Foretelling of Spring

There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of Nature ~

the assurance that 'dawn comes after night'

and 'Spring after Winter.'
(stated by Rachel Arson)

In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather
inside of 24 hours. (observed Mark Twain)

Millard Kaufman, glancing out the window at the signs of Spring declared:

“The sky was almost blue...the trees were almost budding...
and the sun was almost bright ~ at the signs of Spring.

My mind wanders to Spring on the Farm ~ and these practices I recall:

In winter, my sister and I wore snowsuits, hand-knit toques, scarves and mittens.
In early spring, Mother prepared her gardens for seasonal produce ~ asking Dad to prepare the orchard trees for for successful fruit production: apples, pears, cherries and peaches. From her raspberry patch, she trimmed the canes to encourage growth of their rich, tasty produce. For her rows of strawberries, she added mulch and fertilizer. And, in rows of her spacious ploughed garden, several vegetables were planted. Dad, putting his tractor into gear, pulled a machine to liven and fertilize his fields for the yearly or bi-yearly growth of corn and grains and alfalfa.
In spring, his cows, horses, chickens, barnyard donkey and goats
could daily spend more hours for greater freedom...and less in-barn confinement.
Even the egg-laying chickens clucked happily outdoors.

In the Spring, lambs were born and so, with great pleasure, my sister and I
named each lamb ~ and when calling each by name, they'd come to us.

One fact you may not know about the ewes' lambs that
was a bane to me, They are born with tails...and as you can imagine,
the wool in this body area, would very messy get...so, there is only one solution!
The procedure was always on a Sunday morning when they were young:

It was my task to hold the lamb while Dad, with sharp clippers
severed the tail from its body!
Of course, the lamb wildly bleated during the procedure.
He then swabbed a disinfectant to prevent infection.
When operation completed...lamb bleated, running off to find its Mommy Ewe!

The whole world comes alive after winter, in which it seemed everything was dead.

The world comes filled with colour and the scent of delicious greenery.
The world that seemed so dull and cold, has come alive again.

Little did we know that beneath the cold hard ground
the plants and trees were preparing for rebirth.
Spring gives us hope for rejuvenation in our own lives as well.
Spring is a time to renew the excitement and zest for life that lives inside.
(unknown author)

Spring has finally arrived!
The grass is green across the hill.

But yellow blooms the daffodil.
It's sunshine on a little stalk ~

A friendly flower ~ I bet they talk!

With Heidi Barr, I agree:A visit to the family farm in Spring
means witnessing growth...and challenge...and beauty...and stillness
all rolled into one.

Daniel Webster's Principle

Let us not forget that the cultivation of the earth
is the most important labour of man!
When tillage begins, all other arts of cultivation will follow.
The farmers, therefore are the founders of civilization.

Composed by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 28, 2020

Comments most welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

BULLYING

The longer a child is bullied, the more likely they are to develop
physical, emotional and psychological scars that can last a lifetime.

Bullying can be devastating ~ leaving children withdrawn...shy...and insecure.
Kids frequently suffer stomach-aches...headaches...panic attacks.... and nightmares.
They can be unable to sleep ~ or may sleep too much.
They often do poorly in school due to loss of focus and confidence.
Often results can be devastating!

Raised by Christian parents, my sister and I were abolished from several activities ~ and often jeered about 'the dress we wore.' My sister, (14 months older than me) took the brunt of such remarks ~
 due to her outspoken responses. We were barred from certain social events at both 
Public and High Schools.
Dancing and Movies were sinful!
Playing cards (supporting gambling) was also Taboo!

Such activities, said our parents, supported the 'ills of Hollywood.'

Except for summer, we were chided about wearing long brown stockings!
To avoid these snide comments ~ when out of sight from home,
we rolled these stockings down to below our knees.
Our father, often jokingly stated to relatives and neighbours, I'll soon have to sit on the front porch with my shot-gun! Well, he may have ~ for that was his opinion!

Transport Truck and Driver: When, while roller-skating to school one afternoon, I tripped and fell facing the traffic along Hwy 53 until reaching the sidewalk into the village school. My knees, badly skinned and bleeding, I was sprawled in pain. A truck driver leaving the village en route to Brantford, stopped to assist me. Crying out of pain and frustration, I was mightily embarrassed 'cause this was a MAN with whom I should not associate!!! Obtaining a First Aid Kit from his parked vehicle, he cleansed my bleeding right knee...layered on some salve...and bandaged it. Ensuring that I could skate, he watched until I reached the sidewalk into the village. 
My sister, already at school, I could not relate to her this incident
fearing she would tell my parents...and I'd be in trouble permitting a strange man to assist me.
As far as she was concerned, I'd fallen on the school grounds.

