Field Trips

One of the advantages of home-schooling is all the neat field trips you can take. Here you will find a brief documentary of the field trips the Alawine's have taken in the past, and field trips we are looking forward to.

The Graduation Trip of a Life Time

May 4th,2005 we left for Oahu. The weather was great and the food was delicious, and there was lots of fun (don't tell but it was educational too) stuff to do. First I went for a dive on Atlantis Submarines (the guys chickened out on me), but they had fun swimming in the Super Pool while I was gone. After I got back we visited the Bishop Museum.

The next day we climbed Diamond Head Crater ( a ONCE in a lifetime experience, but worth it the view was awesome).

Day 3 we visited the Waimea Valley Audubon Center . Hubby swam out to the waterfall.

Day 4 we went snorkeling at Sharks Cove. Apparently the rest of the family are born snorkelers, I never got the knack of it and kept getting water in my breathing tube, but seeing the sea life was worth it. Hubby saw sea turtles.

Day 5 snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, in the morning and a drive in the mountains that afternoon. It's very windy and cool in the mountains.

Day 6 visit to the Dole Plantation geared more for younger kids but the pineapple sherbet was good.

Day 7 visited Fort DeRussy (it was close to the the resort we stayed at) before we had to leave for home.

Recommended reading "Shoal of Time - A History of the Hawaiian Islands" by Gavan Daws

Other Noteworthy Field Trips We Have Taken

San Diego, tons to do there and great Mexican food. Some of the places we enjoyed going, Balboa park and hiking at Torrey Pines.

Atlanta, tons of educational stuff to do and the Metro makes it easy to get around. Two favorites The Fernbank Museum and Underground Atlanta.

Jacksonville, Florida

Kids enjoyed the beach but we also managed a trip to Amelia Island, where we visited Fort Clinch State Park.

Washington DC

We visited a small slice of The Smithsonian which is huge, strolled along The Mall, and we even climbed the Washington Monument. The view from the Washington Monument is fantastic. You can't tell from the ground but there are small windows cut into the monument. We also took the time to go to Arlington National Cemetery which was special to me, as my Great Uncle Lucian is buried there, and I was able to take a picture of his tombstone for my Mother. We hope to go back to Washington D.C. one day. Needless to say we didn't get to see all the Smithsonian, and there was tons of other stuff we wanted to do. With our friends and fellow homeschoolers, the Theads, we visited Nanih Waiya Mound & Village. The kids had a great time playing in the river at a working grist mill, that was located nearby.

Field Trips Taken During the 2005-2006 School Year

With PEAK we have visited the Gulf Coast Exploreum where we toured The Mummy Exhibit, and the Louisiana Renaissance Festival , click here to read more about our experience at the Renaissance Festival. PEAK has field trips planned for Shell Mound Park and Bellingrath Gardens, Fall 2006, which we are looking forward to going on.

The heart has it's reasons, of which reason knows nothing.
Blaise Pascal

I first came across this quote when reading Susannah Kells novel "The Fallen Angels" about the Illuminati's part in the French Revolution. I ran across it again when reading BigNut's post Homeschoolers: Unwitting pawns of the Christian Rightwing? at Three Loose Nuts. Fate, destiny or just coincidence, you decide?

While reading the Carnival of Education, I came across these two post that peaked my interest. In the first Matt Johnston attempts to debunk the need for government preschool in his post Perpetuating the Pre-School Myth at Going to the Mat. Then Dana ask "Do Faith Based Schools Adequately Prepare Students for College"at huffenglish.com

Hopefully these informative and entertaining post will keep you busy for awhile. Because I think a good nights rest, is my fate in the near future. Besides I still have a few more chapters of "The Fallen Angels" to read.

UN Cracks Down on Homeschoolers

In 2003, however, the Flemish regional parliament decreed that all homeschoolers are obliged to sign a document in which they promise to rear their children along the lines of the UN Convention. The latter undermines the authority of parents and transfers it to the state.
The document the homeschoolers are made to sign also states that government inspectors decide whether families comply with the UN’s ideology. Furthermore, it contains a clause in which the homeschooling parents agree to send their child to an official government recognized school if the inspectors report negatively about them twice.

