Wednesday evening, VT*Grand had her last concert of high school. She won the Choral Award! I suppose we shouldn't have been surprised, given that she sang a lead part of Sorceress in the opera Dido & Aeneas this year, and was chosen for All State Chorus. It was impressive, still, to hear the accolades from her a cappella teacher, and to learn that she always showed up early for a cappella practice (at 7:30am!), after tending her horses. She has been an officer of the Music Department for years, and is so encouraging of her fellow musicians. We are as super proud of her diligence and commitment as we are of her beautiful voice and immense talent! Graduation is coming up on the first Saturday of June. Then, on to college!!
"In recognition of singular merit, ability, and achievement, of outstanding contributions to the success of the school vocal program, and of an unusual degree of loyalty, cooperation and high qualities of conduct, by the general consent of the music faculty, school officials and others, the National School Choral Award is hereby conferred..."
In addition, the Music Department officers thanked individually the parents who had gone the extra mile(s) over the years to support the efforts of the Music Dept, and Eldest was the first thanked. Plus, being one of the officers, VT*Grand got to present the thanks to him. Pretty sweet moment.
Finally got started working in the gardens on Wednesday afternoon. Most days have been too rainy or cold, and on the semi-decent days we had to do boat prep. But with Loch Nest on her mooring now, I am looking forward to more digging in the earth and oil painting! And I think the first robin chick may have hatched. All four should be cheeping by the end of the weekend.
Finland’s education system, often hailed as the best in the world, is the result of what many consider an "accidental" revolution, focusing on simplicity and human-centered values rather than rigid structures. Contrary to many countries where standardized testing dominates, Finland does not rely on exams as a measure of student success, opting instead for continuous assessment and fostering a deeper understanding of subjects. The school day in Finland is shorter than in most other nations, running from 9 AM to 2 PM, with minimal homework that allows students time to relax, explore hobbies, and engage in family life. This thoughtful approach ensures that children are not overburdened, allowing them to retain a genuine curiosity and love for learning. Finnish teachers also benefit from a unique work-life balance; they work fewer hours compared to teachers in other countries and are highly respected professionals, with salaries comparable to those of doctors. The key to Finland's success lies in the trust placed in educators, who are well-trained and empowered to innovate and meet the needs of their students. The focus on equality, well-being, and the value of education for all has helped Finland create an environment where students are encouraged to learn at their own pace, fostering creativity and critical thinking. Finland's education model has become a global benchmark, showcasing that a holistic approach, rather than strict testing and competition, is the best way to nurture future generations.
Julia Huang writes: I live in Finland, I can tell you that the teaching profession is respected here (much like doctors are)--but the pay is nowhere near the average doctor's salary. It's a middle-class wage, and they don't have to work a second job.
Yvonne Matthews writes: And the reason they have such a great education system is progressive taxes. Taxes fund not only the education system itself but keeping families out of poverty so the kids have a chance to learn. They have fewer billionaires as a result of taxing the wealthy but oddly that hasn't proven to be detrimental to Finnish happiness and prosperity.
This sounds very much like home schooling as regards ease, focus and values. I'm delighted to hear that a country has found a way to offer this to all students. Had we had this in the US, we wouldn't have needed to home school. But, no regrets. Our kids all turned out well. Did fine in college and are living lives that contribute to society and have time for enjoyment too.
Before I sleep… If you haven’t already done so, download the “5 calls” app. You type in your zip code and it gives you an easy way to call all your Congress members, including the latest info about what to call them about. You pick a topic and it even gives you a possible script to use. It’s handy to read over and speeds up the process. Check it out!
Apparently there was a shooting at a Jewish Museum in D.C. about three hours ago. Two Israeli embassy employees dead. I have only just now seen the headline, and have no details.
The Big Beautiful Bill passed the House about an hour ago on a vote of 215 to 214. All Dems voted against. Two Reps also voted against, while one voted present. It now goes to the Senate, where it will be considered under the rules of reconciliation, which require only a simple majority to pass.
Wednesday evening, VT*Grand had her last concert of high school. She won the Choral Award! I suppose we shouldn't have been surprised, given that she sang a lead part of Sorceress in the opera Dido & Aeneas this year, and was chosen for All State Chorus. It was impressive, still, to hear the accolades from her a cappella teacher, and to learn that she always showed up early for a cappella practice (at 7:30am!), after tending her horses. She has been an officer of the Music Department for years, and is so encouraging of her fellow musicians. We are as super proud of her diligence and commitment as we are of her beautiful voice and immense talent! Graduation is coming up on the first Saturday of June. Then, on to college!!
ReplyDeleteThe award reads:
Delete"In recognition of singular merit, ability, and achievement, of outstanding contributions to the success of the school vocal program, and of an unusual degree of loyalty, cooperation and high qualities of conduct, by the general consent of the music faculty, school officials and others, the National School Choral Award is hereby conferred..."
