A Christmas Message

SPARKS OF ADVENT LIGHT

BY JOAN CHITTISTER

Behind all the Santa Claus characters, the red bows, the bells, and the reindeer that comes with Christmas, there is a haunting scene from another age, a diorama almost lost to this one in the name of political correctness. This child, born to poor parents , birthed in a stable, laid in a manger,watched over by angels and stars, by shepherds and wise men, by Mary and Joseph and the sheep on the hill. This child, we know, is special. But this specialness is also the uncomfortable reminder of other children, equally special, not nearly so well loved in our own time.

Perhaps never in our lives have we had to live with the knowledge of so much violence to children: children beaten, children abandoned, children violated sexually, children unwanted, children starving, children murdered. We wince at the very thought of it.We turn away, turn the dial, turn the conversation in other directions. It is simply too much to think about, too much to deal with.

But why the disbelief? Why the horror? Why the anger? After all, people everywhere are being beaten, killed, raped, and murdered. Children are just one more class of the same degradation. So what is the difference?

The difference is the future. Our future. These children, these innocents, are being sacrificed for the breakdown in mental health systems, for the permissiveness of the society, for the toxicity level of the environment, for the violence we take for granted, the violence we condone, the violence we breed in this century. Every one of them who suffers like this costs us another piece of hope in the future. Every one of them we lose marks the loss of a piece of our own life.

Maybe that’s why Jesus came as a child: to remind us that what we do not care for from infancy, will rob us of the future we seek. Will rob us of its intelligence its creativity, its sense of possibility, its promise.

Christmas, the birth of Jesus, reminds us that every child born is another chance to save the world, to make it better, to bring it joy.

No doubt about it, the birth of Jesus is a call for all of us to care for the innocent, to protect the defenseless, to build the future.

Make your Christmas merry by giving the child you do not know the opportunity to believe in people, to bring joy into our lives, to grow up better rather than bitter. 

Surely, Christmas has something important to do with reminding all of us to save the children of the world so that someday they can also save the world for us.      -SISTER JOAN CHITTISTER

 "So today, Christmas Day and throughout the years ahead, think of all children and what you can do to advocate for them until they can advocate for themselves and take their rightful place in society.”  As Sister Joan Chittister writes, ‘...to save the children of the world so that someday they can also save the world for us.’ 

Speak softly.

Listen gently.

Love unconditionally

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year

-Marge

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

I recently attended a Catholic Mass in Maryland. The homily featured Galatians 6:7.

“…whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” 

As I am wont to do, I began to think deeply  about this proverb and how it affects all life. We have probably heard this refrain many times and, yes, perhaps have used it in answer to some perceived wrong done to us or others.  Historically, this phrase has been used in a negative context. For example, a man who commits adultery, not only loses his family, but his honor and worth as a decent human being. His actions harm his wife and children, but have far reaching consequences in the work place, community, and society as well.  Lost forever is the respect and trust of family, friends, and co-workers.

We are all connected in some way in the universe. So, what one sends out to the universe, comes back at a future point in one’s life. It is not Karma for Karma is a rebirth or reincarnation into another body here on earth after one’s death.  

You reap what you sow is a Law of Nature. “It is a statement of fact, deduced from observation, to the effect that a particular natural or scientific phenomenon always occurs if certain conditions are present.” This law is two pronged. If a farmer expects to have a good harvest and a bountiful one, he will sow the best seed and plenty of it. If he sows poor quality seed and sparingly, he cannot expect his harvest to be anything but of poor quality and less of it. In the same spirit, if the farmer sows nothing, then he cannot expect anything at all. Simply put, this applies to all actions in life, good or bad, reward or punishment.

Recently, we have celebrated Thanksgiving Day. For me, thanksgiving means feeling and showing gratitude. When seeds of thankfulness are sown, one demonstrates admiration, respect, and appreciation for others. Isn’t that better than sowing seeds of disrespect, disdain, and disregard? Surely, this reaping is advantageous to all concerned?