True this is in Belgium, but it doesn't bode well for home~schoolers. Click here to read the whole article.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

For the fourth straight year, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is ranked as one of the country's top 100 community colleges.

It's nice to know that the community college my son attends is ranked so well, even more impressive they moved up to #67, even though they had to deal with Katrina.

Once Upon a Time ........

Ladies never worked outside the home. If a lady found herself without a male protector she was restricted to earning a living by the few jobs that were deemed suitable for women; governess, seamstress etc.. Needless to say women were not allowed to vote.

Then along came such women as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to name a few. And women not only gained the right to vote, they achieved the ability to pursue whatever career they wanted. But honestly long before Anthony and Stanton came on the scene other women were showing the world how capable women were; Elizabeth I showed the world a woman could rule as well as a man, Jane Austen and George Eliot were busy writing books, and Sophie Germain was an important French mathematician.

But now women were free to become doctors, lawyers, bankers and politicians without overcoming huge obstacles first, surprisingly some women choose to stay home and raise a family. But since all women were free to choose what path in life they wanted to follow everyone lived happily ever after, right?

No, boo hiss....... Linda R. Hirshman insist that all women must work outside the home to be fulfilled. That women who choose to give up their careers to raise a family are making a mistake. Sorry Ms. Hirshman, but it's just as wrong to tell a woman she can't stay at home and raise her children as it was to force all women to stay home and raise children.

The Homeschool Cafe

Will be hosting the Carnival of Homeschooling, June 27th, drop in for some frank discussions on homeschooling.

I Capture the Castle By Dodie Smith

I just finished reading "I Capture the Castle" by Dodie Smith. Thanks for the recommendation Natalie, I loved it. It's been awhile since I read a girlie book, it made a nice change of pace from all the blood and gore I have been mired in lately with the Starbuck Chronicles. The ending was a bit of a cliff hanger, so I'll have to write my own happily ever after.......................Back to the blood and gore, I am fixing to start on Bernard Cronwell's novel of the French Revolution, The Fallen Angels. He wrote it under the pseudonym Susannah Kells if you are interested in reading it.

Book Recommendation

The Starbuck Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell. The first book in the series places Nathanial Starbuck at the first Bull Run, and the books he has written so far continue until The Battle of Antietam in 1862. I do wish he would hurry up and write some more. I would like to know if Nathanial Starbuck survives the Civil War.

Finding Support For A Secular Homeschooler

As a homeschooler who isn’t homeschooling for “religious reasons” I felt very lonely when I first started homeschooling.

A large number of homeschool support groups in my area are of a religious nature and insist you sign a statement of faith before joining. While I consider myself a Christian I found it slightly insulting to be required to sign a statement of faith. I also found it upsetting that my friends of other faiths wouldn’t be allowed to join. Then there were the meetings 10-20 minutes were spent on prayer request, at least 15 minutes was spent in prayer, and a measly 10 minutes were allocated to answering homeschool questions, and as a new homeschooler I had plenty of questions. And of course there were all the topics I had to warn my children not to discuss; things like evolution and theology (You would be surprised how many Christians don’t know who Lilith is).

So I set out to find an inclusive group. Why as a Christian did I want an inclusive group those of you who are perfectly happy in exclusive Christian groups might ask? First we don’t exist in a vacuum. It is very important to be able to discuss in a respectful manner other people’s viewpoints. One day our children will go to college or join the workforce, where they will meet people with views and values different then their parents, they need to know how to interact with them in a respectful manner. Secondly an inclusive group offers a chance to broaden your horizons and discover new things. So I was thrilled when I discovered PEAK. And while we are an inclusive group we do expect our members to exhibit good manners and behave in a civilized manner. Since we all have different religious backgrounds and beliefs our discussions mainly center on homeschooling.

