List Writing

Are you a 'list writer'? I confess, I am... big time. I have been a list-writer all my adult life, maybe even before, when I would write list of 'things I would like to do when I grow up'. I can even remember one.... drive around Australia in a Mini Moke with my little brother. Awesome little cars, just a crate on wheels actually. Wonderful for feeling the wind in your hair. No tick for that one unfortunately.

Thinking of list-writing the other day, I wondered, 'why do we do it?'

Before I enlighten you with my own pearls, let me describe a few other list-writers I have known.
There are those who write lists, then do extra jobs and write them down after the fact, just for the pleasure of ticking them off. Okay, that's me, but I have known many others who do the same. (Hint: this is a clue to the 'why we do it question.)
Then there are those who have so many different lists on the go that they have to write a 'list of lists'. !!!!
Then there are those who keep a list beside their bed in case they have a good idea through the night and need it recorded before they sleep.... SO they can sleep!
There are job lists, holiday lists, dream lists, shopping lists, birthday present lists (for Nanne and Pa), Christmas card lists, wish lists, bucket lists, and on and on.

Most list-writers agree that the best thing about a list is the ticking off part.

Which brings me back to the question of 'why do we do it'?

For me, it brings a great feeling of satisfaction that I have accomplished something, achieved a goal or realised a dream.

As a young mum, it reminded me that I had used my time productively (rarely seen in the short term), that my life choice was worthy, valuable and meaningful.... I had the ticks to prove it. Young mums get so few accolades for their amazing contribution to life and their work is largely unseen. A list is a tangible thing, proof of vitality.

Now as a retiree, I have much the same need: to feel that my life has purpose and is productive. However, now the lists require considerable thought in order to keep my life balanced and my activities varied. Gardening everyday simply won't do!. 

So, fellow list-writers, having got that off my chest, I can now tick off 'write blog on list-writing'. DONE!

Maths: "What's the Point?"

One of the most asked questions by children struggling with Maths is “what’s the point? I just don’t get it”

A young child can be persuaded that he might need to add up his pocket money or measure how far he can kick a ball etc, but it is far harder to explain to a teenager the benefits of algebra.

So what is the point?

I have taught primary school children Maths for 20 years, and now tutor teenagers who ‘just don’t get it’. And this is what I tell them.

Maths teaches you the discipline of learning.
Maths is made up of rules and formulas, when learned and followed carefully, result in success, not unlike a successful life really.

For example, the 3 most important rules I give my students to follow are:
1. Use a pencil and rubber
2. Start with the formula
3. Check as you go
If you have made a mistake, go back to step one, use the rubber and try again till you master it. Ask for help if necessary.

Mistakes must be corrected quickly if understanding and learning are to be gained…. just like life.

I have seen students do pages of Maths without checking so that they wouldn’t make a mess, or, were too lazy to make the corrections. When they do check or sit a test, pages of errors devastate their confidence and muddy their learning… just like life.

Having recently watched one of my favourite movies “Stand and Deliver”, I have concluded that most, if not all students, are capable of mastering Maths. Jaime Escalante, a Maths teacher in an inner city Los Angeles school took a group of 18 average students from low socio-economic backgrounds and lifted them out of academic failure by teaching them calculus. They learnt, they passed, they went to university, and hundreds more after them did the same.

How? He inspired. He encouraged. He demanded hard work. He cared. He expected more of them than anybody else. He believed they could do it, so they did. We don’t expect enough from our kids today. We think that because we struggled with Maths then it must be hard, just for nerds. Rubbish!

Do we let children give up learning table manners because they didn’t hold their spoon correctly on the first try? No, we put it back in their hand over and over again until they use it confidently.

Do we let them off basketball training because they didn’t get a goal in their first game? No. We tell them to go out into the backyard and shoot baskets till the ball goes in more than it misses.

Do we tell them they don’t need to play scales on the piano if it gets boring? No. Scales are the price they must pay to enjoy playing the instrument.

Practice and repeated hard work is not fun, but it leads to success, and that IS.

A good parent encourages perseverance and doesn’t tolerate laziness when a goal is worth achieving. They know that “I can’t” is often just code for “I couldn’t be bothered!”

And it is just the same for Maths.

When a student masters the discipline of Maths, by following the rules and formulas carefully, he AND SHE can take that discipline into all other areas of study, and life.

'Ganas' : desire, passion, 'guts' (Spanish)

There is an old movie that I love called “Stand and Deliver”, a story of a teacher (Jaime Escalante) in inner city Los Angeles who takes a group of Latino teenagers from the gang scene through to college entrance by his inspirational math teaching. He challenges his students, “You're going to work harder here than you've ever worked anywhere else. And the only thing I ask from you is *ganas.*  (desire, ‘guts’).

 In a land of so much opportunity such as the US and Australia, this is often the missing ingredient in the lives of young students who have so much talent and yet are not developing it. It is also the missing ingredient for many adults.

