Tag:education | The Fireside Post education | The Fireside Post
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All Posts Tagged With: "education"

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Formal vs Self Education

Not many days ago… I was engaged in political debate with a person, who was quick to point out their higher learning and acquisition of a Bachelors and Masters, in something or other fields. I’m next to sure this was done to show their opinion was better formed and backed up because of same. I […]

27Jan2019 | | 5 comments | Continued
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Scapegoat Politics…

Just some things rattling in my head this morning…. Today I see headlines about Marco Rubio being booed at a gathering to discuss the recent school shooting. Booed and pinned down to say yay or nay to the NRA, pinned down to say guns were responsible for the recent and past shootings. This is disturbing. […]

22Feb2018 | | 10 comments | Continued
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Why? It’s More Than Guns

I don’t mean to disparage the intent of the Florida survivors who are now passionately pounding the anti-gun message. Yet, immediately after the shooting, I saw and heard several young people who claimed to know the shooter. They, with disdain in their voices, described a person who was off, didn’t fit in, was a juvenile […]

21Feb2018 | | 5 comments | Continued
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Equality Is Not Tangible

I am all for equality between the sexes. Always have been, I guess. As a Baby Boomer, I have seen a whole lot of it not being that way. Equality is easily defined on paper and somehow in life it gets spread out, the lines get blurred and more difficult to find the easy divisions […]

16Nov2017 | | 0 comments | Continued
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When The Emotionally Unbalanced Vote, They Always Vote For The Extreme

Lookout Friday! Here they come!  The emotionally unbalanced have found their candidate.  Donald Trump is someone who should never have happened in America – but he has – and it is because one political party began catering to the emotionally unbalanced about forty years ago, and the fall of economic prosperity by American citizens fed […]

20Oct2017 | | 2 comments | Continued
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My Curiosity Defeats My Timidity

As the title eludes, I like to think I have a defense from fear. Many long years ago, my eldest son was about three. Our yard was fenced in and the best place for him and his sister to be in the summer. Our house was not air-conditioned.  This particular day I was visiting with […]

28May2016 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Karma and Life Lessons

Shorthand, I know what it is, but can’t read it. Many years ago at Lowy Enterprises. I received a promotion to work with Dave in Accounts Receivable. At high school I refused typing and shorthand because I didn’t plan on being any man’s secretary, Hah. So, one of my new jobs was to take dictation […]

5Apr2016 | | 1 comment | Continued
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A Personal Fight With Social Injustice

Most of my adult life people have treated me as if I am particularly intelligent.  Some have openly called me intellectual.  My thought was usually that they were mistaken, that I am well read and speak well.  When I take a shower and dress in a suit I present pretty well.  I did not receive […]

5Dec2013 | | 3 comments | Continued
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Military Priorities – Education, Health Care, and Golf

The Sequester is upon us.  I just saw a feed on CNN that the military is going to cut back on military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery.   One might think these nuts have their priorities out of whack. Anyone who talks revenue increases confine themselves to taxing the top 2% income bracket.  But what about […]

28Feb2013 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Celebrating Ignorance In Missouri

Ok, I admit, I live in Missouri.  For many years I justified this existence by saying I was close to my family.  That defense is losing ground.  Missouri is not an unusual “Red State” (meaning it votes new age Republican).  My thought is that Missouri is representative of that whole block of right wing fanatics […]

1Feb2013 | | Comments Off on Celebrating Ignorance In Missouri | Continued
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Who Am I? Searching for the Modern Identity

I am liberal, angry, Aries, impatient, intolerant, loving, forceful, kind, intense, educated, brother, son, father, grandfather, friend, forgiving, humble, proud.  Which defines me?  Any?  All?  Am I modern?  Post-modern?  And who are you?  To whom do I answer?  What philosophy?  Religion? Country? Club?  We live in a complex world, a fast world requiring quick judgement […]

13Oct2012 | | 2 comments | Continued
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“Never Brag On Your Children”

A relevant post revisited: December, 2009.  Parenting can sometimes feel like a complex endeavor – especially when the child is not cooperating.  When the child is failing to  meet expectations, to make the grade in school, to make the basketball team, to identify future aspirations – whatever – parents can become frustrated.  And that frustration […]

22Apr2012 | | 1 comment | Continued
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More Thoughts on American Education

The internet is an enigma.  So is youtube.  While having the power to distribute information with immediacy to all corners of the world – The shortcuts sometimes ignore legitimate research.  But today we will use youtube to demonstrate the troubles with American education. My own experience with American education comes in four basic contexts: my […]

3Feb2012 | | Comments Off on More Thoughts on American Education | Continued
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President Obama Teaches Kindergarten

President Obama is like a Kindergarten teacher – patiently bringing his pupils along.  We the pupils are not so patient.  This reminds me of a story about one of my grandchildren. Jubilum is one of the younger children in my growing family.  She is as sharp as a whip, quick as a snap, curious as […]

27Sep2010 | | 4 comments | Continued
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Youth Violence – Not Just Fight or Flight

Mark Twain used youth violence as a humorous anecdote necessary to the maturing process of young boys. In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer two boys (one is Tom) confront each other on the street; they taunt, tease, dare, and then scuffle. Tom is victorious when the other boy cries ’nuff!’ Not one sociologist at the time raised a stink about Twain’s portrayal of youth violence.

