Category Archives: What is true?

Manners and Civics? Lessons from The American Revolution

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Here is our special for our 250 year anniversary. Things to think about in terms of your children’s learning. How are manners and civics related? Character and government? These are things that we seldom think about today, but are vital. They were the root of the success of our culture and our nation. Yet, almost unknown today.

Consider these videos and articles. Please watch them with your children (age appropriate. Young Washington and the Civilian Defense intro are bloody.)

Then, consider encouraging your children with their own self-improvement projects. Talk about this at your church or club.

Have a great summer.

Young Washington Official Trailer
Young Washington Movie
Historians react to Young Washington Movie

Is what others call ambition wrong?
Where does ambition come from? (At least 2 answers.)
What is the best way to use ambition?
Does “calling” from God have anything to do with ambition?

Rules of Civility by George Washington from Wall Builders
What are the most important manners (aka rules for civility) in your world?
What are the most important manners for the economic category just above yours? Higher or lower?
How can you find out what the rules are in any group?
Do you know anyone who raised there status? How did they do it? What rules did they master that they can tell you about?

What Students were Reading in 1776
What 1, 2 or 4 books from this list might you want to read this summer — while you are in the air conditioner.
They should be in your public library. If they are not, then please consult the librarian about how to obtain.
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a study group to discuss these books with?
Do you know any one who knows about these books who could teach or lead a study group? If not, ask a professor. If you don’t know any professors, ask a pastor.

Famous Quotes of Ben Franklin

Pick a quote and memorize it. Maybe do this each week for the rest of the summer?

Ben Franklin’s plan for self-improvement in 4 weeks (Not recommending OCPD Foundation, as I do not know them, just passing along the Franklin article)

Can you improve your life in just 4 weeks? Yes! much better than randomly trying all the time. See book by Ed Rush *Twenty-one Day Miracle* which is based on science and an easy read.

Civilian Defense Won the Revolution (Patrick Henry & the Bell Ringers etc.)
What was the success behind Patrick Henry?
Can you replicate that at all in your life?
Do you know a prepping group? A political group? A self-improvement group? Find one you like and see what you can learn.

Celebrate the 250th by Studying the Founders’ Principles

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:58 — 10.5MB)

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Let’s review the principles of the founders. Here is an introduction, a primer. (Not to be confused with the New England primer that taught reading.) Returning to and understanding of the basic principle’s of the founders is of great need.

1. Rights are given by God, not government.
2. Governments are given the power to protect the citizens.
3. Citizen should be freemen who hold government accountable to the original principles.
4. For this reason, all citizens must be able to read, so they can read the Bible, so they can be sure that the laws are following the Bible.

Think how very different that is from our philosophy today. I had a pastor actually argue with me that governments, not God, give rights! And surely, to suggest that laws should be founded on Biblical principles is hardly under consideration.

But let’s us consider it. Let’s read actual history and actual political philosophy. And the very words of the founders, which we indeed have.
BTW, then, one highly educated like I am will see that not only was most of this left out of our education, we were actually taught lies. Washington being a deist is ridiculous; he was a very devout Church of England man. There is a reason why so many pictures of him are in the kneeling position. Why would a general kneel down and pray to a Deist type God? Ben Franklin’s suggestion of seeking the help of Providence was not some perfunctory break, as my students would like to think. And Thomas Jefferson’s “cutting up the Bible” was in order to make a non-reptitive gospel with which to evangelize the natives.

Please see the movie about George Whitfield and Benjamin Franklin. Go see the movie coming out about the young George Washington. Take children. Then start reading history with them!

We apologize for Apple Podcast incorrectly saying we are a monthly. We post weekly. We have re-arranged our posting so that Apple now can not not know that.

Learn How to Teach Handwriting — and to find solutions to most anything else

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:33 — 18.7MB)

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I will tell you how to teach handwriting in this episode. This conversation was kicked off by a Facebook discussion. As usual some mother was reaching out to ?? friends ?? about something she was concerned about. More than usual, she got a long list of really bad advice. So, will let you know.

Then, will discuss other options: Testing, finding people who know, getting mentoring. Not assuming the standards of government schools, not trying to figure out an argument where both sides do not know what they are talking about, and not just listening to anyone. And not shutting your ears based on mis-directed principles. (By the way, I have taught 2 series on how to tell what is true.)

If you want more resources on teaching literacy and numeracy, check the SHOP tab and look for “When The Road to Reading Gets Rocky.” Of course, you could just avoid that problem by starting right. Montessori Method, Montessori Handbook, Elizabeth Hainstock’s Montessori in the Home are good resources for that.

Think about the anti-commercial teaching. Think about the teaching that anything that is inexpensive or free must therefore be bad. Also think about the idea that anything that is uncomfortable to hear is somehow bad. Truth is often uncomfortable to hear — especially in a time and place where lies and deception are normal. We live in a society where officials calling for assassination of the sitting president is considered normal and at the same time a preacher quoting the Bible saying that perverted sex is a sin is considered a hate crime. And then we have silly young women who set up Facebook pages where entrants have to agree to “no hate speech” without any definition of what that might be in that group. Think about it.

If you want assessments, go to www.orgstrat.net. If you want a fulsome, one-size fits all, protocol for addressing learning problems from the mom level, look for a tab with a page. Notice that the next competitor, perhaps one step up, ten years ago cost $86,000.00. Yes, you read that right. You might find the interview with Brain Balance in Westlake Hills/Austin with Anna Bauereis. If you want a fulsome guide to think through what your child needs to learn, and how best to teach them, before you go shopping for curricula go get : Learn at Home for Great Shalom. After great success with my grandchildren who were terribly afflicted by SES, genes, and accident — I was ordered to write the book. I did it — for you.