Op-Ed from Governor Deval Patrick

This link - http://www.wbjournal.com/news45295.html# - should take you to a hopeful op-ed piece by Governor Deval Patrick in the Worcester Business Journal.  It’s got an optimistic tone.  I was particularly encouraged to read about the educational achievements – that MA students are third in the world on international math and science tests.  I still want to know where that data comes from and who takes those tests!

And I hope he’s right, and that recovery comes not only to MA, but the whole region.  It would be nice to have some good predictions come true.

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Some thoughts on Emergent Church from Todd Thomas

Emergent gives faith a fighting chance against certainty.

via afaithfulpath.wordpress.com

I enjoyed this post about the "Emergent Church" and wanted to share it. I think it sums up some of the thoughts I have had, wondering about believing vs. behaving, and "churchianity" vs. Christianity. Thanks to Todd Thomas (@Swirlyfoot) for the original post.

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Usually you're dead...

Usually, you’re dead before anyone gives you a glimpse into the difference you make.  And at that point, let’s face it, can you really care?  But tonight, the arts family showed its “familyness” by showing up in force on short notice to support our arts program, and me.

I am so humbled by this kindness, and by the way these marvelous people spoke about me and about the program I am so passionate about.  For them to stand up – on an evening they could have been home watching Glee – to give their time and their voices in an effort to convince the powers that be to hold on to the music program, is a gift I can never repay.  I could not be at the meeting myself, but have heard of their eloquence.  Maybe I’ll have a chance to watch the rebroadcast.

I can never thank them enough.  I can only say thank you for speaking the words, for sharing what the program has meant.

Our arts program might have an effect on them, and make their lives better.  But these precious people can never fully know what a difference they make for me every day, and how grateful I am to have them in my life.

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First snow!

Here's a picture of the moon peeking through the trees at my house this morning. There's something really beautiful about the first snow. And the fact that it didn't come until now, when we're full on into the holiday season, is an extra special bonus. As I pulled into my driveway last night, Harry Connick, Jr. was singing "Let it Snow!"

I love the freshness, and, as always, the "whiter than snow" metaphor comes to mind, and I am given one more reason to be grateful.

I hope you are, too.

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Are high school teachers' priorities misplaced? | high, school, students - News - The Orange County Register

via ocregister.com

And this article highlights the confusion we all have about what school is for, and why some people think we need more resources and some people don't. If we could get together on what the main purpose is, we'd have a way better chance at not fighting about it so much and being able to focus on what we want to accomplish.

Oh, and we should add college admissions people into the discussion, because they have another whole set of expectations.

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Young writers in Westwood unleash their ‘best words’ with Web tool - The Boston Globe

via boston.com

OK -

This story is about an example of the kind of stuff we could do with kids if we had the tech resources we needed.

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Inconvenient Service

When did we ever get it into our heads that serving others would always be convenient, fitting tidily into our schedules, and requiring nothing in the way of sacrifice?  Sometimes it isn’t convenient at all.  Sometimes we have to go out of our way, drive an extra mile or two, go to the mall when we would not otherwise, carry a few extra pounds of food to the car, or meet someone at a time when we’d rather not. 

One of the side effects of living as we do, where we do too much, say yes to too many, and take on that “one more thing,” is that we have less breathability in our calendars, less money in the bank, and less ability to reach out.

Or maybe it’s just me feeling the need to cut down someplace.

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