tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33473821816360947212024-03-20T05:12:24.330-07:00John Adams AcademyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-27870312608191943952013-08-19T12:14:00.001-07:002013-08-21T14:20:04.037-07:00Year Three - The Hero's Journey<!--[if !mso]>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3347382181636094721" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3347382181636094721" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3347382181636094721" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3347382181636094721" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3347382181636094721" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3347382181636094721" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3347382181636094721" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We were blessed this summer to
travel to Greece and walk in the footsteps of Atreus and Agamemnon at Mycenae,
the Oracles at Delphi, Pericles at the Acropolis, and so many other heroes of
history and legend. It was grand and
inspiring but we feel that what we are all engaged in here at John Adams
Academy is no less grand and inspiring, and truly a hero’s journey!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As we begin our third year let us
begin with hope and enthusiasm that we too might follow the pattern that can be
found in myths, stories, and legends. Like a rite of passage, our journey
requires that in our ordinary world we receive a call to adventure. We are
reluctant at first or even refuse the call, but are encouraged by a mentor to
cross the first threshold and enter the Special World, where we encounter
tests, allies, and enemies. We approach
the inmost cave (wouldn’t be JAA if we didn’t mention a cave!) crossing a
second threshold where we endure the ordeal.
We take possession of our reward and are pursued on the road back to the
Ordinary World. We cross the third
threshold, experience a resurrection, and are transformed by the
experience. We return with the elixir, a
boon or treasure to benefit the Ordinary World.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyczKq5TD7Tos6GiaiXAN_2yQ1eIi_XYbY8goXA_9pgom9pg6U1KlOh8crjJQnRoEBm7Sv6LU1DxKiMSnMtd5dW8q0jr-9Gc-vdVv5WK8q9BYoJeR56rgE2EWgAiOPQvbvbNWKK0Xu8NXB/s1600/Untitled.pngdean+and+linda+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyczKq5TD7Tos6GiaiXAN_2yQ1eIi_XYbY8goXA_9pgom9pg6U1KlOh8crjJQnRoEBm7Sv6LU1DxKiMSnMtd5dW8q0jr-9Gc-vdVv5WK8q9BYoJeR56rgE2EWgAiOPQvbvbNWKK0Xu8NXB/s200/Untitled.pngdean+and+linda+3.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This pattern is not the invention
of the ancient storytellers. Myths are
metaphors for a process of growth and discovery and are a way to express the
highest of truths. As we discover and
apply these truths we can become heroes. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TQCQsfWX3xXGmuq6yFCH2tfXj33D_YQTWBRMw4SaEJA-V9jnDbGuckTx9gOlxdAHLi3_aqBLXmrODffFhCxpyoRO46tpNOdRLc4mS60HwTOpEnSMFkeY4h6NbpoMfNjmMDdfUa2GKdA7/s1600/Untitled.png+dean+and+linda+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TQCQsfWX3xXGmuq6yFCH2tfXj33D_YQTWBRMw4SaEJA-V9jnDbGuckTx9gOlxdAHLi3_aqBLXmrODffFhCxpyoRO46tpNOdRLc4mS60HwTOpEnSMFkeY4h6NbpoMfNjmMDdfUa2GKdA7/s200/Untitled.png+dean+and+linda+2.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Joseph Campbell, an American
scholar identified the phases of the hero’s journey. The journey is about growth and passage. The journey requires a separation from the
comfortable, known world, and an initiation into a new level of awareness,
skill, and responsibility, and then a return home. Each stage of the journey must be passed
successfully if the initiate is to become a hero.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOrgputbF1TtiULhW5E-OehR-bWD0OVHRczv-JX9wLZWLmToNQxPmIJhWWZ74wfKESlaN3XnmhKjtiwkreRM1L8OjBVIhKWJveStbkhai-1dNySfA1mNn8D5xHZ-EBfFY12mECv35d1cf/s1600/Untitled.png+dean+and+linda+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOrgputbF1TtiULhW5E-OehR-bWD0OVHRczv-JX9wLZWLmToNQxPmIJhWWZ74wfKESlaN3XnmhKjtiwkreRM1L8OjBVIhKWJveStbkhai-1dNySfA1mNn8D5xHZ-EBfFY12mECv35d1cf/s200/Untitled.png+dean+and+linda+5.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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According to Campbell, the hero
is someone who has given his life over to someone or something bigger than
himself. A hero is judged by the things he does and the way he reacts and
relates to people. His deeds must be
marked by a nobility of purpose, and he must be willing to risk his life for
his ideals.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For you returning you know what
you have given in this adventure greater than any single member. For those of you just joining us do not be
afraid. At the end of the journey great
heroes are made in ourselves as we achieve our mission to restore America’s
heritage and develop servant leaders!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During our trip to Greece this
summer our Greek tour guide shared her favorite poem with us. It is very appropriate to this theme and to
our current reading of Homer. As I read it ask yourselves what your “Ithaca” might
be in your journey of <b>becoming.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Ithaca</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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by Konstantinos Kavafis (1911)<o:p></o:p></div>
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As you set out for Ithaca<o:p></o:p></div>
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hope your road is a long one,<o:p></o:p></div>
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full of adventure, full of discovery.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Laistrygonians, Cyclops,<o:p></o:p></div>
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angry Poseidon - don't be afraid of them:<o:p></o:p></div>
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you' ll never find things like that on your way<o:p></o:p></div>
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as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,<o:p></o:p></div>
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as long as a rare excitement<o:p></o:p></div>
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stirs your spirit and your body.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Laistrygonians, Cyclops,<o:p></o:p></div>
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wild Poseidon - you won't encounter them<o:p></o:p></div>
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unless you bring them along inside your soul,<o:p></o:p></div>
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unless your soul sets them up in front of you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Hope your road is a long one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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May there be many summer mornings when,<o:p></o:p></div>
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with what pleasure, what joy,<o:p></o:p></div>
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you enter harbours you're seeing for the first time;<o:p></o:p></div>
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may you stop at Phoenician trading stations<o:p></o:p></div>
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to buy fine things,<o:p></o:p></div>
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mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,<o:p></o:p></div>
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sensual perfume of every kind -<o:p></o:p></div>
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as many sensual perfumes as you can;<o:p></o:p></div>
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and may you visit many Egyptian cities<o:p></o:p></div>
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to learn and go on learning from their scholars.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Keep Ithaca always in your mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Arriving there is what you're destined for.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But don't hurry the journey at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Better if it lasts for years,<o:p></o:p></div>
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so you're old by the time you reach the island,<o:p></o:p></div>
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wealthy with all you've gained on the way,<o:p></o:p></div>
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not expecting Ithaca to make you rich.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Ithaca gave you the marvelous journey.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Without her you wouldn't have set out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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She has nothing left to give you now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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And if you find her poor, Ithaca won't have fooled you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,<o:p></o:p></div>
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you'll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVblEwccGcwD_1M_5juhemdGnyXK3EFAgKLl-8FpU1xodYGOtBoExL-zNMhCooeo1dnm2QVIpKLD38qIhePUjEUEhFEou76xa93oIuHPpTencsYLQR2nPXiw6P1knVVYRnL2YeckagW1n/s1600/Untitled.png+ithaca.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVblEwccGcwD_1M_5juhemdGnyXK3EFAgKLl-8FpU1xodYGOtBoExL-zNMhCooeo1dnm2QVIpKLD38qIhePUjEUEhFEou76xa93oIuHPpTencsYLQR2nPXiw6P1knVVYRnL2YeckagW1n/s200/Untitled.png+ithaca.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Jockey
of Artemision is a large Hellenistic bronze statue of a young boy riding a
horse, dated to c.140BC but possibly as early as 200BC. It is a rare surviving
original bronze statue from Ancient Greece, particularly the Hellenistic
period. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Some
parts are missing, such as the rider's whip and reins, and the horse's bridle.
