Little Ol’ IOWA

Choose Joy…

October 10, 2011

Source: WCFcourier.com

Recently, I stumbled onto a fellow Iowa blogger named Sara Frankl. I was immediately drawn to her not only because she is an Iowan, but because we were the same age. Sara was about 2 months younger than me, and we graduated from high school in the same year. She lived a little over 2 hours away from me, and of course, I’d never met her.

When I first ran into Sara’s blog, I was dumbfounded. This amazing inspiring woman lived only a few hours from me– yet how in the world have I missed out on her amazing words all these years? Sara’s motto was always “Choose Joy”– looking around you when your life seems to be at its worst, and still CHOOSING to be joyful for the blessings you have. It’s knowing that God will bring out of any struggle, pain or turmoil you find yourself if you decide to embrace and CHOOSE joy. Sara struggled with severe deteriorating health issues, yet she still managed to CHOOSE JOY– every single day when she opened her eyes in the morning.

I had to stop and think about that for a moment when I first read this post by Sara. Here I am in great health, with a happy family, and yet I still find things in my life to complain about. I let things get to me, I lose my temper easily. I say things I don’t mean when I am upset and angry, only to regret it later. Boy, have I been living life all wrong.

Sara passed away on September 24, 2011– of a disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis, which Sara described as:

“an autoimmune disease that usually starts in your early twenties and begins attacking your joints. It is progressive and systemic, but the progression and systems it can affect are as different as your genetic make up. For me, it began in my sacrum (low back) and my spine. The “goal” of the disease is to attack the joint and build scar tissue around it, causing pain and stiffness. Then the scar tissue eventually (for many) turns into bone and fuses your joints together.”

Sara was homebound for over three years before she passed away last month. She couldn’t leave her house, couldn’t experience what was going on outside of those four walls.

Still… she decided to CHOOSE JOY.

Several other bloggers have banded together to honor Sara by getting a tattoo in Sara’s own handwriting… “choose joy.”

I am honored to join in.

For Sara.

I’m choosing joy in my life from now on. I am going to make sure to be thankful for all the good things in my life, and worry less about the bad. I will admit that I am a work in progress, but I will have a constant reminder staring back at me each and every day. I am honoring a woman I never met, but whose words touched me nonetheless. I am also honoring myself, because I have so much to be joyous about. I always have, actually– I just needed a little help from Sara to make sure I don’t forget it.

Choose Joy.

Filed Under: Blog World, Little Ol' IOWA

Now That’s Where I Draw The Line

March 22, 2011

In the past, I have had mixed opinions on the topic of homeschooling. I had voiced my opinion in previous posts that I was completely against it, and I’m not going to go back and find those, but let me explain my reasons. Several years ago, we knew a few homeschool families that, in my opinion, were “doing it wrong.” One of the moms was a high-school dropout that I felt was completely unqualified to be teaching her children, in my opinion.

The other families– well, let’s just say their kids were socially inept. They had kept their kids so sheltered from the outside world that they had no knowledge of how to interact with other children. Now I think that’s just plain wrong. Eventually, your kids are going to have to be introduced to the outside world. All of us “regular schoolers” aren’t evil and our kids aren’t all bad influences. I understand wanting to shelter your kids from some of the bad things that can happen in schools, but seriously, there’s a right and a wrong way to do it.

So, anyways… While I used to be completely against it, let’s just say I have been introduced to more and more families since then that seem to be doing homeschooling the “right way.” Families that amaze me, and families that I wish I could be more like. Point taken, homeschooling families. I’m taking my words back. Most of you have proved me wrong.

Now, on to my real reason for this post.

Over the last week or so, I have been hearing some stories in the news about a new bill being proposed that would allow parents in Iowa that homeschool their children to be allowed to teach their children Drivers’ Education rather than having go through the required course like my children do.

In Iowa, “drivers education” consists of 30 hours of classroom time with a certified Drivers Education instructor. In addition to the classroom time, the student will have 6 hours of driving time with the instructor. Also, an additional 20 hours of driving time with the parent/guardian is required, with at least 2 hours of the 20 being when it is dark outside. The cost for Driver’s Education course in the State of Iowa runs approximately $300-$350. In our area, all of the schools contract with private companies for Driver’s Education. You can either sign up through your school, or you can go out on your own and sign up through one of the private companies yourself.