The baby boomers were the first generation (in the western world) to experience peace and prosperity on a wide scale, and every generation since. Amy Chua observes in her “Tiger Mother” book that it has made us “soft and entitled”, spoilt and selfish.

It is now nearly a century since the first of the world wars started, and 70 years since they ended, and we are entering an age where the complexities of endless self-interest and individual rights are starting to bite. It will be the people with ‘ganas’ who will be the leaders of our governments and institutions both today and into the future. It will take the parents and teachers of today to inspire the young to have ‘ganas’.

 The reason it will take ‘ganas’ to succeed is because of the natural negative drag of our own  inherent laziness and desire for ease and comfort, as well as the cynicism and low expectations of the watching world.  It is in the athlete who doesn’t go the extra mile, the mother who gives in to whining children, the professional who avoids extra responsibility or the pastor who walks away from his demanding congregation.

Leaders with ‘ganas”are in short supply these days and should be encouraged and supported wherever they raise their brave heads. Leaders not only have to overcome their own desire for ease and comfort but the same negative drag in those they try to lead.

Where does ‘ganas’ come from? I believe it comes from a dream that the world could be a better place, from a vision to replace mediocrity with excellence, from an inner compulsion to reach a worthy goal. It may be a personal goal to overcome a failure and turn it into success, to achieve the highest level of your God-given talents, to build something beautiful, to train up confident, capable citizens of tomorrow, to lead a group of people to become a community of excellence.

What is the reward of ‘ganas’ in the end. I believe it is the immeasurable satisfaction of knowing that you have done your best to make a difference in your time, with your gifts, for your generation and maybe the next. It is living life to the fullest.

Quote from the movie

Jaime Escalante: [to his students] ... There will be no free rides, no excuses. You already have two strikes against you: your name and your complexion. Because of those two strikes, there are some people in this world who will assume that you know less than you do. *Math* is the great equalizer... When you go for a job, the person giving you that job will not want to hear your problems; ergo, neither do I. You're going to work harder here than you've ever worked anywhere else. And the only thing I ask from you is *ganas.* *Desire.*

If you don't have the *ganas,* I will give it to you because I'm an expert.

 (Lord, give us more teachers like this)

'Boy Wanted'

In the early 1900’s an ad appeared in a newspaper for a special boy. I first read this ad in ‘The Book of Virtues”, a treasury of great moral stories by William Bennet. It is a list of characteristics that define a young man of good character.  I decided to use this ad as part of my reading program in my Grade 4 class, getting students (especially boys) to read aloud each desired trait. The results never failed to warm my heart.   

The ad begins,

“Wanted: A boy that stands straight, sits straight, acts straight and talks straight.”

At this point I would invariably see, out of the corner of my eye, several boys sit up straight in their seats. And we had only just begun.

The ad the lists 21 other characteristics, including:

“A boy who listens carefully when spoken to..

A boy who looks cheerful, has a ready smile for everyone and never sulks..

A boy who is polite to every man and respectful to every woman and girl..

A boy who never bullies other boys and never allows other boys to bully him….” 

Rapt attention in grade 4, every eye on the page…

“ A boy who looks you right in the eye and tells the truth every time

A boy who does not want to be ‘smart’ nor attract attention                      

A boy whom other boys like

A boy who is at ease in the company of girls….” 

Not a smirk or joke anywhere (surprisingly)

“ A boy who is not sorry for himself and not forever thinking and talking about himself

A boy who is friendly with his mother..” 

What touched me so deeply every time we read this ad was the response of the boys in my class. There was such a rising in their hearts to be that boy, seen by their full attention to the words as well as their changed posture.

A century later and the world still desperately needs these boys. I believe brave and noble characteristics are in the heart of ever young man, waiting for someone to call them out.

 

Who will do it?

Mothers and fathers can do it, and must. Grandparents can do it. Teachers can do it.

Pastors, youth workers, scout leaders, anyone can do it.

How will they do it?

With words of encouragement, backed by love; With challenges to rise to high expectations and daring deeds; With opportunities to earn trust, and second chances when they fail.  And, with books to inspire, not just entertain.

 

“This boy is wanted everywhere. The family wants him, the school wants him, the office wants him, the boys want him, the girls want him, all creation wants him.”

Alarming Statistics

Just recently I heard two sets of statistics that I found alarming, if not totally sad.

The first one was from a friend who is a CRE teacher at the local schools, under Access Ministries.

He said, "90% of children in state schools have never heard of God or Jesus".

That's 90% of our nation’s most precious resource who have no idea

• that they have been created by a loving heavenly Father who remains vitally interested in them
• that they are not just random collections of bone and tissue like any other animal;
• that their value is far beyond their looks, their status or their bank account
• that there is purpose and meaning for their lives
• that they can be forgiven for being less than perfect
• that they need never fear death and that Heaven is real

This brings me to the second statistic, heard on the radio recently:

"The most common cause of death in the 25-44 yr old age bracket is suicide".