Many of us will be celebrating Christmas, either in a religious or secular way, or both.  Money and time will be spent on decorations, gifts, entertaining, and Christmas dinners. 

At this most awaited holiday of the year, you can sow seeds of hope, comfort, cheer, inspiration, and more. Donate money to a favorite charity. Visit a nursing home. Participate in your church’s or community center's outreach programs. Inspire students by taking part in school activities with your children and friends. Schools can always use volunteers in myriad ways. These seeds you sow will yield great returns.

This endearing holiday is really a state of mind. It should be a time for pause and reflection. Gifts of time, love, joy, and peace could be given not only during the Christmas Season, but throughout the year. It would make a marvelous gift subscription for the recipients.

                                          ENJOY LIFE!

WISHING ALL A VERY BLESSED CHRISTMAS 

AND 

A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

GRANDMA MEG

***This is a lovely website entitled, “The True Meaning of Christmas.” Check it out.

http://llerrah.com/truemeaningofchristmas.htm

GIVING THANKS

Dear Friends and Family,

November is a special time for me. Not only will I get to enjoy Thanksgiving Day with
my family, but to give thanks and praise for surviving my near fatal accident, the day before Thanksgiving, November 26, 2014. ( A Thanksgiving Miracle, Part one)  

I know with a certainty that my survival is due to my faith and trust in God. 

I do not take my life for granted. I am learning to live in the moment.  Without seeming trite, I take each day as it comes and make the most of it. 

My year so far has been filled with joy and excitement. Among the many blessings I have received, there are two exceptional events that I relish. The first is becoming a great grandmother in May. I am delighted whenever I receive photos of my great granddaughter or get to hold her in my arms.  So much love to share.

The second event found three of my friends and me exploring Ireland, Scotland, and England for three weeks in September. We did not go on a tour. Rather, we went wherever the four winds took us using public transportation. It was quite an adventure. We returned with photos galore and awesome memories. Would I go again? You betcha!

Unfortunately, I do experience flashbacks at the oddest times. The sensation of watching myself and the car submerge in the water in total darkness is both jolting and uncanny. But the flashbacks are diminishing and will continue to do so until they are but a fleeting memory.

And so, I would like to wish you all a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving Holiday.

THE NUMBERS GAME: REPERCUSSIONS

THE NUMBERS GAME: REPERCUSSIONS

On June 14, 2015, I wrote a post about how some high school graduation dropout rates across the nation were not an accurate representation of the truth. (The Numbers Game)

I stated,  “The Department of Education has announced that the high school graduation rate is at 81%. That is the highest it has been since 1974.  That  would be laudable if only it were entirely true. To be fair, it may be true if the states and school districts are completely honest when calculating the numbers. On the other hand, we have seen, that because of national accountability in our schools, some factions found unique ways to misrepresent the numbers.”

The pressure of using  standardized tests for school and student accountability across the nation has led to innumerable cases of cheating and fraudulent reporting, not only for test results, but high school graduation rates.

Case in point: On October 20, 2015, Becky Vevea, an education reporter for WBEZ in Chicago wrote an article entitled, “Admitting Dropouts Were Miscounted, Chicago Lowers Graduation Rates.”  Vevea revealed that joint investigations by WBEZ and the Better Government Association under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act disclosed some startling facts.

After the investigation, Chicago Public Schools lowered its official 2014 high school graduation rate. It appears that, as far back as 2011, as many as 2000 students enrolled in 25 high schools have been reported as transferring to other areas outside of Chicago, to other cities or states. No  records of where these students went were ever produced.The bottom line is that these students were dropouts and never counted as such.

Do the Chicago Public School officials admit to playing with the numbers?  Of course not. Their Chief Education Officer  called the errors, “Concerning.”  District officials admitted having “problems” with the system's accounting. The Chief Accountably Officer, John Barker, announced that changes were being made. 

