under your belt, but if you enjoy the experience, so will the casting committee. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> When I choose an audition piece, I generally look for three things. Is the piece age and gender appropriate for me, does the tone/style of the piece match the show and/or the personality of the character I'm auditioning for, and does the piece allow for a wide range of emotional and physical changes? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Selecting a piece that is age and gender appropriate is important if you want your audition to be high quality. If you are a ten-year-old girl auditioning for <i>Mary Poppins,</i> for example, probably shouldn't chose a monologue for a character such as Bert, because the casting committee wants your audition to help them envision you as a character in the show, and not as an isolated performer reciting a speech. Of course, this is not mandatory, and if you have a piece that is great for your performance style, go for it, regardless of who it was originally performed by.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Another awesome way to help the casting judges envision you in their show is having a piece whose style matches that of the show. Sometimes on an audition notice, it will give a direction like, bring a contemporary monologue. Follow this guideline, but don't think that you can get away with just any contemporary monologue for that audition. Do your research on the show and try to give the judges a performance as similar to the show as possible. One great example of this was my audition for <i>A Christmas Carol </i>almost four years ago. I wanted to play the Ghost of Christmas Past, and I went in with a monologue by Puck from Shakespeare's <i>A Midsummer Night's Dream. </i>Both characters were magical and mischievous, so I gave the judges an easy connection between the two, and got the part. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The last big thing I want to mention about monologues is probably the most important. Have a wide range of physical and emotional chances and choices. I cannot stress enough how hard it is to see an amateur actor stand up in an audition, and just recite something without moving or going anywhere mentally. To avoid this, look for a monologue where the character experiences some sort of change or shift, like a realization of something. Also, I really enjoy watching and performing pieces that have clear, defined movement in them. If I had to do some of my early auditions over again, I would use the stage so much more. You might be scared to make bold choices and big movements, but remember that the judges have never met you before, and this is your one shot to show them everything you can do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Now a few words about audition day itself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> First, dress well for the audition. Wear clothes that give an accurate representation of who you are. Also, dress for movement. You never know if you might be asked to dance, or perform a stunt of some sort. Additionally, try to dress in the style of the character you're auditioning for. Even if it's as simple as wearing pink and purple to your <i>Alice in Wonderland </i>audition, you might subconsciously remind the casting judges of the Cheshire Cat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Second, after you slate (introduce yourself) and begin your monologue, don't look the judges in the eyes. I know this seems really small and kind of an odd tip, but it has a lot of impact. If you get up on the stage, and stare me down the entire time, I will have a hard time taking notes, or remembering the great things about your audition, because I was focused on and intimidated by your eye contact. The best place to look is generally right above the judges' heads, so that they can see your face clearly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Third, you are auditioning the entire time you are in the facility! From the moment you walk in that door and hand your resume to the person at the desk, to your last goodbye, the casting committee is watching you, so be on your best behavior. While an acting job might appear to just be about the acting, they also want to see if you are punctual, kind and encouraging to other auditioners, and easy to work with. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This leads me to my last point, about competition. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Since next month is my first time behind the casting table, I want every actor auditioning for my show to know this --</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> YOU ARE NOT COMPETING WITH THE OTHER ACTORS! You are only competing with the vision of the characters in my head. Maybe I want the lead villain to have a certain kind of voice or face, but if you can do better than my imaginary character, you don't have to do better than anyone else. I'm just a casting judge with a problem. Who has the potential to play these roles? I want you to be my solution. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts. I hope they help you to ace your auditions, and to have so much fun! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> If you have any specific questions about Wylie Acting Group's production of <i>The New Guardians</i>, let me know in the comments, or email me @wag.paigesmith@gmail.com. Can't wait to see your amazing work at auditions!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Much love,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Paige </span></div>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193654861753305291.post-67664724378481923522017-05-01T12:33:00.000-07:002017-05-01T12:33:48.632-07:00What Does the Second Amendment Imply About Gun Ownership?<div style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
As I have been studying the US legal system recently, I thought it would be appropriate to explore a bit of law interpretation today. The law we will be discussing is one of the most debated of all time, the second amendment to the US constitution. It states: </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Over time, this law has mainly been interpreted in two ways. The first claims that the right of gun ownership should be given only for the purpose of a state organizing a military group. The second argues that gun ownership is not only a right of the militia but also the people. Which of these is more relevant and accurate today? To better understand the second amendment and its current implication, we must examine each of the arguments in further detail. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The first statement we discussed is often associated with a liberal standpoint. It implies that there should be strict regulations on firearms and who may use them. Basically, the right of gun ownership should be for members of a state military group.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This is such a common interpretation of the second amendment for the following reason. When looking at the law, one may notice the phrase that begins it. “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state…” This part is called the prefatory clause. It appears to put a limit on gun rights by specifying who can carry a gun. Some historians have said that the framers of the Constitution intended this when they wrote the Constitution. They wanted to make sure that the states could defend themselves, not that individuals could defend themselves. Former Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens supported the latter in his dissent, in the famous case of DC v Heller, which gave citizens the individual right to own firearms. He said:</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“The second amendment was adopted to protect the right of the people of each of the several States to maintain a well-regulated militia</b>. It was a response to concerns raised during the ratification of the Constitution that the power of Congress to disarm the state militias and create a national standing army posed an intolerable threat to the sovereignty of the several States. <b>Neither the text of the Amendment nor the arguments advanced by its proponents evidenced the slightest interest in limiting any legislature’s authority to regulate private civilian uses of firearms.