In addition, the Music Department officers thanked individually the parents who had gone the extra mile(s) over the years to support the efforts of the Music Dept, and Eldest was the first thanked. Plus, being one of the officers, VT*Grand got to present the thanks to him. Pretty sweet moment.
Wow! Pretty impressive credentials. Is she going to major in Music?
DeleteFinally got started working in the gardens on Wednesday afternoon. Most days have been too rainy or cold, and on the semi-decent days we had to do boat prep. But with Loch Nest on her mooring now, I am looking forward to more digging in the earth and oil painting! And I think the first robin chick may have hatched. All four should be cheeping by the end of the weekend.
ReplyDeleteJust read this:
ReplyDeleteFinland’s education system, often hailed as the best in the world, is the result of what many consider an "accidental" revolution, focusing on simplicity and human-centered values rather than rigid structures. Contrary to many countries where standardized testing dominates, Finland does not rely on exams as a measure of student success, opting instead for continuous assessment and fostering a deeper understanding of subjects.
The school day in Finland is shorter than in most other nations, running from 9 AM to 2 PM, with minimal homework that allows students time to relax, explore hobbies, and engage in family life. This thoughtful approach ensures that children are not overburdened, allowing them to retain a genuine curiosity and love for learning. Finnish teachers also benefit from a unique work-life balance; they work fewer hours compared to teachers in other countries and are highly respected professionals, with salaries comparable to those of doctors.
The key to Finland's success lies in the trust placed in educators, who are well-trained and empowered to innovate and meet the needs of their students. The focus on equality, well-being, and the value of education for all has helped Finland create an environment where students are encouraged to learn at their own pace, fostering creativity and critical thinking.
Finland's education model has become a global benchmark, showcasing that a holistic approach, rather than strict testing and competition, is the best way to nurture future generations.
Comments:
DeleteJulia Huang writes:
I live in Finland, I can tell you that the teaching profession is respected here (much like doctors are)--but the pay is nowhere near the average doctor's salary. It's a middle-class wage, and they don't have to work a second job.
Yvonne Matthews writes:
And the reason they have such a great education system is progressive taxes. Taxes fund not only the education system itself but keeping families out of poverty so the kids have a chance to learn. They have fewer billionaires as a result of taxing the wealthy but oddly that hasn't proven to be detrimental to Finnish happiness and prosperity.
My Comment:
DeleteThis sounds very much like home schooling as regards ease, focus and values. I'm delighted to hear that a country has found a way to offer this to all students. Had we had this in the US, we wouldn't have needed to home school. But, no regrets. Our kids all turned out well. Did fine in college and are living lives that contribute to society and have time for enjoyment too.
It is my understanding that in Finland, the first foreign language taught in public schools is Interlingua.
Delete----Alan
You'll never get Americans to go for such a sensible system. Competition, you know, dog eat dog is the way to creat real men, and all that bosh.
DeleteWil and I are definitely going to the protest on June 14th, as DT does his absurd military parade. Seems like it will be "Flag Upsidedown Day"!
ReplyDeleteBBC: Two Israeli embassy staff shot dead near Jewish museum in Washington DC
ReplyDeleteBefore I sleep…
ReplyDeleteIf you haven’t already done so, download the “5 calls” app. You type in your zip code and it gives you an easy way to call all your Congress members, including the latest info about what to call them about. You pick a topic and it even gives you a possible script to use. It’s handy to read over and speeds up the process. Check it out!
Paul Krugman: Gaming Out a Sudden Stop; What happens if investors lose faith in America?---Alan [Click] Better constructed link, I think.
ReplyDeleteYes, thank you.
DeleteApparently there was a shooting at a Jewish Museum in D.C. about three hours ago. Two Israeli embassy employees dead. I have only just now seen the headline, and have no details.
ReplyDelete/sigh/ Guess I should read through the blog before posting. Sorry about that.
DeleteGoodness, we all get inspired to come here with something to post! If we always stopped to read first, we’d forget what we came by for! 😆
DeleteThe Big Beautiful Bill passed the House about an hour ago on a vote of 215 to 214. All Dems voted against. Two Reps also voted against, while one voted present. It now goes to the Senate, where it will be considered under the rules of reconciliation, which require only a simple majority to pass.
ReplyDeleteVideo: ‘Great day in America’: Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ scrapes through House in razor-thin vote - Click The first four minutes or so give the details. After that, it's all Reps blathering about how wonderful the bill is. BLEK!
This is soooo bad!!!
DeleteCongress would be requiring the courts to not stop the president’s wishes.
The Tudor Inventions That Changed Humanity's Understanding Of The World [Click]
ReplyDelete-----Alan
ReplyDeleteTrump administration bars Harvard from enrolling international students
Why do they have to break EVERYTHING?!!