[Finally a post by Tony/Bishop Butler]
Dear Friends of the Waxhaw Ward,
Given the magnitude of changes and the nature of the meeting last Sunday
(1/6/14) night I didn't have the opportunity to share my thoughts, feelings and
testimony with you. My heart is full of gratitude for the opportunity
and privilege of serving as Bishop.
I am most grateful to the support of
my dear wife and children who made it possible. I was deeply touched
and am so grateful for those who offered well wishes and kind words to
me since being released. I was moved to tears (or close to it) several
times during the day, knowing that the release was coming that evening, and especially in greeting
people that evening.
I will miss the mantle, those sacred moments when a
blessing is given under the direction of the Spirit, when truth is
taught and lives are changed, the return of the prodigal, the Godly
sorrow exhibited by the truly penitent, and the opportunity to work in
counsel and serve closely with so many great individuals of strong faith
and testimony.
I have so much to say and words seem so inadequate right
now.
This much I do know: God loves us all and that he is aware of
and can be involved in the details of our lives. I have felt of his
powerful love and concern for us all. I know he lives and that our Savior
is real and that salvation is available to all who confess Him thus and
come unto Him.
I'm grateful to know that I will still see you all often and will be in
the same ward with over 20 families from the "Legacy Waxhaw Ward". I look
forward to the next chapter in this life journey and also to having the
opportunity to focus more energy on and time with my greatest
treasure-my family.
Thanks for the memories!
~Tony
Firmness of Mind Mom
Christ-centered living and learning.
Welcome to our site!
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Thursday, October 31, 2013
To Be Real
While
driving with my daughter to an appointment this week we listened to an audio
book from the library called, “Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love
and Redemption” by Katie J. Davis. The author is a young woman in her early
twenties who is wise beyond her years. Waaay more wise if you ask me. She has
figured out how to find real joy and happiness by losing herself in the service
of God. She is serving “the least of
these.”
When she
shared the story of the The Velveteen Rabbit and compared it with her life, I knew
immediately that it also applies to all mothers (and fathers) who sincerely devote
their lives to the rearing of righteous families.
Labels:inspiration, organizing, health,
Christ,
courage,
family life,
large family
Monday, July 15, 2013
Help is Here for Home Education!
Recipient of numerous New York City Teacher of the Year awards and one New York State Teacher of the Year award, John Taylor Gatto came and gave two speeches at our state's annual home education conference over ten years ago. I knew the principles he taught were correct: Youth are capable of GREAT things if you give them leadership opportunities and learning experiences that both inspire and challenge. He beautifully illustrated these principles through sharing example after example from his former students, from young people throughout history and from stories he had clipped from the local newspaper.
Funny thing though, in spite of Gatto achieving astounding results with his 12-13 year old students from 'less than ideal' backgrounds, he was constantly 'fighting' with administrator's in the various schools where he taught. They didn't approve of him doing things differently, regardless of effectiveness. Parents were praising him and giving him awards while the public school system saw him as an enemy to their goals. (This fact alone ought to cause parents to pause and question just what those "goals" might be. Just a thought...) So after 30 years in the system he quit and was booked for several years straight speaking to educators all across the country.
Funny thing though, in spite of Gatto achieving astounding results with his 12-13 year old students from 'less than ideal' backgrounds, he was constantly 'fighting' with administrator's in the various schools where he taught. They didn't approve of him doing things differently, regardless of effectiveness. Parents were praising him and giving him awards while the public school system saw him as an enemy to their goals. (This fact alone ought to cause parents to pause and question just what those "goals" might be. Just a thought...) So after 30 years in the system he quit and was booked for several years straight speaking to educators all across the country.
Labels:inspiration, organizing, health,
community service,
education,
home schooling
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
"I Will Never Go Back"
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Our nephew Elder Brady Johnson in Boston, MA serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (closest to the camera). |
Dear Friends~
It would seem that all my creative energy has gone to the new little son growing inside me, hence, I haven't posted anything for many months! But I cannot resist sharing the final missionary letter of our nephew, Brady Johnson, with all who will read. Brady is the son of my husband's sister, Lisa, and grew up in St. George, Utah, one of five children. His two year mission for the church was in the Boston, Massachusetts Mission, Cambodian speaking. His message below is evidence that our young men and women count their full-time service as nothing but a great & beautiful privilege. And just look at what it can shape them into when they go out prepared and willing to give it their best! No doubt Elder Johnson has made the world a better place by this service...and no doubt he will continue to make the world a better place! His testimony of service for the Lord is one that each of us should be working toward in our families and as individuals!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Big Picture of Learning/Secrets of Private Elite Boarding Schools (LDS Home Educators Class Notes)
Just what is learning?
