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The Hope Chest with Virginia Knowles
#14-1: With Literature & Justice for All
February 2011
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Dear friends,
Wow! I can't believe it's already been 13 years this month since I started publishing the Hope Chest e-magazine! Doesn't time just fly? Fly? Well, as was working on this issue last night, my daughters Rachel and Joanna (ages 20 and 18) were sure flying -- on an airplane to Italy! After landing in Genova (aka Genoa), they stopped at Christopher Columbus's house and took pictures. How is this for the ultimate field trip? They called this morning (afternoon their time) to say they arrived safely in the coastal town of Chiavari, where they will live and work for three months with our missionary friends Lee and Jeannette Walti. It was so good to hear their voices! Now we're going to need to buy a web cam so we can Skype and see their sweet faces, too. They were only ages 5 and 7 back when I started the Hope Chest, and here they are, off on their Grand Adventure! I wrote a poem for them over the last few days. You can read it here, along with a few pictures and extra notes on motherhood and missions: To Italy with Love (In Italia con Amore). Later this month, it will be my turn to fly -- but only as far as Maryland, to celebrate my sister Barb's 50th birthday. (Thanks, Mom and Dad!) We're driving up to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, for a day. It's been a really long time since I have visited this beautiful botanical park, which has many indoor exhibits. I'm sure I'll be making terrific use of the video camera my older daughters gave us for Christmas.
That video camera already got a rigorous workout a couple of weeks ago. I recently finished uploading the four video segments of my Books & Beyond workshop called "With Literature & Justice for All: Teaching Virtuous Reality with American Literature for 4th-8th Grades." This Hope Chest issue mainly consists of my handouts, plus a link to the blog post where you can view the videos, which total around 45 minutes. Some of you are probably wondering when I am ever going to send out my long promised issue called "In the Middle of the Story." It's coming. Eventually. This other one on literature & justice was just a bit more timely! There is so much more I would love to say about the topic of justice, especially as it pertains to the home school movement, but that will have to wait for another month. There is just too much going on here right now!
I do however, want to call to mind that this Sunday is the first anniversary of the death of Lydia Schatz, a little home schooled girl whose parents took "corporal punishment" way too far. You can find my article from last year here: Child Discipline or Child Abuse? This post had thousands of hits and is still read by people around the world every day. On thinking of this case and other related issues, I wonder why it is that some people in the conservative religious edge of the home school movement think that they are exempt from the civil law, yet they can impose all sorts of their own legalistic regulations on other people? ("If you don't do it this way and follow these rules, you are an ungodly heathen. And never, never trust the government or anyone else who doesn't think exactly like we do!") And in the process, basic compassion, grace, respect, and common decency fly out the window. Hello? The damage to families and churches and the cause of Christ is absolutely tragic. And if we don't want even more government regulation over home schooling, I think we as a movement and as individuals seriously need to shape up our acts. I know I am needing to constantly reexamine my attitudes. I just checked my Google Reader and found that Karen Campbell (www.thatmom.com) has a post with links to several related issues here: patchwork quilt of thoughts on abuse, adoption, young women, etc. I was happy to see that she mentioned Carolyn Custis James, because I was just about to e-mail her and ask if she had read the book, When Life and Beliefs Collide, about why women should seek to become excellent theologians. I mentioned this book in my blog post Goals, Plans and Books for 2011 ~ Bring It On! I just bought an extra copy of it to send with my girls to Jeannette Walti in Italy. While I was at the used bookstore looking for it, I found a new book by Mrs. James, The Gospel of Ruth, about the good news for women in the story of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. I am currently reading that one!)
Last Sunday at Lake Baldwin Church, the theme was Mission. I love that! That's where my heart beats! We were encouraged to look around us for opportunities to serve in our communities, as well as further the cause of global missions. As part of a responsive reading, we recited an Affirmation of Faith from the Church of South India. "We believe that God has called us to a partnership for the continuance of his mission in this time and place, and that, though we live in the midst of confusion, turmoil, exploitation, oppression and in the grip of the forces of death, we are called to be instruments of peace and justice." What can you do, in your own time and place to live out the Great Commission ("Go ye!") and the Great Commandment ("Love others!") How about this? Are you or your kids interested in showing mercy through homeless ministry? If you live near Orlando, let me know and I will connect you with my 21 year old daughter Julia. She took a team of over 20 friends down to Lake Eola last month to hand out blankets, sleeping bags, warm clothing, toiletries, and snacks. She is planning to go again this month. I am really touched that a few young home schooled girls in our former church knitted beautiful soft scarves to be given to folks. Julia reports that so many of the people they met had only recently become homeless after losing their jobs. They are decent people who really appreciate the compassion shown to them. If you don't live in Orlando, why not do a little research and connect with a ministry in your own area?