22Aug2010 | | 3 comments | Continued
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Education Reform Must Include Helping Abused Children

From Ohg Rea Tone: The downturn in the world economy has resulted in lost revenues for many government bodies – including drastic cuts to local education.  Most school districts are forced to evaluate their processes, to cut waste, to redefine their mission – essentially reforming old methods of education.  The most important asset of any […]

10Jul2010 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Personal Experience With Tea Bag Mentality

This is a sad post for me to write.  I live in northwest Missouri – in the isolated world of simple people relishing ignorance.  The reverse discrimination against education and professionalism permeates the culture.  My sadness surrounds my family – a people proud of being in the lower economic class.  Most of them are adamant […]

12Apr2010 | | 32 comments | Continued
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Underemployed – What Does This Mean?

Underemployment has taken on several new meanings in this struggling economy.  David Shuster of MSNBC asked one of his guests what the term means – the response: “It means that people are working part time in stead of full time.  What?  It seems as if the pundits just make stuff up to fill their 30 […]

2Apr2010 | | Comments Off on Underemployed – What Does This Mean? | Continued
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Obama Delivers On Student Finance Reform

The reforms that President Obama signed into law include historic investments to make education more affordable, and deliver on another key campaign promise. The legislation: * Ends subsidies to special-interest private lending companies * Doubles funding for Pell Grants to help more students afford a college education * Will cap a graduate’s annual student loan […]

30Mar2010 | | Comments Off on Obama Delivers On Student Finance Reform | Continued
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The Mis-Use of MAP Testing

My Taxi service is employed every morning – I give two of my grandchildren a ride to school.  This morning my third grade granddaughter told me she was wearing her lucky shoes because they were to take the MAP test today.  She said, “I am scared to take this test.”  I asked her why she […]

29Mar2010 | | Comments Off on The Mis-Use of MAP Testing | Continued
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Is Ten Percent Too Much For Health Care?

President Obama is having his fourth news conference as I type.  He is suggesting health care will cost us ten percent of our national budget if we do not gain control over costs.  Is that a bad thing?  How do we measure the health of our population against other priorities? When President Eisenhower left office […]

23Jun2009 | | 1 comment | Continued
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McCain’s Opinion of the GOP Base

What does John McCain think of the radical right wing base of the Republican Party?  That is an easy one.  When running for President, John McCain felt a need to appeal to the ‘base’ of his party.  So where did he go, what were his impressions of the ‘base?’  Answer: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and […]

5May2009 | | 8 comments | Continued
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The Prophecy of Ohg Rea Tone – 2009

Prophecy is only valuable if it presents opportunity for change.  Absolutes are for the cynical, for those who presume their destiny is predetermined.  Free will suggests we have something to say about our life.  In the tradition of ancient Bible Prophets we will offer some conditional prophecy for 2009: If we reward failure, failure will […]

16Dec2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Obama and Sustainable Solutions

President Elect Obama must govern from the center if he is to have a lasting legacy.  What does this mean?  Simply put, solutions to problems must be sustainable over time.  Solutions which are overturned with changes of political party are not useful or productive.  Legacies are built on centrist resolutions to problems. Let’s look at […]

6Nov2008 | | Comments Off on Obama and Sustainable Solutions | Continued
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Obama Will Govern From The Center

Take a look at Barack Obama’s life.  His whole life is about hard work, education, empathy for others, and compromise.  Check that last word, compromise.  Whatever Obama believes about particular issues, he is all about compromise.  Combine compromise with intellect and integrity – and you have a powerful leader. Barack Obama was born to a […]

1Nov2008 | | 11 comments | Continued
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Republicans, Intellectual or Joe Six-Pack

Is there something wrong with being intellectual?  There was a time when Republicans were proud of their position on advancing education, proud of elite education, proud that America offered educational opportunities to all.  But something has gone wrong.  The Republicans of the past thirty years have discredited thier greatest strength – the opportunity of America. […]

26Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Republicans, Intellectual or Joe Six-Pack | Continued
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Lincoln’s Rhetorical Flourishes, Shame on McCain/Palin

The idea of responding to Sarh Palin is contemptible.   Responding to McCain is bad enough.  But McCain has put the country in this position – and respond we must.  The latest attack by Palin is to suggest in a demeaning manner that Barack Obama “… knows something about rhetorical flourishes.” Be whatever you want, Sarah […]

24Oct2008 | | Comments Off on Lincoln’s Rhetorical Flourishes, Shame on McCain/Palin | Continued
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Education and the Presidential Election of 2008

Education, experience, life – what is really important when choosing a President.  Morality, integrity, honesty, compassion, empathy – we could go on with our hopes for the next President – but for now, let’s look at education. John McCain “…graduated, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. 1958, and the National War College, Washington, D.C. 1973…”  […]

13Oct2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Greatest Generation – And Neocons.

