In the news

Apparently, I have ruffled some feathers. Not that it concerns me, but apparently some people were not pleased with this post. Suddenly, I’m getting reaction months after the fact because students found the post and told the teacher. Btw…note the date of that post. It was last year. Then someone came in and commented, telling me basically, that it was “unnecessary” and mentioning this woman’s pregnancy as a factor.

This person does not identify themselves in regard to their relational interest in the situation (I wonder about pseudonyms), but does attempt to endorse the teacher with a statement about her “caliber.” For the record, know that the teacher made public comments to my son about my post in her classroom, telling him to notify me not to write any more “lies” about her in my blog.

Now, it seems unreasonable and “unnecessary” to me for an adult to publicly comment in a manner meant to embarrass and humiliate their students, yet be so incensed when an equal posts public comments in regard to that person’s unethical behavior in defense of the child.

If she wanted to address me, she has my number and email, and could have contacted me herself, but clearly, she is using every opportunity to attack my son, so this is the manner in which she communicated her annoyance with me. We’re talking about a 12 year old kid and a grown woman whose responsibility is to teach without bias, and without using her position to influence or deter the personal beliefs of the children in their care. She should know better.

I realize that some children are a handful, and some parents don’t care, but I’m not one of them. I also realize that my son is a bit outspoken (gee, wonder where he gets that from), and he does need to learn tact, but he is still a kid, therefore, his lack of tact is to be expected at times. I don’t expect to see that from an adult who has a responsibility to teach and/or influence children. Therefore, the “caliber” that was mentioned in regards to this teacher is still in question due to her conduct.

I have no problem with defending what we believe in, which was blatantly attacked in her classroom, so for those with an issue concerning that defense…sorry, but that will not change.

Recently, my son told me that he addressed this teacher after school (sensible) and asked her why she was contradicting her statements (basically every time they were challenged or brought up by me), and he flat out told her she was lying, because she kept trying to deny statements she made to him in class. Her response basically, was how dare he, (a kid) speak to her about her conduct.

Now, like I said, my son does get outspoken at times, and I don’t say that to excuse him. He will call me to the mat if he thinks for a minute that I’ve lied to him about anything. He still needs to be respectful, but he tends to speak this way when he’s been offended or is stressed or upset. It is apparent to me that this teacher continually gets him in that emotional state. None of his other teachers have this sort of issue with my son. Their issues have mainly been whether or not he’s completing his assignments and paying attention in class, and sometimes his tendency to be a little overemotional, but there is no personal problem with him and any other teacher.

He told me that after this teacher returned from her maternity leave, she told the class that she was going to start over with them. He said she showed them pictures of her baby on the computer, which he said was very cute. I told him, if she is willing to start over with everyone, then you do the same; forgive and let the past go. Unfortunately, it does not appear that sentiment of hers lasted long.

He told me a day or so later, that she had worn a nice outfit, and he simply told her that she looked nice. He said the next day she came back and told him not to “comment on her body parts.” He came home highly upset, because he couldn’t believe she would say that when his intention was only to give her a compliment. He said, “I was just trying to be nice.”

When the bias against my son is to the point that he can’t even give a simple compliment to this individual without being subjected to some harsh, extreme response, then I have an obligation as a parent to get involved, especially now that he has apparently been banned from her classroom.

He was not allowed in there last week after he addressed her after school about her comments. It is more than obvious her actions are punitive in nature, and his banishment from her class had nothing to do with disruptive behavior, but only with the fact that he dared to challenge her about her conduct. At least he waited until after school to address her, which is more professional than her public displays in the classroom meant to humiliate him.

I have to say that her banishment of him from her class was actually a blessing, because I had already requested that he be moved to another classroom due to her obvious bias against him.

What I wonder about is the reason this teacher’s students were looking her up on the web, because that’s how they found my site. Was it to discover more about this “caliber” of hers? (Whatever their opinion on it may be…)

Additionally, it seems that it is a necessity to defend children being subjected to this sort of unprofessional and unethical conduct. It is also apparent that such defense becomes necessary when the children’s comments are not taken into serious consideration because they are children.

I know my son, and I know when he’s exaggerating and when he’s being truthful. I tend to ask him “What did you do before this…” in reference to whatever he’s telling me, so I can see if he initiated something that caused the reaction he received. There are parents out here that do communicate regularly with their kids, and know them.

