It's really no surprise to anyone ever that the NEA was more interested in protecting its power than educating children. What is surprising is that they actually feel confident enough in their power to admit it. Here's the NEA's General Counsel admitting as much in his retirement speech this past summer.

"Despite what some among us would like to believe it is not because of our creative ideas. It is not because of the merit of our positions. It is not because we care about children and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power....

This is not to say that the concern of NEA and its affiliates with closing achievement gaps, reducing dropout rates, improving teacher quality and the like are unimportant or inappropriate. To the contrary. These are the goals that guide the work we do. But they need not and must not be achieved at the expense of due process, employee rights and collective bargaining. That simply is too high a price to pay.

(View YouTube video on this subject here.)


If you're a parent with children in the public schools you can voice your objections here. But the best way to object is by removing your children from their schools. Without your children they have no real power.

In a related story, future teachers in Minnesota are being "reducated" and become "culturally competent"

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin in order to obtain a teacher certificate.

-Spunky

Cross-posted, with permission, from SpunkyHomeSchool

I've been sharing my family's favorite Thanksgiving recipes on the HomesteadBlogger Front Porch .  Stop by to see how our Texas family celebrates Thanksgiving.  I've invited the other bloggers to share their family favorites as well, so you are certain to find many delicious recipes posted throughout the community. 

Here's a link to a great sounding Mandarin & Cranberry Relish at Nourished Kitchen, a blog I visit often for healthy, delicious recipes. 

I pray your family has a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We truly have much to be thankful for.  And now, I must get back to my own Thanksgiving preparations ... some last minute shopping,  a little baking, a bit of  holiday decorating, and lots of family fun!

Blessings,

Catherine

 

Catherine Love lives in the heart of Texas with her husband Carl, and their 3 daughters, Sarah, Hannah, and Cana.  They enjoy cooking, gardening, and learning new things as they pursue a lifestyle of learning together as a family.  You can read Catherine's Kitchen Adventures and more on her blog- Seeds of Love.

In my younger days, I worked a variety of jobs in the food service industry. I’ve waited tables, tended bar, and even flipped a hamburger or two as a short order cook. I’ve worked in a greasy spoon diner, a cookie-cutter chain, an elegant, and expensive, dining “establishment,” and even a real-life version of the neighborhood bar where everyone knows your name. I’ve served singles, couples, families, and friends. I’ve served salad to students and beers to bikers. Even a celebrity or two has graced my tables. Yet, in all that time, and after all those people, I have never served a group of people who were nicer or more grateful for that service than the people I served last night. Last night, I served dinner at alocal homeless shelter.

Let me take a moment here to back up and explain how I ended up serving pieces of cornbread to total strangers. The women’s ministry of my church, Warehouse 727, wanted to do something in the community. We knew we wanted it to matter. We just didn’t know what to do. We’re a pretty diverse group and trying to agree on something was near impossible. However, we noticed that whenever the call went up for food, the Women of Warehouse delivered! These ladies can cook! Abundantly! Pot lucks and picnics are a veritable feast with each lady trying to outdo the next. We’re discreet about our passion for feeding people, but it’s there. So, we took that passion and decided to bring dinner to Pinellas Hope, a local shelter that houses roughly 280 homeless people. What an unforgettable experience! Eighteen ladies stepped up to cook and serve chili, cornbread, and cookies to the residence, and boy, did we have fun!

Honestly, I didn’t think we’d pull it off. We’re a pretty small church. Where were we going to find enough volunteers to cook and serve almost 300 people? Money is tight for everyone these days. Most schedules are even tighter. Yet, in spite of my doubt, God smiled. Everyone ate their fill. In fact, most people returned for second, thirds and even fourths! Yet, there was still enough left over for lunch the next day. Talk about loaves and fishes! I never get enough of seeing Him in action!