Toilet Flush: One time, when she was in Grade 8, at recess time, my sister was forced into the girls' washroom ~ teased and taunted by a circle of girls ~ not only about her lack of friendship with them but also due to her inability to 'hang out with them' they forced her to put her head of long hair into a toilet...and holding down her head, they laughingly flushed the toilet!!! My sister, Eileen was in tears and when released, she ran home to avoid further persecution. Mockingly, they had forced me to observe this humiliating action, with threats that if I told the teacher(s), I'd get the same!
Hopefully, our attitude and acceptance in High School

would better our lives.

After graduating from Grade 10, Lee (my sister Eileen) left school
to daily bus into Brantford to study nursing at the General Hospital,
This became her vocation and a Happy Soul She Was!

Teacher Visitation: Early one evening, Miss Proudfoot and Mrs.Anderson came to our farm to speak with our parents. The Grade 10 students, studying Shakespeare were (free of charge) to be taken by bus into Brantford ~ and there, in a theatre, to view this classic movie.

Supporting the ills of Hollywood, my parents forbade me to go..

Nothing was achieved...the 'theatre' was a bane!

Despite indifferences with some students, I did have special friends:
Sylvia Hunter, a next door neighbour to our farm, with whom I daily walked to school
and Margaret Templer a village friend with whom I had a deep friendship until Grade 13.

Although, restricted of participation in some sinful activities, other High School interests captured my mindset: music...literary writings...and the physical games of basketball, volleyball and badminton. With a newly challenged outlook, my teachers were most pleased!

To the 4-H Club I was a member as a farm girl:
No uniform was required and there were no national fees.
Teens could select a program that works well for them ~ available for ages 8 to 18.
Nearly 6 million kids complete hands-on-projects in areas of health, STEM, agriculture, and civic engagement through schools...

and country clubs, and 4-H camps. In 4-H, we believe in the passion of young people!

A bold heading in today's Hamilton Spectator (February 10
prompted MY foregoing writing about BULLYING!

BULLYING REVIEW KICKS OFF AT WESTMOUNT
 Panel announces 5 general and 10-group-specific meetings to be held
during February and March.
In introduction, Richard Leitner stated:Westmount Secondary will host the first of 15 sessions
scheduled by an independent panel of experts
studying how to prevent bullying in Hamilton public schools.

As a teacher for many years, I had observed bullying within the school systems.
It's taken a long time for the problem-solving to come to fruition (hopefully):
Within my classrooms, bullying, I did not tolerate.
Although school principals were aware of bullying situations,
they could only say Their Hands Were Tied!

Personally Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 10, 2020
Comments received: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

Teacher Challenges

One of my readers recently requested I write more about my life.
In addition to several teaching years, there have been several enterprises
in which I have been engaged ~ having enjoyed them all.

However I must agree with Henry B. Adams who stated:A teacher effects eternity; he or she can never tell where the influence stops.

In an effective classroom ~ students should not only know what they are doing ~
they should also know WHY and HOW!

Defining teaching, William Arthur Ward clarifies:
The mediocre teacher tells.
The good teacher explains!
Thes superior teacher demonstrates!
The great teacher inspires!!!

Employed initially by The Hamilton Board of Education,
I could write a book about my sundry experiences.

'Twas on Friday, prior to the Labour Day weekend, new teachers attended instructional procedures prior to the designation of school and grade(s) commencing Tuesday, following Labour Day.

Marilyn, also from Brantford and Grade 13 school friend,

were assigned to a school on Hamilton Mountain.

In her car (how lucky we were), we located the address.
It was a vacant lot ...a school to be built this coming year.
Our classes for two years were in the basement of a neighbouring church.
Hers was a Grade 4 class...and mine, a split Grade 2/3 level of students.

In mid-August, we each made housing arrangements: Marilyn, fortunately on the Mountain...and my housing arrangement on Kipling Road in west Hamilton. My daily transportation was a bus from Westdale to downtown Hamilton...waited for a bus to Hamilton Mountain...followed by a 12 to 15-minute walk to my school neighbourhood. I tell you this info for good reason:

When necessary to give 'detention' to mis-behaving students,

they were not after 4 pm when classes were dismissed!
Since daily I arrived at the school by 8 am ~ that was my 'detention time.'
And if the student was late arriving to serve his 'penance' said student
had 2 following early 'detention times'! Most were On Time!

