Jack’s Winning Words 9/7/16
“The aim of education is the knowledge, not of facts, but of values.”  (William R. Inge)  Recently a list of the top schools in Michigan was published.  What is it that makes a top school?  Academic performance is usually the criteria.  I don’t know that I went to top-schools as a kid, but I did get a good education, and somehow that included learning a value-system.  Wouldn’t it be interesting if students today were tested on their knowledge of values?    ;-)  Jack    

FROM TARMART REV:  Interesting in deed!! I certainly gained appreciation for America, faith and respect for one another during my earlier formative years of grade school education.====JACK:  We all stood for "the pledge" with no questions raised.  We now live in a time when questioning is a way of life.  Good or bad?====REV:  "Public questioning and demonstrating" is currently a way of life" . . . I am not sure there was no challenging earlier in those days spoken of behind closed doors, as it would seem that to be a norm for any community of individuals being home, church or government.
You can imagine the disappointment, confusion and dismay around the supper table with one of the family members absence because of unhappiness the way family is being run at the moment?! Churches have been split over such and seems our government is in the mix of such presently?! Praise publicly, duke it out in the bedroom or conference room privately for some agreeable solution.
My thought anyway.====JACK:  Even Jesus was crucified for publicly questioning the values and authorities of his day.  Some AG oldsters would roll over in their graves seeing what goes on in the AG of today.

EDUCATOR PAUL:  Wouldn't it be interesting to know that people could agree on the same values? One would think that it would be relatively easy deciding what our Core Democratic Values would be.  That part of our Michigan State Curriculum fostered the greatest amount of controversy from all kinds of groups with all kinds of agendas. At one time, public education's light was to have shared values among our youth. Today, public education is attacked from not teaching any values to teaching values that some strongly object.  Some patents are so fearful of the values taught in our schools that they believe home schooling is the answer.====JACK:  The naming of "values" is an evolving process.  Even the 10 Commandments need a definition, depending on time and circumstances.  A posting of them, without "what does this mean?" becomes icon worship.  Standing or not standing for the National Anthem is understood only after discussing "loyalty" as a value.  Perhaps, then, both sides of the issue are understood.

FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  values come from family. name one value you learned at school that didn't originate at home...====JACK:  Some values taught in school are contrary to the "values" of some homes that I know of...and vice versa.  Value is simply a word which means, "that which a person considers to be important."  But I think I know what you're getting at.  "A good home carries over into everyday living."

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  I'm not sure I agree with this statement.  In order to learn values one must know facts.  I think the kids now are not learning either.====JACK:  Values, like beauty, are in the eye of the beholder.  Even "facts" are not always facts.  So, we are forced to live in a world where there are differences of opinion.

FROM DM IN LIV:  I would love to see that.  Although concerned with what the results may be?====JACK:  The test results often depend on the questions asked.  What one person sees as a value does not always coincide with another person's sense of value.  Value, meaning...what a person sees as be worthwhile.

FROM GUSTIE MARLYS:  Sure would!====JACK:  It might be interesting to ask your grandchildren what are the important things (values) in their life today.  

 FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  Education is a lifelong experience.  Good teachers are essential in the school and in the home.  I have confidence in the students today because of my grandchildren and of seeing what their values are as they prepare for their adult lives and vocations.  I am still enjoying learning as the new term begins for OLLI learning in retirement at USF.====JACK:  I'm proud of my grandchildren, too.  If there is true learning, then succeeding generations should be able to build on what has been learned before.  My grandson (Sr at the Univ of Michigan) asked me recently, "How were you ever able to handle learning without a computer?"  In days gone by there was book larnin' and larnin' without readin'.  

  FROM AW IN ILLINOIS:  Ha?...and all the time I thought it was to make money.====PAUL:  I'm grateful for "The Church" that provided me tuition-free seminary education, and I'm spending my life trying to pay it back.