</b> Specifically, there is no indication that the Framers of the Amendment intended to enshrine the common-law right of self-defense in the Constitution.”</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It seems liberals might be on to something when it comes to protecting our nation.</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>However, conservatives may have an argument that is just as supported. The second statement we discussed is attributed to them. Gun ownership is not only a right of the militia but also the people. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The second clause in the second amendment, called the operative clause, is the main source of the conservative interpretation. “The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>What one can infer from this, is that gun ownership is a right of the people, meaning everyone, for self-defense and protection. Supporters of this interpretation will say that the prefatory clause is a merely a reason for giving access to all. The amendment could possibly be rephrased to emphasize this important factor. Perhaps a bit like this:</div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Because a well-regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In 2008, <i>DC v. Heller</i> promoted this viewpoint and turned the country in a more conservative direction. This is not surprising, considering the conservative Chief Justice, John Roberts, who presided over the case. </div>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now, let’s go over everything one more time to clarify. Liberals say that people should only be allowed to own firearms if they are serving in a state militia. Conservatives say that everyone should be allowed access to a gun for personal uses like self-defense. Although the government is promoting the conservative opinion currently, we are likely to see shifts in the future. There are a lot of people talking about this issue who are willing to act on their beliefs. Current events and new court decisions may shape the gun control issue, as well. </div>
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I hope I helped you to better understand these interpretations of the second amendment. Please take a few minutes and leave a comment down below about your opinion on gun control and how you think the government should be handling it. Be sure to be respectful of other readers and their comments, so that nobody comes out feeling hurt. I may remind you that people who don’t like your nasty comments have gun rights as well. Thanks for sticking with me on these government-related adventures! See you next time! </div>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193654861753305291.post-31798899009372944302017-03-02T05:08:00.000-08:002017-03-02T05:11:15.481-08:00<div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">While past topics on this blog may have felt removed from the every day, today we are going to address a problem that puts government into your hands. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="m_-4447397674697690317gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Most Americans are, or have been, involved in public education. In various states and times throughout U.S. history, the standards and curriculum for public education have come from different places. Currently 42 of the 50 states use a set of standards called Common Core. Common Core was created by a group of state legislatures and is encouraged nationally (through funding) by the Department of Education. In the 8 states which rejected Common Core, the school standards are developed closer to home, by state and local governments. Consider the following question:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Those in favor of federal education standards use these three main arguments:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">First, enforcing education standards on a national level advances equity for students and holds them to the same high standards. For example, children in disadvantaged neighborhoods learn the same subjects, take the same tests, and receive the same level of education as children in wealthier areas. In fact, the idea of equal opportunity comes from the founding fathers and the Declaration of Independence itself!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Another reason why people argue in favor of federal school standards is that, if everybody is learning the same thing simultaneously, teachers can collaborate on the internet and at conferences. Sharing ideas that can be used right away everywhere strengthens the educational community. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="m_-4447397674697690317gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Lastly, because the federal government oversees interstate commerce, and education is related to interstate commerce, Washington can enlarge its power using the elastic clause. As an example of how education is impacted by interstate commerce, lots of Americans move often, traveling around the country for work. If these migrant citizens have school-age kids, the government wants to ensure that there are no holes in those students' education. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="m_-4447397674697690317gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Although these arguments seem persuasive, others argue that locally developed standards provide a better education for our students. Their arguments include the following: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="m_-4447397674697690317gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> First, p</span>rograms like Common Core are unconstitutional, they argue, because the constitution does not give the federal government control over what schools teach. Any power not given to the federal government in the Constitution is left automatically to the states in the 10th Amendment. So the fact that Common Core (or any past standards) are nationally managed should not be allowed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="m_-4447397674697690317gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Additionally, because federal bureaucrats are busy in Washington, they can't know everything about the lives of people in each individual state, city, or school district. Local leaders have more perspective than than the federal government about needs and interests of local communities. Districts can create special programs to emphasize jobs that are popular in the local economy. Students can read local authors and study local geography. Teachers can respond quickly to shifts they notice among their students. While b</span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ureaucrats can make “educated guesses” (no pun intended), they can't have the accuracy of people who live near and interact daily with students. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><span class="m_-4447397674697690317gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Who would you like to see handle U.S. school standards? If you haven't thought about this before, I hope this helped you to better understand one part of the ongoing debate about schools. This is truly something that affects all of us! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="m_-4447397674697690317gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>If you have any additional thoughts on this topic that you’d like to share with me, or topic ideas for the future, let me know down in the comments. I’d love to hear from you! Just remember to be considerate and have fun! </span></span></div>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193654861753305291.post-12316161543421173002017-01-11T09:47:00.000-08:002017-01-11T09:47:23.720-08:00Let's talk about congress! <div style="color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