The image of the goddess Nike is engraved on the horse's right thigh, holding a
wreath in raised hands. After seeing
hundreds of statues and monuments this was our personal favorite and a fitting
symbol of our hero’s journey here at John Adams Academy. We will continue to leap forward, hardly contained,
our scholars unafraid to go forth and change the world.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
express our gratitude to each of you and our confidence in our individual and
collective hero’s journey this new year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dean
and Linda Forman<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i>Founders of John Adams Academy</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-66600523852216820702013-07-18T12:19:00.001-07:002013-07-18T12:19:36.652-07:00What is Man?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5fawaSRdzxO-v_9bi4rhwoJtWRPIAOh8ccS0ZMnluIaqJIVVi8F80m1qBL0R71z-4-eIXhm_8ZbET9nevr43Nu5ECdeD6aFx5jI9NLcMgkOgNRMTNYyDUHysjIEqC3aHhjjS3bLACFOq/s1600/whatisman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5fawaSRdzxO-v_9bi4rhwoJtWRPIAOh8ccS0ZMnluIaqJIVVi8F80m1qBL0R71z-4-eIXhm_8ZbET9nevr43Nu5ECdeD6aFx5jI9NLcMgkOgNRMTNYyDUHysjIEqC3aHhjjS3bLACFOq/s200/whatisman.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What is Man?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">By Norman Gonzales<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As
we go through life we constantly strive to make ourselves better, to improve
upon the knowledge and virtue that we brought with us the day before. As parents we seek to have our children
accomplish greater feats and to rise to greater heights than we were able to in
our lifetimes. For those of us at John Adams Academy, we strive to develop
servant leaders and to “inspire” our scholars to become lifelong learners who
excel in their pursuits, to unlock the genius within every child. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Integrating
classics into our curriculum is one way that we do this. Socratic dialogue is
another. Classics contain and reveal
time worthy values and ideas that can inspire, enrich and entertain. They can also challenge and test. Sometimes they force us to re-evaluate our
positions, or ponder our previously held beliefs. Socratic discussions regarding these texts
can engage scholars, teachers, and parents alike.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">One
such classic is a work by Mark Twain called “What is man?” This essay by Twain melds the two avenues I
mentioned; genuinely rich and weighty concepts written in the form of a
dialogue. As I read this essay it was reminiscent of Plato’s works in which he
delves into the topics through conversations of the characters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">It
is set up this way:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“[The Old Man and the Young Man had been
conversing. The Old Man had asserted that the human being is merely a machine,
and nothing more. The Young Man objected, and asked him to go into particulars
and furnish his reasons for his position.]”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">After
a brief conversation between the two men regarding how a machine of steel is
created and operates they arrive from that analogy to their discussion of man. This provides the first hard idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“<b>Young Man:</b>
You have arrived at man, now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Old Man:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"> Yes. Man the
machine—man the impersonal engine. Whatsoever a man is, is due to his <i>make</i>,
and to the <i>influences</i> brought to bear upon it by his heredities, his
habitat, his associations. He is moved, directed, COMMANDED, by <i>exterior</i>
influences—<i>solely</i>. He <i>originates</i> nothing, not even a thought.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
next hard idea is that every action of man is motivated by an impulse for self
preservation and comfort, or in other words “securing his own approval.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“<b>Old Man:</b>
Yes. This is the law, keep it in your mind. <i>From his cradle to his grave a
man never does a single thing which has any</i> FIRST AND FOREMOST <i>object</i>
<i>but one</i>—<i>to secure peace of mind, spiritual comfort</i>, <i>for</i>
HIMSELF.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
young man tries admirably, but never quite completely to overthrow the old
man’s propositions. Through the cordial
and prolonged interplay between the Old Man and the Young, Twain brings into
the discussion topics of temperament, creation, virtue, goodness, free
will. At first these arguments and
positions are shocking, maybe even appearing offensive to some, but are we to
be offended when our positions are challenged.
Does the challenge provide us the opportunity to strengthen and steel
our resolve? Do we ever really grow or
improve our knowledge and virtue if we refrain from exercising the intellectual
muscles of reflection and debate? For
example, assuming that the old man is correct and ‘Man’ has no ability for
thought or reason for moving that isn’t derived from an outside force, then
there must be something outside of man, outside of creation with independent
thought capable of moving man. Is this
an argument for divinity? If Man’s sole purpose for acting is to secure
personal satisfaction, then what does that mean for virtue, goodness and
character? Do we as teachers, mentors,
staff and board model the 10 core values? If so, do we because of an internal,
privately virtuous motive, or as Twain would argue, because of an internal
selfish one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
classic introduces the topics and allows for their discussion. It also forces us to reflect and review our
own positions and choices. In the end after reading this essay and debating its
merits, Twain would argue that this essay, not our own initiative, was the
outside force which compelled us to do so. What do you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><i>Norman Gonzales sits on the Board of Directors for John Adams Academy. This was taken from the July 2013 board meeting thought of the day.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><i>As always, we welcome your thoughts and comments.</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-30368287603741715142013-07-01T17:11:00.001-07:002013-07-03T12:08:09.513-07:00The Gift of Independence, a Priceless Heirloom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-M6jDR4cp1pUC0G_4GQl2KbzZHDdPGUw_TEm5NgN068eMv7MlVYNIE33Fiu0f3Zp99ET3WW4xqeuoB5pBnlndBfwvAwPR8vsy9ssGw9PLaCcxRca0A2e3v8o7s-QH2DkfyZhy7FawTem/s680/20113714026398876_20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-M6jDR4cp1pUC0G_4GQl2KbzZHDdPGUw_TEm5NgN068eMv7MlVYNIE33Fiu0f3Zp99ET3WW4xqeuoB5pBnlndBfwvAwPR8vsy9ssGw9PLaCcxRca0A2e3v8o7s-QH2DkfyZhy7FawTem/s200/20113714026398876_20.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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John Adams Academy is preparing future leaders and statesmen</div>
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through principle-based education. Our long-range vision is that this organization</div>
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will be a model for the future of public education.</div>
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Below is a speech, given by one of our 8th grade scholars at this year's 2013, 8th Grade Promotion. </div>
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Troy exemplifies what it means to be a "Servant Leader, and one who is Restoring America's Heritage."</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Greetings,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>I will start by saying
that I have experienced a great sense of independence in two short years at
John Adams Academy. This sense has given way to a larger sense of
accomplishment, which I’m sure many of you have felt too.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>However, as we all have
noted, independence comes with the cost of increased responsibility. This is
nothing new, as many of the travelers following the path of independence have
paid this toll. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Among the travelers
were our country’s founding fathers, blazing a rough trail through times of
instability and uncertainty. With such
bleak odds, the dream of a free nation was kept alive with the promise of
independence. Through years of war and dire times the dream didn’t die, and
even today, nearly three centuries later, the dream is now been made into a
responsibility and a priceless heirloom. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>But this priceless
heirloom that has been passed down ever since this nation has existed is far
from inactive and archaic. Every day when we make our independent thoughts or
do something as seemingly minuscule as pursuing studies, we are using that
heirloom passed to us by those who came before us.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The class we are here
to celebrate for has reached a large milestone. The passing into high school
signifies a shift to larger ideas and enterprises. As the school year unfolded,
and many of the students in this room were met with a plethora of challenges,
academically, socially and personally, one thing was in common with all of
