The Harmonics of the Heart
may be heard,
when Love is given
with nothing
expected in return.
The Song it sings
is the fragrance of our Being,
uplifting, ascending,
transcending everything.
It harmonizes who we are
with every living Being.
Gliding past the pain in Life,
as we dance around our star,
in praise of Love
and Sing.
For no greater Joy
will ever be,
if Love we Harmonize.
Like shooting Stars
that Light the way,
our Love will live
beyond our Being.
“Have no fear of perfection
– you’ll never reach it.”
– Salvador Dali
To strive for perfection
is to never be satisfied,
never happy.
Trying to always be perfect
is pursuing the worst in us,
that part that tells us
NOTHING
is ever good enough.
My Dear Friends,
one of the best antidotes
to the unnatural inclination toward perfection
is simple:
Stop thinking about it
and give your life, your labor and your Love
to others.
Recognize that Love
is the condition in which the Happiness
of another person
is essential
to your own.
Perfectionism
is a form of poisoning.
The expectation of perfection
can poison the precious and very fragile
Spirit of a Child.
It can lead to death,
and has millions of times.
We are ALL
perfectly imperfect.
In our differences
our Vision lives.
When our imperfections emerge,
we become our authentic selves,
and we find ourselves
to be,
what we are meant to be.
And,
we can be
accepting,
and
happy.
According to the American College Health Association
the suicide rate among young adults, ages 15-24,
has tripled since the 1950s.
College suicides have also tripled
since the 1950s,
and suicide is
the second most common cause of death
among college students.
1 in 12 college students
has made a suicide plan at some point.
For more read:
youngadults.about.com
It is unbelievable,
but tragically true.
And suicide, typically, does not discriminate
based on age, race, gender, or sexual orientation.
But in this country it does discriminate.
Suicide rates are inordinately high
for our young,
vulnerable and emotional distressed and stressed out
children.
For middle and high school age youth (ages 12-18),
suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death.
In ages 10-14, we have seen
an alarming 128% increase in suicides since 1980,
making it the third leading cause of death
for that age group according to the Jason Foundation.
– see:
http://jasonfoundation.com/youth-suicide/facts-stats/
Text “Jason” to 741741
to speak with a compassionate, trained Crisis Counselor.
Confidential support 24/7, for free.
The Crisis Counselor “helps you move from a hot moment
to a cool calm to stay safe and healthy
using effective active listening and suggested referrals –
all through text message,
using Crisis Text Line’s secure platform.”
Visit Crisis Text Line’s website for additional information. www.crisistextline.org
More teenagers and young adults die from suicide
than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease,
COMBINED.
Each day in our nation,
there are an average of over 5,400 attempts
by young people
grades 7-12.
My dear friends,
these are NOT just numbers,
they are our
precious children.
In most countries,
the incidence of suicides is higher than the incidence
of intentional homicides.
More people die of suicide
than die of war and murder.
As of July 27, 2018,
there have been 2,372 U.S. military deaths in the War in Afghanistan,
lost since the U.S. entered that conflict in 2003.
But most people are unaware
that a much greater loss of young lives
occurs every year
on this nation’s college campuses.
Yes,
we are effectively at war, in our own country,
with what causes the death of many more young Americans.
And the sooner we realize that it is a war,
and one that we are losing,
the sooner we will find Hope for the many thousands
who desperately need Hope.
They are the children of our deepest Love.
They are the sons and daughters
of us all.
They are my children.
And they are your children.
Folks, we need to admit our mistakes.
We need to take responsibility.
We need to Love each other enough
to see the light of our neglectful transgressions.
We need to stop pretending
that we are doing what is right.
.
We have failed so many of our deeply Loved children,
by not having the courage to say no.
Say NO to outdated and oppressive teaching methodologies.
Say NO to antiquated and overly stressful and unnecessary
assessment strategies
that place so much stress on children
that they simply stop breathing.
.
Say No
to anyone who expects our children to be perfect.
Shout No!
And then, by God,
go out into this World
and do something about it.
My Dear Friends,
there is simply too much stress
placed upon our young, sensitive, vulnerable children.
And what have you gained,
if your Honor-roll Child no longer exists?
The only thing to be gained from such tragic loss
is knowledge
– truly sad knowing,
and deep, everlasting
regret.
