Reality and utility...

This spring several op-ed pieces making the rounds have, almost apologetically, questioned the wisdom of abandoning liberal education in lieu of pursuing a STEM-centered one (see here and here for examples).

For those of us who pursue classical education as our vocation (and avocation), there is nothing new here.  But the problem goes, not surprisingly, much deeper than is possible in the pages of the Post.  As David Hicks put it:

"...When the analytical methods and denotative language of scientific rationalism are forced on human learning... behaviorism replac[es] humanism and a mood of professional disinterest supplant[s] the emotional atmosphere of the ancient classroom...the analytical method itself calls into question the utility and reality of such concepts as valor, while affirming that of the distributor cap..."
~David Hicks, Norms and Nobility, p.33

May we always, always, be emotionally attached to our students, and care for their souls.  And while it is important to describe and understand what is, may we never forget the importance of examining what ought to be.

Wednesday without words

Mesmerizing

There is something mesmerizing abut this delightful little song.  I had heard it on spotify, and then heard my sweet niece's lovely choir sing it (complete with hand jives) on Saturday. Had to find it this morning, and sing along a half-dozen times...

Winter White Hymnal (performed by Pentatonix)

Happy Mother's Day and Happy Birthday, Mom!

Thanks for the sleepless nights, tireless work, and love!

FBF: A wedding, 2 brothers and 2 cousins

Ben and Tim (on either end) with cousins Myka and Nathan at their Aunt Gwen's wedding.  She or someone else will have to supply the year, because I can't remember it-- mid- '90s maybe?  Myka is adorable, and the boys are quite dapper, don't you think, Gentle Reader?

Wednesday without words

"Our Song"?

I joked recently on facebook that when I was prompted to ask Dave what "our song" was, he replied, "It is not Death to Die?"  After a good laugh, I figured he had called it about right. But then I started feeling like it sounded too spiritual, and like we didn't have any trace of romance.  That is not really true.  And besides, in my own mind, I have always lived in a musical.  I had to have a better answer! So I started thinking back.

The winter that we became engaged, Dave was in grad school in Maryland, and I was living at home and going to college in Iowa.  During the dark winter of separation, the following song was the one I would have called "our song."



And not so long ago, we heard this one, learned it, and sing it and dance to it all the time. So for the last few years, I would say this is "our song".



All this to say, a healthy relationship changes over time, and so does "our song".  So glad to be dancing through the minefields of this life with my best friend, no matter what song we're singing.