these challenges. They all taught each one of us the valuable lessons and
skills we can apply to challenges yet to come. Every time we overcome a
challenge, we do our duty as inheritors of the gift of independence.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>So when things get
tough, or times seem dire, just know that you weren’t the first to traverse the
rough terrain encountered, and you are not the first to reap the many benefits.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Troy G.<br />
Class of 2017<o:p></o:p></i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Troy is going to be a 9th grade scholar this year here at John Adams Academy. This 2013-2014 school year marks our FIRST senior graduating class! Visit often to experience the amazing accomplishments John Adams Academy will experience this year. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>As always, we welcome your comments!</i><br />
<i>Jane Dildine</i><br />
<i>Director of Community Relations/Development Director</i><br />
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-88350768138788475462013-06-25T15:45:00.000-07:002013-06-25T15:48:19.175-07:00Classical Schools are putting Plato before the iPad.<br />
<div class="field field-name-field-source field-type-link-field field-label-hidden" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; height: 1em; line-height: 13px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item even">
CNN</div>
</div>
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhmRbhkNcYOj1J81bTQ1jNIx3-95-a-UtGv8drAXqGSC3u4O6Hi2OzMVw-I24AKYmEpF52gsSpb92nj7VnZGqxDM8N4nK3ele6wnq9Cig9tYMjT9Pe3VT2D8V1RuOR250bmu7CJOr47Y6/s1600/Classical-Education.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVhmRbhkNcYOj1J81bTQ1jNIx3-95-a-UtGv8drAXqGSC3u4O6Hi2OzMVw-I24AKYmEpF52gsSpb92nj7VnZGqxDM8N4nK3ele6wnq9Cig9tYMjT9Pe3VT2D8V1RuOR250bmu7CJOr47Y6/s1600/Classical-Education.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.2em; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.2em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.2em;">
In Maryland, a group of students ponder which depiction of the Nativity shows true beauty: A 14th-century Giotto, a 16th-century Barocci or a 20th-century William Congdon. The students are in seventh grade.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.2em;">
Outside Houston, second-graders learn Latin amid the Doric columns, Romanesque arches and the golden Renaissance hues of a gracious brick building.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.2em;">
And in West Tennessee, a first-grade classroom lists virtues - reverence, discipline, diligence and loving kindness - along with Aristotle's "four questions," a simplified version of the Greek philosopher's four causes.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.2em;">
The students attend some of several hundred “classical” schools around the country - institutions designed to reflect the scholarship from the past three millennia of Western civilization, rather than the latest classroom trends.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.2em;">
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<u><a href="http://schoolsofthought.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/21/classical-schools-put-plato-over-ipad/">Read More>></a></u><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-41121362629523684842013-06-20T15:06:00.001-07:002013-06-20T15:06:20.360-07:00Why should classics be used in the field of Science?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_oToxeBF_fiTRP44RzI5j3wJ199MBk4ZqA2ngtqHwxWcglrcEcnu75RlaXrhxhyphenhyphendP8t_OpDqwSNSR11AI4mWVfh7iiPxxd5ICIHialII_tUx61wNrjvyh4DUkd9hAbD2l719UtBvoPtt/s1600/albert-einstein-quotes-science-education.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_oToxeBF_fiTRP44RzI5j3wJ199MBk4ZqA2ngtqHwxWcglrcEcnu75RlaXrhxhyphenhyphendP8t_OpDqwSNSR11AI4mWVfh7iiPxxd5ICIHialII_tUx61wNrjvyh4DUkd9hAbD2l719UtBvoPtt/s200/albert-einstein-quotes-science-education.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<i> </i>When we think of "classic" literature, we by default contemplate their value in the disciplines of history, literature, and art in the field of education. However, to teach in the field of science using the classic model while using classical works and original source documents we need to first define what is "classical" in the field of science.</div>
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The classic approach to science is entrenched in the ability to think critically. When we attempt to define critical thinking we think of the characteristic of diligence that science represents, which is an important part of research. However, research and the connection to diligence, which are important traits in science, are all established on the quest for excellence through reason and rationale, which is the classical aspect of science. </div>
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The classical model of education uses the traditional values of Greek and Roman cultures and their cultural value placed on the importance of critical thinking in order to teach science. Classics in science represent the works of the finest thinkers that Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and many other disciplines within science can produce and contribute to our understanding of science in the natural world. </div>
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Examples of classics in science are Darwin (Natural Selection), Newton (Laws of Motion), Watson and Crick (DNA), Thompson and Rutherford (Atomic Theory), Democritus (The Atom), Galileo (Astronomy), De Vinci (Anatomy), Einstein (Physics), and Hubble (Astronomy). When the educator in science uses classic literature in the classroom in the form of original source documents, the scholar has the benefit of reading the "unfiltered" work from the individual. When the scholar in the classroom has the opportunity to read and process complex ideas, hypothesis, data, and research the scholar has been provided with an example of critical thinking which is in keeping with the current philosophy of "Classical Education" and the scholar has an example to follow regarding science. Which means a quality classic can help foster the growth of the individual through modeling and "mentoring" what it means to be a scientist of the highest quality.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-33244377405354377202013-05-13T18:45:00.000-07:002013-07-24T15:44:55.120-07:00Self-Governance, 10th Core Value!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><i>This was a letter written by Amy Evans, our Director of Communication. This letter is in response to the possible change of verbiage in one Core Value, and the addition of another Value, to make the total, 10 Core Values. </i></span></div>
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Please accept this Amicus Curiae for, or letter in support of, the proposal to change the ninth core value, currently stated as “Preserving a Culture of Greatness” to read “Building a Culture of Greatness” and to add an additional core value addressing Self Governance, Personal Responsibility and Accountability.</div>
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As new staff member at John Adams Academy, a supporter and parent of a scholar, I fully support the proposed changes. Being new to John Adams Academy I have spent much of the past school year trying to fully understand and internalize what the Academy stands for and will accomplish. For John Adams Academy, I have come to believe those answers center around three things; our motto, our core values and our emphasis on classical education through classical works and mentors. This proposal is important because it pertains to two of them; our motto and our core values.</div>
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In Lewis Carroll’s classic, <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>, the young girl, Alice, encounters the Cheshire Cat at a fork in the road. Being confused, she asks, “<i>Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?</i>” The cat replies, “<i>That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.</i>” That same wisdom applies to all of us when we encounter a choice, such as the decision to alter and add to our Academy’s core values. And so, the question becomes: Where do we hope to go (what do we hope to accomplish) at John Adams Academy? The answer, I believe lies in our motto: “Developing Servant Leaders and Restoring America’s Heritage.” With our focus on classics and mentors, we are likely to turn out great thinkers, which in itself is a worthy goal. However, great thinkers do not always become servant leaders and are not necessarily focused on restoring America’s Heritage. In fact, logic alone, no matter how perfectly followed, can only lead to conclusions as sound as the premise on which the logic is based. This is summed up in a statement by Mahatma Gandhi, <a href="http://www.quotesdaddy.com/quote/1020233/mahatma-gandhi/all-of-your-scholarship-all-your-study-of-shakespeare"><i>“All of your scholarship, all your study of Shakespeare and Wordsworth would be vain if at the same time you did not build your character and attain mastery over your thoughts and your actions</i>.”</a> At John Adams Academy, this is where our core values become the bridge. </div>