Of course finding a support group wasn’t the only hurdle someone who isn’t homeschooling for “religious reasons” faces. Finding secular textbooks was a challenge. I finally found the HomeSchool Supercenter, which carries both religious and secular textbooks. It’s not that I am anti-religious, but I want my children to have a science and history background that will prepare them for university courses in the future. I still remember struggling in 7th grade with a real science class in public school after having been “taught” in a Christian Private School K-6th grade. My children won’t have to deal with being the only one in the class who doesn’t have a clue what the teacher is talking about when they bring up evolution.

So why do I homeschool, if it’s not for "religious reasons"? Because I believe my children deserve the best education available and the local public schools failed to deliver.

The Jesus Papers

Most of you know by now that The Da Vinci Code was based at least in part on the book Holy Blood Holy Grail. Now the co-author of the book Holy Blood Holy Grail, Michael Baigent , has written The Jesus Papers .

What We Will Be Learning

Sean will be in the 10th grade. Actually we don't really do grades. I use advance placement high school textbooks.

Since Sean expressed an interest in learning Spanish we will be doing that for his elective. We had a good experience with Power Glide when we learned Japanese so I will probably use it again.

The rest are textbooks I used previously with Jonathan.
Saxon 1st Semester Algebra II , second semester Advanced Mathematics.
AMSCO Economics and Institutions and Analysis
The EMC Masterpiece Series Literature and the Language Arts - World Literature
AMSCO Global Studies civilizations of the Past and Present (I will supplement this with the National Geographic as well as the textbook I used in college)
Conceptual Physical Science Second Edition by Hewitt, Suchocki, Hewitt
I ordered all these books thru the Homeschool Supercenter.

For Physical Education Sean usually plays soccer for OSSO, but I was very disappointed in several decisions the OSSO Board made last year. Mainly their plan to delay the start of OSSO's season until the end of FOOTBALL, and not providing uniforms for all our players until after we had played several games. Unless I see a different attitude regarding the U16 team, I think Sean will play for West River or D'Iberville if he still wants to play soccer. If not we will find some other activity for him to be involved in.

Judge Attempts to Teach Americans Civics 101

The Judge in the Intelligent Design case is attempting to explain civics to Americans, who apparently do not understand the importance of having an judiciary that doesn't act according to bias or political agenda.
We wish Judge Jones III luck.

Vice-President's List

Jonathan made the Vice-President's list at the Jackson County Community College. And as he reminded me, he had CALCULUS.

Sean hasn't finished for the year, but it looks as if he will have straight A's.

The Novels of Arthur - The Warlord Series

• 
  
  Ok, I'll admit up front that I prefer Jack Whyte's Camulod series. But honesty compels me to admit Cornwell's version is probably closer to the truth.
  
  It's comprised of three novels
  The Winter King
  Enemy of God
  and Excalibur
  
  The Winter King
  Uther the High King of Britain is dying. He blames his bastard son Arthur for the death of his beloved legitimate son Mordred, and is eagerly awaiting the birth of his grandson and heir Mordred. Mordred is born with a club foot, but is declared Uther's heir all the same. His mother is married off to King Gundleus, who kills her and attempts to kill the baby Mordred. Morgan (Arthur's sister) has substituted a slaves baby for Mordred, allowing Morgan, Nimue, Derfel and baby Mordred to escape from Gundleus' clutches.
  
  Derfel joins Arthur's men and is put under the command of the King's Champion Owain. When Prince Tristan brings Owain's treachery to light Arthur fights Owain and wins. Derfel is then sent to Benoic. Galahad (King Ban's bastard son) and Derfel fight mightily to protect Benoic, they rescue Merlin, and barely escape with their lives when Benoic falls. Ban's wife (Elaine) and his heir Lancelot (boo hiss) escape before there is any real danger. But Prince Lancelot who gets to Arthur's court first, lies about his part in the fight.
  
  Arthur was pledge to marry King Gorfyddyd's daughter Ceinwyn in order to bring peace to Britain. He breaks his betrothal to marry Guinevere, and starts a war instead. Deserted by the majority of his allies Arthur and his men face defeat at Lugg Vale. Prince Tristan brings his men against his father King Mark's wishes, but the tide is not turned until Merlin gets the Irish King Oengus Mac Airem to fight for Arthur instead of King Gorfyddyd. The book ends with Arthur's unexpected victory at Lugg Vale.