Barker said the district is, “still planning to train school clerks to count dropouts more accurately and has developed an internal system to flag misclassifications sooner.”

Yeah, let’s all blame it all on those poor underpaid school clerks. After all, the Chicago School District would never order such a dictum. Or would they?

A LINK TO THE PAST IN EDUCATION

Dear Readers,

My dear friend, Dianne, sent this email recently. I was astonished by what time had preserved.  I wasn't born in 1917 but I would bet that many of my school teachers were.  I can remember our blackboards in school with lessons written on the boards. We may not have had such marvelous drawings, but I can relate to how these blackboards were used for instruction.


Grandma Meg

Live simply.

Speak gently.

Love unconditionally.

Oklahoma school replaces chalkboards, finds 98 year old drawings and class lessons hidden behind them.






When contractors began work on four classrooms of Emerson High School in Oklahoma, they knew their remodel would improve education —
but they never expected it would impact local history.

Looking to upgrade the rooms with new whiteboards and smart boards, the workers had to first remove the outdated chalkboards.
But when they began to pull away the old boards, they made a startling discovery

Beneath the current boards rested another set of chalkboards — untouched for nearly 100 years. Protected and totally undisturbed, the century-old writings and drawings looked like they were made just yesterday. Here, a November calendar rolls into December. A turkey marks the celebration of Thanksgiving.

A multiplication table gives us a glimpse into the curriculum and methods taught in 1917, techniques perhaps lost in the passage of time. When regarding a wheel of multiplication, Principal Sherry Kishore told The Oklahoman, “I have never seen that technique in my life.”

But Oklahoma City school officials aren’t just shocked by what is written, but how it is written. Penmanship like this is clearly a lost art. This board reads, “I give my head, my heart, and my life to my God and One nation indivisible with justice for all.”

Within each of the four rooms, the subject matter and lessons mirrored one another — indicating, as an Oklahoma Public School Twitter caption reads, “aligned curriculum in 1917.”

And though the boards’ style and subject matter might be unfamiliar to younger folks, they certainly resonate with older generations. Principal Kishore told The Oklahoman what it was like to show her 85-year-old mother the boards: “She just stood there and cried. She said it was exactly like her classroom was when she was going to school.”

But these boards actually predate Principal Kishore’s mother by 13 years. Two dates were found on the boards: November 30, 1917, and December 4, 1917.

Some of the writings and drawings were done by students, while others were made by teachers — but i’s not always clear whose is whose.

Regardless, the work is a striking look into days long gone. While reading the boards — like this one listing “My Rules To Keep Clean” — the past comes alive in a very personal way.

English teacher Cinthea Comer told The Oklahoman, “It was so eerie because the colors were so vibrant it looked like it was drawn the same day. To know that it was drawn 100 years ago… it’s like you’re going into a looking glass into the past.”

Built in 1895, Emerson High School has seen many renovations and improvements throughout the years — but nothing like this has ever been discovered.

When removing old chalkboards in the past, contractors have only found broken pipes and wires, so this is a shocking surprise. Oklahoma City and the school district are now working to preserve these beautiful boards.

Hopefully, the spirit of these teachers and their students will be enjoyed for many years to come.
Who knew that scribbles on a chalkboard could become such a precious piece of history.


GOD BLESS

REMINISCING: THE EARLY YEARS, PART 1

REMINISCING: THE EARLY YEARS

PART 1

The world has changed much since I was a kid. 

 I often think about growing up in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Brother, Sister, and I grew up in Pittston, Pennsylvania in the North-Eastern part of the state.

 It was a time of innocence and simplicity for us children. My siblings and I spent most of our time with family. All of our grandparents emigrated from Sicily in the early 1900s. Our maternal grandparents lived two streets away and owned a Mom and Pop grocery store attached to their house.  We spent many happy hours there. We were always welcomed with big hugs and offers of food. Our grandparents owned one of the first TV sets ever and we would sit and watch The Mickey Mouse Club. Sheer bliss! Life was never better!