Jesse Phillips, founder of Citizen2Citizen, alerted me to the fact that a legal defense fund has been set up on behalf of our mutual friend John Stemberger. John was the attorney who donated his time to represent Rifqa Bary, the Muslim teenage girl who fled from her family, whom she believed would kill her after she converted to Christianity. He has since been sued by the opposing lawyer for over $10 million in two civil cases. John is a home school dad of four, as well as the president of the Florida Family Policy Council. I have known his family for about 8 years. Find out more here: Stemberger Legal Defense Fund.
On the home front, I've been busy with a pioneer times unit study with my kids, reading all sorts of great literature. I'll have to compile a list of my favorites sometime soon, but at the moment we are reading a bit from A Pioneer Sampler: The Daily Life of a Pioneer Family in 1840 by Barbara Greenwood every day. I love how it alternates the story of a fictional family with factual information about life back then. That's what makes it our core book for this unit study. We're also reading Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink in the mornings, along with some non-fiction books. Last night, the kids begged me to start reading Hard Gold: The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859 by Avi, which my sister picked up at an author's convention and had signed by Avi himself. We ended up reading nine chapters before my voice finally gave out. During this unit study, we're really only covering the time period from 1800-1860, so the later pioneers like Laura Ingalls Wilder will have to wait until the end of our Civil War unit. We've been taking one decade each week, so we have been (or will be) learning about Lewis & Clark, the War of 1812, various Native American tribes (especially the Cherokees), each U.S. President, Florida history, circuit riding preachers and frontier missionaries, the Alamo and Texas independence, the Mexican War, the Oregon Trail, the Santa Fe Trail, the Gold Rushes, the Pony Express, transportation (covered wagons, steam boats, railroad), technology & industry (telegraph, cotton gin, factories), the Orphan Train, the Underground Railroad and more. Whew! Reading about all of these topics has given us ample opportunity to discuss the vital themes of justice, courage, and compassion. As much as I loved being in a co-op for several years, it's so satisfying to finally have the time to read all of the wonderful books on our own shelves!
I also wanted to let you know that Lois Breneman, who publishes the Heart to Heart e-magazine, recently uploaded several years' worth of articles onto her brand new blogs, www.heartfilledhome.blogspot.com and www.heartfilledhomerecipes.blogspot.com/. Take a look! I haven't finished browsing through everything yet, but there is something for everyone! Hundreds and hundreds of articles!
Sheri Graham has a huge set of home schooling links on her blog right now. It's too hard to link each of her posts individually, but they were all in one month, so click here to access them: January posts.
My 13 year old son Andrew has started his own blog, Professor Instructable. He's got several dozen posts already, including a lot of science activities, games, card tricks, exercises, easy recipes, and interesting facts. He's getting a lot of great writing practice doing this, without even being assigned. I keep an eye on this blog as each post comes out to check if it looks appropriate, but I haven't clicked on every single link yet. Take a peek at it yourself first!
At the bottom of this issue, I've added links to several of my own recent and/or relevant blog posts, including some with food! Bread pudding, fruit salad, blackberry leather, or raspberry cookies, anyone?
OK, here we go for Literature & Justice!
Blessings,
Virginia Knowles
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With Literature & Justice for All:
Teaching "Virtuous Reality" with American Literature in the 4th-8th Grades
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Our homes are training grounds and laboratories where our children can learn how to live out the wisdom of Micah 6:8, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Justice and mercy are so close to God’s heart. If we want to reflect his image, they must be close to ours as well. British ministry leader Mike Pilavachi encourages Christians to not turn away from news about injustice or oppression or poverty, but to act. “Because the truth is, if we don’t look properly, we’ll never cultivate a true heart of compassion. If we want our hearts to be changed, then we need to get involved. Often I think we’re afraid to see things fully because we know that once we have, we can never plead ignorance to God; we’ll have blown that excuse out of the water.” As we rightly shelter our children in some ways, we should not isolate ourselves or them from the needs of the world that God has called us to serve in his name. What is it that attracts people to our message if they have not been raised in it? It will be a robust love for all things that are right and true, an honest and sacrificial care for other people which goes beyond religious platitudes and rigid rules.
Here are the official handout notes with links... The actual workshop covered much more material and in much more detail, so be sure to watch the videos linked above!