“You and I are blessed in mortality with a multitude and variety of opportunities to learn and increase in intelligence--the intelligence defined as applying what we know for righteousness. Consequently, we should not equate intelligence with formal education, academic degrees, or worldly success. Some of the most educated people I have ever known had little or no intelligence. And some of the most intelligent people I have ever known had little or no formal education.”
~Elder David A. Bednar (Increase in Learning, p. 73)
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The First Presidency |
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The Quorum of Twelve Apostles |
A list of some of the formal educational and career achievements of the First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles:
- Doctorate in Educational Administration from Brigham Young
- Internationally renowned surgeon and medical researcher (U of U)
- University of Chicago Law School, Justice of the Utah Supreme Court.
- George Washington University
- Two Harvard MBA's
- Master and doctor of philosophy degrees from Yale University.
- Phd. from Purdue University
- Law degree from Stanford University
- Law degree from Duke University.
- One speaks French, Portuguese and Spanish in addition to his native English (Neal Anderson)
- MBA from Brigham Young University (Thomas S. Monson)
What Does It Mean to Be Well-Educated?
By Alfie Kohn
“No one should offer pronouncements about what it means to be well-educated without meeting my wife. When I met Alisa, she was at Harvard, putting the finishing touches on her doctoral dissertation in anthropology. A year later, having spent her entire life in school, she decided to do the only logical thing . . . and apply to medical school. Today she is a practicing physician -- and an excellent one at that, judging by feedback from her patients and colleagues.
She will, however, freeze up if you ask her what 8 times 7 is, because she never learned the multiplication table. And forget about grammar (“Me and him went over to her house today” is fairly typical) or literature (“Who’s Faulkner?”). After a dozen years, I continue to be impressed on a regular basis by the agility of her mind as well as by how much she doesn’t know. (I’m also bowled over by what a wonderful person she is, but that’s beside the point.)”
Source link: What Does It Mean to Be Well Educated?
So if education's true core isn't really spelling, grammar, and basic math facts, then what is???
Meet John Taylor Gatto:
- New York City Teacher of the Year four times
- New York State Teacher of the Year in 1991
- 30 years of classroom experience (7th-8th graders)
- A man with great courage and without guile; child-like yet highly intelligent
- An incredible mentor to youth
I heard him speak then purchased the audio talks at the North Carolina Home Educators Conference around 10 years ago on these two topics :
- Secrets of Private Elite Boarding Schools (Leadership Schools vs. Govt. Schools)
- What Kids are Capable of When We Open our Eyes (told true stories of his students & other young people who achieved remarkable feats.)
He takes an approach that many seem to refer to as "un-schooling", but I believe a more accurate description is: "Agency Education" which includes accountability and wise guides/mentors.
In my humble opinion, John Taylor Gatto exemplifies the following quote in his work with youth:
“I believe that this gift of discernment when highly developed arises largely out of an acute sensitivity to impressions--spiritual impressions, if you will--to read under the surface as it were, to detect hidden evil, and more importantly to find the good that may be concealed. The highest type of discernment is that which perceives in others and uncovers for them their better natures, the good inherent within them...” (David A. Bednar quoting Stephen L. Richards, “Increase in Learning”, p. 58)
The Secrets to John Taylor Gatto's Success?
- He told us how prior to winning these achievements he began to wonder how the wealthiest, most-powerful people educated their children and then he proceeded to research the methods used in our nations private-elite boarding schools.
- He was amazed to find out the techniques and principles used were inexpensive and things that ANYONE could apply, including himself.
- The results he would get, even from the poorest ghettos of the U.S., were so spectacular that even he was blown away!
He also pointed out that in the 2000 presidential election four of the six candidates had come from one of these private-elite boarding schools which only graduate about 1,000 students/year. And as it turns out, Mitt Romney also attended one. :-)
What did he discover in his research?
He found each of these schools had 14-core common themes, though each school operates differently in many other respects.
Source link: http://www.awakenedamerican.com/content/john-taylor-gatto-explains-secrets-elite-boarding-school-education
1. No child should graduate without A THEORY OF HUMAN NATURE, or an understanding of what makes people tick. What buttons do you press to get the results you want? They gain this theory through the study of history, philosophy, literature, theology, and law, NOT psychology!
[We LOVE Liahona distance-ed. for history (5th-12th grade)! The Robinson Curriculum booklist and TJed booklists are great resources, but the possibilities are are everywhere when we open our eyes!]
2. Writing & Public Speaking--they MUST be able to do these two things very well. Offer your children regular opportunities to speak before strangers. To write well they must do it every day or regularly. The simple practice of doing it is powerful.