Teaching discovered me ~ and although this profession was a challenge, I thoroughly enjoyed the teaching concept. To all students, I treated with respect, honour dignity and understanding.

At that time, salaries were absolute minimum ~ certainly not in it for the money!

In a few years, I taught Grade 5 and 6 students...these ages were delightful. My greatest teaching challenges were students in Grades 7 and 8. One day, following afternoon recess, Ted did not return to the classroom. “Where is Ted?” I asked. No one seemed to know! “Was he outside at afternoon recess? Who was the supervising teacher on duty? “ I became concerned....perhaps he went to the washroom without permission...a student checked this location...Not There! Then I sent a student to check Ted's locker wondering if his jacket was there! YES! SURPRISE!

There he was! Trying to evade someone at recess time, he had stepped into his locker...

and was locked inside! He laughed...and giggled ...not a big deal!

Then, there was David (a top-notch academic student) who excelled in all subjects. Well-liked, he was by all class-mates. At parent-interview times I fully understood from where came his great stock ...his abilities... and eagerness to succeed. Yes, he accomplished that and more. Throughout High School and following university, he merited a Physics Degree.

Susan was a take-it or leave-it girl, caring not to concentrate on subject matter! Sitting in the middle row of 5, and 3 seats from the front, she was delightful. She loved to laugh and laugh...entertain those students in front, behind and on either side of her. One day, I told her, “Susan, you should become an actress!” And so she did! Many years later,I observed in a local newspaper that Susan was making her debut as an actress in a Burlington Little Theatre play. To her, I sent a Congratulation letter.

There's at least one in every class, every year ~ boy or girl who is a disturbance...Gerry was one of these: couldn't care less about lessons...slouched in his seat...gabbed to those desked near him...and to him, studies were a bore! One solution, I had for him: “Gerry, move your desk out into the hall.” It took him a few minutes, and I advised him that no matter how long it took him, it would result in a total class penalty after 4 pm. After class dismissal, I gave and explained to Gerry the homework he would need to complete at home ~ and arrive at 8 AM the next morning with work completed!

 That day, he displayed a different and improved attitude.

A grade 8 girl, Barbara seemed lethargic...couldn't give a d__ about anything, so it seemed. She lacked concentration...very sullen...not associating with other girls. Disliking Phys Ed, she didn't want to change into gym shorts. One day I noticed she had a bit of  tummy. (that's why she didn't respond to gym classes, I surmised). Grade 8! I wondered (is she pregnant)? Is this the cause of her displeasure and cause of grief? After classes one day, I chatted with her...she broke into tears...angry and crying. Getting her a glass of cool water, she, very upset and disturbed, told me she was going to have a baby. No one knew. ~ only her boyfriend and now me.

 Together we talked like Mother and daughter.
Advising her: This is not the end of the world! Gently I told her that a new life was beginning inside her. You Must Tell Your Mom! Remember, Barbara, your Mother will have a Grand-Child. Wouldn'she be happy to know that? Wiping tears from her eyes, I explained how and where she could complete her Grade 8 studies. With much reservation, Barbara agreed that her Mother and I would meet after 4 some afternoon soon ~ to inform her of the situation. “When you tell her ~
I'll be right beside you.”

Barbara smiled...and so pleased she'd' be attending a school with other girls, also expecting babies.

And when Barbara's baby was born,
her mother telephoned me ~ thrilled with her grand-baby!

And lastly ~ back to my classroom:

It was a hot, humid June day...no air-conditioning in the school...all the windows open to catch whatever breeze there was. Billy, who sat next to the windows, was busily making paper darts.

When I was not watching, he'd one by one, sail his paper planes out the open window beside his desk. Classmates near him broadly smiled ~ and so did I. Guess who picked them up!!! Not Me!.
C'est laVie!

Notation: Although the foregoing actually occurred,

I've altered the students' names.

John Wooden believes that the teaching profession
contributes more to the future of our society ~ than any other single profession.

Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 5, 2020
To comment: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

Prerequisite to Becoming a Teacher

Prerequisite to Bcoming a Teacher or Well-Speaking English Canadian

Eight years ago, I was highly enlightened reading
Bill Sherk's instructional book “Try to Keep Up With Me!”

“Eyeball to Eyeball contact is very important in maintaining an attentive class.
Start each lesson in a way to deliberately capture the students' attention."

The most important people in the entire education system were not the directors or administrators
or even the teachers. The most important were the students. Even though retired, the VIP of the Northern Secondary School taught a class each day.