So, my question is… and what’s really yanking my chain today… why should those who homeschool be able to get out paying for a state-required course for their children? They don’t have to take it through the school. My kids didn’t go through the school district either. We went through Drive-Tek, paid $325, and my daughter went to an office building four nights a week for three weeks last summer for three hours each night. She also had scheduled driving appointment times throughout those three weeks.

What makes someone who homeschools more qualified to teach their child how to drive than ME? Why should someone who homeschools their children not have to pay the $325 fee for these classes that I have to pay for each of my four children to be able to drive? It doesn’t seem quite fair. This has nothing to do with the school system. If homeschooling parents are qualified, then the State needs to do away with Drivers’ Education altogether. Just let us all teach our own kids how to drive. Then when it is time for them to get their licenses, each child will be required to pass a written test and driving test.

But giving special privileges to one group of parents and not to another is where I draw the line. Is there something I am missing here?

What’s your take on this?

Filed Under: Family Matters, Little Ol' IOWA, Mah Money Tagged With: driver's education, homeschooling, Iowa, teenagers

Happy Valentine’s Day!

February 14, 2011

Today I’m sending some Valentine’s love to the Iowa bloggers. It never ceases to amaze me the power of the internet. Nearly every single day I stumble onto yet another great blog written by a fellow Iowan. My feed reader literally overflows with wonderful blogs written by Iowans, many of them living practically in my own backyard.

Reading blogs of those who live around you is a fantastic way to not only meet new people, but you get a feel for current events through the eyes of those around you. Not just through the eyes of the media. You can hear differing view points, hear about new products, what people are reading, what restaurants they are trying, what places in the area to avoid, and so much more. It’s a fantastic way to network with others in your area.

So Happy Valentines Day, Iowa Bloggers… share some Valentine’s love and go check out some others in the area. Here’s a list to get you started: IOWA BLOGGERS.

Filed Under: Blog World, Little Ol' IOWA

Is It Too Late To Move to a Different State?

February 9, 2011

There is a bill being “considered by a House subcommittee” today in Iowa that is literally making me sick to my stomach.

It is the House Study Bill 50, also known as the Religious Conscience Protection Bill. Basically, this bill would allow businesses in Iowa to deny services to same sex couples on religious grounds.

“House Study Bill 50, called the Religious Conscience Protection Act, would allow a person, business or organization such as a charity or fraternal group to deny services without fear of facing a civil claim or lawsuit if they think doing so would validate or recognize same-sex relationships. ” (Des Moines Register, 2-7-11)

WHAT? Since when is this OK? Is this a JOKE? Did the calendar just flip to April Fools’ Day and no one told me? Are some of my state’s elected officials really trying to make this happen? This saddens me to no end, as the Bill not only would allow same-sex couples to be treated this way, but it opens the door for all types of discrimination to actually become LEGAL.

So, let’s set aside the same-sex issue for a minute, because we all know they would be horribly discriminated against under this Bill.

Let’s say you are an unmarried heterosexual couple. It’s Valentine’s Day and you want to spend a romantic evening at a hotel with your honey.

Did you know under this Bill that the hotel management could REFUSE to give you a room if they felt that your relationship of “living in sin” and not being married was against the hotel manager’s religious beliefs?

What about a bi-racial MARRIED couple? Again, if the hotel manager felt the bi-racial marriage was against his religious beliefs, he could refuse service to the couple.

A Christian landlord would not have to rent an apartment to a couple that was made up a Jewish man and a Catholic woman, if the landlord felt the relationship was inappropriate.

When is this hatred, bigotry and mistreatment of our friends and neighbors going to end? Because the way the news articles read, it’s been brought up that the Bill is too vague, or too broad, and therefore could eventually include racial discrimination as well. So it sounds like they will purposely rewrite the Bill to make it specific to same-sex marriages and/or same-sex relationships. They are going to specifically go after and target a group of people and try to make it legal to discriminate against them.

