"The whole people must take upon themselves the education of the whole people and be willing to bear the expenses of it. There should not be a district of one mile square, without a school in it, not founded by a charitable individual, but maintained at the public expense of the people themselves." -- John Adams

"No money shall be drawn from the treasury, for the benefit of any religious or theological institution." -- Indiana Constitution Article 1, Section 6.

"...no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish enlarge, or affect their civil capacities." – Thomas Jefferson

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thanksgiving '07

I give thanks for:

the kindergarten and first grade kids who learn about Thanksgiving for the first time and really get into being Pilgrims and Indians.

the parents who come to school to help with the Thanksgiving feasts and all the crafts associated with the holiday.

the kitchen staff who prepare several great Thanksgiving meals each year - one at school and one at their own homes.

the music teachers who teach the students the same songs year after year and never get tired of hearing the same songs over and over again, because they know that each voice is different.

the art teachers who have the students draw the same pictures and make the same crafts year after year and never get tired of seeing the same things over and over again, because they know that each view is different.

the librarians who read the same books year after year and never get tired of reading and hearing the same words over and over again because they know that each listener is different.

the children who hear the same things year after year, who make the same crafts year after year, and who sing the same songs year after year, and who are learning that thanksgiving is more than words, pictures, crafts and songs.

the teachers who are devoted to their students and provide the experiences needed for a well rounded education even though the world seems to want only test-takers.

teachers, parents, paras, librarians, custodians, secretaries, nurses, principals, cooks, bus drivers and everyone else who has given their life to serving the most important resource in our country - our children.


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Read the Declaration of Independence From High Stakes Testing


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