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In the eyes of many Americans, congress is nothing but a big, confusing joke. Whether you are completely new to the idea of legislation, or know the facts like the back of your own hand, you may have heard some arguments about why the American congress works so slowly. Mostly, we know why this happens. Our congressmen are literal monkeys. No, not really. The main job of congress as a whole is to make bills (ideas for laws) into actual laws. There is an extremely complicated process for doing so, with layers and layers of committees, voting, vetoing, and debate. (If you aren’t already familiar with these terms or you would like to know more, I am including the link to a helpful article about the congressional system below.) </div>
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So, after all that, what we really want to know is: “Is all this voting, vetoing, and debate a problem? Or, is it protecting our country in a way that is even deeper than it looks?” </div>
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But, before we start exploring America’s response to this puzzling question, close your eyes, and imagine a very tall wall. Imagine you’ve never seen the other side. Done? Great! Keep that picture in your head as you read on. </div>
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In 2013, says an article on <a href="http://gallup.com/"><span style="color: #e4af0a;">gallup.com</span></a>, 78% of Americans stated their disapproval of congress and it’s decisions. When asked about the reasons for this conclusion, 59% answered that they were unhappy with the “gridlock” in congress, and wished that less bickering would occur. In addition to this, The Center on Congress at Indiana University published a list of the top 15 complaints about congress. #4 was: “Members just bicker and don’t get anything done,” and #13 stated: “The legislative system is too complicated!” While looking at these everyday concerns from a more political standpoint, we can see the roots of the problem. </div>
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We’ll start with the bickering and why it happens. Lobbyists play a huge part in making sure that members of congress don’t get along, by donating gifts, campaign money, and helpful information to anybody who will take it. In return, these wealthy people and interest groups are getting their opinions heard and voted for out on the floor. But, there are a lot of opinions, if you consider that each congressperson may be representing an individual organization or cause! Additionally, congress is all about re-election. Representatives want popular support from their state and plenty of media coverage, so often they are willing to say things that are quotable and memorable even if they aren’t the full truth. This oversimplifies debates and leaves us wondering: “What are we actually supporting?”</div>
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Now a bit about the legislative system itself. Parties have been involved in congress almost since congress was a thing. Not birthday parties, political parties. There is a lot of evidence that these are not quite as fun, and have gotten way out of hand. It is has become important to please the members of your political party, especially the speaker or committee chairs, because if you do it’s easier to get benefits and become likable with everybody, thus getting re-elected! (Do you think there’s maybe a pattern here?) Additionally, some Americans argue that because of our divided government (with power split between the legislative and executive branches), progress is slow due to lack of compromise. Even if every member of congress agreed on a bill (which would probably never happen anyway), the president can still refuse to sign it. This is an especially large problem when the president is republican and the democrats have a majority in congress, or vice-versa. The two parties go head to head on many issues and it takes forever to pass anything of real significance. </div>
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On the other hand, Maybe congress and its processes aren’t all that bad.</div>
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Now that we’ve heard the voices of millions of Americans, who think congress is broken and can be fixed, let’s take a look at the other side of this popular debate. </div>
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The founding fathers of the United States took some important safety measures, in order to protect the nation from shallow decisions. Some of these safety measures are principles mentioned in the last few paragraphs to be making congress slow and inefficient. Don’t get me wrong, there some unhealthy things going on on capital hill, but we may have overlooked more meaning in these procedures than we thought. Take re-election for instance. The first congress was not in session too long after we broke away from England, and became our own democracy. A reason many colonists protested against Britain was because it was ruled by a king, who reigned until the day of his death, and then the throne was taken over by his children. A government like this isn’t going to spend a great deal of time on re-election but they are going to make a lot of the same kinds of decisions over and over again. If these decisions are not well thought out, this government can suffer. To make sure that our laws are just and keep everybody’s best interest in mind, we require that almost every position in the government (especially congressmen) be re-elected. No one wants a congress full of people who don’t represent us and are stuck there for the rest of their lives. </div>
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Checks and balances are another precaution that we may not see at first glance. Although it requires patience on our part, by giving branches of government power to stop one another, we keep officials from doing anything rash or without permission. </div>
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The list of these political nets goes on and on, including the bi-cameral congress (meaning bills have to pass the house and the senate), Committees, Majority votes, filibusters… I’m not going to keep you here all day. But all the things we listed make sure that all ideas are carefully discussed. The congressional plan has been designed by our founders with wisdom and skill to keep us same from harm and perhaps even tyranny as well. </div>
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Do you still remember the wall you have pictured? Come back to the spot where you stood before. One thing has changed, however. A ladder is leaning against the wall. You decide to climb it. When you reach the top, you find you can see over the edge, and there stands a cliff leading down the the jagged ocean below. Have you found the analogy yet? </div>
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In my opinion, congress was created in such a way that it is a method of protection, like mentioned before. Even if you have come to the opposite conclusion, the wall still works. There are ways to reach the ocean, the goal of efficiency, from narrow staircases across the cliffs and repelling down the rocks. Whatever you see, you can personally do something and be the change you want. I see a American future full of hope and progress appearing on the horizon, but I’m going to need your help.</div>