All of Mama’s siblings moved away after World War ll. Four settled in Virginia. The remaining two moved to different areas in Maryland. Thus, we had sole ownership of our Grandma and Grandpa Guiliano until the Capitano Boys and Uncle Charlie’s Little Nina came to visit from out of town. Little Nina (We still call her that.) was born after my sister, Nina. We eagerly awaited visits from our cousins.

As a sidebar: The remainder of the grandchildren ended up being born right around the time my older son made his appearance in the family. 

Almost every Sunday after Mass, my siblings and I would eagerly jump into the back seat of our old green Studebaker. It totally looked like a rocket ship. With Mama in the front passenger seat, Dad drove along the scenic route wending our way along the Susquehanna River. We didn’t go over the river and through the woods. But to Grandfather De Angelo’s Farm we did go.  We had scads of Aunts and Uncles. My dad had 17 siblings comprised of brothers, a sister, half brothers and sisters, and step brothers and sisters. The farmhouse burst at the seams when everybody was there. 

After dutifully greeting and kissing all the adults, we young-uns’ would scoot out the door with our cousins and immediately hightail it to the woods.  We and Uncle Paul’s kids were the first grandchildren of my grandfather and his first wife, Margherita. Therefore, we were the oldest of all. Down in the woods, we became a tribe of Native American Indians.  Each had a role to play.  Whole scenarios were created to act out. Talk about using our imaginations. We had a blast!

Bounding over meandering streams, we would follow our cousin Anthony who was Chief because he was the eldest. My brother, Anthony, was next in line. Guess he was the Vice Chief. The younger males came next followed by… the female cousins. As  far as our understanding went at the time, equality for women wasn’t.

Mid afternoon found us climbing fruit trees in the orchard and picking apples, pears, or peaches for snacks. Sometimes, we would resort to being hooligans and throw rotten fruit at each.

Next, we ventured into the barn. Running around  the top section of the barn, jumping into haystacks and throwing hay at each other seemed like a diverting way to have fun.  Afterwards, the others would go into the lower barn to watch the cows being milked. I, on the other hand, stayed away for obvious reasons. 

I don’t ever remember any altercations. We always got along well with our cousins. How awesome is that?

After a long, exhausting, but fruitful day, it was time to go home. We would stagger into the car, too tired to talk. We wanted to go to bed as soon as we got into the house. However, Mama had other plans for us. She made sure we were scrubbed clean and brushed our teeth before crawling into our beds. Mama would listen to our prayers, give each of us a hug, a squeeze, and a big kiss. We were sound asleep before the room went dark. Ah, the end of a perfect day!

Uncle Paul's kids and us.

NOT the Studebaker.

Live simply.

Speak softly.

Love unconditionally.

THE POWER OF PRAYER: AMAZON.COM REVIEW

THE POWER OF PRAYER

I totally believe in the Authentic St. Joseph Home Sale Practice Kit. It does not 

matter in which faith one believes. It has its veracity in the visible sign of one's 

certainty that God does answer prayer. In 2000, due to personal circumstances, it 

was imperative that my house sell quickly. I placed St. Joseph in my garden and it 

sold within 3 months. In subsequent years, I have placed St. Joseph in 3 gardens and 

each house sold within 6 months. In two cases, the houses weren't selling in a timely 

manner. Once St. Joseph was reverently placed, the houses sold quickly. This kit 

was sent to a relative whose house in still on the market after one year. I predict 

once St. Joseph is present, the power of prayer will do the rest.

Maltbie D. Babcock – “Our prayers must mean something to us if they are to mean 

anything to God”

Meg

Lancaster, SC

Live Simply

Speak Gently

Love Unconditionally

EMBRACING LIFE

EMBRACING LIFE 

Did you ever experience that one perfect moment in time when everything good and worthy is possible? I have felt this way more than once. The most recent occurrence was several weeks ago.