We now have the Wisdom,
garnered from an unimaginable price paid by so very many children,
to know that a precious child means far more to us
than a crippled letter of the alphabet
printed upon a piece of really dumb looking paper.
LeVonna and I have come to the realization
that such artificial contrivances as report cards and grades,
are highly superficial and deplorably subjective.
Our government
(that’s us, Folks, you know – WE the people!)
is responsible for adding even more unnecessary stress
through mandated testing.
And, importantly,
these man-made artificial contrivances
become highly destructive of fragile self-esteem
and of Life itself.
“High self-esteem
and social “connectedness”
can protect against suicide.
Psychosocial interventions based on these
and appropriate treatment of mental disorders
has cut suicides among people at risk
in countries such as the UK and Finland.”
– World Health Organization
The Truth is,
mandated testing is really meaningless,
in the grand scheme of things.
But, on the bright side,
corporate profits are up,
as they have effectively lobbied to market
these very expen$ive examinations.
“For the love of money
is the root of ALL evil:
which while some coveted after,
they have erred from the Faith,
and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows.”
– 1 Timothy 6:10
By the way, Martin Carnoy, at Stanford University
and Richard Rothstein of the Economic Policy Institute
examined test series over the last decade.
An analysis of international tests suggests students in the U.S.
are not lagging behind their peers in other countries.
Based on their analysis,
the researchers found that average low,
partly because a disproportionately greater share of US students
comes from disadvantaged social class groups.
My Friends,
this is part of the price we pay
for living in a vibrant democracy.
We educate and test EVERYONE.
Many other countries test ONLY those
that are not screened out and placed in fast-track vocational programs.
If you are not bright enough,
off you go to the factory!
And guess what,
these students are not included in tests
that compare the U. S. with other nations.
Based on analysis,
these researchers found that average U.S. scores are low partly because a disproportionately greater share of US students comes from disadvantaged social class groups.
(Remember, we include EVERYONE in our testing.)
The analysis also shows how errors in selecting sample populations of test-takers and arbitrary choices regarding test content contribute to results that appear to show US students lagging.
Folks,
the UNFAIR and highly publicized comparative results create panic and stupidity in response to a very unreal scenario.
The results can be abhorrently devastating to your child,
who is NOT doing poorly in comparison.
The stress placed upon the teachers, administrators and your child
is unwarranted, and many times, destructive.
It is dangerous
and contributes to very deadly atmosphere that pervades academia.
We now live in a dangerously delusional place.
And only the Truth
shall set us free.
Remember the TECAT testing fiasco –
the infamous Texas Examination of Current Administrators and Teachers. It was a test of basic literacy given to Texas teachers in 1980’s.
This test, seen as politically essential,
was intended to raise the public esteem of teachers
by weeding out incompetents.
Teachers expended massive effort in reviewing basic skills and drilling on the test format
(yes, the format of all things,
and totally useless in this Life or the Hereafter).
The focus in our public schools, at the time,
was drawn AWAY from teaching
and placed entirely upon preparation for the test.
99% of the 210,000 who took the test had passed.
And we lost thousands of experienced vocational education teachers, special education-teachers and others who were over-represented among the failures. The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled it an UNFAIR TEST.
This, so called, literacy test, it ruled,
discriminated against teachers
who were black or over 40.
I recall one very dear and deeply Loved third grade teacher,
with over thirty years of experience,
who was so nervous that she could not cope with the stress.
It was over three decades ago when she took her last test in college,
at Texas Wesleyan University.
I was her Principal and found her to be not only highly competent,
but very, very Loving and deeply dedicated to every child.
The students in her class were privileged to be
in the Life-affirming, warm and Loving environment
she created for them.
I attended her funeral shortly after
she lost her employment and all hope.
I cried for weeks.
This was yet another example
of an ill-conceived assessment program
with deadly consequences.
Yes,
it was another testing fiasco
that slapped thousands of educators in the face.
It devastated the lives of precious, dedicated veteran educators –
people that our kids needed in their shop classes, elementary classes and special education programs.
What a horrible experience for everyone.
It scarred educators so much
that it was never repeated.
And all it accomplished,
other than spending our money in a cruel and unwise manner,
was to leave the landscape of so many dedicated and experienced educator’s lives in ruin.