What do stories teach?
- Stories capture our interest, stir our imagination, and engage the heart.
- Stories teach us to ask, "What would I do if I found myself in this scenario?"
- Stories teach, by positive and negative examples, how to handle situations and challenges in life. What are the consequences of each decision? (Noble action can lead to some unpleasant results, but ultimate impact goes far beyond that if you see the long-term big picture.)
- Stories teach us how Biblical themes integrate into history and real life situations, even in books that are not written from an explicitly Christian worldview.
- Stories teach us how to look and understand from a different perspective. They broaden our horizons, challenge our assumptions, and help us understand other people better.
- Stories teach us to read, reflect, and respond -- to think and do as a result of the ideas.
Recommended Resources for American Literature & History in the Middle Grades
This is just a sample of the excellent resources available for teaching the "virtuous reality" themes in American history and literature. Many of the books are Newbery winners available in your public library. Texts, audios and videos of speeches, songs, poems, and national documents are on-line. My free study guides are available for many of these, as noted below. You can also find publisher's free study guides for many books at www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/
Historical Fiction
- The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare - Puritan times & witch trials (Free Study Guide)
- Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes - Revolutionary War (Free Study Guide)
- Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink - pioneer days and prejudice (Free Simple Study Guide)
- Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt - Civil War from both perspectives (Free Study Guide)
- Turn Homeward, Hannalee and Be Ever Hopeful, Hannalee by Patricia Beatty - Civil War and Reconstruction as told from perspective of young displaced Southern girl
- Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell - Indian resettlement
- Strawberry Girl by Lois Lensky - early 1900's cracker Florida
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and other books by Mildred Taylor - racism in 1930s
- Words by Heart by Ouida Sebestyen -- racism, Scripture memory, forgiveness -- also DVD
- Lights on the River by Jane Resh Thomas (migrant workers) PICTURE BOOK
- A Day's Work by Eve Bunting (immigrants) PICTURE BOOK
- The Blue and the Grey by Eve Bunting (Civil War) PICTURE BOOK
- American Revolution: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson , Patrick Henry
- Slavery, Civil War & Reconstruction: Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglas, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Booker T. Washington
- Socio-economic reform, Civil Rights: Jane Addams: Nobel Prize Winner and Founder of Hull House by Bonnie Carman Harvey, plus Jacob Riis, Susan B. Anthony, Frances Willard, Nellie Bly, Sequoyah, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune
- In God We Trust: Stories of Faith in American History by Timothy Crater and Ranelda Hunsicker -- short, readable biographies of American’s Christian leaders in one volume.
Speeches and National Documents
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"The Gettysburg Address" by Abraham Lincoln
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"The Declaration of Independence"
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"The United States Constitution"
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"My Country 'Tis of Thee" by Samuel Francis Smith
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"The Star-Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key
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"Battle Hymn of the Republic" by Julia Ward Howe
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"Barbara Frietchie," "Expostulation," and "To William Lloyd Garrison" by John Greenleaf Whittier
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"The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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"The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus, inscribed on the Statue of Liberty
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"I Am An American" by Elias Lieberman
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Best Loved Poems of the American People compiled by Hazel Felleman
Anthologies: The Children's Book of Virtues, The Book of Virtues and The Moral Compass edited by Dr. William Bennett - rich treasuries with selections of stories, essays, poems
Parent/Teacher Book: Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child’s Moral Imagination, by Vigen Guroian (doesn't cover American historical literature)
Community Service Opportunity: Want action and not just reading about virtuous reality? Check out
www.OrlandoChildrensChurch.org and make a difference in your community serving kids from inner city Orlando. OCC meets on Saturday mornings in suburban Maitland and is a life-changing place for young people and adults to volunteer. High school students can also get their Bright Futures volunteer hours there.
"Virtuous Reality"
The reality is that life isn't always fair or pleasant, but we can choose what to believe, what to say, what to do. We can live a "Virtuous Reality" no matter what is going on around us and make a real difference. Otherwise, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “We will have to repent in this generation for not merely the cruel words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.”
Wisdom & Understanding ~ discernment to know what is TRUE and how to apply it to life; listening to others to find out what (and why) they are thinking and feeling; getting the whole story without bias; respecting other perspectives that may differ from your own. See Proverbs & James 1:5-8; 3:13-18. You can't believe everything you see or hear. Many people are ignorant and/or deceptive. Many are also biased and cast an unfair light on the opinions of others, leading to prejudice and discrimination. Not only this, but there is an information explosion with TV, Internet, newspapers, magazines, and more. What is true, real, important and relevant?