Our father was a veteran of World War II.  He came home with four Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart, never to speak of his experience.  He kept his silence until his death at age eighty-five.  He did not talk about the atrocities of war because the memories were too painful.  As America entered other […]

10Oct2008 | | 3 comments | Continued
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Respecting Joe Six-Pack

Governor Sarah Palin has resurrected an old term – Joe Six Pack.  Her notion is that she represents that demographic – folksy, hard working, beer drinking, regular American people.  Her position is not so much that she can represent Joe – it is more that she is Joe.  This is troubling. The Founding Fathers wrote […]

3Oct2008 | | 6 comments | Continued
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Anarchy – The Slippery Slope of Deregulation

The failure of Wall Street this past few weeks is the result of John McCain abdicating his responsibilities as a United States Senator.  A stable society rests on the rule of law.  The Government of the United States of America was founded on the premise that the government would represent the common welfare of all […]

2Sep2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Learning by example – the example of Jesus

Son, Your entry into the Christian Ministry has been a source of great pride and joy for me. Even given that you choose a wacky upstart like the United Methodist, or whatever you call it. There is a mild attempt at humor in the last sentence – but as with other effective editorial humor we […]

4Jun2008 | | Comments Off on Learning by example – the example of Jesus | Continued
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Obama on Hardball, 4-2-2008

Barack Obama is the guest on Hardball’s College tour. I’ll give some summary comments. Matthews: “How do we know you are tough enough?” Omaba: “…I am leading in a contest with a very powerful political Clinton machine – I think I have proved I am tough…” Matthews, “Can you ignore public opinion to do the […]

3Apr2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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A Personal Experience with Prejudice

The winter of 1963-64 was a rough one. I was in the eighth grade. John F. Kennedy had just been assassinated. My school was becoming integrated (the authorities sent one African American boy to our school and called it good enough). It was code (sic) outside. And my teachers did not like me. (At least, […]

20Mar2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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vouchers and the public school dilemma

Dad, The debate about public school systems and what to do with them is complicated and seeped in emotion and personal experience. The program of offering vouchers has as broad a mix of public opinion as any of the publicly debated issues today. I have my own thoughts and feelings, and they are conflicting and […]

26Feb2008 | | 4 comments | Continued
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Republican Debate, 1-29-08

Son, The Republican debate is on CNN tonight. It is being hosted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. John McCain, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, and Mike Huckabee are participating. I missed a few minutes because of a black tie affair that I could not get out of. The question is what about 100 year involvement […]

31Jan2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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President Bush – State of the Union – 1-28-08

Tonight is the final State of the Union address by President George W. Bush. The speech is on. President Bush began with recounting seven years of turmoil and debate, calling on the Congress for unity in Government. Bush calls on the Congress to make tax relief permanent. If any bills to raise taxes reach my […]

29Jan2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Election Process – the debates are good for process

Son, There is value in our election process. The Founding Fathers debated the idea of having the popular vote. There were some who thought the idea was flawed. Some said only landowners should vote. Some said only those with an education should vote. Some wanted a Monarchy. The debate amongst the Founding Fathers – a […]

23Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Election Process – the debates are good for process | Continued
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The Enigma of Wal-Mart

Son, You and I are of different generations – how obvious is that. What is less obvious is what it means to be of different generations. I am a baby-boomer, you are a nut case child of the seventies. Such is the case with labels. But the cultural influences and differences of our lives are […]

11Jan2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Leader or Expert – Choosing a President

Son, Mitt Romney claims that leadership is more important than expertise on topic. “They are looking for judgment, wisdom, willingness to reach out to others, gaining the right information to make choices… Instead of asking who has the most expertise we should be asking who has the most executive leadership experience…. ” Very interesting points. […]

7Jan2008 | | 3 comments | Continued
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2008 Resolutions to save money

Son, Budget, budget, budget.  Plan, plan, plan.  Then execute the planned budget with resolve.  There are some general rules – and some specifics.  For someone with no plan – plan.  For someone with a plan, expand the plan. But why save – what is the purpose?  There are many reasons – retirement, security, education of […]

1Jan2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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The Prophecy of Ohg Rea Tone – 2008

Son, I am compelled on this Christmas Day in 2007 to offer some insight into 2008. In the true spirit of prophecy I will focus on conditional prophecies. Conditional prophecies are most useful because they allow us opportunity to have some say in future events – if we were only aware of the conditional stimuli. […]

26Dec2007 | | Comments Off on The Prophecy of Ohg Rea Tone – 2008 | Continued