I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
...Whitney Houston
Today, I was reminded once again that our future is so much brighter than the pictures the politicians paint for us. I got up early this morning and went to a presentation put on by second graders in a nearby school. They all dressed in home made costumes that represented a well known figure in American history. They stood by a display that they had made, representing their famous man or woman. We got to push large "buttons" that sat in front of them, and they recited information that they had researched for this production. The work-product was surpassed only by their excitement as their teacher walked proudly among them.
Then early this evening I visited a tenth grade group of international baccalaureate students as they displayed the personal projects that they worked on this year. The students stood by these amazing displays that had obviously taken untold hours to complete and answered questions without hesitation. Some had taught themselves an instrument, some had researched poetry written by their favorite poets and then wrote pages of their own work. Some did computer generated animation projects that boggled the mind. Project after project showed research, creativity and a desire to learn. What stood out most, though, was they each said that they had fun doing their assignment, even though it took time away from computer games, television shows, phone conversations and all things young people hold dear.
I came home feeling encouraged about a future led by these young people, and then I sat down to watch the second debate between the candidates in as many days. These people spent so much of their time explaining that we were all doomed, that I had to remind myself that it was all "political speak." Yes, there are things that need improvement in our world, but there are always obstacles to face. We may need a financial facelift, but we have certainly "been there...done that" before. Yes, we fear terrorist attacks on our soil, but I remember drills encouraging is to hide under our desks to protect us from Russian attacks. As long as we live in a society where power is sought after, we will face these issues. Our politicians need to stop using scare tactics and just get down to basic human kindness. After today, I think I will put my faith in the next generation as our parents did in our generation.
This week I looked for light reads again, with charming characters who could take my mind off of the political forecasts that depressed me. Both of the books I reviewed, The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre and Dirty Little Secrets, fit the bill beautifully. They were light reads with a cast of interesting characters. Both books were hometown mysteries featuring female protagonists. Just what this doctor ordered. So I prescribe a dose of escapism this week. "Take two books...go to bed, and call me in the morning if you don't feel better."
As always, complete reviews will follow this blog.
Happy reading,
- Beverly
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
...Whitney Houston
Today, I was reminded once again that our future is so much brighter than the pictures the politicians paint for us. I got up early this morning and went to a presentation put on by second graders in a nearby school. They all dressed in home made costumes that represented a well known figure in American history. They stood by a display that they had made, representing their famous man or woman. We got to push large "buttons" that sat in front of them, and they recited information that they had researched for this production. The work-product was surpassed only by their excitement as their teacher walked proudly among them.
Then early this evening I visited a tenth grade group of international baccalaureate students as they displayed the personal projects that they worked on this year. The students stood by these amazing displays that had obviously taken untold hours to complete and answered questions without hesitation. Some had taught themselves an instrument, some had researched poetry written by their favorite poets and then wrote pages of their own work. Some did computer generated animation projects that boggled the mind. Project after project showed research, creativity and a desire to learn. What stood out most, though, was they each said that they had fun doing their assignment, even though it took time away from computer games, television shows, phone conversations and all things young people hold dear.
I came home feeling encouraged about a future led by these young people, and then I sat down to watch the second debate between the candidates in as many days. These people spent so much of their time explaining that we were all doomed, that I had to remind myself that it was all "political speak." Yes, there are things that need improvement in our world, but there are always obstacles to face. We may need a financial facelift, but we have certainly "been there...done that" before. Yes, we fear terrorist attacks on our soil, but I remember drills encouraging is to hide under our desks to protect us from Russian attacks. As long as we live in a society where power is sought after, we will face these issues. Our politicians need to stop using scare tactics and just get down to basic human kindness. After today, I think I will put my faith in the next generation as our parents did in our generation.
This week I looked for light reads again, with charming characters who could take my mind off of the political forecasts that depressed me. Both of the books I reviewed, The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre and Dirty Little Secrets, fit the bill beautifully. They were light reads with a cast of interesting characters. Both books were hometown mysteries featuring female protagonists. Just what this doctor ordered. So I prescribe a dose of escapism this week. "Take two books...go to bed, and call me in the morning if you don't feel better."
As always, complete reviews will follow this blog.
Happy reading,
- Beverly
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