Most early mornings I go to the pool to exercise. At this time, I have the pool to myself. The pool is located behind our clubhouse. Under the overhang at the back of the clubhouse is a rear entrance fronted by two wrought iron rockers separated by a small table. On this particular day, as I rounded the corner, I was surprised to see the rocker nearest to me empty and gently rocking back and forth. The other rocker was quite still. The weather was sunny, quiet, and calm. No one passed by me. The back door is always locked, so no one could have entered there. I concluded that my beloved mom, Grandma Grace, had been waiting for me. I could feel her gentle presence as I have before.

The water was warm and inviting. I was at peace. A copse borders two sides of the pool. Various birds, small animals, and frogs call it home. This lovely Carolina morning was replete with birds filling the air with singing and chattering. While a lone woodpecker drilled into a tree, the Carolina Wrens’s distinctive teakettle-teakettle sound competed for an audience. For such a tiny bird, it could belt out a song. Within this cacophonous chorus, I could hear the cicadas love song serenade and the frogs mating calls. All were 'oh so busy' this morning. 

As if my morning wasn’t idyllic enough, a bluebird flew down to perch on a post just feet away. This is a rare treat as the bluebird population decreased an estimated 90% over the years. It has been said that bluebirds are associated with spiritual joy and contentment. On that auspicious day, I was the fortunate recipient of all that is good and worthy.

Grandma Meg 

  Live simply.

Speak gently.

Love unconditionally.

EDUCATION: THE NUMBERS GAME

Education: The Numbers Game

The Department of Education has announced that the high school graduation rate is at 81%. That is the highest it has been since 1974.  That  would be laudable if only it were entirely true. To be fair, it may be true if the states and school districts are completely honest when calculating the numbers. On the other hand, we have seen, that because of national accountability in our schools, some factions found unique ways to misrepresent the numbers. 

 According to NPR ( National Public Radio), “The truth behind that record high graduation rate is complicated. States and school districts are using some powerful, long-term strategies to help potential dropouts stay in school. But many are also fudging their numbers and using quick fixes to make things look better than they are.”

Case in point. Recently, the debacle of some administrators and teachers cheating on the standardized tests given in Atlanta, Georgia has given rise to skepticism when looking at Atlanta’s graduation rates. It raises the question, “If an iniquitous minority cheated on the standardized tests, then, how credible are their graduation rates?”

(See Blog: Disgrace.)

Since 2002, the federal government has been pressing states to increase their graduation rates. Many states and school districts have been developing strategies and initiatives to support students to graduate successfully. For example, in Des Moines, Iowa, there is evidence showing that learning strategies, early intervention, and long term support are helping at risk students to honestly raise test scores and subsequently, graduation rates.

 On the other hand, some districts in Illinois and New Jersey are enrolling students in alternative schools. It has been reported that these districts have made an easier and less accountable path to graduation by moving some students off the books of traditional high schools. All told, there are at least 21 states offering alternative schools, mainly for this reason. Unfortunately,  other creative means are used to manage the graduation numbers such as mislabeling students.

As if undergraduate news isn’t bad enough, an article from

https://news.wbhm.org/npr_story_post/2015/ states, “Some college athletes are cheating, and the NCAA is cracking down on universities that enable them to do it.”

Sham classes, fraud, ghost writers for athletes, and cheating are ways some colleges are enabling athletes to continue to play on their sports teams.

WHY DOES ALL THIS MATTER?

1. First and foremost, students on all education levels are being denied the right to an excellent education.
2. Citizens and parents are paying the cost of such reprehensible actions, while children/young adults suffer the dire consequences.
3. These practices show a lack of integrity and  dishonesty  on the part of some leaders in education.
4. The actions of unethical persons involved in The Education Numbers Game may be seen by other countries as a lack of a strong moral code on the part of all Americans.
5. Academics, not sports, should be the focus of a college education.