And then there’s our newly elected Governor, who promised to bring back the good times and strong State that Iowa used to be when he Governor years ago. What did he have to say when asked if he believed this Bill would legalize discrimination?

“No, I don’t think so. What it does is protect people who want to exercise their moral and ethical rights under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.”(Des Moines Register, 2-7-11)

Mr. Governor, I’m so disappointed in you. You have to remember you represent the entire state of Iowa, even those that did not vote for you. You represent white people, black people, straight people, gay people. You represent many ethnic backgrounds, many types of familes. EVERYONE deserves rights under the Constitution.

Maybe the Governor needs to read the Constitution of our State, specifically Section 1, Article I, in the Bill of Rights:

Rights of persons. Section 1. All men are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inalienable rights – among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness.

Or if that’s not enough, how about we read farther down in the Bill of Rights. Let’s look at Article I, Section 6:

Laws uniform. Section 6. All laws of a general nature shall have a uniform operation; the General Assembly shall not grant to any citizen, or class of citizens, privileges or immunities, which, upon the same terms shall not equally belong to all citizens.

How is this Bill NOT not infringing on certain people’s rights as citizens of our wonderful state?

While I hope that the predictions are true, when I hear that “this will never get passed” and “it will never make it through”… the fact remains is that the Bill was written and created in the first place. It was in the minds and on the hearts of the men and women we trust with leading our state.

And that, my friends, makes me very sad.

Filed Under: In The News, Little Ol' IOWA, On My Soapbox, Politics Schmolitics

Hey Mom, I got a D for “Developing”

February 7, 2011

One of the local school districts in my area is making waves. Next fall, the Waukee Community School District will eliminate letter grades for their middle school students. “Middle school students consists of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

According to an article in the Des Moines Register, rather than receiving the typical As, Bs, or Cs, students will now be receiving “statuses” such as “beginning“, “developing“, “secure“, or “exceeds” in several different standards in each subject. The article goes on to say that other districts in the area are considering switching to this method of grading as well, but Waukee is the first to actually make it happen.

The article lists reasons why this method of evaluating the students is better than a letter-grading system, and I won’t go into all of that. You can just go read the article if you want. I will mention the one point they made that I DO agree with is that one instance where the letter-grading system may NOT be an accurate representation of a child’s understanding a certain class or subject is when points are given for things like attendance, extra credit, and class participation. For example, my daughter can maybe earn an extra 10 points in her science class for having perfect attendance, maybe boosting her from a B to an A, but that doesn’t mean she understands the subject matter more than a student who just got the B.

BUT. (You knew there was a BUT.)

If your child brought home a report card, and they received grades like “Developing” or “Secure” what does that mean to you? It seems to be like this method leaves the door open for the teacher to be a lot more subjective in evaluating each student, and possibly let the grades reflect their opinion of the student. Possibly different teachers in the same grade level with different teaching styles might interpret when a student has reached a level of “secure” in a particular subject, rather than just knowing that when you score 90-100% on something, it’s an A. (Or in the case of our school district, it’s actually a 93% needed for an A– I know, we’re a bit tougher around here!) With a letter-grading system, you know that if you take a test and get an 85%, you receive a B. It is not open to interpretation by the teacher, who can subjectively determine how well you grasp the subject matter.

And what about preparing these kids for high school? The four years where GPA is everything? The article seems to insinuate that grading kids on a letter basis promotes competition between students, but I don’t necessarily consider that to be a bad thing. I think it’s healthy for kids to want to be successful in school, and heaven forbid we let them worry about their grades!

In our school district, the letter-grading system starts in 4th grade, which is the grade my youngest daughter is in now. I don’t consider it a bad thing, because I am not kidding when I say she had been EXCITED and looking forward to it for YEARS. She couldn’t wait to start getting letter grades like her older siblings! She works hard to get good grades, and the joy on her face when she sees her report card? PRICELESS. Somehow I don’t think I would get the same kind of reaction out of her if she was getting a report card that had things like “Secure” and “Developing” on it. What a snoozefest.

I’d love to hear your opinion on this. Does your child’s school district use the letter-grading system or another system? How would you feel if this change was made? Let’s hear it!

Filed Under: In The News, Little Ol' IOWA, On My Soapbox