The best way to guarantee a well-balanced class, is to have a well-organized lesson.

To Student Teachers, Andy Lockhart at the Ontario College of Education stated, If you have any special interests or hobbies, such as bird-watching...traveling...photography...or antique cars, look for ways to work those interests into the lessons to add sparkle to the teaching.

Miss Travers, (whose Christian name was Lily, we discovered)
was the best Latin and History teacher I had. Entering the September classroom,

she captured my attention: short in height...grayish-silver-haired...wore thick-rimmed glasses...

yet, with a smile river-broad.

Every lesson taught, she introduced with a personal experience.

Her home was a smallish white-frame bungalow, not far from our high school.

 Loving gardening as a hobby, she attempted growing her favourite flowers ~ hollyhocks ~ with a southern summer exposure. For some reason, they failed to grow and produce her colourful blooms. Finally, late one spring, she told us of her success...there would be her favourite flowers to admire. How Joyful she was!

Prior to the end of June closing, a few friends and I
walked to her 'few blocks away' comfy home.
Yes! There were her colourful hollyhocks standing 3 to 4 feet tall
painted in full bloom on her southern wall.

Command of the Written Word:

Prepare: List in point form all you want to mention, then arrange in logical sequence
.Produce: Convert your point form to sentences and paragraphs
.Polish: Read carefully to correct and improve.

Omit needless words! Result? A more EffectiveWriting Style;
.Magic Recipe!!! Choose the Right Words and Put Them in the Right Order!

Start each class by deliberately saying or doing anything to grab their attention.

This is excellent advice and also a great challenge if you try something different every day
for the almost 200 days of the school year.

There are just 3 ways to Remember things!

Impression...like running into a glass door

Repetition...like learning the letters of the alphabet; Association...IRA...Irish Republican Army

Don...lives near the Don River...Erica...Miss America

Planet Earth is the only home we have ~ and we would be wise to take good care of it.

“Show your students that you are generally interested in helping them to achieve academic success!”

(in speech by Father McGrath ~ a Roman Catholic priest
to 2,000 Teachers for Professional Development Day at Massey Hall):

Respect...Commitment...Responsibility:
Impress these values upon your students ~ not only as students ~
but also future citizens in their society.

On Bill Sherk's retirement from teaching, Gord Hazlett stated,Life is like a roll of toilet paper: the closer we get to the end...
the faster it goes!

Someone once said, “The greatest gift any human being can give to another
is the gift of a good example.

Ron Kendall, a VP, was the Master of Ceremonies at a particular High School Assembly.

He stood at a podium with a microphone on one side of the stage.

The curtains were drawn across the stage.
Suddenly, and without warning, 3 young students (???) wearing masks, stepped out from behind the curtains and on to the centre stage...pulled their pants down in unison...and 'mooned' the entire school audience. Then they quickly pulled up their pants and disappeared. Some teachers chased after them ...but could not catch them! The whole assembly was in an uproar. Mr. Kendall tried to restore order after this interruption. Stepping up to the microphone, he said:Ladies and Gentlemen! You saw them ~ and I saw them!
And what you saw...is what they are!”

The monk joined a monastery and had to take a vow of silence. He could speak only 2 words once every 7 years. He prayed every day...read the Bible...and worked in the fields. The years rolled by.
Finally, after 7 years, the abbot called him to his office and said, “You may say 2 words. What might those 2 words be?” Too Cold replied the monk. “Well,” said the abbot, “We've had several complaints from the other monks. We'll try to hang some extra animal skins over the open windows on the north side...and that may help. Now! Back to your prayers.”

The next 7 years rolled by and the abbot called the monk into his office.
“Young man, you may now say 2 more words. What 2 words would you like to say?”
 Food Rotten! said the monk.
Ah, said the abbot, a familiar complaint from the other monks as well.
I'll speak to the cook and we'll see what we can do.”

Another 7 years rolled by. The abbot called the monk into his office and asked

what 2 words he would like to say now.
 I quit! Said the monk.
“Well, I'm glad to hear that,” replied the monk.
Because you have done nothing but complain ever since you came here 21years ago!

Scripted by Merle Baird-Kerr...January 19, 2020

Comments welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

'LIghting the Path'

(Excerpts from a preface writing in a January issue

of a Christian magazine by Gilles Monegeau, S.J.

More and more,we are coming to realize that the particular ways we have had of understanding the world and the Church are breaking apart. As change accelerates and as the political and ecclesial and crises succeed one another, the sets of meanings and values we have used to make sense of reality in the realm of politics, continuity versus discontinuity with tradition in the Church ~ are as much of the problem as anything else.

