By Kim Bauer
Today’s home school lessons consisted of an all day adventure with my parents and children to the splendid Huntington Memorial Library and Gardens in San Marino, California. For five glorious hours, we pretended to be Henry E. Huntington who earned his fortune as owner of the Southern Pacific Railroad during the pioneering days of the Gold Rush. Notably absent were period costumes and horse drawn carriages—never the less, we were fully engrossed in our fantasy as we strolled around the 120 acre paradise which showcases his vast assortment of botanical species. One of the most important business magnates of his time, Mr. Huntington became a collector of fine art and purveyor of rare books. His world class collection now adorns the walls of the Beaux Arts Mansion and several extraordinary galleries dotting the property with understated elegance.
The timing for our adventure was impeccable. We are learning about the American Revolution, the US Constitution and the larger than life, principle driven personalities of our Founding Fathers. We just memorized the preamble to the United States Constitution which promises to “secure the blessings of liberty”. But what does that really mean to the average American citizen? As a ‘homeschooling-mama’ living in a state ranked in the bottom 10% of American public schools, I am grateful for the blessings of liberty granted to me to educate my children in the manner I see fit which often includes outings like this.
I have learned to set an agenda and then remain open to the possibility for small miracles to manifest. The first miracle of the day appeared when my daughter spotted an original portrait of George Washington hanging proudly over a fireplace in the Huntington family dining room. We’ve been greatly inspired by the selfless service of our first leader, and it seems the Huntington’s also found inspiration in his image. I pictured the Huntington family seated around their exquisite dining table, thanking God for their food and George Washington for their freedom. And for a moment, we bowed our heads in homage to this great man who at the tender age of 21, led the Battle of Trenton, guaranteeing future generations the blessings of liberty through a series of selfless, high-minded choices.
In the Huntington Library, we pored over the personal records Washington kept in an effort to organize the scrappy Continental Army. Miracles continued to appear. We were delighted to find a printed transcript of the US Constitution which was given to the delegates as a “keepsake” commemorating the event. We even discovered an original version of Thomas Payne’s renowned pamphlet, “Common Sense.” We imagined what it must have been like to purchase one exactly like it in those gloriously unsettled times in our nation’s history.
Our education continued at home by taking the US Immigration and Naturalization test—the same test that immigrants are required to pass in order to become a US Citizen. Even though we hadn’t prepared for the test, my intention was to demonstrate that all US citizens, not just those who enter this country as immigrants, should thoroughly understand the content and meaning of the great documents that govern our nation. We will study until we can pass the immigration test with flying colors. We will understand the seven articles of the Constitution and 462 words of the Bill of Rights. We will become familiar with the intricacies of our government and how we, as citizens, can effect legislation. Most importantly, my children will be taught the blessings of liberty and all the rights granted to us by one of the most profound governing documents ever written.
Daily, I watch our precious freedoms, born of the blood and principles of our forefathers, being replaced by policies that drive us further and further into personal and national debt. At a time of such pivotal importance to our country, I wonder why we have stopped teaching our children to value the blessings of liberty above all else. Are we so far removed from the world of our founders that we have forgotten the hard earned lessons of the past?
With the teaching of American History being systematically “written out” of the curriculum in our school system, we begin to slide down a slippery slope. If we continue to take the blessings of liberty for granted, the very freedoms granted to us under the Constitution will quickly and quietly disappear. It’s no wonder self-reliance of our founding fathers is being replaced by a sense of entitlement that now seems to dominate the “American Mindset”.
I fear that we Americans are at a profound turning point in our evolution in which the continual devaluing of our freedoms are giving rise to a nanny state that will make us third rate, credit poor nation. Will we shamefully pass the legacy of our insatiable need for instant gratification to our children in the form of insatiable national debt? Just for fun, check out the international debt clock at http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/ to see “the blessings” our children stand to inherit. Is this Liberty?
Copyright, 2009: Kim Bauer, wife, mother, and writer www.homeschoolin-mama.blogspot.com.
Showing posts with label George Washington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label George Washington. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Fourth Thing I Love About Home Schooling—Witnessing Divine Inspiration!
One fabulous thing about children is that God and all that is “divine” easily comes through them. Anyone who spends some quality time with children has witnessed this phenomenon. I have a theory developing about home schooling. I think, because home school is tailored to your children’s interests, they spend more time in a state of mastery, which allows more of these moments to happen. And, because you are right there with them, there is no way to miss it, unless you happen to be making them a snack.
Here’s what happened to us today. We are studying the American Revolution and I wanted the kids to write a poem today about George Washington crossing the Delaware. My recollection of learning this event was very vague. I am pretty sure this subject was covered in one paragraph of a history primer some time during second or third grade and then long forgotten. What we have learned this time around is much more comprehensive because this is now our favorite subject. I need to give a brief accounting of this event so you understand the context of what she wrote. If you are a history buff, bear with me.
George Washington was a hero in the eyes of the Colonists and a “shoe in” as the first General of the Colonial Army. Interestingly, his career as a General, prior to and during the Revolution pretty much consisted of losses in battles. He didn’t exactly have great winning stats behind him. He desperately needed “a win” to garner commitment from his shoestring army and financial support from the King of France. (It turns out, even in Colonial days, fundraising was a necessary evil).
