Memorial Day

For the historically uninformed, Memorial Day was originally created to honor the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. It was later to honor all soldiers and sailors who have given their life for their nation. My family has always used it to honor all our dead. For years and years we went with my Grandma Gert to graves all over the county to plant flowers. Then the torch passed to Mama and to Geri. Now that all three are gone and my surviving sister lives out of state, well, now it is my turn. I am fortunate. Many people don't remember the stories of their ancestors, I do.

To return to the original purpose of the day, however, I am posting perhaps the greatest speech ever made: short, sweet, and to the point:

"Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation: conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war. . .testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated. . . can long endure.

We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate. . .we cannot consecrate. . . we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. . .that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . . and that government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . shall not perish from the earth. "

Kids can be so stupid

Sometimes life is a giant roller coaster. Work has been like that lately. It is getting toward the end of the school year (We finish June 25th.) My state exam is June 2nd and 3rd. I am doing everything in my power to do cool reviews. Anyway, it is also Spring and life goes nuttier in Spring in middle school. Friday four of our students were suspended: two for bullying; and two for being boys- shoving books leads to kicks and punches. Today four more were suspended: one girl for bullying; a boy for not being able to keep any semblance of a civil tongue in his head; and two kids for drugs. One students was in possession, the other was possession with intent to sell.
Fourteen years old and *poof* on your permanent record.
One of the problems with believing in the instrinsic worth of every child is the heartbreak when you can't stop them from screwing up.

What is it we do differently

This is an open letter to Central Office:

You asked what it is that we that we do differently. Well here is a clue. Most people review for a state exam with flash cards and work sheets and drills. My state exam is in early June. We start review on Monday. We are starting with "One Tin Soldier" by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, then we are moving on to "American the Beautiful," and eventually "Ticky Tacky Little Houses," "Abraham, Martin, and John," Tom Paxton's "I am Changing My Name to Chrysler, Neil Sedaka's, "The Immigrant" and ending with "Light One Candle. Yes, there are some questions to answer, but there will also be blank paper to draw what you hear, and discuss about the deeper meanings of the songs.

And yes, I will be singing each and every one of the 20 songs.

Friends are a wonderful thing

I have a close friend, she has been a friend for nearly 30 years, which seems impossible, but is very true. Having read some of my last posts, she knew I have had some stresses lately. Since she is as crazy as I am, she sent me a stuffed animal. A happy hippopotamus.

Thanks LibraryLadyMom http://www.libraryladymom.blog-city.com/

Happy Birthday Pete Seeger

Pete Seeger turns 90 tomorrow. His music has always inspired me, and I have been privileged to see him in concert. One of those was in a tiny church basement, a coffee house in Albany, NY. Now if you ever have been to one of his concerts, you know that Pete really gets the place singing with him. Since I sing...and not quietly...he actually spoke to me after one of his songs.

Pete, thank you.