Perhaps the public schools need to initiate a feedback mechanism, so that the school and school board can have a better idea what’s really going on in these classrooms. One would think that if enough children were stating a problem with the same teacher, it would need to be looked into.

In college, we do an end of the semester anonymous evaluation of the instructor for each class. The instructor has to leave the room, while the students write their evaluations and their grade on the teacher; and those evaluations are placed in an envelope and sealed. The instructor is required to submit these envelopes to the department head or dean/principal for review. If the instructor is the department head, then naturally, it has to go to someone higher.

Maybe this is a practice that needs to be instituted in the public grade school system as well for younger kids so that they can freely express how they feel about what they were taught, the teacher, and the classroom. These forms also allow for comments on how the teacher, class or instruction can be improved, and after these are reviewed by the superior, the instructor also gets to review them so they can make necessary adjustments.

I’m sure that my son is not the only child in that classroom that is subject to this unethical conduct of hers, (perhaps not as extreme as with my son) but perhaps the other kids are too afraid of her to speak up. She already threatened to fail my son, and to cause him trouble, so my son got to the point of not caring much about being afraid to speak up.

Since children’s voices are so rarely heard and so little attention is given to their concerns in public school, this might be a way to accommodate them, and address problems that administrators cannot see or that may be hidden.

I also don’t think that teachers should be punitively grading students because they don’t like their attitude, or the frustration the child may express when communicating with them. They are the adults, and should at least attempt to encourage better communication or attitude especially by personal demonstration. Their response is going to demonstrate that, and lead that child in adjusting their attitude or communication, or digressing and ultimately making it worse.

To just punitively grade a child because they express some frustration is not making the situation better. It only serves to frustrate the child more, especially because they are supposed to be graded on their school work, not their attitude. I say this in regards to attitude vs. disruption in the classroom, but still the adult can address the frustration in a better manner than just a write off with a bad grade.

Just my thoughts on the matter, and I don’t apologize for them. Some may think that my posting my thoughts on this is unnecessary, but the reason these things continue to be unaddressed is that no one speaks up…too afraid to rock the boat. I have “He who overcame the world” within, so fear has no place in my life, and I’m obligated to speak up for righteousness.

Perhaps some teachers need to be more wary of what they say to impressionable children. Just knowing that there are parents out here willing to address this sort of stuff might help.

Pray for this teacher and all teachers, because clearly, prayer is needed. Age has little to do with dignity and respect, and I see no reason why teachers that expect such can’t give it as well. Aside from that, prayer is so badly needed for the public school system and the children subjected to it. Peace and blessings.

Yes, I know I promised photos, but this week, with Easter has been busy, so I beg your indulgence for a bit longer until after the holiday, and then pics will be coming. Meantime, I hope everyone’s Easter celebrations are wonderful. Peace and blessings.

Hey all,

As usual, I have been MIA for a few days, but I’m back briefly to let you know that lil man  and I had an incredible adventure…one which I will have to return to tell you in part and in full, as….I may have to break it up into several posts. It will be so due to not only the entirety of the tale itself, which I need time to write, but also because I gots pictures this time. Now I know I have promised yall pics before, but…this time is different because I was using a digital camera, (borrowed from lil bro) and I took some awesome pics…about 162 of them…so yes…I have pics to show this time. I need time to download them and write my story, but I will be back soon to give yall the details. Peace and blessings.

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 3.4

Paul & the Female Controversy 2

In accordance to the book, “Paul, The Mind of the Apostle,” by A. N. Wilson, the following information about the problem Paul was dealing with in Corinth is as follows. (I will put direct information/quotes from the book in italics as opposed to quotation marks, and my comments and paraphrased notes from the book will be interspersed in the regular type.)

First, Corinth (Korinthiazesthai in the greek) means to fornicate. It was the sacred hill-city of Aphrodite which crowned the high mountain on which the city stood. The temple was staffed by a thousand female slaves. This was a place of sexual license.

Shortly after Paul left – the Christians in Corinth got involved in a sexual scandal. A member of the church had an affair with his stepmother. (Considering all of Paul’s boasting in the books of the Corinthians – this no doubt caused him great embarrassment.) Paul was scandalized, claiming that if the guilty couple intended to marry, they’ll be breaking Roman law, which had a code relating to the spouses of parents. Sons were not allowed to steal their father’s women. This issue was, according to this writer, the reason for the inequality scriptures in the books of the Corinthians. However, he did note a few things about the support of women to Paul as well.

