Comments for sursumcorda.salemsattic.com/post/gag-me-with-a-cookie

Comment #2078

2010-08-04T04:20:11Z

The boys struggled a little to figure out how to get from the Maggie P to Fort Gardiner (near the Flounder), since the directions were telling them to go into the cove - they thought maybe they needed to walk on the beach, but couldn't figure out how to go a mile in that direction.

They walked to the road, and then thought maybe they needed to go to the Gay's.

Eventually, with a little guidance, they figured out they needed to go across the cove, and not into it, and then happily went off across the causeway.

Comment #2077

2010-08-03T17:38:45Z

That's my Noah! You should try him on a compass course. :)

Comment #2076

2010-08-03T16:35:48Z

I don't think our speeches were checked, although we might have done a preview of sorts during school, something about not all students coming to graduation or something? I can't remember.

I'd think that valedictorians would be the sort of people you wouldn't need to censor for a school speech. Though I'm now thinking of a high school friend who got straight A's one year, but missed 120 days of school, so the school said, we'll allow you to pass, but next year you need to stick to the attendance policy. He used up his days in the first month...

He didn't have much good to say about the school, and it was too bad that something couldn't have been worked out. He was aiming for the Berkeley school of music - best guitarist I've ever heard, but I don't think he ended up going.

As for the smart phone pocket - A dad noticed Noah holding my phone/GPS when in Old Saybrook and thought it was pretty good that he was leading our expedition.

Comment #2075

2010-08-03T13:21:10Z

Interesting, yes. Heather had to have her valedictory speech vetted by the administration -- kudos to this school if they (1) didn't require prior approval, or (2) allowed this speech anyway. Sure, it's a little polemic...but I have to plead guilty on that score, too. :(

Comment #2074

2010-08-03T12:02:18Z

Changing "badges" to "grades"...thought you might find this valedictorian's speech interesting.

What kind of teenager reads John Taylor Gatto?

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/212383-Valedictorian-Speaks-Out-Against-Schooling-in-Graduation-Speech

Comment #2073

2010-08-02T17:54:07Z

I wouldn't have a problem with a video game badge, even if it were for the older scouts, if it were difficult enough. You want a large variety of activities and areas of interest, and video gaming can fall in the same category as coin collecting, which has had a badge for as long as I was aware of it. My problem with the whole merit badge system (Girl and Boy Scouts) is that there's so little "merit" in them. I received plenty of badges that I hardly earned, they were made so easy—and I knew it at the time, though I didn't have the integrity to refuse them. Sure, earning badges seemed onerous, but that was only because I either had no interest in the subject or was too lazy to want to work at it. The object was to acquire badges rather than to acquire knowledge.

Then again, I had the same problem with school....

Comment #2072

2010-08-02T11:51:07Z

I wrote my comment in a hurry yesterday and didn't have time to find this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/28/boy-scouts-video-game-bad_n_555085.html

A video game badge. This is for the kids younger than boys scout age - Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts and Webelos.

Here is the article I couldn't find yesterday.

http://www.startribune.com/nation/99206354.html

Comment #2071

2010-08-01T15:06:14Z

I don't mind adding technology badges (as long as they add, rather than replace), but I'm not so sure about the uniform pocket.

Much as I appreciate being able to reach D on the Island via his Blackberry, something is lost in that transition.

Comment #2070

2010-08-01T13:07:09Z

They are trying to make the Boy Scouts more relevant, too. They are introducing technology badges and changing the uniform to include a pocket for a smart phone. There was an article in today's paper, but I can't find it on-line (author: Scott K. Parks).