Integrity & Honesty ~ doing & saying what is right and true, no matter what ~ knowing & following convictions even at great cost. See 2 Corinthians 1:12, Ephesians 4:25-28. We often have to stand alone. We also have to overcome the desire for ease, popularity, wealth that might tempt us to compromise.
Courage ~ bravery & valor in the face of physical limitations, opposition, difficulty, or danger. See Joshua 1:9, Hebrews 11 and 1 Corinthians 16:13. We are not promised an easy life in Christ. Our ultimate safety is in heaven, not on earth. It takes faith in God's care for us to dare to stand firm and risk danger for justice and mercy.
Compassion ~ ability to notice another's need, show mercy, and do something to alleviate suffering and/or bring joy. See Psalm 112, Colossians 3:12-14, James 2. People are hurting now more than ever, but many don't show it or we don't know them already. Have we isolated ourselves from suffering by apathy or ignorance?
Justice ~ not only treating others fairly, but working for truth, liberty, and equity in the society and culture as a whole. See Isaiah 58, Amos 5, Micah 6:8, and Matthew 23:23. Many people are only out for themselves, willing to cheat, lie, slander, steal, exploit, and even murder to get their own way. Imagine living in a Third World country where the government is corrupt or inept. What will it take to maintain justice in the USA so it doesn't get that bad here and so that we can continue to set an example of liberty to the rest of the world?
Peacemaking ~ seeking to extend peace to those who oppose us, as well as mediate between others (individuals and/or groups) in conflict. Also, preventing conflict from happening in the first place. See Matthew 5:9, Romans 12:9-21, 1 Peter 3:8-12. War, gangs, and lawsuits are daily news. Conflict is an inherent part of human nature. Much of this is due to selfishness, but also plain misunderstanding and ignorance certainly factor in too.
Patience ~ self-control when tempted to be angry, endurance when tempted to quit, the willingness to wait when tempted to demand what we want right now. See Proverbs 15:18, 16:32, 19:11, Romans 8:18-30. We all want it "yesterday if not sooner!" This is the age of instant gratification, and much injustice occurs simply because we have not learned to wait and to control our selfish impulses.
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Just a few trivia notes on the videos...
The minor background noise is from a workshop in the next classroom. Apparently Debbie Strayer's class enjoyed her humor! She's a great inspirational and educational speaker, and it was an honor to be presenting at the same conference as her. Check out her web site:
www.debbiestrayer.com/
I referred to another keynote speaker, Jim Weiss. I really appreciated his story telling workshop and his session on heroes. The man has an amazing grasp of how to make history come alive, but you don't have to hear him in person to benefit from this since he has dozens of story sets on CD. Check out his web site: www.greathall.com/
Despite the fact that I mentioned Quakers quite favorably several times, I am not one! (I attend Lake Baldwin Church, a small Presbyterian congregation.) I did, however, want to give you the 17th verse to John Greenleaf Whittier's poem "Expostulation."
Rise now for Freedom! not in strife
Like that your sterner fathers saw,
The awful waste of human life,
The glory and the guilt of war:'
But break the chain, the yoke remove,
And smite to earth Oppression's rod,
With those mild arms of Truth and Love,
Made mighty through the living God!
Another quote I couldn't quite remember and didn't have in my notes is by John Ruskin (1819-1900), English writer, art critic, professor, reformer:
The entire object of true education is to make people
not merely to do the right things, but to enjoy them;
not merely industrious, but to love industry;
not merely learned, but to love knowledge;
not merely pure, but to love purity;
not merely just, but to hunger and thirst after justice.
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New and/or Related Posts on My Blogs
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Virginia's Life, Such As It Is:
Come Weary Moms:
Start Well Preschool & Elementary (but these three field trip posts are for all ages)
Continue Well Middle School
Finish Well High School
I guess that's all for this month, though I keep thinking I've forgotten something! I've already remembered a few things to tuck in at the last minute. It sort of reminds me of the last minute packing that I was doing with Rachel and Joanna for their Italy trip the other day.
I would love to hear your comments and questions about this Hope Chest issue. Feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]. Also, could you please think of a few friends -- or even a whole home school support group -- to forward this issue to? If new folks want to subscribe, they can send any e-mail to the automated list server at [email protected]. And if someone wants to unsubscribe, they can send a message to [email protected].
For justice & mercy,
Virginia Knowles www.virginiaknowles.blogspot.com
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