longer school?

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/28/obamas-extended-school-year-dire-economic-effects-critics-claim/?test=latestnews
So basically Obama is suggesting that we make school years longer and summer vacations shorter. When i was reading this article are obvious things I agree with. Like the fact that other nations score much higher on their exams than Americans. In general, Americans are not always the most intelligent people.

However, I am not totally convinced that it's the school system that needs adjustment. I mean, yes there are teachers who could care less about their students actual knowledge, they are just going day by day getting paid for something they used to enjoy doing. And some just make it hard on the kids in the classroom, instead of encouraging knowledge and help they flunk kids who they don't like and try to be as unavailable as possible. but that's more about the teachers than it is about the courses.

I mean, I wonder if that did happen if it would actually improve scores? And why do we need test scores to prove anything? I know plenty of people who are brilliant but yet tests get the best of them. More time in the classroom might actually make some kids go crazy. Dealing with apathetic teachers...especially ones who might be working longer and having less vacation.

I think the problems come in on the home front as well. Parents today generally have very little control over what their children do. Kids come home and they play with friends and play video games. They don't work until they are about 18-20. They get their meals made for them. They get everything they want dropped into their lap as a sort of incentive to do better. They are encouraged to play outside but it's not enforced. I think that there is a strong lack of discipline in the home. That parents would rather have happy, obese, unintelligent, non-complaining children than deal with the actual effects of being a strong parent. but then in the end....are their kids really happy? when they find out that at the age of 15 they have early-onset diabetes? when they can't get a job when they turn 18 because they didn't spend enough time learning how to speak English properly? When the world starts holding things back and they are so utterly confused as to why they aren't getting what they want? Homes are filled with empty threats.

Kids lack respect for their parents. Because their parents aren't creating an environment where respect is necessary.

And then there is always the argument that media has something to do with it. Which i think it does. When kids watch their favorite singer or performer on TV and the girls are dressed in clothing that barely (or worse than barely) covers their breasts and their butt. Or men who are running around in chains and baggy clothes, talking like a sailor and degrading women every chance they can. Yeah, great examples. Because the world loves fame and they love attention. and when kids see their 'idols' on TV they want what the world wants and that is to be just like them.

So, in a way i can understand the whole longer school days thing because that's what you can change. You can force that to change. You can't force parents to start being parents. However, I think it would still take action on both sides to produce any sort of positive result.

man, I'm so glad to be done with school ha ha

Urge?

This past weekend Ron told this story about this prayer meeting in the 1700s. This went on for 100 years! In the 12th year they were praying for this situation where this man had shipped something like 8000 African slaves to his island. He made a statement to the effect of "I never want any preacher or evangelist to come to this island. Don't want these slaves hearing about any of this Jesus stuff." Well, 2 men in the prayer meeting decided to take action. They sold themselves into slavery. They were sent to this island. Where they would teach the Good News to the slaves there. This wasn't a short mission, or a 2 year project. This was life...as a slave. All for the glory of Christ.

For awhile now, i've been thinking of what I can do. Sometimes I feel so useless; like i'm just taking up space. I know i can be doing more...but what? I would love to work for an organization like TOMS shoes, or World Hunger or Nothing But Nets. I have been browsing Google all day looking for job openings in anything like that. Monster isn't exactly effective when it comes to looking up "anti-hunger and poverty organizations" ha. It could be anything; anti-disease, helping children, fighting hunger, teaching job skills, being a person who cares.

maybe it's just not time yet though. maybe this urge is creating a preparation in my heart so that when the time is right i will have no hesitation.
pray that opportunities will arise or answers will be heard. that I would have a softened open heart.

love love love
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27

Now that I'm back...

I'm back in Missouri and it's sort of strange. A lot of things are different than before I left. Yet a lot of things are exactly the same:
what's different?:
1. it's always interesting to see what relationships have formed and/or melted away. 3 of my good friends got married: wendy and nick, kelly and doug and heidi and jake. Some got engaged. Some relationships ended.
2. i'm not in college anymore! It's funny how people now ask me what im' doing with my degree and i say...welp here's the thing, i'm fairly certain i don't want to pursue speech pathology and yes that's what i jsut spent 4 years pursuing, but i feel like i can do more. that i am meant to do more. so now im' just working at a bank and figuring out what that "more" is.
3. my friend sets are changing. i'm growing into the adult phase where my friends are moving and starting new lives and it's just kind of strange. Hard to figure out where i fit now. like looking for a small group, it's kind of difficult b/c i'm not married nor do i have children. however, i'm not in college. oh to be a young adult.
4. my dad's working up in iowa for the next 2 years until he retires so that's been hard on my mom. and my borther is out of the house so she's been on her own a lot.
5. i have a new understanding of where my attention needs to be. what's worth giving my time to and what's not.

what's the same?:
1. eveything. haha i live in the asme apartment with teh same roommate, have the sameburning question 'what do i do with my life' . i know the same people. i still go to La Croix.

One of the biggest things i learned this summer was froma sermon we heard by... i think Louie Gigglio. It was called "Jesus is my homeboy" and it was all about how there are 2 directions that people tend to go. lean towards the homeboy side which is where God is your friend and your buddy and he's so close and awesome. and then the other way is to where God is only God and he is huge and big and powerful and to only be shown grave respect...humor and joy are void. And we need to find some place in the middle where yes He is our friend but He is STILL God and he is to be respected. I think i tend to lean towards the homeboy side. and forget that He is master of me and this world.

I've felt like awarrior lately. Well, atleast i am really striving to live in the mindset of a warrior . with the always pesent recognition that this world that we liv ein is a battlefield. And that it is my calling to fight for the Holy and powerful God who sent His son Jesus Christ to die for us so that we can stand along side Him in victory and bring honor to this good and perfect God.

yeah..a warrior.