Does any one else beside me see a connection there? And why this age bracket? What is happening at 25: schooling is over; adult life is kicking in with its responsibilities, struggles and disappointments; relationships begin and end; youth is no longer endless; death is confronting; partying no longer fills the inner vacuum; addictions start to bite. So where do you turn if there is no God?

Headlines in today's Age make this situation even more distressing. "Principals Close Down Christian Classes", calling them unintelligent, stupid and uneducational.

My CRE teacher friends all say the same thing, that the children are full of questions about God and "just want to know" about Him and about life and death. When did it become uneducational to answer children’s questions?

Lots to pray about:

God bless the CRE teachers

May school doors remain open to Access Ministries

May we always have politicians that "thank God for the honour of leading the country" (Tony) and

continue to 'humbly rely on God' for the work they do

Sacrifice and Achievement

Recently I had the pleasure of speaking to a young lady who took her responsibilities as a mother very seriously. Though tertiary educated, talented and confident, she had recently taken an overnight job at a local supermarket filling shelves in order to help the family budget. Although she could have easily taken a better paying day job by putting her children into professional care, she refused to do so on the grounds that it was her job to raise and train her small children, not others. She would make the sacrifice so that they didn’t need to. A helpful young dad was certainly a bonus in making it all work.

I know many young mums making a similar sacrifice, putting careers on hold so that their children have the best possible chance to grow up healthy in mind and spirit as well as body.

In his book “The Reason for God”, Tim Keller describes parenthood this way:

“Children come into the world in a condition of complete dependence. They cannot operate as self-sufficient, independent agents unless their parents give up much of their own independence and freedom for years. If you don’t allow your children to hinder your freedom in work and play at all, and you only get to your children when it doesn’t inconvenience you, your children will grow up physically only. In all sorts of other ways they will remain emotionally needy, troubled and over-dependent. The choice is clear. You can either sacrifice your freedom or theirs.”

I am constantly disturbed, as I watch the nightly news, by the overwhelming and growing number of ‘emotionally needy and troubled’ youth. They will soon be outnumbering the ‘self-sufficient, independent agents’ in classrooms, making teaching an increasingly hazardous occupation. How sad!

 

Children don’t need more education, special programs, welfare, money, therapy, counselors  or skate parks. They need a mum and a dad who are there when they need them, especially the first 5 years of life, at least. It’s not long, in the grand scheme of a life, and your sacrifice may well lead to your greatest achievement: strong, independent sons and daughters.

 

"Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness." Napoleon Hill

Girls and Horses: To buy or not to buy

It seems every young girl at some time in her childhood has a love affair with horses and many a parent has had to tolerate endless begging for a ‘pony of my own’. I was one of them. Now I’m a grown up lady and my love affair endures but my sympathy and understanding is for parents of today who wonder if they should actually embark on what will ultimately be the  huge investment in time and money of a ‘pony of my own’. 

Let me give you some guidelines.  There are two kinds of horse lovers:

            The first one is the girl who just wants to ride. She can’t wait to get onto a horse, feel the thrill of power and grace underneath her, be admired by watching parents and friends……, then go home. It is all about the riding. Under no circumstances buy this girl a horse. The love affair will not last, probably melting away in the warm glow of a boy’s admiring gaze. You will be left with a very expensive pet in a paddock, with equally expensive gear gathering dust in the shed. Just visit a riding school and hire now and again.

            The second girl just wants to be around horses and the riding is a bonus. She will arrive at lessons 10 mins before the instructor and will stay 20 mins after, just leaning on the gate gazing at every graceful move of this beautiful animal. She will gladly groom mud encrusted coats and tails, shovel poo, clean leather, catch, saddle, sponge and rug her own horse and keep her tack spotless. You might as well start saving for a pony for this child as her love affair is not a phase: it will be a lifelong passion.

 

           So what’s in it for you, you may be wondering, apart from the obvious let up in nagging and a very happy child. From my own experience over many years, here is just a sample of what you will get from your investment:  more….

• resilience
• courage (“courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway” John Wayne)
• responsibility
• confidence (it is no small thing to gain the control and respect of a big and powerful animal)
• independence
• immunity from negative peer group pressure
• focus and good behaviour at school
• good health, posture and muscle tone

           ….. and less ….

• time social networking
• vulnerability to early sexual behaviour, alcohol and drugs (horses are better!!)
• self-centredness ( her horse’s need for food, rest and comfort will come before hers)
• slavery to fashion ( her favourite outfit will forever be jeans and boots)
• oh and so much more!!!

 So you see, a ‘pony of my own” for the right girl at the right time is actually a very good investment, both financially as well as in character building.

And one last piece of advice. If you are not at all horsey yourself, seek out a good pony club or instructor to guide you through the journey. You will need a lot of help to keep your girl and her pony safe and healthy.

Have fun.