Category Archives: character education

Books on Character for Giving this Season

Today, we run a wonderful conversation with Carl Sommer, the owner of Advance Publishing, former public school teacher and Machine Shop owner. Such a wonderful memory of meeting Mr. Somer and his family! Amazing machine shop. Really great contribution in his writing and researching, coming out of being a NY public school teacher. Now, retired from business, he continues to run the publishing house and a TV show on Christian television. You will want to hear his story. Very encouraging.

You may also want to pick up some of his books. Here is the website for Advance: http://advancepublishing.com/ nThese books will be great for Christmas/Hanukah. They are exceptionally great for giving as gifts to public libraries and government schools — who need some replacement books, don’t you think? Each book demonstrates a character moral, but none is overtly religious. Mr. Sommer wrote them especially for elementary level public schools.

Where are the Pictures of the Pilgrims?

Where are the pictures of the pilgrims? How — and why! — has that history been erased. Let’s think about that today.
This is a rerun from 2020. Some of us who said things that weren’t always well received in 2020 can now legitimately toot our own horn. It is time for the recognition of discernment and wisdom.

Let’s sort our our curricular problems in education, just as we sort out method. Our children should not be hampered by the refusal to teach them facts. Or by the lack of wisdom in how to teach them.

Today, not just a diatribe but some good ideas for what to do with the children this Thanksgiving weekend.

Let’s also consider some gift giving — whether Christmas, or if in your house it is Hanukah. Books are always great. We have some.
Here is a wonderful article by Marshall Foster on Thanksgiving and the character of the nation and its original founders.

Start Something – Rescue Children Academically

Start Something – Rescue Children Academically. Likely, you are a frustrated parent. Maybe you are considering homeschooling – and that is great. Maybe you are a homeschooler and your child wants more children around?

Perhaps you are a homeschool “graduate” grandmother? Maybe you are a Christian congregational leader?

Consider that you could start something to help children. As a mission. As a charity.
It could be a licensed childcare center. For training and consulting, see www.orgstrat.net Or maybe your church would prefer a course, for which see www.teachachildchangeanation.org

Maybe you could start a big school. Let me help you with board training, vision finding, and the myriad other choices. www.orgstrat.net

Or maybe you would like to start a micro-school — right quick. Here what I have to say, and check out the page for microschools on www.teachachildchangeanation.org

There is Falsehood, too. Teach Children About Sociopaths.

There is Truth and there are also Lies – And worse: There are Liars

In our series on How to Think Better, we had an episode that was titled “There is Truth.” Well, there is also falsehood. There are also people who regularly lie.  Pyschologists diagnose some people “pychopaths” and/or “sociopaths” — people who not only lie regularly, but enjoy hurting others. It may be analyzed that these people are demon possessed.  Let’s consider the situation in a practical manner.

We must recognize and teach children about falsehood, lies, and sociopaths.

Why This Relates to the “Learning Disabled”

This dynamic is very important to recognize and teach our children about. Children, reared in good environment, can be quite shocked, and often after bad experiences, if they do not know that some people lie, and some of those situations can be dangerous. Students with “learning disabilities” are particularly at risk for these bad experiences. It has been famously said that “LD students have bully targets on their back.” I do not know why this is so. Is it because these students also have weaknesses at noticing social cues? Or is it that they are spending so much time on academics that they fail to develop such social skills?

Three Steps for Parents/Educators

How do we, as parents respond? First, inform ourselves, and think better ourselves. Do not be snookered. Secondly, teach our children directly that there is such a thing as a falsehood, there are liars, and there are LIARS who intend to hurt. Thirdly, we must train our children not just in social skills but in character — so they do not become THOSE PEOPLE.