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Let me know down in the comments what you think about this subject. I really enjoyed researching and thinking about it, and I am so grateful for your time! Just, remember to be kind in regards to the views of others. Also, if you have any thoughts about what you want to see from me in the future, tell me, please! I am always looking for inspiration and I want these to be interesting for you too. </div>
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Peace out </div>
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Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193654861753305291.post-67716346640503561892016-11-04T12:16:00.003-07:002016-11-04T12:16:29.752-07:00Pros and Cons of Compulsory Voting! Hey again!<br />
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With the presidential election coming up next week, and everybody holding their breath, I want to cover what I think is an appropriate topic.<br />
In recent years, many countries have considered and enforced the idea of compulsory (required) voting. If you want to see the list of these countries, check out the link at the end of this post! <br />
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So, un-like my last blog post, I started out with a firm opinion. Compulsory voting seemed like an extremely good idea. However, when talking about the subject with some friends, somebody asked me,<br />
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"Well, what would be the cons of compulsory voting? How is it a bad thing?"<br />
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I didn't know! That drove me to do some more research about the opposing argument and I discovered a ton of interesting information! Here is the basics of what I found:<br />
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When a nation requires citizens to vote, a couple of things happen. The first positive effect is the relinquishing of money's influence in politics.<br />
President Obama said in a speech in March of 2015 that the people inclined not to vote tend to be lower income and skewed further toward immigrant groups and minorities. The more cash people have in today's world, the more powerful they tend to be. Mandatory voting would spread that power around more evenly and allow America to be a place where everybody gets equal say like the ideal of democracy implies.<br />
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But, often minority groups are less educated that the average voter and will not be as careful when choosing a candidate they wish to represent. The tilting effect that this principle would have on elections is what we like to call "the rise of the uninformed voter" and it's highly dangerous. I don't want the people around me to vote based upon Hillary's favorite color, Trump's haircut, or anything minor like that. We need to be listening to what is really happening, not just carelessly casting our ballots.<br />
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A second good fruit of compulsory voting is the voter turnout rate-- the number of people who actually show up at the poles. Voter turnout has been at its lowest since 1942, with less than 37% of the eligible population participating in midterm elections. In the future, we want larger numbers, representing a diverse sample of Americans, for more accurate election results. We want what the majority wants.<br />
Simply, American citizens don't want to be capitally punished, so they follow the law, right?<br />
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Well, mostly. However, what do we do with the stubborn people who don't come and vote? This might be a major turnoff for the government in future years as they consider enforcing compulsory voting. More money will need to be spent on law enforcement and conflict could easily arise concerning the type of punishment used. Some people even argue that compulsory voting infringes on their freedom of choice and religion, as some religious sects ask their members to refrain from political activity. Could we still manage to sleep at night if we punished them?<br />
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Finally, one of the best outcomes of requiring citizens to vote is that, then, voting becomes a civic norm, therefore making it easier. The responsibility of finding places for everyone to vote shifts from the individual to the county or state governments. If somebody in this situation does not have access to political activity, it does not become their fault. One interesting example of this would be an attempt to help people in prisons or hospitals vote. Voting becomes a duty, not just a right, and it will rest on the shoulders of the government.<br />
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There is also one more negative result connected to my point here. It really roots from the word "norm" which can mean that we, as a society, take something for granted. It's not that everybody's totally politically ignorant, but sometimes we just don't care. Is it possible that voting would become like jury duty-- something most people try to avoid? Let's be honest. The answer is yes.<br />
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Compulsory voting is still a new idea to our nation and has it's bugs, just like every other political issue. But who knows? Maybe America will someday adopt this system as our own!<br />
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Now, I'm torn by all these amazing ideas and still trying to form an opinion of my own. I'd love to hear you thoughts on why requiring citizens to vote is or isn't a good idea. Let me know down in the comments and I'll try to get back to you as soon as possible.<br />
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Just remember the rules: Kindness is compulsory! Don't post anything rude or irrelevant, and check back again next month for more.<br />
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Or, if you're interested further and you can't wait that long, check out these other fantastic articles on the same topic!<br />
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Happy voting ~Paige<br />
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Extra articles:<br />
<a href="http://www.fairvote.org/the_pros_and_cons_of_requiring_citizens_to_vote">http://www.fairvote.org/the_pros_and_cons_of_requiring_citizens_to_vote</a><br />
<a href="http://connectusfund.org/13-strongest-pros-and-cons-of-compulsory-voting">http://connectusfund.org/13-strongest-pros-and-cons-of-compulsory-voting</a><br />
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List of countries with compulsory voting:<br />
<a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/22-countries-voting-mandatory/">http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/22-countries-voting-mandatory/ </a><br />
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193654861753305291.post-80700340714511113802016-10-10T03:39:00.001-07:002016-10-10T03:39:55.811-07:00<div style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
Sometimes, in the course of human events, it is necessary for a blog to change ownership and be renewed. Since my mom has stopped posting on here, I stepped up and said I'd like to make it my own. Allow me to introduce myself! I'm Paige (that mysterious girl you might have read about in my mom's previous posts) and, while I hope that heaven isn't anything like high school, I can't deny the power of learning new things. </div>
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One really interesting thing I've learned about recently is democracy, its form, and how it's helped our nation. Every month, I'm going to add some sort of debate or essay-not necessarily about democracy-but about government in general, for you to consider and comment on! </div>
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So, without further ado: </div>
