Easter Sunday

Easter Blessings!

Graduate or Turn 18

I’ve debated on wether I should post this for a day or so, beings I’m an Education major and someone important might run across this someday. But this has been on my mind too often to not post it.

So it looks like the the Nebraska Legislative is going to pass some legislation that raises the drop-out age of our youth from 16 to 18. I know that our President has spoke on this topic and how he feels legislation of this kind is so important to our youth. Being an education major, I thought I should write about this. I’ve had courses on development in the Family Studies Department so I approach this issue different than I maybe would have say-two years ago. 

On the surface this law looks beneficial. Requiring all kids to stay in school until they graduate or are 18. Kids in adolescence are testing out their decision making skills and many times we are less than impressed with said skills. Their impulsivity frightens and makes us wonder how they will ever get out of adolescence alive. I feel like I can safely say that I’m out of that stage. But mandating such a law doesn’t fit for every situation. Take the Amish for example, I know Nebraska isn’t known for their Amish communities but the Amish have their children graduate school at the end of the eighth grade. At that time they go into their communities and learn the vocation that will be their life’s work. The Amish had to go to court to fight the 16 year old drop out law. And they won. I’m just saying that grouping everyone together and mandating stuff like this is a recipe for trouble.

Of course I believe that education is important and it would be nice if there was no such thing as a drop out rate. Thomas Jefferson wrote about how essential some educational degree is when he stated that it helps citizens to “participate effectively and intelligently in our open political system if we are to preserve freedom and independence.” It is suppose to help individuals be self-reliant and self-sufficient members of society.

I guess what bugs me about the whole situation is how we think that such a simplistic idea is going to solve the drop out problem. There are so many reasons why a student decides to drop out but I would be willing to bet that if you asked them it would boil down to them being uninvolved and unengaged. So if we take a look at these reasons I really think it becomes less of a drop out problem and more of a school, and teacher problem, they are the ones failing the kids, they are not engaging them in learning. We have too many standards to meet and not enough time to engage them in something that they might actually like and use, we are not valuing every child's interest and potential. Because let’s be honest, an Amish kid who is going to join the fold doesn’t need to know calculous, either do most of us, and it doesn’t make us any lesser for not knowing it. We do need to know how to think critically, and from what I’m hearing in class we need more basic human physiology...

We have made public education a “One Size Fits All” institution and it couldn’t be farther from the truth. Sameness doesn’t = Fair. Heck Sameness doesn’t = Equal. I really love this quote I heard once “Being fair does not mean treating everyone the same it means making sure everyone gets what they need.” Are we making sure every child is getting what they need or are we so concerned with treating everyone the same that so many kids are slipping through the cracks? They are entering the world knowing how to fill in bubbles on standardized tests and sit still. And we wonder why we are falling behind compared to the rest of the globe. It’s perfectly clear to me why this form of education isn’t right for everyone. Sometimes when I think about it, I can’t blame kids for  dropping out. This bothers me, doesn’t it you? 

By making this kind of legislation we are ignoring the real problem. We are putting a band aide on it and hoping that it just goes away. That kids will be 18 and graduating in a few months so they will just finish. Is that really how we want our kids going through school? The drop out problem is being chalked up to kids being immature and bad decision makers that can’t see the benefits of the education, which may have a sliver of truth to it but there are bigger issues. We are pointing at the children and saying they are the ones with the problems when really I think it’s the system that has the problem, and has had one for quite a while. The legislation is coming from a behavioristic point of view. We have changed the circumstances so now the individual will change. All it will take is one kid saying “I don’t care, I’m dropping out.” and your theory has been blown out of the water. Because you haven’t solved the problem, you’ve just glossed over it. Why aren’t we trying to engage our youth more? Make the world the classroom-not just the one building. Make them feel valued and at the very least, tolerate school, not be mandated to go until their 18th birthday. Over-haul the system and maybe we can try to fix the damage that’s been done. 

I have another question though, what the heck are you supposed to do with the 16 year old who wants to drop out but can’t for two more years? When they are counting down the days and failing their classes just waiting for that birthday? Riddle me that people in the capital. 

Whew. 

Blessings! 

Prom

My camera cord has a short in it. The process of getting pictures from my camera to my computer then to you guys has became quite a bit more tricky. I now must plug in my camera to my computer. Stand on my left foot, raise my right arm in the air, and hold my tongue juust right.

You can see how this whole process is quite time consuming and so I haven't uploaded pictures for some time and now I have some catching up to do. I have enough photograph material for weeks. And I don't really know where to start. So I think I'll just jump in and start with Prom.

You would think having boys go to prom would be easier than having girls. You know, no hair, makeup, whining, all in all boys going to prom = less stress.

But here's the thing. You have to do everything for them. Pick out the flowers, pick out the tuxes, persuade them away from certain style choices, pick up the flowers and tuxes. Then you think your work is done? NO. Because pictures are at 5:15 and at 4:45 the boy is showing up and has suddenly forgotten how to button a shirt. As if this rented ill fitting shirt that has normal buttons on it is totally and completely different than the shirt that he was wearing 5 minutes ago. Then you have to deal with the tie and cuff-links. Suddenly your 15 and 18 year old brothers revert back to infants and you have to tie their shoes. 