Enemy of God

Arthur plans to marry Ceinwyn to Prince Lancelot and give him Siluria to rule. Merlin promises Derfel his heart's desire if he will go with him to find the Cauldron of Clyddno Eiddyn (the forerunner of the Christian Holy Grail). Nimue has been talking with Ceinwyn and encouraging her to follow her heart. As a result at the betrothal feast Ceinwyn chooses Lord Derfel instead of Prince Lancelot.

Nimue, Ceinwyn, Derfel and Merlin face much danger but eventually find the Cauldron. Then Derfel joins Arthur to fight the Saxons. Humiliated by his inability to join the Cult of Mithras Prince Lancelot becomes a Christian. Arthur (who Guinevere encourages everyone to call a Prince) and Lord Derfel go to fight the Saxon King Aelle, leaving Prince Lancelot behind to defend their border. After Arthur defeats King Aelle, Prince Lancelot and the Saxon King Cerdic show up, forcing Arthur to make a peace with King Cerdic he doesn't want, and giving Lancelot the kingdom of Belgae, increasing his power in Britain. Lord Derfel is appointed the King's Champion, by Arthur.

Prince Tristan falls in love with his Step-Mother Queen Iseult. They flee to Dumnonia for protection, but Arthur turns them over to King Mark. Knowing that King Mark is a Tongued One, Prince Tristan chooses the Court of Swords. Culhwch (Arthur's cousin) and Lord Derfel offer to fight King Mark's champion in Prince Tristan's place. Arthur allows Culhwch and Lord Derfel to be trapped behind a shield wall, while Prince Tristan is slaughtered. Lord Derfel ends his friendship with Arthur over his betrayal of Prince Tristan.

Mordred comes of age and is named King. Culhwch challenges his right to rule. Lord Derfel refuses to kill his old friend when King Mordred demands it. Culhwch flees to King Cuneglas' kingdom. Arthur and Lord Derfel patch up their friendship. King Mordred sends Arthur and Lord Derfel to arrest Ligessac in hopes that the Christians will kill them. Arthur starts home with Ligessac as his prisoner, and Derfel goes to find his Mother, Erce. Erce tells him that King Aelle is his Father. Lord Derfel gets back to Dumnonia in time to see Lancelot wed the DEAD Norwenna in order to claim the kingdom of Dumnonia, and learns that King Mordred is dead. Arthur and Lord Derfel are also believed to be dead. Lord Derfel hurries home where his family is under attack by Prince Lancelot's Druids. His youngest daughter Dian is killed, but the rest of the family escapes to Cuneglas' kingdom. Galahad in the meantime has found King Mordred, and brought him to safety. Lord Derfel and Arthur join up to rescue Guinevere. Arthur discovers that not only is Lancelot her lover but she has used the Cult of Isis to put him on the throne. Lancelot is defeated and Arthur imprisons Guinevere. Arthur insist that Mordred is still King of Dumnonia, so they name Arthur Emperor, Lord of Kings.

Excalibur

Merlin has assembled the 13 Treasures of Britain and intends to summon the Gods on Mai Dun at Samhain. He is accompanied by Nimue and Gawain (who Merlin taught as a child to remain pure). Arthur, Galahad, Lord Derfel, Culhwch, Cuneglas and Issa storm Mai Dun to rescue Arthur's son when they realize Merlin plans to sacrifice him. They get there in time to save Gwydre (Arthur & Guinevere's son), and Mardoc (Mordred's son), but Gawain has already been sacrificed. When the God's don't come the people blame Arthur.

Arthur sends Lord Derfel to speak with King Aelle. Lord Derfel is forced to fight King Cerdic's champion, Liofa, before he can speak with his father. He leaves Liofa alive but scared. King Aelle gives Lord Derfel a ring to give to Ceinwyn and promises the wearer of the ring and her family will live when the Saxon's come.