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I laughed pretty hard upon hearing Oprah Winfrey's voice in my head shouting:</div>
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"You get a democracy! You get a democracy! Everybody gets a democracy!!!" I guess you can say that statement is pretty congruent with some periods in history (especially directly after the cold war and 9-11) in which the main goal of our government was to spread itself like a virus. </div>
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For centuries, most of the world feared the barbaric idea of rule by the people. There were exceptions, of course, although these countries were a harsh minority.<br />
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But this philosophy changed big time through new, "western ideas" and by the mid 19th century, democracy was the thing! Maybe some countries weren't too happy, who knows? Wait, it gets better! Even after the bathtubs of blood that were spilt based on the whole "democracy is right and everyone else is wrong" thing, Americans still debate the subject of influencing change in the other governments. </div>
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So, should we push for the "right" ideas before anyone else does, and promote peace for mankind, or is it better just to bury our heads in the sand and <b>not</b> got blown off the face of the earth? </div>
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Before you make your decision, I'd like to make you aware of five arguments<b> for</b> and <b>against </b>the active spread of democracy…</div>
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Seemingly, the most self evident argument in favor of worldwide democracy is the fact that we could have greater peace within society. Historical studies have shown that democracies are much less war-like than other regimes. And if you have a bunch of them clumped together they're more likely to agree with one another. Sounds pretty great...</div>
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In opposition to this theory, many argue that calling for democracy in other regimes could easily cause outbreaks of war and bloodshed. They claim that poking and prodding at another's agency is more trouble than it's worth. Desire for a change in government should come from within the country itself. </div>
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In short, a new democracy is like a butter knife. It can spread the love, but it can still stab you.<br />
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Robert Ingersoll, a politically influential man in the golden age of thought, once said: "We rise by lifting others." Generosity can be thought of as a virtue and people in favor of spreading democracy are inclined to assume that the world will love what they have to give. Through our service, we will be recognized as enthusiasts and do-gooders (even at a high cost.)<br />
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"And who are these "do-gooders" to be spending America's limited money, blood, and energy?!" The other party persists. Members say our regime requires enough maintenance alone, without worrying about surrounding nations. We are already in deep debt and, quite obligated to care for ourselves, thank you very much.<br />
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Let's go back to the thought that democracies appear less war-like and take a look at the other side of the situation. For autocracies, oligarchies, and governments down on the totalitarian end of the scale, fighting is common. Because average Joes like us disapprove of living in corrupt, evil places, they flee. What do we get? Refugees. Hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria alone. Wouldn't it be nice to reduce that number? Democracy can be used as a tool for suffering nations (like our own) in circumstances like this. You know what they say, a democracy a day keeps the less fortunate away…<br />
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Wait, who said that? Did they really say that?<br />
The truth is, I made that up. It has a nice ring to it, sure, but people who oppose would not be happy. Aside from a substantial amount of refugees, their argument states, America also has a good system to support these people. And economic benefits come from this inflammation in the United States population. Maybe it's just better to welcome others to <b>our</b> democracy instead of focusing on perfecting theirs.<br />
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Terrorists are another group of people that we may want to prevent throughout the world. Autocracy is a lovely playground for terrorism. Therefore, democracies can help put a stop to terror. No more funding and public support from two faced political leaders. Not with the active spread of democracy!<br />
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The other side isn't arguing that terrorism is "the bomb"(no pun intended) but what they are saying is that terrorists are smart enough to find loopholes. There is really no quantifiable evidence that democracies stop terrorists. People all over the world have sympathized with Islam's concerns. Plus, even if we all had perfect governments and leaders (which is <b>way </b>too far-fetched to actually happen) there is no guarantee wealthy individuals or organizations won't illegally smuggle money to terrorists. Risky either way.<br />
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If everybody could just want democracy, that would be great. The fact of the matter is, they don't all want democracy. And even if a government wants change, they can't always bring it about themselves. Perhaps they don't have the time, the resources, or the votes to make it happen.<br />
Waiting for everyone to act is simply too utopian. We need to help others become democracies before they help themselves become anarchies.<br />
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But then, unilateral action is so dangerously dependent on political whim that maybe we shouldn't spread democracy! If these other nations want us to stay out of their business, then we will just stress them out when we're trying to help. Again, anarchy could occur. These regimes might shoot us out of the sky. You really gotta know your audience…<br />
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After all this, do you think our government is superior to rule by few and can't be proved wrong? Why should we or should we not spread democracy and let our cups overflow to the world? And if we should, how?<br />
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Leave your opinion down in the comments (just remember, be respectful of others' ideas and don't argue)!!!! Thanks for reading this and thinking about it. And don't forget to check back next month for another government related post.<br />
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Peace out</div>
Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193654861753305291.post-66619026346358998802013-09-09T22:50:00.001-07:002013-09-09T22:50:23.878-07:00Budding Cake Artist's Best CakesThis doesn't need a lot of narrative. As our budding cake artist jump-starts a business, I'm posting a handful of her cake photos for folks to peruse. (Only $2.00/slice for most custom cake orders.) Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193654861753305291.post-71539111024737853682011-06-01T21:05:00.000-07:002011-06-01T21:11:06.652-07:00A Homeschool Mom Gets Socialized<div class="MsoNormal"> In this “Choose Civility” world, most people are deferential about our daughter’s education at home. But, not long ago, I had my first real interaction with a stranger who was openly concerned about homeschooling. A few highlights:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Concerned stranger</i>: Why would you let your son go to school, but you won’t let your daughter go? (I laugh at the implication that I won’t “let” P go to school. <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Me</i>: Actually, the real question for me has been why we would send our son to public school after we’ve had such a good experience with homeschooling.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Concerned stranger</i>: I totally understand. Boys are much harder to handle because they have more energy. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Is that why we send our kids to school—because we can’t handle them? That’s enlightening... Also thinking that my children have been pretty equal-opportunity in the “hard to handle” department.)<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Me: </i>Both of our kids have tried traditional schools. Right now, our son likes having a place that’s his own, away from home. Our daughter prefers to be at home to help plan her curriculum and her schedule.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Concerned Stranger:</i> Isn’t your daughter sad that she doesn’t get to be around other people?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Me:</i> I wish we had <i>fewer</i> commitments out of the house with other people! Unfortunately, homeschoolers can be overscheduled, just like anyone else…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">^^^^^^^</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Me:</i> How have you decided on the best education for <i>your</i> children?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Concerned Stranger:</i> Well, you know, I checked out the “ratios and things” at different schools, because you never can be too careful about who your kids spend time with.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">**At this point in the conversation, N runs off the playground and into the street, in front of a vehicle. He does this for the express purpose of helping <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Concerned Stranger</i> to confirm her suspicions that I am an irresponsible parent.**<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Perhaps it’s best that I didn’t have time to say that I’m not relying on statistics to help my kids choose good friends...</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Still, what this mother really wanted to know about is what homeschoolers fondly call “The ‘S’ Word”—<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Socialization</i>. It’s the issue about which we are most often approached--and we're usually pleased about that. By “socialization,” people generally mean the skills of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">having healthy relationships and communicating well</b>. Sometimes they mean <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">fitting into society</b> (valuable??). I would argue that homeschoolers have ideal opportunities to be “socialized” in the best sense of that word:</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">(1) First, let’s revisit <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Concerned Stranger</i>’s remark that she chose her children’s schools based on “ratios and things”—statistics about standardized test scores, how many children receive free lunch, and how many children of various ethnic groups attend a school. (These are subjects about which I will hold my peace, only with great effort…) <u>This is extremely common school-choosing methodology.</u> In essence, parents try to read from these statistics whether their children will be attending school with other children “who come from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">good homes</i>.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here’s the rub: If our <u>schools</u> are our best instrument of socialization, then the <u>home life</u> of fellow students should be irrelevant. Clearly, parents who seek out those statistics consider the <u>home</u>, not the school, the basis for good socialization. I agree on that point, if on nothing else.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">(2) Second, I wish to say that I believe <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">socialization</i> is more than just choosing whether to be with “good kids” or “bad kids”—even if such flat characters really existed. There are many social skills that are not about good vs. evil—like <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">listening carefully</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">collaborating, or working out differences of opinion. </b> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Public schools, with their clusters of same-age peers and a single authority figure (teacher)—aside from being an absolute <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anomaly</i> of a social setting—can’t help kids develop good social skills, even if they genuinely want to. Interactions between children at school are either isolated from adults (who have too much else to pay attention to) or squelched by adults (Did your report card ever say: “Talks too much?”)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> On the other hand, homeschoolers have frequent contact with parents and other adults who model positive social skills. They also live, work, and play in close proximity to adult mentors who are aware of their needs and can brainstorm solutions to life’s problems with them. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">(3) You don’t want all of my opinions in a single day, so I’ll end with one of my favorite socialization questions asked of homeschoolers: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Don’t you want your kids to learn to take direction from other adults?</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Maybe some parent somewhere has this worry; I have the opposite one. In my dream world, my children would take direction from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me</i> as readily as they take it from other adults. (Sigh!) </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> In all seriousness, what I truly want for my children is to be able to direction from themselves—their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">best</i> selves. Public-schooled children work independently (because their teachers have so many students to care for), but completing tasks obediently (being an independent <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">worker</i>) isn’t the same as being an independent <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">learner</i>. The latter, I say, is a goal worthy of many, many years of homeschooling effort. <o:p></o:p></div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193654861753305291.post-6015143106710369962011-01-03T22:16:00.000-08:002011-01-03T22:20:01.613-08:00The First 100 Days<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We've loved our first 100 days of this school year, and it's about time for this blog to start serving its intended function. It will take me a few posts to bring us from September to the present, so consider this the whirlwind tour. We've "fallen in luck" with many, many great books, websites, videos, and project ideas. I hope their mention here will make them easier for someone else to find and use.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>Colonial America</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Almost all of September we devoted to America leading up to the Revolution. Our accompanying art unit dealt with folk art (artful objects that also serve a useful daily function). For example:</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKBqxewJTwBfyJL4lENi2wqLX_rLZQmzPYDygDo4JHAXY5BLE8w15AIk734hgkk6JPDSMu39qrS3j_HuY07aHQQ4nbM_NA9SYHb_v2oKhvLbWryjB40tKsDbKuDvIvbBT99tqfxgs-N3D/s1600/potholder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKBqxewJTwBfyJL4lENi2wqLX_rLZQmzPYDygDo4JHAXY5BLE8w15AIk734hgkk6JPDSMu39qrS3j_HuY07aHQQ4nbM_NA9SYHb_v2oKhvLbWryjB40tKsDbKuDvIvbBT99tqfxgs-N3D/s200/potholder.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">--stenciling (not on our walls, thankfully, as in colonial times)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">--felt applique</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">--homemade potpourri (orange peel works with anything!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">--weaving a pot holder on a handmade mini-loom (Exhibit A)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">(Who says homeschooling doesn't take you out of your comfort zone?) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Our more historical projects included:</span><br />