[Journal writing and the Robinson Curriculum does this very well (we don't do Robinson six days, however.) SPEAKING: Our family gets the chance to speak in front of strangers when we minister to people at a local abortion clinic while doing community service.]
3. They MUST have insight into the major institutions like courts, corporations and the military, including details of the ideas that drive them. Government schools fall very short of this: not taught how to speak mind clearly or give good arguments--it would lead to much more effective dissent--however, this is what America was founded on! Government schools don't teach an understanding of the inner-workings of our institutions!
4. Repeated exercises in the forms of GOOD MANNERS & POLITENESS : not touched in public schools. This is based on the utter truth that politeness and civility are the basis of all future relationships, alliances, access to places you might want to go. This is the complete opposite of what goes on in the public schools. "Now don't just tell me that's common sense because every public school I've ever been in, and I've been in hundreds, is a laboratory of rudeness, cruelty, sloppiness, coarseness."-John Taylor Gatto
5. INDEPENDENT WORK; in pub. schools teachers are responsible for filling 80-90% of students time one way or another, and all the choices are the teachers. In the private boarding school that ratio is ideally reversed. They're expected to DO most of the work and to be resourceful enough to use the work of other kids too.
[They are required to ACT rather than to always be ACTED UPON--This is a huge emphasis in Elder Bednar's new book! This is also a core principle in the Robinson Curriculum.]
6. Energetic PHYSICAL SPORTS aren't a luxury or a way to blow off steam, but absolutely the only way to confer grace on the human presence. "And if that grace translates into power or to money later on, so be it." George Washington stated that two things made his physical presence outstanding and were deliberately selected: horse-back riding and ballroom dancing. They conferred a commanding physical presence on the person who could do those things well. Sports also teach you practice in handling pain which occur in emergencies.
[Horse-back riding and ballroom dancing are both very expensive activities today, but ballet dancer's always have great posture and poise I've noticed. T-Tapp dvd’s greatly help me out personally with my health and spinal alignment. When I do them, of course...:-)]
7. A COMPLETE THEORY OF ACCESS TO ANY PERSON OR ANY PLACE: Far better than reading a civics textbook. He would challenge his students to get a private meeting with the mayor of a big city, the governor, CEO's (his students got access to all these people, CEO's beyond count.)
[He taught them about dress, poise, manners etc. to help gain this access.]
8. RESPONSIBILITY as an utter part of the curriculum. That includes things like washing dishes, but also things like caring for a horse, to take on some important community service, to go for leadership in clubs; it's easier than you think because it's a lot of hard work to be a responsible leader of a club that's actually doing something. They're taught to always grab for responsibility when it's offered and to always deliver more than is asked for.
[Neal Anderson said he grew up working on the family farm from morning till night in his bio. Many, many of our church leaders had this type of responsibility while growing up! I can think of a number who lost their father's early in life so they were forced to take on responsibility while young. For example: Joseph F. Smith, Brigham Young, Dallin H. Oaks....]
9. ARRIVAL AT A PERSONAL CODE OF STANDARDS IN PRODUCTION (work), BEHAVIOR, & MORALITY-- a long range goal, but one that needs to be checked regularly. You don't really ever quite get there, but always aiming for your personal best is emphasized.
[Think of Steven Covey's "sharpening the saw" analogy from his "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" book.]
10. FAMILIARITY WITH THE MASTER CREATIONS OF MUSIC, OF ART, DESIGN, PAINTING, ARCHITECTURE, SCULPTURE, LITERATURE, & DRAMA. To be at ease with the arts, because apart from religion the arts are the only way to transcend the animal materiality in our lives--to get in touch with the bigger you.
[I LOVE this, of course, being the mother of a musical artist! But it is just SO true! When you hear inspired music, read inspired literature, watch inspired performances, or see inspired artwork it is FAR easier to feel closer to our Heavenly Father!]
11. THE POWER OF ACCURATE OBSERVATION & RECORDING. Example: In the British upper classes, if you could not draw what you saw with your eye you did not see what was in fact there. Drawing was expected not as a way to pass time but a way to sharpen the perception. Example: Charles Darwin's drawings -- how far would the theory of evolution gone without his drawings?
[He recommended the book "Drawing on the Right Side of Your Brain" in one of his talks. I also love the book "Drawing with Children" and have used it with great results.]