The foundation of the church in Europe owed everything to Paul’s friendship with a rich business woman named Lydia. (It started with associations or trading communities; Lydia and the cloth makers, in Phillipi; Priscilla and Aquila and the tentmakers in Corinth.)

It is absolutely ludicrous to think that Paul, who was so supported by women in these communities, both in the spirit, financially and economically, and pretty much in whatever he requested of them; would turn on them in such a divisive and insulting manner and basically tell them all to just sit down and shut up. This ideology just does not flow with Paul’s doctrine in general, nor does it fit his efforts to explain in his letters the actions and attitude of those seeking to follow the Lord.

Further on, he references the perceptions of the modern church against the established “occasional” letters of Paul’s to his friends and converts.

Paul is the great libertarian of religious history. Though a Jew of Jews – by his own account – he had the most cavalier view even of the written word of God. These good evangelicals will produced phrases of Paul’s to enforce their arguments one way or another, as if Paul’s letters were ‘Scripture’ in the sense of the Torah being ‘Scripture.’

This is what Paul’s letters were destined to become in later ages of Christendom, in fact, remarkably soon after his death. But when he wrote his letters, they were all occasional pieces, in response to particular needs and queries which had arisen among his friends and converts.

2Cr 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some [others], epistles of commendation to you, or [letters] of commendation from you?

 2Cr 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

 2Cr 3:3 [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Here, the author speaks about Ephesus as well. I felt this was relevant in that in both cases of Ephesus and Corinth, there was a problem of Aphrodite/Artemis/Diana worship, thus I thought it was pertinent to see what was happening in both places, seeing as how both were huge centers of this goddess worship.

Ephesus was a great centre of magic and magicians, and above all, its presiding deity, Artemis, had the most powerful magic of all and power over the ‘powers.’ The temple of Artemis was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Artemis, or Diana, as the Romans called her, was more widely worshipped than any other deity known to the Greek traveler Pausanias.

Artemis was big business in Ephesus – an entire month was dedicated to her; festivals, temple merchandise etc; Paul and his followers were interfering with capitalism in Ephesus.

Act 19:23  And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

 Act 19:24  For a certain [man] named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

 Act 19:25  Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

 Act 19:26  Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

 Act 19:27  So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

 Act 19:28  And when they heard [these sayings], they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great [is] Diana of the Ephesians.

 Act 19:29  And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

 Act 19:30  And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

 Act 19:31  And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring [him] that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

 Act 19:32  Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

 Act 19:33  And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

 Act 19:34  But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great [is] Diana of the Ephesians.

 Act 19:35  And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, [Ye] men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the [image] which fell down from Jupiter?

  Act 19:36  Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

 Act 19:37  For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

 Act 19:38  Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

 Act 19:39  But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

 Act 19:40  For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 3.4

Paul & the Female Controversy 1

Now, considering that it’s been a good two weeks since I was posting on this subject, I’m going to go back a bit to come forward, and repeat a few poignant points. This section is revolving around the issue of Asherah and the reasons for the worship of her in the “high places,” as referenced in the reason that Isaiah had his prophesy for the four kings.

The truth of God…the freedom in God was not being given or shown to be for women. Why?

God told Eve she had to be submitted to her husband, but my point is this: All of this has eventually snowballed into the women’s movement we know of today and throughout history. The only reason that women were able to step out into extremism in this arena is because of the lack of balance in viewing this Genesis story, and the place or position of women by men who rule over all; and because men have done what Adam did, and acquiesced on some level-giving women the lead then turning and accusing women because of their own weakness.

While prideful men in the church wish to claim the fall as the result of an act of Eve’s in usurping her husband, what we do know is that the serpent’s intent was to cause just such a situation of accusation between males and females. The question in my mind is…at that stage of creation…when there was no “war between the sexes,” why would the woman want to usurp her husband? This is the theology of the church as a whole, laying the blame for the fall on Eve. What reason would she have? I don’t see any. They were completely free in the garden. She had just been given to him. It seems she didn’t even know she was to acquiesce to him. I mean think about it…everything was innocence in the garden. They didn’t even know they had a sinful nature until this situation occurred, and then…how would they even know how to deal with that side of their personage? They were babes! Babes learn through trial and error.

Perhaps that is the reason for the judgment God gave Eve…so that she could understand her role and truly come along side her husband as his helper, not his/the ruler of their relationship; and certainly not as a punishment for trying to “assert herself over her husband” as we’ve been led to believe for years. I think the actual punishment was pain in childbirth, and I’m sure the ladies would agree with me.