<a href="http://i19.ebayimg.com/02/c/06/ee/c9/8d_6.JPG?set_id=81040003C1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i19.ebayimg.com/02/c/06/ee/c9/8d_6.JPG?set_id=81040003C1" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">--reading </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>American Girl</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> series books about Felicity, a fictional character from Colonial Williamsburg (VA). One of the books in this series became P's 1st "reading-a-whole-book-in-one-night-under-the-covers-with-a-flashlight" experience.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQNeHpUDtIVEoj0tEr096IQStTBrLfrPyuTAQTp3exu1-AxYv91fvcJrKB5JdtLNvXKs5eq-iTFKDFK82HsAdzU5dtBsYD3BLnFrNmwU6CXpTp44oSHUrA01CYW2g_xxLwg5rs9_SKg2s/s1600/DSCF1416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQNeHpUDtIVEoj0tEr096IQStTBrLfrPyuTAQTp3exu1-AxYv91fvcJrKB5JdtLNvXKs5eq-iTFKDFK82HsAdzU5dtBsYD3BLnFrNmwU6CXpTp44oSHUrA01CYW2g_xxLwg5rs9_SKg2s/s200/DSCF1416.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">--making a technicolor model of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">(This is a marvelous project--thanks to</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/">http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">) </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3qgKF-knIOg2M32XkNCS-G8H-7x0pR938HxQPVBPGABK7BtMUIp03dPXVyZqclDZIN8Gz-e5LaNpZOgP_Ohtb4c4F5DvWheMk-ePFog7QYwFvv7fABR8EHiXVi_K7oLhBz7nSFReBnVG/s1600/Sept+2010+154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3qgKF-knIOg2M32XkNCS-G8H-7x0pR938HxQPVBPGABK7BtMUIp03dPXVyZqclDZIN8Gz-e5LaNpZOgP_Ohtb4c4F5DvWheMk-ePFog7QYwFvv7fABR8EHiXVi_K7oLhBz7nSFReBnVG/s200/Sept+2010+154.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lost behind the Governor's Palace<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><b><i><br />
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</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">--taking a family trip to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Before our Williamsburg trip, we gained a lot from the childrens' activities and maps on their website: <a href="http://www.history.org/kids">http://www.history.org/kids</a></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">--memorizing the 13 colonies and part of The Declaration of Independence. P did well with the difficult vocabulary in the Declaration, altering it now and then to suit her needs. Think "unalienable rights." Here's P's creative version:</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b style="font-style: italic;">“That they are endowed by their Creator with <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">certain rights that no alien can take away”</span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>(Those are my favorite highlights on Colonial Times. On to the Revolution next time...)</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>Hurricanes</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<a href="http://i20.ebayimg.com/05/c/07/5a/dd/f2_6.JPG?set_id=81040003C1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i20.ebayimg.com/05/c/07/5a/dd/f2_6.JPG?set_id=81040003C1" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">I won't say much about our first science unit of the year, except to recommend the book that I used as our anchor: <i>The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurrican</i>e. This book has a full elementary school curriculum on basic weather, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Not all children's books are comprehensive unit studies, but I couldn't find anything this book left out. Thanks, Ms. Frizzle!!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>Finally, A Word About Spelling</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> This year, I have organized our spelling program around common <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">prefixes and suffixes. Each week, the spelling words all begin with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">the same prefix or end with the same suffix. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I discovered a few weeks ago one evidence of the new age in which P </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">is experiencing life. When I announced that the prefix </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">of the week would be “trans-,” as in “<i>transport</i>” or "t<i>ranscontinental</i>," she lit up: "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Oh, and like <i><b>trans-fat</b></i>!”</span></span><br />
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</span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193654861753305291.post-51775502252858539382010-11-12T09:49:00.000-08:002010-11-13T05:32:56.852-08:00Our American GirlWhat would you say if your daughter asked for a $95 doll? <br />
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We said, “That’s not something we’d like to spend $95 on, but you can buy it yourself.” A major disappointment, as you can imagine. P has eyed American Girl dolls for a while, but her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">need</i> for one began this year, after she enjoyed all 6 of the books about the historically fictional Felicity, from Colonial Williamsburg. As if by marketing magic, an American Girl catalog arrived in our mailbox shortly after the books were completed. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And</i>, this catalog announced, Felicity would be heading into the American Girl archives, never to be sold again, after this Christmas. (This coincidence I really can’t explain.)<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> So, P began the process of saving her own money for the impossible dream of owning Felicity. She gathered her birthday money and allowance. She did jobs around the house, even though she believes that I don’t pay enough. (I pro-rate most jobs so that the kids’ labor is worth about $5/hour. Is that exorbitant? miserly?) To get to the point, P actually reached the goal last week--95 whole dollars!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Though, at first, we hoped P would get distracted and buy something <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we</i> thought was more valuable, we ultimately became her cheerleaders. It was as if we were witnessing some 95 yard touchdown rush. When I saw the goal getting close, I actually <em>wanted </em>her to have the prize. And then, something happened that I didn’t expect.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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P didn’t buy Felicity. She started asking questions. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“What would I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do</i> with the doll?" </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">"What if I change my mind later?” </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">These were questions I’d wanted to pose all along but didn’t, because it’s terrible to be young and have a goal ruined by big people who think they always know better. These were questions I didn’t need to answer. