Charmed Evening # 3

Over a hundred Casa Grandeans gathered on Friday evening, June 5, in the ballroom of The Property Conference Center to celebrate the opening of a new educational alternative in Casa Grande this fall, Logos Academy. The theme for the evening was "A Classic Evening," in recognition of the ambitious classical Christian curriculum which the new school will offer.

Guests enjoyed a delicious Italian buffet while enjoying the strains of live harp music. After-dinner entertainment began with a scene from Shakespeare's "The Tempest," delightfully performed by sixth grade students from Cornerstone Christian Academy of Tucson, a sister classical school. Special speaker for the evening was the Honorable William O'Neil, Pinal County Superior Court Judge. Judge O'Neil challenged those present to support Logos Academy as a local Christian educational resource. Judge O'Neil and his wife, Tammy, spent many years homeschooling their four children, as well as transporting them to a Christian high school in Chandler.

Although those present were from several different churches and businesses in Casa Grande, there was a clear spirit of camaraderie evidenced by how long everyone lingered to visit after the program had ended.

Logos Academy is co-sponsored by a group of Casa Grande churches through an independent school board presided over by Dave Landry, pastor of Calvary Chapel. Offering grades kindergarten through fifth under the direction of head teacher, Mrs. Dorinda Manning, the academy will be located at Cornerstone Community Church, where Harley Faber is pastor.

Charmed Evening #2

Props to Lamad Preparatory Academy for providing the community with a delightful dinner concert at Tucson High on Saturday, May 30. The delicious dinner was catered by A-Z Eatery (compliments to Chef John) and served by delightful young people from Living Water Ministry, the sponsoring church for Lamad Prep. The dinner speaker was the Honorable Ronald A. Wilson. Judge Wilson spoke of his own private Christian school education, and gave an impassioned advocacy for this unique urban school opportunity in Tucson.

The concert was held in the charming old Tucson High auditorium. Originally built in the 1930's, the auditorium and stage underwent a major restoration effort in 2004. Now it serves as a nostalgic-looking, but technologically well-equipped venue for performing arts. The Voices of Triumph, Dansiea Jones, and Tyrone Williams performed expertly (and inspiredly) to an enthusiastic, highly participatory audience. The artists generously donated their talents free of charge for this benefit concert, but their CD tables were well-patronized by the appreciative attendees after the concert was completed.

An unexpected treat for the audience was a live presentation by the students of Lamad Prepatory, entitled "The True Story of the Big Bad Wolf." Led by their school Director, Mrs. Carolym Anderson, and their teacher, Mrs. Glenda Tigney, the students simulated a mock trial format to review several legendary stories about wolves in children's literature, giving special attention to scrptural principles revealed in these stories, as well as (you haven't heard this before!) the wolf's point of view. Many in attendance commented afterwards how impressed they were with these well-trained young people.

Lamad Preparatory Academy is located at Living Water Ministry, 4343 E. 22nd Street, and serves grades one through three. Living Water is led by Apostle Warren Anderson, Jr. The school may be contacted at 745-5859.

Don't Touch the Unimportant Red Button

In the spirit of the late Douglas Adams, I have an important message (see the last line of the blog). But first, I'd like to explain to whom it applies and to whom it does not apply.

The message at the end of this blog does apply to anyone who is aware of the recent decision of the Ninth District Circuit Court that because some Arizona Scholarship Tuition Organizations (STO's) are designed to serve schools of a particular faith group (Catholic, Jewish, Adventist, Lutheran, Christian) that it is unconstitutional for them to get any scholarship monies through the (legal) tax credit because Arizona families NOT from their faith group might not have enough choices of STO's for their scholarship applications (even though there are 55 STO's altogether, and fewer than half are faith-based or faith-related);

The message at the end of this blog does apply to the 2.3% of all Arizona filers (58,000 citizen taxpayers) who took the individual scholarship tax credit in 2008;

The message at the end of this blog does apply to the 28,324 students in 373 private schools (of all kinds of persuasions) who received a scholarship award fron an STO for the 2008 tax year;

The message at the end of this blog does apply to the underpaid teachers and administrators in most private schools who are determined to teach "a better way" with the freedom of conscience to guide them rather than legislation and political correctness;

The message at the end of this blog is made possible by the fact that the decision of the Ninth District Circuit Court will be appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, if necesssary;

The message at the end of this blog is made possible by the fact that freedom-loving souls will find a way to avoid offering their children on the altar of Molech even if the Supreme Court decides to agree with the Ninth District Circuit Court (freedom-loving parents just aren't THAT stupid);

The message at the end of this blog does not apply to the ACLU and its lackeys, who are bent on wasting as much public and private money in court costs as possible by jousting with this windmill, in order to eliminate the dreadful possibility that some child in Arizona might be taught be SOMETHING that the ACLU does not agree with (hmmm, where's the "liberty" in ACLU?).

