Educational Crisis in Texas

In my two previous blogs, I wrote about disadvantaged children that my wife and I had worked with in Houston. One of the really sad aspects of their lives is the fact that the majority of them will not graduate from high school. Our adopted children would have grown up in similar circumstances. The problem is that there is no one to rescue these kids. Several private organizations have released startling statistics that reflect that disadvantaged children in Texas have a poor chance of graduating. In the average year, over thirty per cent of the kids who started high school … Continue reading

Humane Education

What is humane education? Humane education refers to any curriculum that teaches students to care for the animals in their homes and in their communities. Humane education seeks to create a culture of empathy and caring and stimulate students’ responsibility and moral development. Need some ideas to help teach students about their responsibilities to companion animals? Need help fostering kindness, respect, and empathy for people and animals? Try some of these ideas: Compare pictures of happy family pets and homeless animals. Ask students to write a story about the life of a captive animal — like a zoo animal, circus … Continue reading

Focus on the Candidates – Bernie Sanders

This blog is part of the series that focuses on the candidates who are running for President of the United States in 2016. This blog focuses on Bernie Sanders. Bernie Sanders spent 16 years as Vermont’s sole congressman in the United States House of Representatives. He was first elected to the United States Senate in 2006, and then again in 2012 (with 71% of the vote). Bernie Sanders is an Independent who is part of the Senate Democratic Caucus. He is running for President of the United States in 2016 as a Democrat. Health Care According to his official website, … Continue reading

Call for Improved Access to Mental Health Care in Colorado

There seems to be a growing call for improved access to mental health care. The current attention likely has something to do with the recent school shootings. Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy is calling for parity in health plans in Colorado. Governor Hickenlooper wants funding to improve access to mental health care. Yesterday, I wrote a blog about Senator Al Franken who wants to see an increase in the number of school counselors, social workers, and psychologists. He is on the education committee in the United States Senate, and said he will push for federal funding to make that happen. He … Continue reading

Animal Abuse on the Set of ‘The Hobbit?’

As I mentioned, we saw Lincoln this past weekend. One of the previews was for The Hobbit, the much anticipated Peter Jackson film which opens in a few weeks. But, the film isn’t without controversy. Several animal wranglers used on the film say that up to 27 animals died on the New Zealand ranch where they were being housed and trained due to poor living conditions. The wranglers also claim that many animals were hurt and had to be euthanized, including a horse named Rainbow that broke its back. Yet another horse reportedly died after falling over a bluff and … Continue reading

Whole Foods Market Take on Sustainability Part 2

Yesterday, I was talking about Whole Foods Market and its stance on sustainability. I don’t know if you have one in your city, but there is one in Memphis right down the street from me and it is always jam packed. I think the idea of eating healthier and supporting a grocery store that seems to be concerned about society and the environment is very appealing to many people today. Here’s a few more of Whole Food Markets’ policies, Respect For All Forms Of Life Whole Foods Market is against the senseless killing of any animal or cruelty to those … Continue reading

Homeschool Groups and Resources in Indiana N-Z

Getting involved with other homeschoolers is very important to a family’s success in homeschooling It is important to join a homeschool network or support group in your area, There are also many homeschooling groups as well as many homeschooling classes, and programs that your students can enjoy. In this series, we are covering homeschool groups and resources across the country. This installment will cover Indiana homeschool groups and resources, N-Z. Northeastern Indiana Catholic Home Educators (NICHE) Catholic Homeschool Support Group for Fort Wayne, Indiana and surrounding areas. South Central Indiana Home Educators (SCIHE) Serving the Columbus, IN area, this is … Continue reading

Do You Know Your Leash Laws?

Quick — do you know the leash laws in your neighborhood or town? If you live in an apartment complex, do you know their pet rules? More importantly… do you obey the leash laws of your community? It’s a problem I’ve run into WAY too often in my apartment complex. I have at least two neighbors who just open their doors and let their dogs out to run around the parking lot unsupervised. There are so many things wrong with this — the dog could get hit by a car in the parking lot, the dog could get stolen, the … Continue reading

Animals Bring Out the True Altruists

Yesterday I was reading a copy of Woman’s World. They always have this “What’s Does X Say about Your Personality?” section. If you’ve never seen it, basically they pose a question and give you five or six options to chose from. For instance, sometimes it’s what does your handwriting say about you? Then you pick which style most closely matches yours. Or which color do you prefer? Again, you pick and read what it says. If You Give Holiday Gifts to Animals… This last one was “What does your holiday gift giving style say about you?” One of the selections … Continue reading

Wolf Protection Restored

A federal judge temporarily restored endangered species status for gray wolves in the Rocky Mountains earlier this month. The judge’s decision halted plans in three different states to hold public wolf hunts. Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho were planning wolf hunts for this fall in order to control wolf populations and reduce the number of attacks on livestock. Back in March of this year, gray wolves were removed from the endangered species list. A decade of restoration efforts had increased the gray wolf population to around two thousand in the northern Rocky Mountains — enough of a population that they no … Continue reading