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Have you ever wanted something you couldn't have? I have. Its power to distract is staggering. That same desire within reach, though, is almost disarmed--as if we then have more space in which to decide whether we truly want it. Why is that? I don't know yet. I also don't know whether P will end up with her doll. But now, we both know a little better which American Girl has the real power over this decision. </div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193654861753305291.post-82408397279115565362010-11-09T21:46:00.000-08:002010-11-09T21:50:38.499-08:00A Homeschool Day So, after 10 weeks of 3<sup>rd</sup> grade, it’s about time to talk about what we’ve been up to. This will come in short spurts. This entry is "How We Organize Our Day": <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>(1) <b>“Dailies”: </b>As early in the morning as possible, we start with: </div><div class="MsoNormal"> scripture of the week (2 minutes), </div><div class="MsoNormal"> spelling, </div><div class="MsoNormal"> reading (followed by comprehension ?s), </div><div class="MsoNormal"> journaling, and </div><div class="MsoNormal"> math.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xqch7LDravuYkrMF8sKaJSD1N3UdsmyQ-PnTTHPt5q8cXYHcEU4T5FFp2rnGe75wfAGbihd2LZlbIVq9QSVypgT81ljzDvdTbEvh9A6QJX7djinfg-4JVGlm6XxZVuIfBCxobT4rIuTe/s1600/Oct+2010+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xqch7LDravuYkrMF8sKaJSD1N3UdsmyQ-PnTTHPt5q8cXYHcEU4T5FFp2rnGe75wfAGbihd2LZlbIVq9QSVypgT81ljzDvdTbEvh9A6QJX7djinfg-4JVGlm6XxZVuIfBCxobT4rIuTe/s200/Oct+2010+009.jpg" width="150" /></a> Ideally this takes one hour (15 minutes per subject), though it can drag on for 2+ hours. I place the day’s assignments in a column of plastic filing drawers, which she pulls out—always from top to bottom. The subjects are not always in the same order--oh, the element of surprise! Some of this work can be done independently.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Only 15 minutes/day on math? This is a compromise between a math-loving teacher and a math-loathing student. She doesn’t get as much practice as your average public schooled kid, so she probably isn’t as fast at her basic math facts. But, she doesn’t have difficulty with the concepts. And, the curriculum we use helps me see that she is keeping a pace appropriate for 3<sup>rd</sup> graders. So at the end of the day, we all go home happy. (Wait, we’re at home all day anyway. Oh, never mind.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>(2) <b>“Project time”: </b>After dailies come everybody's <i>favorite</i> part - 2 hours (atleast) for </div><div class="MsoNormal"> Science (inc. health), </div><div class="MsoNormal"> American History (inc. literature studies and more intensive writing), and </div><div class="MsoNormal"> Art. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> We do these in units, so we might spend three weeks on history and then cut to a science unit. Or, we might mix them both into a day if we’re out of steam on one thing or another. (More specifics in future posts on these units. So, far, we’ve covered Colonial America, the American Revolution, the Constitutional period, hurricanes, and taxonomy).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">(3) Ok, so that’s what happens Tuesday-Friday. <b>Mondays</b> are reserved for our homeschool co-op, when it’s in session (18 weeks/year). Each Monday for 6 consecutive weeks, we meet from <st1:time hour="10" minute="0">10 a.m.</st1:time> to <st1:time hour="15" minute="0">3 p.m. (4 hours for classes and 1 hour for lunch/recess). </st1:time>Classes are taught by parents, though teaching a class is optional. Kids choose 1 class for each of the 4 hours. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> For example, this session, we're taking </div><div class="MsoNormal"> Stagecraft (building sets and props for the Christmas play); </div><div class="MsoNormal"> Native Americans (taught by yours truly); </div><div class="MsoNormal"> Art; and </div><div class="MsoNormal"> All About Chocolate. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Bet you didn’t take that last one in school. The teacher is so energetic about her subject (ha!), which has included chocolate's history, manufacturing engineering, cooking, and tasting. <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span> <br />
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The co-op couldn’t replace a complete homeschool curriculum, but some of our goals for the year are fulfilled through these classes. Plus, for those of you who are into “socialization,” the co-op is an obvious place to practice being socially “normal.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">(4) What about P.E., music, and recess? I outsource these subjects right now, through a gymnastics class and the Peabody Children's Chorus. (When I figure out how, I'll include a link to the choir in the sidebar of this blog.) We get recess every day after public school gets out, at our co-op, and through our weekly recess group. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">More specifics and photos to come!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div>Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193654861753305291.post-52093781540736199212010-09-17T21:01:00.000-07:002010-09-17T21:01:02.287-07:00Why This Blog?So, we're on homeschool year #4. I might be the only one who finds that amazing. Still, it represents a lot of little revolutions in our homeschool paradigm. This blog is the latest shift. Here's why:<br />
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I always plan our homeschool year during the summer, print the plan, and keep it in my binder, organized smartly week-by-week. In the past, I would check off lessons or activities as we did them. This filled my desire for checklists, but it sometimes left me disappointed. Any activities we didn't have time for sat unchecked on the page, forlorn reminders of missed learning opportunities. (Sigh!)<br />
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In the meantime, we were at the library, baking, on field trips, visiting teaching, or taking care of Noah. We were learning about something that my printed schedule didn't give us permission to learn. This blog is going to change that, by reminding us about what we <u>do</u>, not what we've left <u>undone</u>. <br />
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At some point, I realized that a blog would also be a happy way of sharing with our family and regularly-schooled friends what exactly we're <em>doing</em> all day around here. Hope you'll like some of our ideas.<br />
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Have I kept the written plan? Yes. I like the planning. And how much do you think I can keep in my head all at one time, anyway?Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193654861753305291.post-34090517783233916912010-09-17T17:40:00.001-07:002010-09-17T20:38:34.470-07:00Why the cutesy title?I have a good friend who says she's "an atheist who believes in the divine." One night when her family was over for dinner, our kids began the typical kid-banter about how much they dislike school. One particular child's comment caught our ears: "In Heaven, there's no school!" My friend was quick to reply, "I hope that Heaven <em>is</em> a school. I would take a lot of botany classes."<br />
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Of course, her comment is in line with my religious beliefs--that this life is part of an essential process of discovering everything and becoming perfect. But, even without those beliefs, the ideas of progress and learning are inside all of us. As a homeschooler and a parent, I couldn't send a better message to my kids: Anyone can believe that Heaven is a School.Angelahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17281162993769746795noreply@blogger.com1