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In his book “<i>The Passion of the Western Mind</i>”, author Richard Tarnas laments that when Copernicus discovered that the earth was not the fixed center of the universe, and that the movements of the heavens could be explained in terms of the movements of the observer, man also came to see that he was not the center of the world, and his objectivity was inseparably colored by his own unconscious condition. Because of this, according to Tarnas, modern thought has accepted that there can be no objective truth or correct viewpoint, effectively cutting man loose from the anchor of truth. This lack of an anchor has had a profound effect on our society as a whole as many have rejected principles and virtues whose value has been proven throughout history. A classical leadership education re-acquaints us with those proven concepts and our core values serve to provide the anchor we need to accomplish our goals. <span style="color: black;">Each of our core values is a statement of an underlying principle or virtue required to truly develop servant leaders and restore America’s heritage and our core values permeate all that we do at John Adams Academy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">As we approached our WASC accreditation this fall it is quite telling that as we, as an Academy, chose our Nine Core Values, rather than educational outcomes that would have been easier to quantify and measure, as our Schoolwide Learning Results (SLRs). Then, throughout the process of our application and the following site visit, teachers demonstrated how completely these values are woven through all that we teach. At John Adams Academy t</span>he core values, prominently displayed in every classroom, provide the lens through which lessons are viewed. As scholars proceed through their education (as their genius is drawn out) the core values provide the framework for analyzing literature, for understanding history, for learning from experiences and for discussions in the classrooms. As teachers present a story or a concept they are able to turn and point to our core values to direct scholar’s attention and focus them on those foundational principles. </div>
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As you know, our ninth core value was mis-printed from the original “Maintaining a Culture of Greatness” to read instead “Preserving a Culture of Greatness”. While we could simply re-print our materials to return to the original, this printing mistake gives us the opportunity to assess our current condition to ask if this is the best statement for our time. And so, which wording best fits: preserving, maintaining or building? In order to “preserve” or “maintain” something, it must currently exist. And does it? In reading the Declaration of Independence again earlier this year I was struck again with the opening phrase penned by Thomas Jefferson, “<i>We hold these truths to be self evident</i>…” The phrase is followed by “….<i>that </i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_men_are_created_equal%22%20%5Co%20%22All%20men%20are%20created%20equal"><span style="color: #290097;"><i>all men are created equal</i></span></a><i>, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain </i><span style="color: #225993;"><i>unalienable Rights</i></span><i>, that among these are </i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life,_liberty_and_the_pursuit_of_happiness%22%20%5Co%20%22Life,%20liberty%20and%20the%20pursuit%20of%20happiness"><span style="color: #290097;"><i>Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness</i></span></a>”. This has been called the best known sentence in America, but I would argue that many who quote it have forgotten its meaning. In fact, last fall as I listened to presidential debates, political pundits, the media, everyday people and even the presidential candidates themselves, I found very little evidence that these truths are self evident today. Closer to home, in the California State Legislature, there seems to be a theme emerging in much of the proposed legislation; the theme that government is better suited to dictate the choices of individuals, parents, schools, businesses and our communities than the people themselves. </div>
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The proposed intrusions into personal liberties and the ability to self-direct are astounding, as is the profound silence and apathy toward them by Americans and by Californians. At the school level, as I pondered writing this letter of support, my son, a junior at a local High School, came home frustrated over a “debate” held in his history class over burning the American flag as a form of protest. What frustrated him was that while many students were vocal in their opposition to flag burning, their reason was simply that the many deaths of brave men and women have hallowed the flag (although those are not the words they chose to express their thoughts). While this is true, the expressions of violent responses toward any who would dare to question, the simple logic used to defend their stand and the labeling and demonizing that passed as “debate” proved to him that few understood or gave any head to the principles for which our flag stands and the symbol it should be. It appeared to him that the ideals our Founding Fathers fought for have been completely forgotten, and I would agree. As we take stock of our cultural condition, we need to acknowledge that John Adams Academy indeed needs now to “Build” or at least “Re-Build” a Culture of Greatness based on the original truths and principles that built this country, if we hope to restore America’s Heritage. </div>
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Two of those great principles that have quietly disappeared from our collective consciousness are the values of Personal Responsibility and Accountability, and both are essential to self governance and to our American Heritage. In observing through the presidential election, taking stock of the bills being considered by the California State Legislature, and listening to scholars and parents, it is obvious that in our time once again, a war is being waged to determine who should govern, and yet many seem so unaware of their part in it. It is disheartening and surprising that in less than 300 years we have lost the drive for the very goal our forefathers pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor: the right to self govern. In so many cases it seems, Americans are willing to trade the power to create, and the responsibility it brings, for the shackles of victimhood and the futile resistance to the natural consequences of their actions. Those who support increasing regulation by government often base the continual stripping of freedom of choice for the individual on misdeeds and tragedies cause by a few. Rather than acknowledging those as rare cases, and exerting themselves to find better answers, many simply accept the rationale. </div>
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<span style="color: black;">Personal Responsibility and Accountability are the keys to inoculating against this logic and the continual erosion of choice it brings. </span>Steven Covey explained the basis of personal responsibility by saying, “<i>our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us</i>”. Personal responsibility is also the understanding that <span style="color: black;">every individual is responsible, meaning able to respond or to choose, for himself/herself AND is also obligated to act on those choices.</span> Personal responsibility, when truly understood, then unlocks the cage that allows men to move from the prison of victimhood into the freedom and power of creation. Personal responsibility means that we retain our freedom continually, and our actions are always our own. Once we accept <span style="color: black;">responsibility for our own thoughts, words, actions and character, we begin to recognize the opportunities presented in every situation. Personal responsibility also </span>provides the opportunity to stop resenting the effort required to improve and resisting natural laws and consequences, such as in the case of dress code, home study and other requirements, and to start directing our energy in support of those things we believe in and determine to be of worth.</div>
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Accountability is the second key to self governance. Just as a classical education needs to be paired with core values to develop a servant leader, personal responsibility needs accountability. Those who truly understand our ability to respond, or to be “responsible”, also must acknowledge that the results of our choices will be felt by others, as theirs will impact us. Our actions then help to create our own experiences, our community and society as well, and therefore we must be accountable to ourselves and to others for those choices and actions. The twin principles of Personal Responsibility and Accountability then become balances for each other. Together, these principles solve the dilemma of self interest by adding to what it is “our right” to do, the consideration of what is truly “right to do”. Gandhi summed up the importance of personal responsibility and accountability when he identified the roots of violence as <span style="color: black;">“….<i>Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice, Politics without principles</i>” and added, “<i>There are limits to self-indulgence, none to restraint.</i>”</span></div>