In the face of all this, some try to cling to the old ways of thinking ~ even going so far as to try to violently enforce the return of a 'golden age.' Others give up on the attempt to make sense of anything ~ and retreat into their own little private worlds ~ or celebrate 'anything goes' as if it were genuine freedom. How can a Christian discover fresh meaning and value (a direction for his or her life) and direction for the Church and society in the midst of all this?

Light in the darkness comforts us ~ serving as a point of anchor.
It creates a small circle within which things can make sense.
But light in the darkness can also help us get moving:
it accompanies us revealing obstacles and help us distinguish the path

we are on from the brambles to either side.

Finally, a 'light in the distance can lead us...attract us...and give us direction in the stream of life...

a goal to reach.' Christ is the 'light' in all these ways. If we listen to Him as a community, we can articulate for our day the meaning and value he brings into history. He provides direction

and a goal to reach in the joy of Easter as we join him in redeeming the present time.
So, with the prophet Isaiah, we can truly say:
“You have made our gladness greater ~ you have made our joy increase;
we rejoice in your presence as people do at harvest time.

Quotes and Prophecies

He who sows courtesy and reaps friendship,
and he who plants kindness gathers love. (St. Basil)

Try to keep your soul always in peace and quiet,
always ready for whatever our Lord may wish to work in you. (St. Ignatius Loyola)

It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints
the best paintings. (St. Andre Bessette)

May the God of love and peace set your hearts at rest
and speed you on your journey. (St. Raymond of Penyafort)

Act as if every day were the last of your life,
and each action, the last you perform. (St. Alphonsus Liguori)

There is no space where God is not;
space does not exist apart from him. (St.Hilary)

Resentment is like drinking poison

and waiting for the other person to die. (St.Augustine)

Grace is nothing else but a certain beginning
of glory within us. (St. Thomas Aquinas)

I no longer fear God, but I love him.
For love casts out fear. (St. Anthony)

We meed to find God and he cannot be found
in noise and restlessness. (St. Teresa of Calcutta)

Christ made my soul beautiful with the jewels of grace and virtue.
I belong to him whom the angels serve. (St. Agnes)

Remember that the Christian life is one of action.

Not of speech and daydream.
Let there be few words and many deeds ~

and let them be done well. (St. Vincent)

Act and God will act. (St. Joan of Arc)

Since love grows within you, so beauty grows.
For love is the beauty of the soul. (St. Augustine)

The tree that is beside the running water
is fresher and gives more fruit. (St. Teresa ofAvila)

Whatever you do, think of the glory of God
as your main goal. (St. John Bosco)

The things that we love tell us what we are.
(St. Thomas Aquinas)

Prayer

Prayer of the orphan, the widow and the stranger,

“ Instill in our hearts a deep sense of hospitality.

Open our eyes and hearts when you ask us to feed you, to clothe you and to visit you

.May our churches participate in the ending of hunger, thirst and isolation
 and overcoming barriers that prevent the welcome of all people.

 We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus.

Written by Merle Baird-Kerr...February 4, 2020
Comments always welcome: mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca

February Occurrences

February's month received its name
from the Roman Festival of Purification called Februa during which people WERE virtually washed.

And ~ here's a fact: most pronounce its name incorrectly:

 it should be Feb ru ary!

This month is better known for Valentine's Day

(a legendary saint beheaded for his religious convictions 

and not his passion for true love.)

February 17 is classified as Family Day in British Columbia...Alberta...Saskatchewan...Ontario...

and New Brunswick (according to my wall calendar).

Ash Wednesday is designated on February 26.

This being year 2020...and having 29 days...is a  Leap Year.

Wisdom for February Success is liking yourself...

 liking what you do...and liking how you do it.
(Maya Angelo)

Illustrated dramatically by the Lighthouse, Peggy's Cove,

Nova Scotia.

Good actions give strength to ourselves
and inspire good actions in others.

(Plato)

Illustrated by a winter barn and fencing
in Ontario.

The American Black Duck may spend the winter
resting in areas like bays, ponds and marshes
where it will be protected from the elements and predators.

Some American Black Ducks have been known to hunker down
over winter in farmers' fields and beaver ponds too.

Photo from my 2020 Canadian Wildlife Federation calendar
of 3 Black Ducks ~ travelling on webbed footing across deep snow.

Writer:  Merle Baird-Kerr...January 28, 2020

Comments always welcome:  mbairdkerr@cogeco.ca