Warned of Arthur's plans, by Mordred, the Saxons come at Beltane, surprising the Britain's. Lord Derfel, his family and Guinevere set out to join Arthur at Corinium. They are trapped by the Saxons at Mynydd Baddon. The Saxons believe Arthur is with them so they lay siege, and send for reinforcements. Looking at certain defeat Lord Derfel allows Guinevere to carry out her plan. She sends two fiery wagons toward the Saxon army saving the day. The next day the Saxons come in columns to prevent more wagons from wrecking havoc on their army, but Arthur shows up in time to prevent Mynydd Baddon falling to the Saxons. Liofa kills Cuneglas in single combat. When it looks as if the Saxons will win, Merlin shows up with Gawain (yes, I know he is dead - you'll have to read the book to find out) giving the victory to the Britain's. Severely wounded King Aelle begs Lord Derfel to give him a warriors death. Merlin warns Lord Derfel that Nimue will try to bring back the Gods and that she is harder and more ruthless then he is. Before leaving he tells Lord Derfel that what he seeks is among the dead trees. After searching the dead trees Lancelot is found and hung like a common criminal. Guinevere and Arthur reunite, and move to Siluria. Arthur's discarded wife Argante is married to Mordred. The troops of Dumnonia are split between Sagramor and Lord Derfel ( So everyone lives happily ever after - unfortunately we haven't reached the end of the book).

Gwydre (Arthur's son) and Morwenna (Lord Derfel's daughter) marry and have children. Mordered goes to Armorica to fight the Franks, where he is trapped and supposedly dying. Guinevere plots to give the crown to Gwydre while Meurig plots to take the crown for himself. Arthur sends Lord Derfel to Dumnonia to raise Gwydre's standard. Lord Derfel finds his garrison slaughtered by Mordred's forces and he is taken prisoner. Taliesin (a famous bard) poising as a Druid frees Lord Derfel and Bishop Sansum (Morgan's husband). Lord Derfel arrives home only to find Ceinwyn seriously ill. Nimue summons him and reveals that she has placed a curse on Ceinwyn and that she will not lift it until Lord Derfel brings her Gwydre and Excalibur. Nimue has blinded Merlin and is holding him prisoner. Merlin mangages to reveal to Lord Derfel the four curses Nimue placed on Ceinwyn and tells him that out of love for Arthur and Derfel he has a final gift for them. When all is lost they should go to Camlann and find Caddwg the boatman and he will take them into the silver mist. Lord Derfel returns home and Taliesin reveals he can lift the first three curse, but that he doesn't have the skill to reverse the curse of the Otherbody, and that he doubts anyone in Britain other then Merlin and Nimue do. Arthur and Merlin recalling Morgan was once Merlin's priestess send for her. She reveals that she can lift the curse but that it is against her Christian beliefs to do so. She finally agrees to lift the curse if Lord Derfel will become a Christian and swear allegiance to Bishop Sansum. He agrees to do so, Morgan then reveals that whatever binds Derfel to Nimue must be destroyed, which happens to be Derfel's hand. Lord Derfel allows his hand to be chopped off, Ceinwyn recovers and plans are made to sail for Dumnonia and join Sagramor.

Before they can set sail Nimue's army of the mad attack. Arthur's army escapes on the boats and Nimue sacrifices Merlin to Manawydan causing a storm to swamp all the boast except the one Arthur is in. With most of his soldiers lost at sea Arthur makes plans to flee Britain. Arriving in Camlann they discover Caddwg is caulking his boat and it will be the next day before they can leave. Reinforced by Sagramor's men they hold Mordered's army off until Caddwg is ready to leave. Arthur is severely wounded killing Mordred. Unable to take everyone Caddwg takes Arthur & Guinevere, Gwydre & Morwenna (their children), and Galahad away. Lord Derfel & Ceinwyn choose to stay behind with a dying Sagramor, and a dead Culhwch. Lord Derfel takes Excalibur and throws it into the sea. The fight ends and Meurig takes control of Dumnonia.

Growth of the American Republic

Thanks to Becky at Farm School I may have found a history text book.

Under consideration.
Growth of the American Republic by Henry Steele Commager, Samuel Eliot Morison, and William E. Leuchtenberg (volume I, volume II)

We will probably do supplemental reading too, but these are the most promising textbooks I have seen so far.