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Both of these principles, Personal Responsibility and Accountability, are essential to self governance and the ability to self govern is essential to developing servant leaders and restoring America’s heritage. Because these principles are essential, weaving these principles into our core values will be a powerful way to instill them in our scholars. <span style="color: #2d2d2d;">How powerful it would be to have “self-governance through personal responsibility and accountability” be one of those often seen, heard and reinforced, key foundations. </span></div>
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For example, in my son’s fourth grade class a mentor is working with the scholars to plan and design a community. The scholars have each constructed a home from recycled materials and together are considering community needs such as water treatment, parks and social structures. During the course of these lessons the subject of guns came up in discussion. Many scholars discussed the pros and cons of allowing guns in their community carefully, but a few took a less mature approach and the discussion digressed. The mentor then ended the discussion by determining that guns would not be allowed. In the hands of an insightful John Adams Academy teacher this example became on opportunity to discuss what happens when a few chose not to self-regulate and also how a community can respond to those situations. </div>
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Another example is with compliance with our dress code. Earlier this year an upper grade scholar was bragging to her classmates during study hall about the fact that she was “getting away” with wearing a sweatshirt with a logo on it to school in spite of the fact that at least one staff member seemed to look right at her. Because the study hall was in our Development Directors room, she overheard. While this may sound like an issue for enforcement alone, she took the time to engage the scholars in a Socratic dialogue about the dress code, compliance with it and the idea of personal responsibility and self governance. Later, the scholar sought out the Development Director to tell her what an impact her conversation had made and that she, the scholar, would be the one to ensure her dress met the requirements from then on. An issue of compliance and enforcement for one scholar is now an issue of personal responsibility and accountability instead.</div>
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<span style="color: black;">It is well known that we remember only a portion of what we hear, slightly more of what we see, and more still of what we do. Our core values provide this valuable reinforcement. </span>In both cases, and many others, staff members could point to our core value of self-governance through personal responsibility and accountability, to leave the scholars with a visual reminder that also connected to an earlier assembly and re-enforcement through their years at John Adams Academy. </div>
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As the members of the Board of Trustees for John Adams Academy, please vote to adopt the changes to our core values. Self governance is critical to the John Adams Academy goal of developing servant leaders and restoring America’s heritage. Personal responsibility and accountability are critical to self governance. Although they may relate to other core values, self governance through personal responsibility and accountability is both separate and distinct, and largely missing from our collective consciousness. By accepting the proposed changes to the core values we can recognize where we are, take action to reach our goal, and build a culture of greatness within our scholars and ourselves. Through our efforts we may indeed be able to say again, “<i>we hold these truths to be self evident…</i>” and know that we have done our part to ensure that they are. </div>
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<b><i>On May 9th, 2013, the Board of Directors voted to change the wording to "Building a Culture of Greatness and added the value, "Self-Governance, Personal Responsibility and Accountability". We now have 10 Core Values!</i></b></div>
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<i>Guest Blogger: Amy Evans, Director of Communications</i></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-23355785015996020332013-05-08T09:42:00.001-07:002013-05-08T09:46:06.489-07:00Beyond the Quill Fundraising Event<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Please join us for an evening of Excellence.</div>
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John Adams Academy presents our 1st Annual Fundraising Event.</div>
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Opportunities to donate, in areas that can immediately impact our school:</div>
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<li> Music Education Endowment</li>
<li> Visual and Preforming Arts Education Endowment</li>
<li> Latin Department Endowment</li>
<li> Science Department Endowment</li>
<li> Library Endowment</li>
<li> Inspiring Greatness "Speaker Series" Endowment</li>
<li> General Fund</li>
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We would be honored by your partnership in upholding our motto, </div>
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"Developing Servant Leaders~Restoring America's Heritage"</div>
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For more information on how you can help John Adams Academy, please contact Jane Dildine, Director of Community Relations</div>
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Development Director</div>
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jane.dildine@johnadamsacademy.com</div>
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<b><i>Join the Education Revolution Today!</i></b></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-22815663948211169832013-04-25T10:55:00.000-07:002013-04-25T10:55:32.081-07:00Who Am I?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckIM406zuTxuCYFpIUCSCygvqaJYD0Eee6GDV2A6aDkpSzz4CZ-V1KV8hlQTXvei05BvpCqm7iqUaTKmflzuCPvJWi7P9skyvvmw5tmlWRJefW4zBacMqHuicOaCkH2nV8hIKwuHbta7h/s1600/depositphotos_1427931-Crossroads-in-the-forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckIM406zuTxuCYFpIUCSCygvqaJYD0Eee6GDV2A6aDkpSzz4CZ-V1KV8hlQTXvei05BvpCqm7iqUaTKmflzuCPvJWi7P9skyvvmw5tmlWRJefW4zBacMqHuicOaCkH2nV8hIKwuHbta7h/s200/depositphotos_1427931-Crossroads-in-the-forest.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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The CrossRoads</div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Throughout
life, we often observe or read about examples of individuals confronted with a
difficult decision. More often than not, the right/correct decision is quite
clear, and can be reached without a lot of consideration or debate - especially
when you are looking at the situation from the outside in. However, there are
times that what we wish would be a simple choice, becomes a considerable moral
dilemma. In these difficult situations, the decisions we make escalate into
something much larger because the consequences of our actions or inactions,
will dramatically impact the well being of our life, or even the lives of others.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This
is why I love the classics (literature). This is why I love the classics being
used to foster leadership at John Adams Academy. The classics offer countless
examples of individuals coming to a crossroad in life – a crossroad that tests
the very foundation of who they are and what kind of character lies beneath
what everyone else sees on the surface. To highlight this point, I will draw
from two classics that present similar moral dilemma’s, and the outcome of each
– ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ and ‘Les Miserables’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In
the Count of Monte Cristo, we learn of a young lawyer… a rising star among the
government elite, the Deputy Procureur – M. de Villefort. This young Procurer
finds himself interviewing Edmond Dantes, a young sailor who is framed for
something he did not do (being a conspirator and supporter of the ousted dictator
Napoleon). As Edmond Dantes pleads his case, it is clear to Villefort that
Dantes is not guilty of the crime in which is accused of. To Villefort’s horror
however, upon further review of the evidence, he realizes who it is that is
actually guilty of the crime – his own father. As such, Villefort comes to a
crossroad and the decision is clear as to not only the correct legal path to
take, but the morally correct path as well. Thus, in the effort to preserve his
fathers safety, and more likely his own name and ability to maintain his
promising career, Villefort conceals the evidence against his father and allows
Edmond Dantes to spend the rest of his days in a gruesome prison for a crime he
did not commit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The
second example is that of Jean Valjean from the novel and popular musical Les
Miserables. Valjean spent many years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread to
feed his sister and nephew. Miraculously, through the grace of Priest, Valjean
finds a new life and becomes a prominent Mayor and owner of a company. However, his past is brought before him as another
man is being tried and accused under the name of none other than Jean Valjean.