12. The ability to DEAL WITH CHALLENGES of all sorts: Everyone's challenges are so different-- you must KNOW your son or daughter in order to help strengthen them. For example, if your child is painfully shy, obviously public presentation is the corrective that they need rather than live that way the rest of their lives. Perhaps all of us are cowards on some level, but it's vital to find out that physical/emotional/mental/spiritual challenges can be met...and if they hurt, we find out not as much as we perhaps feared and we end up with personal GROWTH. Teach your child if they get knocked down to stand back up, and if they get knocked down again, to stand back up again! But challenges are different for different people.
13. A HABIT IN CAUTION IN REASONING TO CONCLUSIONS: listening to or watching propaganda for hours is not the way to find answers! They were told to form the opinions only after very careful study, pondering, etc.
[This is certainly not something I was ever taught in school! But what a difference this one principle alone could make in the lives of youth!]
14. THE CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF JUDGEMENT; you keep an eye on your predictions to see how accurate or how consistent things are.
[Refer back to the discernment quote above from Elder Bednar's book. I think his entire book, if carefully pondered and studied, could develop this ability in remarkable ways. What better guide and tool of judgement could we encourage our children to use or have than the gift of the Holy Ghost?]
"Now this is a curriculum well worth considering long and hard."
~John Taylor Gatto
But what about early childhood?
• A Key Book: Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore’s: A Successful Homeschool Family Handbook
- Based on solid legitimate, educational research, NOT on "trendy parenting" or popular culture.
- Required reading in Charlotte, NC’s largest home schooling group (HINTS)
- Teaches a balanced program of work, study & service (in the home and out-side the home as children grow). They call this combination "The Moore Formula".
- Teaches that a secret to creating genius is warm, loving, nurturing parental responses to children.
Example: Francis Sellers Collins, is an American physician-geneticist, noted for his discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the Human Genome Project (HGP). He became recognized as one of the most important and talented figures in the field of medical genetics. His early education certainly fit within the principles laid out by The Moore Formula: He was raised on a farm in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley,and home-schooled by his mother until the sixth grade with his three older brothers. It’s reported by John Taylor Gatto that they would all vote to decide what subject they were going to study together, with only one rule: as soon as they got uninterested they had to choose another subject!
Example: "Homeschooling for Excellence" by David & Micki Colfax, tells of their educational journey while homesteading just about 20 miles up the road from my childhood home in Ukiah, California. They also applied the Moore Formula (though they didn't call it that.) Three of their four sons attended Harvard on full-tuition genetic science scholarships--the fourth went to a top culinary school in San Francisco. They learned first-hand about genetics while breeding animals on their homestead. They also found the chance to read books a great relief from all their physical, hard work. Nobody forced or bribed them to learn! (They also didn't have a TV set.) When young people have experiences that back up their book-learning, everything comes alive, interesting and far more meaningful! Is this not just "common sense" though? What has happened to most parent's "common sense" when it comes to educating children? In most cases it seems to have been trained right out of us with all of our schooling!
Parting thoughts/quotes that will help improve LEARNING & PEACE in your family:
"...Researchers concluded that what seems universal in people who have excelled in their chosen profession is that they felt an 'underlying, love, respect and honesty from their families.' Those character traits seem to be the critical common elements that run through the family histories of those who have attained eminence in society. But they are also the character traits of parents who have children who become happy and successful and productive in all walks of life." ("The Power of Play" by Dr. David Elkind p.186-187)
"… You cannot drive people to do things which are right, but you can love them into doing them, IF your example is of such a character that they can SEE you mean what you say."
~President George Albert Smith
"We can guide, direct, and prune a tender sprout, and it inclines to our direction, if it is wisely and skillfully applied. So, if we surround a child with healthy and salutary influences, give him suitable instructions and store his mind with truthful traditions, maybe that will direct his feet in the way of life." (Discourses of Brigham Young, 209)
"You see, hear and witness a good deal of contention among children—some of you do, if not all—and I will give you a few words with regard to your future lives, that you may have children that are not contentious, not quarrelsome. Always be good-natured yourselves, is the first step. Never allow yourselves to become out of temper and get fretful. … They have so much vitality in them that their bones fairly ache with strength. They have such an amount of vitality—life, strength and activity, that they must dispose of them; and the young ones will contend with each other. Do not be out of temper yourselves. Always sympathize with them and soothe them. Be mild and pleasant."
(Discourses of Brigham Young, 209–10)
“One of the great discoveries of parenthood is that we learn far more about what really matters from our children than we ever did from our parents. We come to recognize the truth in Isaiah’s prophecy that ‘a little child shall lead them.’”
(Elder Boyd K. Packer, April 2012 Conference Report)
“An increased yearning to learn is one of the important spiritual effects that grows out of putting off ‘the natural man...’”
~Elder David A. Bednar
“The Spirit of the Lord is the only true and trustworthy teacher who can 'teach us all things, and bring all things to our remembrance', and kindle within us an abiding love of and for learning."
