November is turning out to be more than just a new page on the calendar. My friend and I were discussing our “new world” yesterday. New government always seems like a good thing…until we get a chance to realize that most of the new people will slide right into the old system and not make much of a difference. Oh, they think they will. Some will earnestly try. Some will buck the system until they are weary and worn, but to no avail. Others will make little changes that may indeed improve our world. But for the most part, life goes on, and nothing earth-shattering or life-changing will occur because of the changes in our government.
That is not my cynical side coming out. Just the musings of an old woman who has seen the “changing of the guard” often enough to know that the real life changes come from society, business, and education, not government. Think about the ways your life has changed over the last ten years and you will come to the conclusion that the differences were brought about because someone invented something, discovered something, or created something, not because we passed a law for or against it. Laws usually reflect the need to acknowledge something in our society that has already taken place. People are doing “such and such” to the point that we as a society have to make a decision about it. Government tends to be reactive, not proactive.
I turned a couple of other new pages yesterday. I made a new photo folder for my computer : Garden, November 2010, then went out in the yard in search of new photos. I was rewarded with those you see here. Also spotted a white butterfly I have not seen in the yard before, but she got away without posing. Maybe tomorrow. There was also a larger, different duck on the far end of the pond that stayed out of lens range.
I am now in a quandary about the critter population in my yard because we have gained a destructive visitor. I suspect it is a deer. You may recall that something ate an aster right down to the ground a few weeks ago. Last night I discovered that a two-foot tall gardenia is gone, nibbled down to three little bare stems poking out of the ground. I’m not sure what deer eat, or what to do about it as this has never been a problem before. I do have at least a dozen plants in the yard that are labeled “deer resistant” but they were purchased just because I like them, not because I gave any thought to deer.
Also turned a new page at school yesterday. We gained a new student, another girl, so the whole group dynamics will take a week or so to re-settle. I will also have to test the new one, place her into the appropriate reading group, decide how to help her be successful, and be alert to any behavior problems she may have.
I can’t resist offering you this bit of history this morning. I found it in the paper yesterday while looking for an obituary. It isn’t signed, so I’m going to assume that it was written by the editor, Mr. Crossett. He was quite outspoken and very much a Caddo school and business booster.
The Caddo Herald
March 7, 1913
Boost the Schools
“Did you ever think about it- your child is apt to take about the same interest in his school studies as the parent does. Do you encourage your child to be obedient and studious at school? If you don’t the fault of his failure to progress is not with the school, but with yourself. Ninety per cent of the cause for criticism of the schools can be corrected in the home. The parent or patron who insists on regular attendance, prompt and unquestioned obedience, application, and who takes an interest in the work his child is doing, is the parent who has no fault to find with the teachers. Make the child think that he has the best teacher in the world. If you will do that you will find that the boosting which at first may have been insincere will at last become sincere. When you create doubt in the mind of a child you might as well take him out of school. Try boosting your school and watch results.”
Another big change coming up this weekend. Time to “fall back” and reset our clocks. Don’t forget.
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