The dilemma is clear and like Villefort, there is much at stake. The people
Valjean leads, the factory he runs and the workers he provides jobs to, and
perhaps most obvious, his own name and ability to live life in comfort and
peace stand in jeopardy. His agony is summed up with words from the song, “Who
Am I”:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>They
think that man is me!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Without
a second glance!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>That
stranger he has found<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>This
man could be my chance<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Why
should I save his hide?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Why
should I right this wrong?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>When
I have come so far<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>And
struggled for so long?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I
am the master of hundreds of workers,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>They
all look to me<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Can
I abandon them, how can they live if I am not free?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>If
I speak, they are condemned...<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>If
I stay silent, I am damned!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For
those of you who know both of the stories, Villefort chooses to avoid the
virtuous path of protecting the innocent, and Jean Valjean stands forth and
sacrifices everything to preserve the life of an innocent man – and lives the
next years of his life full of trial and hardship. In the end however, justice is served as
Villefort loses everything he once thought to preserve by condemning an
innocent man - including his sanity. Valjean however, knowing that he chose a
virtuous path, sees happiness in his final days and lives knowing that he
preserved his honor and kept his promise to God,. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We
will all have a crossroad of some kind in our lives - perhaps not quite the
same magnitude of Valjean and Villefort, but more likely a series of many small
moral dilemmas. It will however, be how we respond to these more trivial events
that will determine our character and define who we are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Perhaps
we will relive the words of John Valjean as trumpeted in the musical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Who
am I?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Can
I condemn this man to slavery?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Pretend
I do not feel his agony<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>This
innocent who wears my face<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Who
goes to judgment in my place<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Who
am I?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Can
I conceal myself for evermore?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Pretend
I'm not the man I was before?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>And
must my name until I die<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Be
no more than an alibi?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Must
I lie?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>How
can I ever face my fellow men?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>How
can I ever face myself again?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>My
soul belongs to God, I know<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I
made that bargain long ago<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #27477c; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>He gave me hope, when hope was gone<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #27477c; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>He gave me strength to journey on<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>Who
am I?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i>I
am Jean Valjean!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As
we study the classics within John Adams Academy, individually (“You First”),
and most importantly in our homes with our children - our understanding of what
constitutes virtue will expand and a strong moral character will be solidified.
It is my hope that we can draw from these valuable lessons/stories when we
arrive at the difficult crossroads life will undoubtedly present us. At these
critical moments we can ask ourselves, “Who Am I”? Ideally, the answer will be
a virtuous person that leaves a legacy of greatness for others to follow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Special Guest Blogger:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Bryan Favero</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">John Adams Academy Board Member</span></div>
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Dear JAA Families, Scholars, Teachers and Mentors,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Scholars in the Architecture mentor class this quarter have learned the functional, aesthetic, cultural and historical values of the columns in Greek and Roman architecture. Likewise, the columns of the John Adams Academy classical education, classics and mentorship, provide academic functionality, aesthetics, cultural and historical value in the lives of our scholars, families and our communities. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Ornate capitals are a crucial element completing the majestic Greek columns. The crowning capital of the John Adams Academy column, mentoring, is the service learning component. Service-learning connects curriculum with real world experiences in ways that help scholars find the value in their education thereby firing the love of learning. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The objective of service-learning is to evaluate problems and then design service projects to address needs. The scholars may generate ideas and plans for a service project while the teacher/mentor find ways to link the service projects with the curriculum. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Some results of service-learning include higher test scores, confidence to confront challenges, engaging marginalized scholars and acquiring or sharpening skills for character development. When the service-learning component is properly applied the results can be as inspiring as the columns surrounding a Greek temple. Our scholars are the majestic societal columns as they become great thinkers, inspiring leaders and virtuous statesmen having been founded upon the John Adams Academy classical education of classics and mentorship.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To see how service-learning is applied successfully in an education setting I refer you to this article, below, of a school in Utah that implements service-learning in their curriculum.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For the full article please follow this <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765551220/Service-projects-help-students-connect-math-reading-to-real-world.html?pg=1">link</a>.</div>
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Kind Regards,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gabriel Hydrick<o:p></o:p></div>
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Director of Mentoring</div>
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John Adams Academy</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-59173533682311163742013-04-02T11:46:00.001-07:002013-04-02T18:02:20.624-07:00Sacrifice and the Liberating Influence of Education<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I recently returned from 4 days at Valley Forge with 5 of our scholars from John Adams Academy. The last day there we visited a monument in the park that has this inscription by Henry Armitt Brown:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>"And here in this place of sacrifice and in this vale of humiliation, in this valley of the shadow of that death out of which the life of America rose, regenerate and free, let us believe with an abiding faith that to them union will seem as dear and liberty as sweet and progress as glorious as they were to our fathers and are to you and me. And that the institutions that have made us happy, preserved by our children shall bless the remotest generation of the time to come."</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i> </i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Valley Forge was a defining moment for the Continental Army in the winter of 1777. It was there that sacrifice produced the fighting force that would change the world forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I reflected at a recent board meeting on sacrifice and the liberating influence of education. I spoke frankly with those in attendance and these are a few thoughts I conveyed. To a large extent we may be in a self-imposed prison academically, emotionally, economically, socially, spiritually or otherwise as a product of our own childhood and education. Learning is the key that will liberate us from the chains of a limited future for ourselves and our children. A </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">classical leadership education such as what Thomas Jefferson received requires a change of lifestyle (he studied 12-14 hours a day as a teen scholar), change of who you are and who your family wants to become. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It took several years for me to begin understanding this and I am still learning. It is akin to “coming out of the cave” as related by Plato.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Most people, including ourselves, live in a world of relative ignorance. We are even comfortable with that ignorance (our cave), because it is all we know. When we first start facing truth, the process may be frightening, and many people run back to their old lives. (As a few parents have felt after looking at JAA but enrolling their children in a traditional school because JAA looks scary.) But, if you continue to seek learning, you will eventually be able to handle it better. In fact, you want more! Once you’ve tasted knowledge and truth, you won’t ever want to go back to being ignorant.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is important to note that we have taken what is a classical individual education and have tailored it into a public institutional format<span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman Bold', serif; font-size: 12pt;">to benefit all</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">. We realized that families desire the private education as Jefferson had with George Wythe, yet few can afford such in a private school setting. It is a family change requiring engagement by everyone. Our days are a bit longer and half day Fridays require our scholars to be on task. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">When we say America is in decline it is because. generally speaking, Americans are inherently lazier and more distracted than previous generations. It is the repetition with our children and the things that we do and at dinner or when we gather around the table, and talk about great ideas that will bring us “out of the cave”. This type of education is a family lifestyle<span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span>choice. It is a decision that elevates education above other choices or demands for our time. If we want greatness that is the price we must all pay. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, in the words of Dr. DeMille: “How does a generation that was never educated in the classics give the new generation an education in the classics?” We have to model the change and start with ourselves before we will have the capacity to draw from our wells to sustain and inspire and give to our children. If you want to help your children with their homework, get in the classics. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">As we come to the close of this academic year we should reflect and ask ourselves, “How have I changed, and how have my children or family changed as a result of our educational choices?”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Dean Forman, </span></b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Ph.D., CFP, CEBS</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif; font-size: 10pt;">Founder</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Baskerville Old Face', serif; font-size: 10pt;">John Adams Academy</span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-53755298179025893272013-03-22T14:18:00.004-07:002013-03-22T14:20:43.700-07:00Guest Scholar Post: Fostering Creativity and Entrepreneurial Spirit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<u><b>Fostering Creativity and Entrepreneurial Spirit</b></u></div>