Remember a paragraph or so ago when I mentioned I’m a food service veteran? Anyone who works in the food service industry knows that Tipping is not a city in China. It’s their livelihood. Even though I haven’t worked in a restaurant for a few years, I remember the importance of that little something extra at the end of the meal.  However, I knew I was going into this to serve others as selflessly as I could, and I didn’t expect to receive anything. Well, I was wrong about not receiving anything. I was tipped, abundantly!! These men and women were some the nicest, friendliest people I have ever met. I don’t know any of their stories yet, and I suppose that doesn’t really matter for now. They thanked us, joked with us, laughed with us, and blessed us. They complimented the food outrageously, and even asked if we’d come back again. But more important, God was there. You could feel Him in that kitchen, watching over the least of these. It was an evening of fellowship not only with the Women of Warehouse and the residence of Pinellas Hope, but also with the Lord. To me, tips don’t come any bigger than that, and all I did was hand out some cornbread!

I’m not going to tell you about how this experience made me more grateful for my home and family. I won’t promise to never whine again over my ugly kitchen floor that starts to move if I use too much water when mopping or the “artistic” appearance of the outside of my home (three sides are blue but the front is white. Don’t ask.). And I won’t blather on about how much more thankful I am for the miracles God has performed so that I can stay home and teach my children. Just knowing there are 280 people out there who need a homeless shelter should be enough to stir all those feeling. No, I’m not going to go on about my own epiphanies. What I will tell you is that if God sends the opportunity your way to serve “the least of these,” take it. When we serve as He would have us do, He shows up as only He can do, and He makes sure you know it!

If you are in or near Pinellas County, Florida, please, look into serving dinner atPinellas Hope. Just click on their name anywhere in this blog to go to their website. If you are not in the area, find a shelter in your own area and, of course, check with your church. You might be surprised by the unpublished needs in your own church. I’ve also included another resource that can help you find a place to serve in your area. There’s a website called Volunteer Match that can match you with places that need volunteers in your area.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope the holiday season inspires you to serve the needy in your community. Better yet, I hope that you don’t stop!

 

Betty

I'm usually excited about Thanksgiving each year. Family, friends, fun and fabulous food is something to look forward to.  This year it's not the same. It may be because I haven't focused on the what to do's and what to makes.  The only thing we've done around here is started Thanksgiving journals. Maybe over the weekend I'll get more excited about the whole thing. I could make some pumpkin bars and some eggnog bread.. that might help my mood.

I think we'll do a family craft together. We've done one when my eldest two where younger. Now that I have five children it will be more fun.

We'll make a Thanksgiving tree.
I'll cut out a tree base out of construction paper and then all my children, my hubbs and I can cut out a bunch of our traced hands in fall colors, and then glue them to the tree.
I think it'll look real neat this year with all the different sized hands.

What about you? Do you do any family crafts together?

Why blogging is so great reason #5,287: You get to meet some of your favorite homeschool celebrities without having to attend a conference! Amanda Bennett has been blogging here at HSB ever since it started back in 2005. Blogging builds good business, but it also builds good relationships, and Amanda is very friendly and relational.

You may think that the author of numerous unit studies has her life perfectly organized and that all of her science experiments turn out with nary a problem. Not so! Even Amanda learns from her homeschool lessons.

This Christmas will be a meager one for many families. Yet we can still make it special. The first step is remembering what it is that makes the season so important to us, aside from Christ, it's family. Amanda shares a story about a tough Christmas she had as a little girl. Be sure to also read Christmas: A Study of Love.

As this week, and next, we are talking about Thanksgiving I thought this post, Thanksgiving Learning--Gratitude? would be of interest to you.

Next week there won't be a new Featured Blogger, so you get two whole weeks to explore Amanda's blog and wish her tidings of comfort and joy! (Such greetings aren't just for Christmas!)

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

I have had this blog since June of 2005, way back when homeschoolblogger was in beta. I was invited by two dear friends, ByHisGraceInColorado and HomegrownHearts and became hooked. For three years I blogged almost daily or at least three to four days a week. I had many readers and I met a lot of neat like-minded folks. This year was different. I didn't have the energy. I spent my days drained and even though I had creative learning ideas to share I would sit here and stare at my computer. The words just could not flow out the way they used to.

That is changed! I am back. I have my energy back and I feel great!

I haven't thought much about Thanksgiving this year. We will be going over to my grandmothers home. I'm supposed to make mashed potatoes and eggnog bread.

Kids learning: I started my two eldest on Time4Learning. I figure it will give them something different to do plus it will give me a bit more time to focus on my little ones. I have two more that are learning to read.
I'll let you know what my kids think of time4learning in a few weeks when they've been doing it for a while. The nice thing about it is there are no contracts and we can go month to month.