Homeschool Mom in TN Arrested

At the Homeschool Cafe, Natalie writes about a TN homeschooler arrested on truancy charges.

The Grail Quest

Wonderful series by Bernard Cornwell, comprised of 3 books
1.) Harlequin (renamed The Archer's Tale in the States)
2.) Vagabond
3.) Heretic


Harlequin
Guy Vexille aka the Harlequin comes from a family of Cathars. He brings mercenaries to Hookton to retrieve the Lance of St. George and the Holy Grail from his Uncle, the Count of Astarac.

Thomas of Hookton, watches as his village is destroyed by the Harlequin and the Lance of St. George stolen from the Church. Using his skill at archery he drives the Harlequin and his men off, and promises the dying priest that he will hunt the Harlequin down and retrieve the Lance of St. George. Thomas joins the army of King Edward III as an archer and goes to fight in French Brittany and Normandy (The beginning of the Hundred Years War). Unfortunately one of his enemies, Sir Simon Jekyll has him hung before the end of the book....................(it's really bad form to hang one of the main characters). Thankfully he is rescued by Eleanor. Eventually Thomas finds the Harlequin and destroys the Lance of St. George.

Vagabond
Philip of Valois, King of France turns Guy Vexille over to the Inquisitor, Bernard De Taillebourg. Guy tells how the Vexilles owned the Grail, and that it was last in Hookton in his Uncle's possession. They leave for England, to question Hugh Collimore an old monk who nursed Ralp Vexille.

Meanwhile King Edward III learns of Thomas' connection to the Grail and sends Thomas, his fiancee Eleanor (bastard daughter of Sir Guillaume d'Evecque), and Father Hobbe to speak with Hugh Collimore. They arrive in Durham in time for Thomas to help repeal the Scottish invasion, led by King David of Scotland. Thomas sends Eleanor and Father Hobbe on to speak with Father Collimore while he helps fight the Scots. Gux Vexille and Bernard De Taillebourg kill Father Collimore, Father Hobbe and the pregnant Eleanor. The only useful information they discover is that Ralp Vexille had a son.

Devastated by Eleanors death Thomas of Hookton, and Robbie (a Scot captured for ransom and with his own reasons for wanting Guy Vexille and Bernard de Taillebourg dead) journey to Hookton, so Thomas can speak with his Fathers old friend Sir Giles. Sir Giles gives Thomas a book that Father Ralph asked him to keep until Thomas was old enough to take care of himself. After receiving a summons from Sir Guillaume d'Evecque who is under siege from his liege lord for attacking Guy Vexille, Thomas and Robbie leave for France. After rescuing Sir Guillaume, Skeat and Mordecai they set out for La Roch Derrien.

Recalling his promise to Jeanette to return her son to her Thomas gathers some men in an attempt to kidnap the boy from Roncelets. Thomas is taken prisoner and tortured by Bernard de Taillebourg. Eventually he is ransomed for the book he was given by Sir Giles (after Robbie & Jeanette copy the original and make some changes to it).

During a battle between the French and English Skeat is killed trying to defend Jeanette from the Scarecrow. After the battle Thomas, Robbie and Sir Guillaume head south.

Heretic
Thomas and friends capture the Castillon d' Arbizon in time to keep the heretic (aka Genevieve) from being burned at the stake for being a beghard. Unfortunately Robbie comes to believe that Genevieve should have been burned at the stake and he joins Thomas' enemies for a time.

After being asked to leave Castillon d'Arbizon to prevent division between Robbie's supporters and Thomas' supporters, Thomas and Genevieve travel to Astarac. On the way there Thomas and Genevieve are attacked by bandits, when Thomas captures the bandit leader's son (Galdric), the bandit leader (Philin) offers to let them go in peace in exchange for his son. He also tells Thomas that Abbot Planchard will always take in a wounded man/woman. They travel to the abbey where Genevieve's wounds are treated. Abbot Planchard recognizes Thomas' badge, and identifies him as a Vexille. He shows Thomas a casket that once held the Grail.