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By Nick, a 6th grade scholar</div>
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The 5th core value of John Adams Academy is Fostering Creativity and Entrepreneurial Spirit. Creativity is "the ability to use the imagination to develop new and original ideas or things", and entrepreneurial spirit is "the energy, drive and underlying motivation to get those things done". It usually involves 'thinking outside the box'. This means that John Adams Academy encourages their scholars to be creative in their lives and work, putting forth their best effort, and helping them have a trying spirit to achieve success and get the happiness that comes from work, effort, contribution and results.</div>
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There are many ways to be creative and have an entrepreneurial spirit. young people spend a lot of their time at school. Classes in school can provide the opportunity to develop ideas and try them out. Such as Art, where art pieces are made, and Science where experiments are designed and tested. And in Math, where creativity is needed to solve problems. JAA enhances this by having mentoring coursework, which helps us think of the future and prepare for it by inspiring us for particular jobs.</div>
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It is important to be creative and have and entrepreneurial spirit because this makes for personal and community progress and enjoyment in life. Jean Piaget said, "The principle goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done-men who are creative, inventive and discoverers." This quote means that the whole point of education is to learn to be creative, and to not be a follower but a leader, and to be successful in discovering new ideas. Walt Disney was a great example of this core value. He wanted to benefit the world and used his creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to start a company to bring joy to people all over the world. Walt Disney is my hero because he never gave up but kept on trying. Walt Disney said "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." To me, this means being creative and curious leads to success.</div>
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I use this core value extensively. I have thought a lot about my future and decided the kinds of things I want to do. I have notebooks where I write my ideas down and keep drawings of my plans. My dream job is to be an architect with my own company and start a boarding school following the educational model of John Adams Academy. This is only one idea though. I am always thinking of new ideas and planning for my future. My personal motto is that anything is possible and it just starts with one little thought, which I can turn into a reality. I am so glad this is one of my school core values.</div>
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<i>Nick won first place in our "JAA, the place to be" contest, with this written account of his favorite of the 9 Core Values. Nick is a 6th grade scholar at John Adams Academy.</i></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-60604307290937215952013-03-15T14:27:00.001-07:002013-03-15T15:07:57.292-07:00Guest Scholar Post: Student Empowered Learning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Student Empowered Learning</div>
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By: Wyatt, a 6th grade scholar</div>
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"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink"</div>
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Student empowered learning means that teachers can give you the tools, but it is up to YOU to learn. To me this means getting good grades. I do this by listening to the teacher and studying for my test.</div>
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An example of student empowered learning is when I study for pre-algebra. The teacher teaches me the lesson, but it's my choice and responsibility to learn and study the lesson. Another example is when my Mom is lecturing me. Words are coming out of her mouth, but it's my choice to listen to them. My Mom is smart, so it behooves me to listen to what she has to say.</div>
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It is important to WANT to learn so that you have knowledge in your brain. If you don't want to learn, I think you are dumb. Education is power. People who don't get an education don't have good opportunities. I want good opportunities so I can make good money and have a good life.</div>
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Another reason Student Empowered Learning is important is because you can learn EVERYWHERE, if you want to. You can read things, you can watch documentaries and movies, you can listen to your Mom lecture, you can even learn on You Tube. Sometimes I watch TED talks in You Tube. This is how I learned about right brain and left brain, after listening to a doctor who survived a stroke talk about what happened to her.</div>
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The point is that you have a choice to make whenever someone talks to you, to listen or not to listen. You have a choice to use your education to make the best of it. We are lucky to have free school in America. If you don't do your best you are basically wasting freedom. No one can make you want to be an empowered student, but I want to be one.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Wyatt won 2nd place in our "JAA Place To Be Contest". The scholars chose their favorite 9 Core Value . They could produce a video, write a story or create an art piece. We will be featuring the winners within the next week. So check back often!</i></span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-25801828429952607272013-03-15T13:49:00.000-07:002013-03-15T13:51:26.276-07:00How to Get More out of What You Read<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Why do we read the classics? Have you ever asked yourself that? As a classical leadership education, we require of our scholars to read classics. The original document of many of the great works. Oliver DeMille, the author of "A Thomas Jefferson Education" answered this question on his blog. <a href="http://oliverdemille.com/2013/03/read/">http://oliverdemille.com/2013/03/read/</a>. His argument is that in order for people to be critical thinkers, you need to read the classics. </div>
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DeMille says, "<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">Too many classrooms and schools today teach students what to think rather than how to think, and even many professional and graduate schools focus on when to think.</span><br />
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Teaching students how to think (deeply, broadly, creatively, innovatively, etc.) seems to be a lost art in too much of our modern educational system."</div>
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The article recommends a book by David Grant, entitled 'Joseph spider and the fallacy farm." This is out of print as of now, but I for one would really like to find this book! Are we getting out of our reading what we need to? Are we reading the right books? These are questions we will have to ask our selves.<br />
We love to hear your comments.<br />
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Jane Dildine<br />
Director of Community Relations</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-30177853021169153712013-03-01T17:05:00.001-08:002013-03-04T11:28:24.568-08:00Modeling What We Teach: Studying the Classics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Modeling What We Teach: Studying the Classics</b></div>
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One of the things I love about John Adams Academy is the opportunity and emphasis on parent education. A fundamental part of a classical leadership education is parental/family involvement in a scholar's education. We must be prepared to have discussions and engage in Socratic dialogue around the dinner table, in the car, and in any teaching opportunity that arises. We cannot do this effectively if we are not familiar with the works our scholar is currently studying. Additionally, as parents, we have the role of Mentor to our child. If we wish to mentor them well, we need to be acquainted with great works of literature, art, music, and the big ideas of those who have gone before us (history, math, science, philosophy, economics, etc). </div>
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In a recent parent/community education class (the school offers an ongoing seminar called <a href="http://www.johnadamsacademy.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=199003&type=d"><span style="color: #3900ee;">Inspiring Greatness</span>),</a> the theme was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=326qOrB5uyw"><span style="color: #3900ee;">"Face to Face with Greatness: Learning from the Classics"</span></a>. I have always been a voracious reader and a huge fan of classical literature, but I will admit that I have often read it more for my own pleasure rather than to understand the ideas and themes that the author was trying to put forth. As Linda Forman talked about our need throughout life to study the classics, I considered that I expect my children to do more than just read them for pleasure. It is wonderful to have a pleasurable experience, but to truly study literature or another classical work, we must <b>labor</b> to understand, to uncover, and to apply. </div>
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Linda challenged us to make it a personal challenge to come face to face with great minds throughout history who inspire us. She asked us to make a list of 10 authors whom we would most like to resemble and then, one at a time, to study and pore over everything they wrote, created, and did. The goal is to come to understand who they were as individuals and what they believed and taught about the world. I immediately began making my list in my <a href="http://selfmadescholar.com/b/2009/05/15/project-start-a-commonplace-book/"><span style="color: #3900ee;">Commonplace Book</span></a>. Here are the names I chose that night, (leaving myself the opportunity to chose the last two later).</div>
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<li style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Louisa May Alcott</li>
<li style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">C. S. Lewis</li>
<li style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Victor Hugo</li>
<li style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Charlotte Bronte</li>
<li style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Leo Tolstoy</li>
<li style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Charles Dickens</li>
<li style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Thomas Jefferson</li>
<li style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; text-align: left;">Joseph Smith, Jr. </li>