The Power of Thank You!

By JoJo Tabares

Did you ever notice how little kids show appreciation?  My son comes to me several times a day and says things like "I love you!  You are the best mommy in the whole world!"  The conviction of his words and the look on his face as he utters them are what touch my heart!  That's what true appreciation is.

Most of us teach our children to say thank you, but few of us really understand its power.  Showing appreciation is not only etiquette, but it is a responsibility especially during the holidays.

I was privileged to have been in the audience when Florence Littauer was speaking on "Silver Boxes".  It's what she calls her philosophy on appreciation and edification.  She quotes Ephesians 4:29.  "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."  She says that words are like a gift we give others that come in little silver boxes with bows on top.  This is how we should show proper appreciation.

Many of us remember to say thank you when we get a gift, but often forget to show others appreciation for the things they do for us on a daily basis. And just how much appreciation does our "Thank You" show?

"Gee thanks" isn't much of a Thank You.  "Gee thanks" is what is interpreted when you say..."Thanks for the gift Aunt Millie!"  or even  "I love it!" Even if your voice is excited and your face lights up when you say it, it can be empty.  Why?  Because in order for Aunt Millie to feel appreciated, she has to know what exactly you appreciate: The thought behind it?  Money she spent?  Time it took?  Trouble she went to?  And what exactly did you like about the gift:  The features? The time it will save you?

A proper thank you is one in which you show as much time and trouble to give thanks as the person did in choosing your gift.  Consider this:  "Oh Aunt Millie!  This is so generous of you!  I can hardly believe it!  This is a beautiful sweater and just the perfect color to go with the dress I was going to wear for my interview!  Oh it feels so soft and I just love how it fits!"  How much more appreciated does Aunt Millie feel now?  Notice you haven't even said the words "thank you".  It isn't the words you speak; it's the message it conveys that is important.

And how often should you thank Aunt Millie for this sweater?  MORE THAN ONCE!  I make it a point to wear my gift when I go visit the giver, call them on the phone when I am using it again, mention how I used it the other day and what a pleasure it was that I had it!  NOW how appreciated does Aunt Millie feel?

What about all the thank yous that go unsaid to the people in our lives who do little things for us day after day?  How many of us thank our mothers for raising us or our fathers for working so hard all those years we were growing up-not just on Mother's and Father's Day and not just a card or gift.  How many of us have told our parents exactly what they did that we appreciate?  Details!  A Mother's Day card once a year is an obligation.  A letter or conversation regaling them with the details of what you
appreciated about them over the years is true appreciation!

Is appreciation limited to our family?  Many of us never thank our friends or associates for what they mean to us or do for us each day.  How many of us belong to online communities?  How many times have you emailed the owner of the list or site to thank them for all the behind the scenes work they do every day that allows you to participate, fellowship, and learn?

Take your appreciation public.  How much more appreciated do you think Annie would feel if you posted a public message of appreciation for all her hard work behind the scenes at your favorite Yahoo group?:

"I want to thank Annie for all the wonderful articles she posts each week! I have really learned a lot and I have used many of these articles as homeschool lessons for my children.  Annie must work so hard to create all these fun activities and I want to thank her for donating her time and all the prizes and certificates she has given away over the years!  This group has been such a blessing to me and I have had so much fun as a member. Thanks Annie!"


A little thank you goes a long way! If Annie was feeling a little frustrated by the time the group takes to maintain, I bet she has renewed vitality after your post!  On the job, employers can get more out of their employees by showing them a little appreciation now and again.  You can create a closer relationship with your family and friends by showing them how much you appreciate what they do for you.

So this Christmas season, why don't you give the gift of true appreciation. The most appreciated gift is appreciation.  It's free to give and priceless to get!  Thank you for reading along with my thoughts today!

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JoJo Tabares holds a degree in Speech Communication.  Her Christian and humorous approach to communication skills has made her a sought after speaker.  JoJo's articles have appeared in various homeschool magazines and websites such as Dr. Laura.com.  Her Say What You Mean curricula is endorsed by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and her eBook, Say What You Mean When You're in Business, has been used by direct sales leaders and small business owners alike.  For more information, please visit http://www.ArtofEloquence.com  or
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/CommunicationFUNdamentals/