What a way to appreciate those precious people
who chose a Life of near poverty
(yes, some teachers received food stamps to survive)
in order to help our children.
But,
we had people who needed to get re-elected,
regardless of the cost.
Remember folks,
your vote is the single most valuable thing you possess!
When you place someone in control of your life,
and the lives of your precious children,
by giving them your vote –
make certain that they possess the qualities of being truly
Human.
If compassion and common sense have not been
the hallmark of their Life,
vote for someone else.
It is that simple.
I have a suggestion for you.
Please take the last report card you received
and tack it to a wall.
Throw darts at it
until it has so many holes in it that you can see the light of day through it (another way of saying – the Truth).
Now,
when you have put enough holes in this byproduct of an ill-conceived, panic laden, distortion of reality,
you will realize that it shall never do your child much good.
After all,
it is not really accurate
and can convey negative connotations
that are simply
harmful.
These reports are are so subjective they are not really telling you much of anything, at all.
But, you got in some good practice throwing darts.
I also recommend the same for those self-destructive and illusory
state exam results.
You know,
the ones that have resulted in closing entire schools,
while stroking the egos of a few politicians.
Oh my God!
Please forgive us.
And hand me another dart.
Another result of too much testing?
If you really want to give your child an assessment,
give him or her a huge hug at the end of day
and tell the one you cherish just how much he or she is Loved by you. Take the time to say everything you ever wanted to tell your child,
each and every single day.
Let them know that they are the PERFECT Gift from God.
And they need not even try to improve upon such perfection.
Now that is a genuine and Heart-felt assessment.
And it is one worth giving.
And,
if your really feel compelled to have a written report card,
write “I LOVE YOU” on a piece of paper,
fold in half
and hand it to your child.
I asked that you not use so much
eye makeup.
The Love of God is perfect. And the Gift He has given you, in a Child of His,
is all you need and all you shall ever need.
Please, do not even think about asking for more.
That would truly be an affront to God.
Please do not insult and offend the One who has given you a Perfect Gift in the form of His precious Child.
And please,
don’t allow your Child to be given contrived, superficial, highly subjective grades for anything. Do not allow some pretentious, philosophically antiquated, overtly biased and over bearing teacher to do this.
.
Hey,
give your kid a puppy, or a smile, or the wink of an eye, or a big hug
or a new toy or a good laugh or a trip to the back yard
to play with him or her.
Squirt your kid, regardless of age, with the water hose,
and then take off running.
(Expect to get wet within the next 15 seconds.
You cannot have more fun than a great water fight on a hot day).
.
Give your child the very firm knowledge that whatever they do
is good enough.
In fact,
tell him or her that what you EXPECT
is not to be perfect.
No one is.
No one.
It would be abnormal to be perfect.
Trust me,
you would not fit in with the rest of us.
A perfectly behaving child really doesn’t exist.
And, nothing good will ever come from it.
The only thing you should expect from your deeply Loved child
is that he or she
be Happy.
If he or she is not,
do something different.
If you think about what makes you Happy,
you can make someone else Happy.
It is that simple.
Yes,
it is important to graduate.
But in order to graduate,
you must survive.
You must be alive.
And your child will,
if you relax, and Pray and play with him or her
(by the way, more play results in a better preparation
for the game of Life.
And,
in many ways,
it is a game!
If your child is being provided with an antiquated grade from a philosophically outdated school, give the grade back to the teacher, where it belongs.
Yes,
just hand it back.
A superficial and subjective grade truly belongs
given back to the instructor.
Isn’t it a reflection upon how the child did
under the tutelage of that teacher?
.
Hand it back!
.
Ask why the teacher did not do a better job teaching your child.
And inform the teacher that you really don’t want or need his artificial appraisal of someone he will really never know.
Fear
can keep you, and your children,
from truly Living.
But,
with God on your side,
you need not fear anything or anyone.
You are perfectly Loved by your Creator.
In fact,
you are
the very definition of
perfection.
But perfection from Human beings is unattainable.
The expectation of perfection from Children
is as deadly
as any toxin, infection, contagion or
war.
So relax.
We are already perfect.
Now,
you can say a simple Prayer of Thanksgiving.
And give that perfectly wonderful Child of yours
a big hug for me.
Hey,
give me one too!
I will be perfectly Happy with that.
Goodnight.