Later Guy Vexile comes to the abbey looking for his cousin. Thomas and Genevieve hide in the ossuary, where they overhear a conversation between Abbot Planchard and Guy Vexille. Abbot Planchard's ancestor was one of the seven dark lords who took the Grail from Astarac and swore to protect it. Guy kills Abbot Planchard and sets out to find Thomas. Thomas and Genevieve in the company of the bandits make their way back to Castillon d' Arbizon which is under siege.

On their way into the Castillon they kill Charles Bessieres (the brother of Cardinal Bessieres) who was sent with Guy to plant a fake Grail in Astarac. They find the fake Grail, but when Thomas breaks it they realize it is a fake. Both side are overcome with the plague. Sir Guillaume and Jake die of the plague, but Sam, Genevieve, Thomas and Robbie survive and travel to Hookton where Thomas finds the Grail, exactly where he left it.

Whose moral compass counts?

A wonderful column in the Meridian Star by Steven Brody

Let's Teach History Not Fairy Tales

I have been looking for a good American History Book. You know one that actually teaches history and not some sanitized feel good fairy tale. It looks like my search will be getting harder.

California's many ethnic and cultural communities have sought legislation that requires school children to be taught about their "role and contributions" in a positive way and bans instruction that depicts them negatively. So instead of textbooks presenting the full story to today’s students written by fair-minded and authoritative historians, they are getting the politically correct sanitized version. And then we wonder why the students of today seem to have less knowledge of the world then those of my generation; who were actually taught history not some fairy tale concocted by those with enough political pull to get our history changed to suit them.

Frankly I am tired of special interest groups wanting to rewrite history and demonize historical figures. An example is two students who attend the Jeff Davis campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. According to Genesis Be and her brother Israfel Briggs, they are embarrassed to tell people that they go to a school named after Jefferson Davis. First since they were free to go to any college or university if the name of the campus was such a problem for them, they should have gone somewhere else. Secondly their reasons for demonizing President Jefferson Davis shows an appalling lack of historical knowledge.


Jefferson Davis was much more then the first and last President of the Confederacy. He represented Mississippi in Congress from 1845-1846. He resigned his congressional seat in order to serve in the Mexican War. He was the Senator from Mississippi from 1847 to 1851, then again from 1857-1861. He was the Secretary of War in the cabinet of President Franklin Pierce from 1853 to 1857. This was a man who served his country well during times of war and peace, and he certainly deserves the recognition of having a community college located near his last home named after him.

Sir Federick Kenyon Died 53 Years Ago, Archaeological Finds Didn't Cease

Apparently Abraham Smith has his own agenda, and is extremely biased. Bart D. Ehrman chairs the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina. His book Lost Christianities The Battles for Scriptures and the Faiths We Never Knew was scrupulously researched. He isn’t a so-called liberal scholar, with a hidden agenda as Smith maintains.

Even though we have numerous copies of text it is impossible to construct the exact words of the original as all the text differ. We are not talking about misspelling peoples’ names or having alternate destinations as Smith contends. Scribes made alterations that changed the whole meaning of the verse, in order to promote their sects beliefs. For example Jesus’ baptism, in the oldest surviving witnesses to Luke’s Gospel, the voice quotes the words of Psalm 2:7 “You are my Son, today I have begotten you” (Luke 3:22). Supporting the adoptionists belief that God adopted Jesus at the time of his baptism. Even though the potentially dangerous (“heretical”) form of the text is found in virtually all our oldest witnesses, it is the altered form of the text that is found in the majority of surviving manuscripts and reproduced in most of our English translations. So Smith isn’t actually reading what Luke wrote, he is reading what the proto-orthodox scribes altered the text of Luke to say.

And with all due respect to Smith, Sir Federick Kenyon died August 23, 1952. Many archaeological discoveries have been made since his death. Sir Federick Kenyon’s daughter Kathleen also became an archaeologist and began excavating Jericho the year her father died. She came to conclusions that differed from her dad's. Today, Frederick's conclusions are seldom mentioned outside Christian circles. (Christian History Institute )