COMMON CORE

I received the following email today from the Executive Director, Terri Novacek, of the Dehesa Charter School based in Escondido, California. (Emphasis in italics mine). It read:

"Many have heard, for better or worse, that California has adopted Common Core Standards. The DCS staff have been collaborating and designing ways to incorporate the new Common Core into our personalized methodology. We are finding the new standards to be much more in line with our philosophy of depth vs. breadth, and creative and critical thinking than the current standards. Next year, you will be presented with new learning plans that align with the new standards. FOR THOSE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH CHANGE, PLEASE TAKE A DEEP BREATH and give it a chance before you judge. I think you will appreciate the new approach to meaningful learning.

Sincerely, Terri Novacek, Executive Director"
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Here's what you might not already know about me. WE HOME SCHOOL. Dehesa Charter "School" is a private corporation which has created an educational umbrella so that people who want to homeschool, but don't feel comfortable "R4ing it" can have access to curriculum money and IEP services. Dehesa gets ADA money (Average Daily Attendance) just like public schools do, as well as money for state testing. In return, they parcel out about $300 PER STUDENT for the year for curriculum purchases. 

Ironically, they now want to dictate the public school Common Core garbage being forced next year onto public school students, but they aren't willing to ADHERE to the public school MINIMUM spending per student requirements. Hmmmm......audit anyone?

Terri Novacek's letter is representative of exactly what is wrong with the public education system (clearly, from whence she hails.) If we object to Common Core (like, if I didn't have a problem with CC, my kid would be in public school) we're just hysterical, uneducated parents. It's the enlightened, superior educators such as herself who really know what's best for our children.

I'm one of those people who have been aware for THREE YEARS that California was adopting Common Core. Like it was a surprise. The only surprise was that California gave all the publishers two years to create their new social engineering doctrine textbooks. 

This is not the first condescending, belittling communique Dehesa parents have received from Mrs. Novacek. I doubt it will be the last. But contrary to Mrs. Novacek's belittling belief, as a PARENT, I really do have choices about my children's education. I really can vote with my pocketbook. I really can OPT OUT of testing. You really CAN'T force me to LIE on my child's attendance record so you can falsify your submission to the state for ADA money.

People who know me, asked why I sent my child(ren) back to Dehesa after last year's campaign by Mrs. Novacek to remove parents from their childrens' classroom education (we have the "option" of sending our kids twice a week to a physical location for 'enrichment' classes). Actually, until that meeting, I wasn't aware that going to the location was "optional." I sure as heck wasn't sending my children there because they provided me with $200 worth of textbooks (puhleaze. Like I can't write a check for it?)

It was because my son especially, made a case for "finishing" with his "friends" (he's middle school age). 

I appreciate the heads up Terri darling. Good luck with that next year....when you're unemployed due to all your parents leaving in droves, don't ask me for a reference.

Victor, not Victim

I know a few women who were horrifically and for long periods of time, sexually abused by relatives. A friend of mine served on a jury where a man was on trial for murder. He too had been sexually abused as a child.

This is an evil, horrific, tragic, thing. I wish the evil doers a speedy trip to hell.

But this is not a story about their evil. This is a story about a few women's triumphs.

I remember the day when I decided I couldn't control my past, but I COULD control my future. It was the day I decided I was no longer going to live in fear, wondering if the next time my (now Ex) walked in the door, was that day going to be my last? I decided to take back control of my life, divorced my unworthy-of-me Ex, and moved on with my life. I decided to Let Go and Let God.

I wasn't always successful. There were days when the only thing which kept me from being vengeful was the sure knowledge that "he" wasn't worth my doing 25 to Life in a state penitentiary. But this post isn't about me, either. Just wanted you to know I've been there, done that, too.

It's about two other women, both of whom still wear scars from their past. They both still live like "everything's a secret", and maybe always will. 

But one of them has started her own business (Google's a wonderful/scary thing) and it looks like things are really breaking her way. I'm glad for her. She deserves success, joy, and good things happening in her life. I hope that the day comes when she feels secure enough, that she realizes that she deserves, truly, all the good things that happen to her. She has chosen to look forward, not backward (I'll acknowledge there might be some denial in there too.)

The other had the exact same tragic childhood circumstances. But she still allows it to color her future, it impacts her weight (someday I'll write a book about that), her relationships, and the relationships she allows her girls to have with her Ex, their father. She has settled comfortably in the belief that everyone is out to harm her, so she makes sure that she harms first, denying others (including her children) joy. I'm sure she does this unconsciously, and can't ever figure out "why bad things keep happening to her," but every self-fulfilling act just adds to the victim mentality.

My heart aches for anyone who has suffered at the hands of an abuser. I know the feeling of wanting to be rescued. I just wish I could beam a magic thought in to their heads: YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO RESCUE YOURSELF. You really are. You've survived abuse, you can survive and thrive in a life without abuse. 

If you have been victimized in the past, choose today to be a victor.

If you are still being victimized, get out, get help, and quit giving them control over you: choose to be a victor.

Whether it is something as serious as abuse, or something as small as a moment of rudeness or insensitivity, YOU can CHOOSE to be a Victor, not a Victim, and open the door to the wonder of life's goodness.

You can do it. I know you can.

God bless you.

I'm OVER living in C.H.A.O.S.

CHAOS stands for Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome. 

It's a Flylady soundbite. Actually, the reality is, when my house is spotless (rarely), it's the best visitor deterrent around. It's when my house is in disarray (usually) that the world wants to stop by.

Being unemployed has gotten me back in the "moving" mindset. During the real estate heyday here in California a few years back, we moved four times in two years as the places we were renting were sold out from underneath us. Every time we moved, I shed an inordinate amount of stuff. We still have a ton. My brother calls it the 10,000 cockroach theory. When you get rid of one, 10,000 more appear to take its place.

So. I'm back in the mode of decluttering and cleaning. Theoretically, first off the bat I would make sure all the beds are made and spend 2 minutes in the morning (and evening) clearing out a "hot spot," (places where stuff gets dumped.) For me, that's the top shelf of the Muffin Monument (we have a small bookcase which showcases our deceased dog's memorabilia) and the wingback chair right at the home entrance. 

I'm to "swish and swipe" (wipe down, straighten up) the main "public" bathroom, and kitchen counters. 

Spend 5 minutes an evening "clearing a path" in a room (getting stuff off the floor, maybe vacuuming). I've added sweeping the kitchen floor.

Additionally, spend no more than 15 minutes a day decluttering and/or cleaning a Zone. This week it's the front porch, home entrance, and dining room.

Well, it took a while to clear and clean my kitchen counters this morning. But now that they're clear, I can see it will only take 2 minutes to wipe down this evening. Same for the bathroom. It still needs a bit more work, but that's what the 2 minutes are for. Last night the kids spent about 5 minutes picking up the living room so it could be vacuumed.

I've taken a break to write this blog, will take DD16 to college, go pick up some dish soap that I'm about to get practically free with coupons, then come and spend 15 minutes tackling the dining room (which also doubles as our library.)

Looking forward to living CHAOS free ! :)