7 Reasons To Live Frugally
from: allthingsfrugal.com
People have a variety of reasons to live frugally, but the last one on this list might surprise you. Why do you pinch pennies?
Necessity
Some folks have no choice but to live frugally. Unemployment or underemployment, unexpected medical bills, or the break-up of a marriage can leave you at the mercy of coupons and bargain bins. There’s no shame in that. In fact, it’s downright admirable.
Get Out Of Debt
Credit card interest rates create anorexic piggy banks, and student loans bear down like a slow moving vice. Paying off debt early saves money in the long run and frees up future funds for something else. Kudos to those of you eating a sandwich at your desk for lunch instead of digging the debt hole deeper with a fancy salad at an overpriced restaurant.
Save For Kids’ College
You don’t want to have the vice grip of student loans greet your kiddos upon graduation, so you’re saving now to pay for their college then. They may complain about not having $200 dollar sneakers today, but in a few years they’ll thank you for the gift of a debt-free education.
Saving To Buy A House
Dave Ramsey says that purchasing a house is one of the few times it’s okay to go into debt. However, to keep your mortgage payments and costs down it helps to have a good size down payment. Your home will build equity over time compared to flushing rental payments every month, but it takes some discipline in your spending to accumulate a big enough egg for your future nest.
Wedding
Whether you’re a future groom saving for the engagement ring or the bride whose parents refuse to give you the wedding of your dreams, weddings are a great motivation to live frugally. And it’s good practice for learning to share a bank account with someone else. Just remember that the wedding only lasts a few hours and the marriage lasts a lifetime. Invest accordingly.
Dream Vacation
Sometimes checking an item off your bucket list requires lots of advance planning and strategizing. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to visit the Louvre or kayak through the Grand Canyon or learn to surf in Australia or hike to the top of Kilimanjaro. Travel costs and supplies are costly. Don’t go into debt for the dream only to find out that paying for it is a nightmare. Save now and relish the memories later.
For Charity
Other folks, the very special among us, choose to live frugally so they can give generously. If this is you, maybe your pantry is filled with store brand items, but you paid for 25 people to have a warm meal at the local night shelter. You might be able to afford a bigger house, but you stay where you are and work to fund the local crisis pregnancy center. Maybe you have a heart for at-risk teens, adult literacy, refugee resettlement, human trafficking survivors, AIDS orphans, or Alzheimer’s research. What if frugal living was the first step toward becoming a philanthropist?
In Philosophy Class
this week:
Anderson Private School
School Calendar
2019-2020
First Semester
Oct. 4 (Friday) Trip to Rollerland West and Lunch
Oct. 14 (Monday) Columbus Day Holiday
Oct. 25 (Friday) Trip to Fossil Mania in Glenrose
Nov. 8 (Friday) Trip to F. W. Auto Show at Conv. Center
Nov. 25-29 Thanksgiving / Fall Break
To Be Announced Texas A. G. T. Conference
Dec. 20 Last Day of Fall Semester
Dec. 21 – Jan. 6 Christmas / Winter Break Holidays
Second Semester Jan. 7 – May 22
Jan. 7 (Thursday) Second Semester Begins
Jan. 20 (Monday) Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Holiday
Jan. 24 (Friday) Trip to Fort Worth Stock Show
Feb. 7 (Friday) Trip to Playful Corporation
Feb. 17 (Monday) President’s Day Holiday
March 9 – 13 Spring Break Holidays
April 10 & 13 (Fri. & Mon.) Good Friday and Easter
April 24 (Friday) Trip to Scarborough Renaissance Festival
May 18 (Monday) Preparation Day for Adventure Trip
May 19 – 22 Adventure Trip
May 22 Last Day of Semester
Dr. & Mrs. Anderson may schedule 2-5 additional days
(to be announced later) for In-service Training.
Visit our website at http://www.andersonschool.net
for updated information.
The School Calendar is subject to change.
There are no make-up days
if school is closed due to
inclement weather.
Inclement Weather Policy:
the school will close if Fort Worth I. S. D. is closed.
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and provided for educational purposes.
Copyright Disclaimer – Section 107 – Copyright Act 1976,
allowance is made for “fair use”
for purposes such as criticism, comment,
news reporting, teaching, scholarship,and research.
Fair use is permitted by copyright statute.
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