But you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm sure my mom would say the same thing. 

Because after all your hard work and mad rush to the finish line, 15 mins later they look like this. Prom prep for girls is more like a marathon. Prom for boys is more like a sprint, a 400 meter dash. Equally as tiring, just a different race all together. 

This year Evan went with a group of kids that had sweet talked a guy in town who owned a limo to driving them to Prom. This guy deserves an award. 

We are never out of reminders that we live in a rural area. The limo had to follow the tractor the whole way up to our house. Quite the caravan. 

  

Oh that Allison. With her peaches and cream complexion. She can wear the most darling colors. That minty color looked so fabulous on her. She is such a beauty. 

And Evan was obviously enthused about his first prom experience.

Besides the beautiful dresses I just love looking at the flowers. So, so, so, pretty. 

Sniff, sniff, Aarons 4th and Senior Prom. I still remember when he was a little squirt in his first tux. And Kadee's dress was very pretty too. Such a beautiful color. Lots of bright colors this year made it fun to watch the promenade. 

They looked so classy together. Evan's shoes were my favorite. 

Did you know that prom was first started so that kids from other towns could get together and meet? They would have a Senior Prom with a couple different rural schools, kids would go meet each other, pair up and many would marry the next fall or so...but today looking at these kids, we are not advocating for that kind of message. Just get dressed up take some pictures and go dance! Then go climb the velcro wall and play Minute to Win it at Post Prom with our parents. We can talk about that other stuff in a few decades- I mean years...I suppose.  

Just another Spring-time milestone down. 

Blessings! 

mum's the word monday

Blessings!

social media rocks

Today is wet and rainy but the weather can't dampen how wonderful this day has been. 

In high school I was very active in an organization called FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America). I loved it, all my friends were involved, we got to do fun activities and our advisor-she was just the best. Every Spring we would have our big State Leadership Conference in Omaha. We would go and take tests, give presentations and speeches, and socialize. It was the highlight of the year. Imagine hundreds of kids, running around the Holiday Inn for 3.5 days. How we all made it out alive I'll never know.

This is a girl named Amber, she was in my class and ran for a State officer- and won. Our school had 3 consecutive years of state officers. We really liked FBLA! 

My friend Doug was also a State officer, and we always used to make fun of this clapping motion-he said he "had" to do it that way. Apparently they were taught to do that in order to signal to the hundreds of kids in the audience to clap. Obviously this is the most "business professional" way to clap.

SLC was full of hair spray, #2 pencils, order in chinese, close toed shoes and ribbons on your name tags. The more ribbons-the higher your "social status." It was also apparently filled with bad lighting and low resolution photography.

If you would care to notice Kellie and I are wearing the same outfit as the above picture. However the young lady on the far left is not-Frankie used SLC as an opportunity for many costume changes.

There are so many more funny memories and wonderful photos that are floating around out there, I couldn't post them all!

One year Doug and I did a presentation. Doug and I have known each other forever and our chemistry while presenting was untouchable. We worked hard and with the guide of our advisor we made it to nationals. That moment is still so special to me. 

Well today is the day that the conference begins and so some of us past FBLA-ers thought it would be really nice to let our wonderful past advisor know how awesome we thought, and still think she is. She's had a rough past few months. Rougher than we can ever comprehend. 

We are all young adults all across this state and others, going to college, working, doing our own things. But with all the interconnectedness that is our high school years we all remember and still care about the young lady that helped us all along, even if we are just now really taking notice. Mrs. Clark looked out for us, she invested in us, she respected us, she liked us, and she had fun with us. 

And what an awesome medium we have to take a break from doing our own things to reminisce together. You know, sometimes I really curse social media-but today social media rocks. 

We don't really get to see each other very often, but today I feel like we have just had a get together. And it's times like this where I am certain that I grew up and went to high school with some of the best people on this planet. 

Blessings! 

Around the Corner

So we have 3 days of March left. That means April is basically here and that means May is just around the corner, and THAT means graduation is basically happening now.

Mom was getting some pictures together to send to the school for the graduation video. Yes our school is small so they make a video. Every year it's a tear jerker.

But anyway we were looking at them and man, was Aaron a cutie. We are just so confused on what happened between then and now. KIDDING. (kinda)

Not only is this graduating class the one that my little brother is in but, it's the last class that I went to high school with. It's moments like this that make you really see how quickly the passage of time occurs. I've heard many people say that certain classes go through high school quickly, and others seem to be in it longer. My class was one that seemed to take longer and I think that's because everyone just loved us. My brothers class seemed to fly right through...no comment on what that means.

To sum up the information I have presented and ramblings posted: Things are about to get crazy. It's almost time for graduation cake and mints, and I'm still in denial, but it's ok, I kinda like it here.

Blessings!

mum's the word monday

Blessings!