Marvelous!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was hoping to be able to teach Latin at TMC this year, but my plate is full, and the Latin at TMC will have to wait for a season. However, I was happy to continue this with our children here at home. Well, I received some wonderful news this week. John Thomas is in the accredited program this year, and will receive true SACS-accredited high school credit. As part of this program, he is required to take an elective. A Beka does not offer Latin, so I contacted them with the hopes of his receiving credit for the Latin studies we have done and will continue.

The upshot of all of this is that if I maintain the records of his study along with test and quiz scores (as with his other coursework), he will receive credit toward his graduation for the course! I am so excited about this, and so is he. We have worked at Latin for some time now, and learning the fundamentals of this ancient language has strengthened his writing and grammar skills. Latin will also improve his vocabulary skills in preparation for the SAT. We will complete at least 180 hours of Latin study over the course of the year. James Martin will do this as well, and I will include Ima Virginia in some of the vocabulary work. (She loves it, and some of her friends are learning Latin as well).

The text we will be using is the Wheelock's. This program of study is "tried and true."

I would make them all learn English,
and then I would let the clever ones
learn Latin as an honor.

Sir Winston Churchill

First Ladies

Those of you who know me know that I love to learn about First Ladies. From Martha Washington to Mamie Eisenshower and beyond, I have read over the years as many books as I could on the First Ladies (excluding the historically questionable Kitty Kelley-type works). Hopefully, I can weave a bit of history of our first ladies into the President's class without bothering the gentlemen too much.

Virginia loves First Ladies, too. One of the first biographies she read was on Abigail Adams. She also posted on our blog some interesting facts about the elegant Grace Coolidge.

A while back, my sister-in-law Sherry gave me a clipping on the various "causes" our First Ladies have adopted. I'll be sure to use that in our discussions as well.

"Bully!"

Due to a change in schedules, I am going to get to teach the class on the American Presidency. I am thrilled beyonds words. (The Latin will have to wait--but that's ok--I have the children to teach!). One of very favorite Chief Executives was the swashbuckling Teddy Roosevelt. Born on the eve of one war (1858) and at the close of another (1919), TR seized the "bully puppet" with the same enthusiasm he did in every other aspect of his life.

My favorite TR story has to do with his approach to college at Harvard. Apparently then (as now), it was actually fashionable to make c's or lower grades. To earn good marks was considered almost unacceptable --good grades reflected an unfashionable measure of hard work.
TR was appalled by this approach and openly chastised his peers for this approach. To this future President of the United States, hard work was everything, an integral part of his "strenuous life."

A Lovely Scene from the Past

Contemplating a more serene and lovely moment of history . . .

In July 1776, Thomas Jefferson, along with some of the most notable names of the Revolutionary era, penned what amounted to a declaration of treason against King George and Parliament and a declaration of war against the English people. However, Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, et al, did not see their actions in this light.

Borrowing heavily from the ideas of Enlightenment thinker John Locke, Jefferson asserted the idea that England had given us no choice but to overthrow their rule in the colonies. England and her King, through a "long train of abuses" had deprived us of our inalienable rights, granted to us by our Creator--the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

While I cherish this document and revel in the benefits of our Nation's freedoms, so valiantly fought for and defended these last 233 years, I do take issue with the notion that these are rights.

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness are gifts given to us by our Creator. Scripture is replete with promises from God, but we are not promised political freedoms. He has seen fit to give these to us, but what have we done with them? Our freedom of religion has turned into freedom from religion. Our freedom of speech has been used to justify the burning of our beautiful flag (Texas v. Johnson), but if someone wants to pray aloud at a high school football game, the threat of law suits looms, and we have to settle for a "moment of silence."

What have we done with these rights, fellow Americans? Have we made the most of what God has given us or have we turned over these gifts to the "prince of the air"? On this special day of our Nation's history, thank God for what He has granted us and resolve to defend those gifts for the advancement of His Kingdom.