Informative – Page 29 – Education Alliance

The Amish: Simplicity and Satisfaction Personified

May 30, 2013MelissaBiography, Informative, Just For Fun

Published with Permission
Written by Shannon Swanson
www.TOSMagazine.com

Envision this . . . You wake up every morning, before the sun rises. The animals need to be fed, cows need to be milked, and eggs need to be gathered. In just a few hours, a very big country breakfast will be served back at the house, prepared with what you have gathered during the early morning hours. The entire meal will be made without the use of electricity, food processors, microwave ovens, or running water.

The remainder of the day will consist of much physical labor for the men, while the women diligently tend to household chores and prepare meals. The work will continue like this until the sun sets, late in the evening.¹

Although this lifestyle may seem old-fashioned to you, it is quite up to date (more…)

The Civilization of Nations Begins at Home

May 24, 2013MelissaBurn Out, Classroom Help, Informative, Single Parents

Written by Sally Clarkson
http://www.itakejoy.com

Anchise Picchi
“Does not wisdom call,

And understanding lift up her voice?

On top of the heights beside the way,

Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

Beside the gates, at the opening to the city,

At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:

To you, O men, I call,

And my voice is to the sons of men.

O naive ones, understand prudence;

And, O fools, understand wisdom.

Listen, for I will speak noble things;

And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.” ~Proverbs 8:1-6

(more…)

Common Core State Standards Initiative: Too Close to a National Curriculum

May 23, 2013MelissaArkansas, Informative, Legislation, News, Preparing for College

In 2010, the National Governors Association published their “Common Core State Standards” (CCSS). These were meant as voluntary math and English guidelines which individual states could adopt.

Numerous organizations grew concerned about this push to standardize what public school students are taught. They explained that states were being enticed by the federal government—through the Race to the Top program—to align their state curriculum with the CCSS, resulting in de facto national standards. They were concerned that this would lead to a national curriculum and national test, and that the pressure would grow for home school and private school students to be taught using this national curriculum.

During President Obama’s 2012 State of the Union speech, the president stated, “We’ve convinced nearly every state in the country to raise their standards.” How were the states convinced to adopt the CCSS? (more…)