Donna's Journey

> Our home has gone back to the Daily Dozen and Simple Things lists. They have helped us get on track…Now that my son is nearing High school, my question is this: I let him chose his topics of study, and the books we use, how much direction or assistance do you give?

What are his hopes and aspirations for his future? If he is not ready for that yet, talk to him about what interests him now. Take strides to expose him to possibilities. Do you do family reading? Read about interesting people. Look for inspiring current events and articles. They do exist!

If he is interested in an area: What kind of preparations are needed? Where is he now? Let him create a plan to get there. Ask him what he needs from you to assist in that journey. He gets to plan, commit, do and return and report.

> How do you record the progress for transcripts for college?

I created a Personal Scholar portfolio for my young scholars and adult scholars in my cyber cottage school- Moor House Academy. It is a way to set learning goal-getters, make scholar contracts, and track progress. It also includes a process for experiments whether they be natural science, social, or spiritual and this is tied to discovering eternal principles.

For youth about junior high school age, there are scholar projects, as well. These are where one goes in depth and breadth within an area of learning. I have three available:
The Joseph Smith Independent Scholar- This is an where the student designs his own project an an area of interest.
Ezra Taft Benson Constitutional Scholar- Studies in American Government
Gordon B. Hinckley Gospel Scholar- In depth advanced religious studies scholar project.
(Brigham Young Cultured Scholar, Bezaleel Fine Arts Scholar, Eliza R. Snow Literature Scholar, Spencer W. Kimball Shakespearean Scholar, John A. Widtsoe Math-Science Scholar– Coming Soon!)
Each project requires:
* 3- 5 Classic readings or study of classic works related to the topic of study
* Memory work and recitations
* Technical vocabulary related to the area of study
* Attendance at events related to the Young Scholar’s chosen area of study
* Annotated Notes
* A written paper summarizing the project
* A 15-minute live presentation to other youths or families. Which for some would include a recital, one-man show, demonstration, or a lecture sharing what was learned
* Oral Board. For those using my cottage school the oral board is through Moor House Academy

Projects are a great way to go into depth in an area. Projects are great for youth junior high age. However, once they get older they will need a more broad and deep approach.
I would also suggest that they read the following books that demonstrate how youth sought and obtained a broad education for life and how that education served them.
1. Read
- Diary of an a Wandering Man by Louis L’amour
- Carry On Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
- The Real Thomas Jefferson by Andrew Allison
2. Write down 3-10 questions a chapter
3. Lead a colloquia with those questions

Then learn a way to study a subject:
1. Spend an hour or two doing a broad search on a topic of choice, on the internet or at the library
2. Make a time line of the subject
3. List of resources they plan to use
4. Study and annotate at least three resources
5. Prepare a presentation of the subject, create a notebook, or write and article on the subject.

Of course, some people would say just pick a text book on that subject. Textbooks are a survey of a subject but are no substitute for real study. Remember, textbooks are usually created by a committee, those committees usually have agendas and are from a limited, unified perspective. The above method will jump-start you into any subject. This will give the scholar ideas about micro studies, as well. Lets say the macro study was on the US Civil War. In creating the resource list and time line, the student became intrigued by Lincoln, Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Andersonville, or Gettysburg. The micro study could be on any of those. The macro gives breadth, micro brings depth. Sometimes a scholar will be inspired into doing several micro studies, based off the original macro study.

One last thought. No matter what field of interest, I feel that each child that graduates to adult life needs to have certain skills and knowledge for a whole life. Besides having developed character and values, I feel they should have developed the ability to:
* Convey their thoughts through clear writing
* Read, comprehend, question, and discuss ideas and current events
* Use and apply math for daily living, including understanding how statistics can be manipulated
* Act as a citizen- they should know the founding documents of American Government, the history behind them, and have the skills to participate in local to national government- caucuses, city council, school board. They need to understand how to use parliamentary procedure/ Robert’s Rules of Order. I feel that it is pathetic that most youth graduate from American Schools without an understanding of our form of government and how to participate effectively. They are left to feel that all they can do is vote, write letters, and go to protest rallies. Our power as citizens is magnified in the caucuses, city council, and school board meetings.
* Study any subject from macro to micro level
There are other important skills, but I feel these are foundational to them. Whether they decide to go on to a professional degree, go on to be an entrepreneur, work in skilled labor, and/or raise a family, I feel the above skills will serve them well.

I am grateful to love and be loved, to have a wonderful husband, children, grandchildren, and wonderful friends. My husband had eight ancestors on the Mayflower, mine did not come on the Mayflower, but arrived shortly thereafter. I am grateful that the Pilgrims gave up their socialistic ideas, because it was killing them. Socialism, even under the name of progressivism by any name would still smell the same, and would still fail. It may sound good to some people to get something for nothing, but in the end socialism always fails because there is no incentive to work and produce. May we learn their lesson, by studying what they did, and that we will choose not to make the same mistake.

A constitutional convention is the way some feel they can hold their representative’s feet to the proverbial fire. A constitutional convention is just what the enemies of the constitution want. They are betting that we are dumb enough to demand one, and they are pretty sure we are dumb enough to be manipulated by rhetoric into transforming the constitution into what they want and believe it is our idea, after all that is exactly what political facilitators are trained to do. I remember all too well the community meetings of the goals 2000. Trained facilitators came in and led group discussions to come up with the same conclusions in each state. Some were so close they were almost verbatim. We have a elected officials whom have taken an oath to defend the constitution, for many is is a document they have never studied. No wonder they violate it. Others are trained facilitators, trained in manipulating groups into arriving at a consensus that they think means one thing but actually means another.

The way we hold their feet to the fire is to get educated, then get actively involved in the process, from before the caucuses, selecting and supporting good candidates, through the election and during their term in office.

Actually, if we want to see powerful changes for the better we need to become familiar with the kind of government that our forefathers created, why they chose to do it this way, what they were protecting us from. We have to grow up and in many ways, we need to repent as a people from our covetousness.

What is America\'s True Form of Government?

We really need to be clear on the kind of government our founders gave us. The left wing/right wing government positions had nothing to do with America and dealt primarily with the French government. The right supporting the conservation of the Monarchy and the Left supporting the republic.

Our government was set up to be a republic and was specifically designed to protect us from the excesses and the power control of monarchies and oligarchies. I love the way this video shows where the role of the Constitution of the United States is.

The opposite of Oligarchy which is rule by an elite few (which includes all socialist, communist, and fascist governments) is anarchy, not the US Constitution. Anarchy is often a temporary state of affairs and is used as a lever by those who want to establish an oligarchy to cause upheaval and then offer themselves as the solution. Sounds like what happens when the mob sells protection and roughs up the clients so they will buy the protection. It also sound like the bad guys taking over Dodge and all the people allow it. Then someone convinces them that there are more towns people than there are bad guys. Then they drive the bad guys out of Dodge.

The US Constitution was designed to protect us from the abuses that can come when people have power given them. These abuses are the result of human nature untempered. So, the constitution is at the center, not the right.