~David A. Bednar (Increase in Learning, p.19)
(See my post for tips on “Ways to Invite the Spirit” based on Gene R. Cook’s book “Raising Up a Family to the Lord”)
“From failure you learn, success, not so much.”
~Meet the Robinson’s, movie
~Meet the Robinson’s, movie
“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious...and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” ~Walt Disney (also describes Gatto)
The Bible says “fear not” over 360 times! Let's educate and raise our children in a spirit of FAITH, rather than worry and fear. You can do it!
The Bible says “fear not” over 360 times! Let's educate and raise our children in a spirit of FAITH, rather than worry and fear. You can do it!
"Go Forward in Faith."
~President Gordon B. Hinckley's biography title
Labels:inspiration, organizing, health,
community service,
education,
home schooling
Monday, May 14, 2012
Wedding Pictures and LDS Home Educator's Conference!
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April 26, 2012, Kristine and Kirk's wedding day on Temple Square! |
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With the younger siblings and Kirk's cute nieces and nephews, just after Kristine & Kirk exited the temple. |
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Jason was sick the day of the wedding so we took this the first Sunday we were home! |
So we arrived home less than two weeks ago in our RV from Kristine's wedding and we are off again in the morning (just me with the children this time--Tony obviously isn't able to take more time off after our two week expedition!) to Fredericksburg, VA. My children 12 years and up will be attending the youth class for three days and I will be finding things to do with my five youngest children and teaching a one hour classes (Thursday @ 4 p.m.) and a 10 minute portion of a class in the New Beginner's seminar Wednesday morning.
I have been deeply inspired in all of my LEARNING for this conference and felt much guidance through the spirit. I will include more details in the near future, plus at least an outline of my entire talk. Now my prayer is that I can relax a bit and share the knowledge in an effective and inspiring way! (This will be recorded so, believe me I've been working very hard and having a great time reviewing books I read in my early days of homeschooling, plus more recent, excellent ones, etc.!)
Here is the info from the site (www.ldshe.org):
Presenter:
Karolyn and her husband Tony have been married for over two decades and have been homeschooling since the birth of their first daughter in 1991. They now have ten children, five daughters and five sons, and live on ten acres in beautiful North Carolina. Their oldest daughter, recently married, is a senior attending Brigham Young University (Provo) on full-tuition academic scholarship. Their 18 year old son has completed two years of college, including receiving a music scholarship to Utah State University, and is now preparing for his mission this Fall. In observing her children's successes in many various aspects of their lives, Karolyn is convinced more than ever of the tremendous gift of homeschooling for families and individuals when done "by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned" (see Doctrine and Covenants 121:39-44). She is still learning and struggling to bring up her children in light and truth but trusts in the words of a prophet who said: "In terms of your happiness, in terms of the matters that make you proud or sad, nothing--I repeat, nothing--will have so profound an effect on you as the way your children turn out."~ (President Gordon B. Hinckley) When Karolyn has a little "spare" time she also enjoys writing, reading, learning about natural health and just having fun with her family and friends.
Let's Look at the Big Picture of Learning!
Home Education Conference--Mentor Mom
We belong to a church that takes the idea of LEARNING very seriously! Just look at the list of formal academic achievements of our highest leader's (Council of the Twelve and 1st Presidency) and you will find a long list of advanced, rigorous degrees from Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Purdue, George Washington U., Duke, Brigham Young U. (of course!), the U of Utah, Utah State, etc., etc. No wonder so many friends at church seek to start "serious" academics for their very young children and think "I could never do this at home!" But just what are the true, underlying principles at play here? Have most of us ever looked at serious and legitimate research about learning and education?
Through her experiences in raising a large family and much study Karolyn has learned some profound truths about how to help children and youth lay a strong foundation for their future opportunities in the world and in life.
Through her experiences in raising a large family and much study Karolyn has learned some profound truths about how to help children and youth lay a strong foundation for their future opportunities in the world and in life.
Reflections on Homeschooling
Beginners' Seminar
Does homeschooling really work? Will my kids turn out okay? How will this affect our family? Misty Foxley, Dana Wood and Karolyn Butler are moms with homeschool “graduates.” They will share their stories on how homeschooling has blessed their families.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
"Required Curriculum": Turning Point
The POWER of how just ONE individual, group of individuals, or even ONE FAMILY going about doing good can make the world a far better place--people who have found great COURAGE to look deep into their hearts, to use their own simple, unique, God-given gifts, talents and abilities to unselfishly bless those who so desperately need those blessings!
Labels:inspiration, organizing, health,
community service,
education
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