But look how often God had to teach the children of Israel, via discomfort/pain/defeat that He was the only one they were to follow. Look how often He had to cast judgment on them for their disobedience and idolatry. Because it’s the end result of a training exercise, and in order to advance to the next level of growth, one must “pass the test.” If one fails the testing/proving, then judgment occurs to teach us. Pain is one of the best teachers around.

I don’t think God intended women to be subjugated in everything, nor prohibited from utilizing God given gifts for ministry as a result, particularly because this “fall” was already in the plans of God.

Does this sound like God? “I have chosen you out from the nations…out of many, I chose you, because I love you. You are special to me and I am going to send you forth into the fields to the harvest. I have endowed you with exactly the gifts you need to do my will and walk in my way. My Son did great things…miracles on the earth, and just as He told His followers, ‘You shall do greater things than these.’ Arise and go forth! Oh wait a minute! You’re the wrong gender. I can’t use you in this manner. My bad!”

God never intended for His church to be divided by a battle between the sexes. In fact, He authorized female leaders even in the Old Testament. Deborah was one such leader, and she not only led the army to victory, but the nation. She was one of the Judges. Not only was she a leader and judge of the nation, but she was also married, and God was with her.

In addition, Ruth and the women were the ones gleaning in the fields. Jesus mentions a harvest, and scripture clearly shows women in the fields gleaning the harvest. I realize there were reapers, but the women were still a valued part of the harvesting process, right there in the field. It almost looks like they were (in bowling terms) picking up the spares, or the ones that missed it the first time around. But the point is, they were still there in the fields of harvest, and it doesn’t indicate that they were picking a separate type of grain or crop. It was exactly the same field of harvest…no distinctions.

Clearly, this is a foreshadowing of what is also supposed to be in the New Testament, as the Old Testament foreshadows the New. This is why I know that Paul was not biased against women as portrayed by some. He was addressing a particular problem in Ephesus and in Corinth because Ephesus was the capital of these pagan gods at that time, the Greek versions…and there were many of them; and Corinth was a center for the commercialization of pagan worship. He was addressing an extreme situation.

Now, to give you an idea of the extreme problems Paul was dealing with, I went to the library, and looked for books on Paul. One book I found, “Paul, The Mind of the Apostle,” by A. N. Wilson, gives the information that will be in the next post. I consulted three different books as sources of the information I found, which is part of the reason I haven’t posted on this for a bit…research. I will put this information out here and let you, the reader, formulate your own perceptions and opinions from it, but I definitely do not discourage your comments and discussion on the subject.

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 3.3 Asherah 8

God never intended for His church to be divided by a battle between the sexes. In fact, He authorized female leaders even in the Old Testament. Deborah was one such leader, and she not only lead the army to victory, but the nation. She was one of the Judges. Not only was she a leader and judge of the nation, but she was also married, and God was with her.

Jdg 4:4   Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.

Lapidoth:

Torches. Deborah is called “the wife of Lapidoth” (Jdg 4:4). Some have rendered the expression “a woman of a fiery spirit,” under the supposition that Lapidoth is not a proper name, a woman of a torch-like spirit.

Jdg 4:5   She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided.

Clearly, this is a foreshadowing of what is also supposed to be in the New Testament, as the Old Testament foreshadows the New. This is why I know that Paul was not biased against women as portrayed by some. He was addressing a particular problem in Ephesus, because Ephesus was the capital of these pagan gods at that time, the Greek versions…and there were many of them. He was addressing an extreme situation. The worship of Aphrodite, the then current version of Asherah, and the subsequent extremism in the attempts by the men to squelch it was causing a revolt among the women, not unlike the women’s liberation movement in modern times; it had to be addressed.

Basically, I’ve moved a bit more in the middle on this. While I don’t agree with the fundamentalist’s assessment of Paul as prejudicial against women; at the same time, I recognize that ministry begins in the home. I personally feel that if a woman has children, she needs to attend to family first and ministry second. In this vein, she is still submitted to her husband; but if her husband has no objection to her ministry in whatever capacity, and God has gifted her for such, then she should move in the flow of whatever God has blessed her to do.

However, as clearly seen above, Deborah was married, and God allowed her to lead both the men and the women. At this point, I don’t know if she had children or not, but in my personal opinion its better if the woman’s children are grown and gone, before she enters a full-time ministerial role such as pastor because that is a great responsibility.