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I have read all of these beloved authors before (although not everything they have written), and I know that they have the power to change and shape me. I came home that night and jumped back into <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Little Women</span>, a novel that I have read at least a dozen times throughout my life. I felt empowered by a self-chosen course of study and anxious to get going! So many of the school's Nine Core Values were at work here: <i>Scholar Empowered Learning</i>,<i> An Emphasis on Classics and Mentors</i>, and <i>Modeling What We Teach</i>. I want my children to learn at the feet of the greatest thinkers the world has ever known, and I must continue to actively strive for that in my own life as well. Although I nearly always have a classic or two on my bedside table, having a specific plan of study changes my perspective. </div>
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Who is on your list? I would love to hear-- and perhaps add them to my own!</div>
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Michal Thomas</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-75902725132624419302013-02-01T12:52:00.000-08:002013-02-01T12:52:52.207-08:00What is a Charter School?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>What is a charter school? </b>Charter schools are similar to your neighborhood public schools, but are not bound by as many bureaucratic rules. Our teachers are non-union, non-tenured, and are thus given more freedom in their selection of curriculum. </div>
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<b>How much is tuition?</b> Nothing! As a charter school, we do not charge any tuition.</div>
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Charter schools provide an alternative to the "conveyor belt method" of education.</div>
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Charter schools may focus on a specific curriculum or audience such as performing arts, technology, science, math, or the under served.</div>
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Because Charter schools have free market pressures (rent payments and competition for students), they tend to work harder to make sure that stakeholders are pleased.</div>
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John Adams Academy provides a classical leadership education, which is how many of the Founding Fathers were educated. </div>
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For more information about John Adams Academy, please visit our website at </div>
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<a href="http://www.johnadamsacademy.com/index.jsp">http://www.johnadamsacademy.com/index.jsp</a></div>
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Jane Dildine</div>
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Development Director</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-56388471597325311082013-01-24T13:58:00.000-08:002013-02-01T12:01:06.995-08:00Of Snack Attacks and Virtue<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8203111791517586"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This morning, as I was trying to pack lunches through the brain fog caused by not having consumed enough of the sweet, sweet Starbucks nectar, I discovered someone had eaten the lunch “goodies”.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a bad</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> thing. Lunch “goodies” are for lunch, and kept in the basket on top of the pantry, out of reach of the casual grazer. Punishment for eating food set aside for lunches was grave—I would complain and moan until all within hearing wished I would just go ahead and water board, instead. So, it worked fine, usually. Usually…</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most obvious culprit was my son. Because, let me be honest; the kid’s a snacker. He likes snacks. He likes snacks like clowns love killing. (As we all know, clowns are deadly). He’s also, apparently, a bottomless pit, who grew an inch and half taller in the last month and a half. He’s a growing boy, fast eating us out of house and home.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: line-through; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">interrogated</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> asked him. And to my surprise, he got that look our dog gets when you leave the room and come back to catch him with his nose in your coffee mug. (It is nectar, after all)</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8203111791517586"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m sorry mom.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span></b></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8203111791517586"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which was right and good of him to tell the truth. I could then only complain at half-intensity. Not very satisfying, but it didn’t stop me, because, in my defense…I really needed more caffeine to have full self-control that early in the morning. So I kept nagging, as I shoved carrots and juice boxes into bags.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s when his little sister Georgia entered the kitchen, also with the thieving puppy face, and said,</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>“</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mom, he’s just covering for me. I did it. I ate the crackers</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.”</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No, you didn’t. I did it,”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> he said.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No, Wyatt. It’s ok. I did it</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,” she countered.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And on it went... </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They were like those Disney Chipmunk’s, Chip and Dale… ‘</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No, no I insist.’ ‘No, No, I must insist.’ ‘Please, allow me</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…’ back and forth. It was all very discombobulating, as I had no one to aim my grumpy at. My grumpy needs a target, kids!</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ok</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">!” I jumped in. “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enough</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">!”</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I looked at both of them, and saw they were both telling the truth…the sticky-fingered little rats! </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At different times they had each taken a snack from the basket. But I was stuck with the fact that they had both made a choice to be honest, and not allow the other to take the fall for what they each thought was their own crime. Both of them were willing to face the music at Mom Court, in order to do the right thing. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dang it, now what was I going to do? Where did THIS leave my grumpy?!</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am still angry. You guys both broke the rules. You know better. I don’t want to see it happen again. But I am also pleased… Do you know why</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">?”</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because we told the truth</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,” came the man-boy.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We showed Public and Private Virtue! Oh yeah</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">!” said the little one, doing a happy-dance shuffle.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And once again, I was offered a chance to have a real conversation, using the Core Values as a teachable moment tool.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How many times do you find yourself able to do the same thing? I bet many, many times. This is one of the things I love the most about John Adams Academy! These core values give us something solid and measurable to point to when we teach these character lessons in our home. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although I have always held a high expectation for behavior, and I am proud to say, they usually meet that expectation, I can honestly say things have even improved since coming to JAA. I have a theory about that; I think it is a good thing to be part of a secular school community that is filled with kids who are learning that to be a good citizen is the “cool thing”.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At our school, these Core Values are the glue that holds them all together. They are all a part of the “Strong Character Club” and it isn’t just a bunch of good ideas that get presented at an assembly once a year, and everyone hopes stick... it is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the foundation</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, the daily walk they take through these doors. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every day they see them, and learn to live them, and apply the Core Values to their own selves they are building with our help. Every day they become more and more of who they are going to be, and these Core Values are always going to be a part of that person. The cores will be in their minds when they think, and in their guts when they act, and in their hearts when they just know right from wrong.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You know why I really had to quit moaning, and put the kibosh on the grumpy? Yep. Model what I Teach. I’m learning, too. </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Amber Harris</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John Adams Academy Paren</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">t</span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3347382181636094721.post-18403520712138153552013-01-09T21:28:00.001-08:002013-01-09T22:03:40.575-08:00Join the Education Revolution!Welcome to our blog for John Adams Academy! We are a public charter school, in Roseville CA, that provides a classical leadership education, which is how many of the Founding Fathers were educated. Our Mission statement says it best: <b>John Adams Academy is restoring America's heritage by developing servant leaders who are keepers and defenders of the principles of freedom for which our Founding Fathers pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor</b>.<br />
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<i>"When you step on to the campus of John Adams Academy the culture of which we strive for here should be felt immediately as a place of intense focus and intellect. We want our scholars to define themselves by their knowledge and great ideas and the ability to articulate those in written and oral argument with vast vocabularies because it is who they have<b> become</b>."</i><br />
- <span style="font-size: x-small;">Dean and Linda Forman, founders of John Adams Academy.</span><br />
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Within this Blog, we will focus on the characteristics of a Classical Leadership Education. We hope to accomplish this with voices from our scholars, teachers, staff, parents, board members and leaders in our community at large. We are proposing an <b>Education Revolution</b>! Join our journey as we teach our children from classics and by studying the great minds and lives of men and women throughout history. These are men and women who think for themselves and use their own special excellence to serve the world around them. We are changing lives and we want you to witness the change with us. Visit often. Get to know the different voices that will be telling you the story. <br />
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JOIN THE EDUCATION REVOLUTION!<br />
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With warm regards,<br />
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Jane Dildine<br />
Development Director<br />
John Adams AcademyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12064312129605909445noreply@blogger.com0