Archive - Food and Leisure
February 12th, 2013
“These are the times that try men’s souls.....”
These words by Thomas Paine so many years ago continue to echo true to this day. Although we are not today engaged in a fight for our nation’s independence from a foreign power or on the brink of possible military defeat as we were when Paine wrote these words over 200 years ago, we still, nevertheless, today face many obstacles as a nation and as a people that continue to “try our souls.”
“If education is beaten by training, civilization dies.” C. S. Lewis
The fight at the Mississippi state capitol this legislative session has been the battle between the establishment progressive education system and the “education reform” laws that have been touted as the free-market answer to failing school districts.
Behind the political war, there is a greater battle that involves the minds and very souls of the children our lawmakers claim to be fighting for.
This is a war between education and training.
Mardi Gras is in full swing with its parades, beads, floats, king cakes and everything decked in purple and gold. The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation is having a pancake supper to celebrate Shrove or Fat Tuesday, February 12, at 6 p.m..
February 9th
Reports are surfacing that former Florida Governor Jeb Bush attempted to purchase the Miami Marlins from Jeff Loria.
I for one feel like this change could have made a real difference in Miami and the game of baseball.
Gov. Bush, a potential 2016 presidential candidate knows from his own brother’s experience that the path to the White House goes directly through a disheveled Major League Baseball team.
If Gov. Bush could have taken over this shambled franchise, he could have incorporated many of his education reform policies to bring the team up higher than its current F-Grade.
Several months ago I shared the angst of getting twin 15 year olds their learners permits. One of my life’s great regrets..They are sneaking up on their 16th birthday in March. 16 is the magic age for an intermediate license. It was not supposed to come this soon. Kenny keeps telling them they are only ten but I don’t think they are buying it.
Now, they want to drive. In town. On the streets where other cars are. This is not good. I abdicated teaching them to drive to Kenny. They scare me.
February 7th
The West Point Civitan Luncheon Club warmly welcomed former Chancery Clerk, Robbie Robinson to speak at Wednesday’s meeting. Robinson was the special guest of Rev. Kelly Unger. Unger shared a bit of early history by telling a story about how his father, Rev. Unger, married the parents of Robbie Robinson. February is Clergy month and Robinson wanted to share a true story of World War II. He is a great lover of history and especially the time during the second world war.
February 6th
February 5th
Every 23 seconds a student drops out of school. The group with Go Hard Mississippi, a drop out preventative program want to change that, at least in Mississippi schools. Aldric Beal of Newton, and a graduate of Newton High School, has been with the program for two years and wants to get teens excited about staying in school.
“We want to interact with the kids and have fun,” said Beal. “We try to throw in a few life lessons and hope the message will stick with them. They need to stay in school and prepare for their future. I hope a few of them get that.”
It is often said that “children are our most valuable resources.”
If that is coming out of a parent’s mouth, it is probably meant with the best of intentions.
If those are the words of a politician or a political change agent, the meaning is likely entirely different.
While parents naturally see children as the next in line to take up the torch for the previous generation, politicians view kids as nothing more than human resources or pawns.
February 4th
District 36 candidate Jimmy Davidson lays out his plans for the area at the Legislative Breakfast on Monday. Check out www.dailytimesleader.com for a video snippet of his speech. Photo by Bryan Davis
