Daughter: One of the worms (in Worms 2) has the name Exterminator.
Me: So is he going to exterminate the other worms?
Daughter: No. He just has a long name. (Runs back to watch her brother play a little more)
Friday, June 13, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Fortune
Looks like I got Vince's fortune in my Fortune Cookie. "Your love of music will be an important part of your life."
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Fail (with good reason)
Well. So much for that. I was trying to get back into posting by challenging myself to posting everyday for a month. Didn't even make it a week.
On the plus side, I finished my training class. I am now trained to facilitate an Young Adult and Adult OWL classes, and I have talked with two other facilitator's-in-training, and we all want to facilitate. Notice, that I am saying facilitate, instead of teach because a lot of the teaching will come from discussions themselves. I want to send my thanks out to Steve and Mary.
I met some cool new people too, and hope that I will continue to see them at other district events. Training was occurring for all levels, K-1, 4-5, 7-9, 10-12, Young Adult, and Adult. In all, I think there were over 40 people who attended the training.
And if you see me out, you might see me sporting a new pin that I got after completing the training:
On the plus side, I finished my training class. I am now trained to facilitate an Young Adult and Adult OWL classes, and I have talked with two other facilitator's-in-training, and we all want to facilitate. Notice, that I am saying facilitate, instead of teach because a lot of the teaching will come from discussions themselves. I want to send my thanks out to Steve and Mary.
I met some cool new people too, and hope that I will continue to see them at other district events. Training was occurring for all levels, K-1, 4-5, 7-9, 10-12, Young Adult, and Adult. In all, I think there were over 40 people who attended the training.
And if you see me out, you might see me sporting a new pin that I got after completing the training:
Friday, June 06, 2008
Training Day # 1
Well, it's over. Day 1 that is. And let me tell you, if driving in tomorrow is ANYTHING like driving in today, I know that someone is out to get me. While driving in, I had to sneak out of work a tad bit early, take the kids to my wife's office, then run home because of a call. On the way home, I hit a rock with my tire. After handling the call, I go out to my car, and I have a flat. Change the tire, take the car to my wife's office and trade for hers (can't drive to First UU Dallas without going on the highway, and those donuts are dangerous at those speeds). I get about 1/3 of the way to the church, and there is an accident. I move 2 miles in about 45 minutes, so I think I miss the dinner, but I don't have time to stop. No way to vent frustration, but to yell at the traffic from behind my windshield. They aren't really doing anything wrong, and I'm not really yelling at any of them, but by the time I get to the church, I am about 10 minutes late for training.
Then I'm fine. I have arrived, and nothing else is going to make me any later. And I didn't miss much. After I got there, the training was great. I am with a smaller group then for my last training, and it is a bit nicer, I think. I know a few of the participants from other district events, and have trained with both of my trainers. And I didn't miss dinner. I don't know why, but dinner is running late, so I got to eat with the entire group.
Of course, I think I'll remember Nathan's coment the most. He suggested I take the train.
Then I'm fine. I have arrived, and nothing else is going to make me any later. And I didn't miss much. After I got there, the training was great. I am with a smaller group then for my last training, and it is a bit nicer, I think. I know a few of the participants from other district events, and have trained with both of my trainers. And I didn't miss dinner. I don't know why, but dinner is running late, so I got to eat with the entire group.
Of course, I think I'll remember Nathan's coment the most. He suggested I take the train.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Spelling Bee
So Tammy and the kids watched the 2008 National Spelling Bee on the PVR last night. I was driving home from work, and Tammy called me laughing. She tried to play something over the phone, but I couldn't hear it. When I got home, this is what I saw:
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
OWl - So why am I taking the training?
One thing that I have heard, from both DRE's and young adult population, is that there is a serious lack of interest in the adult aged courses. As I mentioned Monday, "STD's. Tab A. Slot B. Yeah We get it.". The problem is, I don't think they do.
There is a lot more to it then that. When we teach other subjects, we tend to stay with the concrete at an early age, and slowly advance to the less tangible and theoretical. Even in spirituality, we tend to be concrete moving to the less tangible as we age. Sexuality, as yet another facet of our (whole) lives, is like that too. As we grow older, our needs and attitudes change. The range of experiences that we may have encountered only grows. And we need to grow in order to handle them.
Yes, we talk about sex. We also talk about relationships, commitment, intimacy, aging, power, and ethics. But we still do more. Sex and relationships are not something that is easy for most people in our culture to talk about. Especially if there are questions or concerns. But by teaching the class, and even in participating, we create a community, a network of people that we can talk to, that have demonstrated that they are approachable. And this is a network that often extends beyond the classroom.
Since I have been aware of the adult programs, I have only know of one course in North Texs that has actually happened. That was a pilot project for the new young adult program. I hear they had some resistance in getting enough young adults to participate.
It seems that they already "know" everything they need to know about sex.
There is a lot more to it then that. When we teach other subjects, we tend to stay with the concrete at an early age, and slowly advance to the less tangible and theoretical. Even in spirituality, we tend to be concrete moving to the less tangible as we age. Sexuality, as yet another facet of our (whole) lives, is like that too. As we grow older, our needs and attitudes change. The range of experiences that we may have encountered only grows. And we need to grow in order to handle them.
Yes, we talk about sex. We also talk about relationships, commitment, intimacy, aging, power, and ethics. But we still do more. Sex and relationships are not something that is easy for most people in our culture to talk about. Especially if there are questions or concerns. But by teaching the class, and even in participating, we create a community, a network of people that we can talk to, that have demonstrated that they are approachable. And this is a network that often extends beyond the classroom.
Since I have been aware of the adult programs, I have only know of one course in North Texs that has actually happened. That was a pilot project for the new young adult program. I hear they had some resistance in getting enough young adults to participate.
It seems that they already "know" everything they need to know about sex.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
OWL - What is it?
Yesterday I mentioned OWL. OWL is an acronym for Our Whole Lives. The official site is here. In a nutshell, it's an age appropriate comprehensive sex education course that includes an optional spiritual component. The program was created as a joint effort of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ. With the spiritual component removed, the class may be taught as a secular class.
My kids took the K-1 class at the beginning of the last school year. At that level, they covered family units, family roles, and non-standard family's. Toward the end of the 6 week course, the discussion of how a baby was made came up. We, as parents had to decide how we wanted the class to be taught. Did we want the basic biological facts to be taught, or did we want to leave that completely to the parents? Either way the parents should expect questions. We, the parents, were given the scripts. We, the parents, decided.
The middle school(7-9 grade) class is the longest, and it's the class that is the most taught. Some churches don't have the resources or desire to teach the other classes. Many don't teach High School because of lack of interest in the participants, or a lack of belief that it is necessary. Young adult is a new course. Previously, it was a part the adult course.
My kids took the K-1 class at the beginning of the last school year. At that level, they covered family units, family roles, and non-standard family's. Toward the end of the 6 week course, the discussion of how a baby was made came up. We, as parents had to decide how we wanted the class to be taught. Did we want the basic biological facts to be taught, or did we want to leave that completely to the parents? Either way the parents should expect questions. We, the parents, were given the scripts. We, the parents, decided.
The middle school(7-9 grade) class is the longest, and it's the class that is the most taught. Some churches don't have the resources or desire to teach the other classes. Many don't teach High School because of lack of interest in the participants, or a lack of belief that it is necessary. Young adult is a new course. Previously, it was a part the adult course.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)