SO WHAT SHALL WE  DO ABOUT THESE PRACTICES?

Everyone has the capability and responsibility to help make changes in the state and national education programs and initiatives by speaking or writing to his/her state and federal representatives and senators.

RESOURCES

https://www.myphilanthropedia.org/top-nonprofits/national/education/2014 http://dfer.org/about-us/statement-of-principles/

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/

What-We-Do/US-Program/College-Ready-Education

 http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/archived-projects/pre-k-now 

https://www.studentsforedreform.org/our-people/

http://www.sedl.org/pubs/free.html://www.sedl.org/pubs/free_reading.html

http://parents4publicschools.org/ http://all4ed.org/

  Live simply.

Speak gently.

Love unconditionally.

POETRY: THE LIGHTEST ROSE

THE LIGHTEST ROSE

The lightest rose

Falls into the stream of joy

Wanting to keep its shape

To no avail, falls again

The lightest rose

Flutters with the wind

Knowing it will place a seed to grow

Into a flower of thought

The lightest rose

Hides beneath the stream

Wanting to climb its way out

And burst into life

A rose of thought

A rose of travel

A rose grows

Only to gain better color in the spring

*Grace

HUMOR: WANNA KNOW WHY TEACHERS DRINK?

Dear Readers,
I received the following email and am sharing it because in teaching, as in any profession, there is stress and aggravation at times. A little humor can go a long way to help one regain one's equilibrium. No disrespect is intended.

As Robert Frost said, “If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane.” 

WANNA KNOW WHY TEACHERS DRINK?

(SMILE)

The following questions were set in last year's GED EXAMINATION.  “GED is actually the process of earning the equivalent of your high school diploma, which is called a GED certificate or credential examination. The process requires attending classes, studying, and passing a five-part test.”

http://adulted.about.com/

 These are genuine answers from 16 year old students.

Julius Seizure! You’re killing me. 

                

Q. Name the four seasons.

A. Salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar.

Q. How is dew formed?

A. The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire.

Q. What guarantees may a mortgage company insist on?

A. If you are buying a house they will insist that you are well endowed.

Q. In a democratic society, how important are elections?

A. Very important. Sex can only happen when a male gets an election.

Q. What are steroids?

A. Things for keeping carpets still on the stairs. (Shoot yourself now, there is little hope.)

Q. What happens to your body as you age?

A. When you get old, so do your bowels and you get intercontinental.

Q. What happens to a boy when he reaches puberty?

A. He says goodbye to his boyhood and looks forward to his adultery. (So true)

Q. Name a major disease associated with cigarettes.

A. Premature death

Q. What is artificial insemination?

A. When the farmer does it to the bull instead of the cow.

Q. How can you delay milk turning sour?

A. Keep it in the cow.  (Simple, but brilliant.)

Q. How are the main 20 parts of the body categorized (e.g. The abdomen)?

A. The body is consisted into 3 parts - the brainium, the borax and the abdominal cavity. The brainium contains the brain, the borax contains the heart and lungs and the abdominal cavity contains the five bowels: A,E,I,O,U. (Really?)  

Q. What is the fibula?

A. A small lie

Q. What does 'varicose' mean?

A.  Nearby (One of my favorites)

Q. What is the most common form of birth control?

A. Most people prevent contraception by wearing a condominium.  (That would work.)

Q. Give the meaning of the term 'Cesarean section'

A. The Cesarean section is a district in Rome.

Q. What is a seizure?

A. A Roman Emperor

(Julius Seizure, I came, I saw, I had a fit.)

Q. What is a terminal illness?

A. When you are sick at the airport. (Irrefutable)

Q. What does the word 'benign' mean?

A. Benign is what you will be after you be eight. (Indeed)

Grandma Meg     

      

  Live simply.

Speak gently.

Love unconditionally.