George Washington effectively utilized spies during the Revolutionary War, and one of them, a man named John Honeywell, managed to infiltrate the hired German soldiers (the Hessions) who were fighting on behalf of Great Brittain. He told General Raul that Washington’s army was in dire straights, disorganized and posed no threat to the Hessions. He was truthful about the first two items. He returned to Washington and effectively described the essential details of the Brittish encampment so that he could plan his attack. The Hessions were flush with food, supplies, uniforms and cash. It turns out they had everything that they needed except “divine inspiration.”
Washington had nothing working in his favor. The men were starving, bare foot, sick, exhausted and broke. Most were hanging on by a prayer, but somehow Washington instilled in them, a sense of divine inspiration. On Christmas morning 1776, Washington and his men crossed 9 miles of the Delaware River through ice and a blistering storm, taking the Hessions by surprise and capturing 900 men. It was our first and possibly most important victory.
I wanted my children to recount this story in the form of a poem so that we could efficiently combine writing and history. What I got was “divine inspiration” that comes only from a sense of mastery. My daughter knew the details of the story so well, that she was beyond them. She went straight to the heart of the matter--the emotional state of the Colonial soldiers and the faith they put in their leader-GW. This is what she wrote and I swear to you, it took her all of 10 minutes. I helped her with the word “anguish”, and that was my sole contribution. I made one other suggestion and she quickly responded, “no Mom, it is exactly as it should be.” She was right. Who am I to interfere with this level of divinity?
American Delaware
Here we are waiting;
cold, bare, wanting to know.
How we will live with those dying,
those poor, anguished, and given up?
We know not how it will go,
that horrible bloody war lying ahead.
They have those which withstand,
have what they have, and create death.
We God forsaken men shall die of hunger, and frost;
loved ones crying at our beds.
Again we will perish for they do not know
we struggle to survive for the fate of our country...America.
Our leader lives with no hatred, only trust in us.
We have let him down for we have died without faith or triumph
He has tried to lift hopes,
but no peace is there.
But our spirit lives on with our dreams,
and we shall live on with our hopes.
~Austin Nicole Eder
age 10, 2/11/09
This was my nauseatingly proud parent moment! Thanks for sharing it with me. I know we have all had them, but I think we need to take the time to marvel in their divinity!
Here’s what happened to us today. We are studying the American Revolution and I wanted the kids to write a poem today about George Washington crossing the Delaware. My recollection of learning this event was very vague. I am pretty sure this subject was covered in one paragraph of a history primer some time during second or third grade and then long forgotten. What we have learned this time around is much more comprehensive because this is now our favorite subject. I need to give a brief accounting of this event so you understand the context of what she wrote. If you are a history buff, bear with me.
George Washington was a hero in the eyes of the Colonists and a “shoe in” as the first General of the Colonial Army. Interestingly, his career as a General, prior to and during the Revolution pretty much consisted of losses in battles. He didn’t exactly have great winning stats behind him. He desperately needed “a win” to garner commitment from his shoestring army and financial support from the King of France. (It turns out, even in Colonial days, fundraising was a necessary evil).
George Washington effectively utilized spies during the Revolutionary War, and one of them, a man named John Honeywell, managed to infiltrate the hired German soldiers (the Hessions) who were fighting on behalf of Great Brittain. He told General Raul that Washington’s army was in dire straights, disorganized and posed no threat to the Hessions. He was truthful about the first two items. He returned to Washington and effectively described the essential details of the Brittish encampment so that he could plan his attack. The Hessions were flush with food, supplies, uniforms and cash. It turns out they had everything that they needed except “divine inspiration.”
Washington had nothing working in his favor. The men were starving, bare foot, sick, exhausted and broke. Most were hanging on by a prayer, but somehow Washington instilled in them, a sense of divine inspiration. On Christmas morning 1776, Washington and his men crossed 9 miles of the Delaware River through ice and a blistering storm, taking the Hessions by surprise and capturing 900 men. It was our first and possibly most important victory.
I wanted my children to recount this story in the form of a poem so that we could efficiently combine writing and history. What I got was “divine inspiration” that comes only from a sense of mastery. My daughter knew the details of the story so well, that she was beyond them. She went straight to the heart of the matter--the emotional state of the Colonial soldiers and the faith they put in their leader-GW. This is what she wrote and I swear to you, it took her all of 10 minutes. I helped her with the word “anguish”, and that was my sole contribution. I made one other suggestion and she quickly responded, “no Mom, it is exactly as it should be.” She was right. Who am I to interfere with this level of divinity?
American Delaware
Here we are waiting;
cold, bare, wanting to know.
How we will live with those dying,
those poor, anguished, and given up?
We know not how it will go,
that horrible bloody war lying ahead.
They have those which withstand,
have what they have, and create death.
We God forsaken men shall die of hunger, and frost;
loved ones crying at our beds.
Again we will perish for they do not know
we struggle to survive for the fate of our country...America.
Our leader lives with no hatred, only trust in us.
We have let him down for we have died without faith or triumph
He has tried to lift hopes,
but no peace is there.
But our spirit lives on with our dreams,
and we shall live on with our hopes.
~Austin Nicole Eder
age 10, 2/11/09
This was my nauseatingly proud parent moment! Thanks for sharing it with me. I know we have all had them, but I think we need to take the time to marvel in their divinity!
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