And here is the message at the end of the blog:

Do Not Push the Panic Button!

Through another’s eyes

Ratna Konka is a high school math teacher at Desert Christian High School here in Tucson. In addition to being a teacher, she is a wife and mother. Since her immigration to the United States a few years ago she has taught in two other schools, both public: a high school and a middle school located elsewhere in Arizona.

In viewing her pre-calculus class recently, it is apparent that she is as at ease with her students as she is competent in her subject matter knowledge. The session was lively, highly engaging, made use of current technology, and students got all their questions answered.

Although my purpose in visiting her classroom was professional in nature, I couldn’t resist asking a question often posed to non-native teachers. “How are students in the U.S. different from the students you taught in India?” I queried.

Pausing to gaze out the window of her classroom on to the pleasant Desert campus, she answered thoughtfully. “Well, I would not say that the students at this school are much different from Indian students in the things that matter most to a teacher. They are serious about their education and very respectful to the teacher. The difference is between these students and the students I taught in public school.” She went on to recount some of the difficulties she faced in two different non-Tucson public schools. Most troubling was her assertion that in a typical fifty minute period, she felt fortunate to get in five to ten minutes of real teaching. Student disruptions, bureaucratic red tape, and a general indifference to learning were chief among her frustrations in those schools. She affirmed how grateful she is to be at Desert Christian, and hopes to make it a long term place of service.
What struck me here is how clearly a stranger to our culture sees the difference between the choices Americans make for their children’s schooling. It would seem that Americans (and curiously, most Christian Americans) routinely pass up great educational opportunities (at least sane educational opportunities) to settle for putting their children in classrooms that make “Welcome Back, Kotter” look like a model of efficiency, erudition, and propriety.

Ratna sees it. Why don’t we?

Busting stereotypes

One of the early allegations about Christian schools when they were beginning to proliferate in the 1970’s and 1980’s was that they were covers for segregation academies, and no doubt some of them were. Unfortunately, the stereotype has lingered far beyond the reality.

Recently, I was able to do a professional observation at a local Christian school which is truly a stereotype-buster. To begin with, this fourth grade class had a healthy distribution of Hispanic, Caucasian, and African-American students. All were participatory, and all are getting a great education. Ironically, the history lesson was on the Civil War, and it was being taught by an (excellent!) African-American teacher. After reviewing the role of Lincoln in issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, the teacher went on to discuss the two great generals, Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. She was able to name the strengths of each of the generals in a fair and balanced presentation.

Students are always interested in who the “good guys” and “bad guys” are. Although nothing in the teacher’s presentation prompted this, it was clear from the discussion which followed that they identified more with the Union cause. At one point a student asked, “Are we friends with the South, now?” The teacher wisely smiled and answered, “Why, yes. You know, I moved to Arizona from Alabama!” Seeing the students needed some perspective on how long ago all of this took place, the teacher used as an illustration the fact that her great-great-grandmother, who was alive during the teacher’s childhood, was born free, but her mother had been a slave.

Did I mention this was at First Southern (Baptist) Christian School?

"Charmed Evening" educates all ages

On Friday evening, November 14, an audience of over a hundred were treated to a benefit concert presented by Alethia Academy in the auditorium of Rincon Mountain Presbyterian Church, 8445 E. Tanque Verde Road. Artists on the program included pianist Anthony Bernarducci, choral director at Sahuaro High School, cellist Tom Clowes of the Tucson Symphony, and soprano Melanie Bristol of Gilbert.

Musical highlights included Mozart’s piano Sonata K 570, movements one and two, Bach’s Suite No. 5 in C Minor for unaccompanied cello, and Handel’s “Ch’io mai vi possa” for soprano soloist. The evening ended with a stirring rendition of Allitsen’s “The Lord is My Light” by Ms. Bristol.

Prior to the concert a lecture on the selections to follow was presented by Scott Finch, musical director of Rincon Mountain Presbyterian Church and a doctoral candidate at the University of Arizona. Finch had the students of Alethia Academy join him on stage for an interactive lesson.

Delicious desserts were provided for the concert audience between the second and third sections of the concert, served by the Alethia students. An unobtrusive silent auction was set up alongside the concert venue, with many inviting items generously supplied by local merchants, for the benefit of Alethia Academy.

The comprehensive value of the evening was enormous: a feast for the soul on intellectual, aesthetic , and spiritual planes. As a member of the audience, I had to wonder, “Would many people be interested to know that such a charmed evening is available here in Tucson? ” I expect it might seem like a fantasy to some folks, beyond even imagining. But it was real, all right.

Alethia plans another concert gift to the community in the spring, which I will be announcing in this blog. It promises to be another treasure chest of music and good fellowship, and I encourage even the musically “timid” to take advantage of it.