As we get ready to celebrate our nation’s birthday on Monday, I’d like to share a quote from one of our greatest patriots. John Adams, our 2nd president, and a firebrand of a legislator who was largely responsible for fanning the flames of independence in the American colonies, wrote to his wife Abigail on July 2, 1776–the day that Congress decided to declare its independence from Great Britain:
Yesterday the greatest question was decided which ever was debated in America; and a greater perhaps never was, nor will be, decided among men. A resolution was passed without one dissenting colony, “that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.”
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.
I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will triumph in that Days Transaction, even although We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.
July 4th is a big deal. It’s not just a day to blow stuff up and barbecue. It’s the representation of an ideal of liberty, a beacon of hope to the nations, that has shined brightly since that day in 1776. Make sure you take time with your family to remember what Adams and his compatriots fought so hard for, and believed so strongly in.
Warren G. Harding is not a name that springs to mind when thinking of inspirational leaders. Although he was a Senator and President of the United States, he is not thought of in the same league as Thomas Jefferson or Ronald Reagan or Woodrow Wilson or–well, just about any other president except maybe Millard Fillmore. (Remember him? Didn’t think so…)
He had corruption in his administration–but looking back through the administrations of Clinton, Nixon, Reagan, Bush, and Obama, it’s pretty minor stuff. He died while in office, of a heart attack while visiting San Francisco. His term lasted only two years.
But he also faced a horrific economic depression, as bad at its beginning as the Great Depression–and the Great “Recession” we are currently experiencing.
Writing for the Ludwig Von Mises Institute, Thomas Woods says,
The economic situation in 1920 was grim. By that year unemployment had jumped from 4 percent to nearly 12 percent, and GNP declined 17 percent. No wonder, then, that Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover urged President Harding to consider an array of interventions to turn the economy around. Hoover was ignored.
Harding had run on a campaign urging a “Return to Normalcy.” The horrors of World War I, the growth of government, worry about tomorrow–people responded well to Harding’s desire to return to something familiar–something that worked. He is derided by political professors today, but there is something stirring in Harding’s speeches that speaks clearly to our present situation:
America’s present need is not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration; not agitation, but adjustment; not surgery, but serenity; not the dramatic, but the dispassionate; not experiment, but equipoise; not submergence in internationality, but sustainment in triumphant nationality….
This shows in his response to the Depression of 1920. Woods writes:
Instead of “fiscal stimulus,” Harding cut the government’s budget nearly in half between 1920 and 1922. The rest of Harding’s approach was equally laissez-faire. Tax rates were slashed for all income groups. The national debt was reduced by one-third.
The Federal Reserve’s activity, moreover, was hardly noticeable. As one economic historian puts it, “Despite the severity of the contraction, the Fed did not move to use its powers to turn the money supply around and fight the contraction.” By the late summer of 1921, signs of recovery were already visible. The following year, unemployment was back down to 6.7 percent and it was only 2.4 percent by 1923.
Compare this to the policies and government intervention of President Obama. Two years after the stimulus was passed, unemployment continues unabated, inflation is gaining ground, the national debt continues to grow at a beyond-alarming rate, and raising taxes is seen as the solution to the money problem. The only sector of jobs that continues to grow is government, and private sector jobs are shrinking. Today, the unemployment rate holds steady at over 9%–not counting the millions who have given up looking for work, which puts the rate at closer to 15%.
The same policies Obama has enacted only serve to lengthen the depression, something he could have learned from observing the failed interventionist policies of FDR, who only had his bacon saved by World War II and the fact that the majority of the unemployed men in America ended up going overseas as soldiers.
Make fun of boring ol’ President Harding if you want, but his speech accepting the Republican nomination in 1920 outlines exactly what I think our country needs today:
We will attempt intelligent and courageous deflation, and strike at government borrowing which enlarges the evil, and we will attack high cost of government with every energy and facility which attend Republican capacity. We promise that relief which will attend the halting of waste and extravagance, and the renewal of the practice of public economy, not alone because it will relieve tax burdens but because it will be an example to stimulate thrift and economy in private life.
Let us call to all the people for thrift and economy, for denial and sacrifice if need be, for a nationwide drive against extravagance and luxury, to a recommittal to simplicity of living, to that prudent and normal plan of life which is the health of the republic. There hasn’t been a recovery from the waste and abnormalities of war since the story of mankind was first written, except through work and saving, through industry and denial, while needless spending and heedless extravagance have marked every decay in the history of nations.
Instead of trying to fix our economic woes with more and bigger government, President Obama, and the rest of the politicians in Washington need to embrace Harding’s manifesto for a return to economic normalcy. There’s a reason why the Depression of 1920 is not as familiar to most Americans as the one that happened 10 years later: it was answered not with government intervention, but fiscal sanity.
One final word from Harding, in his inaugural address:
Our most dangerous tendency is to expect too much of government, and at the same time do for it too little. We contemplate the immediate task of putting our public household in order. We need a rigid and yet sane economy, combined with fiscal justice, and it must be attended by individual prudence and thrift, which are so essential to this trying hour and reassuring for the future.
Read an even greater analysis of Harding’s economic policies here. It’s a long article, but it is spot on. And it was written two years ago.
I don’t like a lot of things about Google. Their massively corrupt views on privacy is one, and I’ll blog about that later.
The fact that they routinely ignore great American holidays or heroes on important days really bugs me. Today, the United States celebrates Flag Day. You wouldn’t know that if you only use Google. Here’s their homepage today:
Bing, Microsoft’s search engine, which is slowly proving itself to be a powerhouse player on its own (its app for the iPhone is amazing), always uses some sort of picture for its homepage. Today, when you “Bing,” you’ll see this:
Just one more reason why I “Bing” instead of “Google.”
I thoroughly enjoy my Xbox 360. I love playing games of all styles and kinds. My favorites include everything from Dance Central to Mass Effect to LEGO Star Wars. I played my way through Halo 3 and spent hours in the worlds of Dragon Age: Origins. I love playing games.
I love how easy it is for my kids to play games, too. Our Xbox 360 has seen hours of fun entertainment in the LEGO games, Viva Pinata!, Kinectimals, and lots of Xbox Arcade games. I love playing Family Game Night with my kids and we’ve laughed a lot while playing Kinect Adventures!
But gaming, like everything else in this connected world, has its own dangers. Game consoles are now connected like everything else, and as games have gotten more sophisticated, their stories and imagery have matured.
I was listening to some 11 year old boys talk at church the other day as they waited to play the Xbox we have for before and after service. (We play Kinect Adventures, in case you were wondering.) They were talking about how much they loved Left 4 Dead and the Call of Duty series. They compared their skills at headshots and stealth mode and how they loved blowing the heads off of zombies.
Uhm…what?
The games these 11 year olds were busy playing at home are rated M by the ESRB. This means the game is rated Mature. According to the ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board), Mature games “have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.”
In movie rating language, these games would be rated R. Most retailers enforce a strict policy of not allowing kids under the age of 17 to purchase M-rated games, just like theaters require ID to get into an R-rated film.
I’m not against M-rated games. I’ve played a few of them myself. I am against kids younger than 17 playing them. What 11 year old needs to spend an hour playing a military style game where the F-bomb is dropped by in-game characters, where you can practice “blowing that zombie’s head off,” and see the effects of a headshot at 20 feet?
Most parents wouldn’t let their kids go see an R-rated film because it was cool. But they may buy them a game that is intended for people far beyond their years because it’s the latest and greatest game.
I don’t believe that playing violent video games turns kids into murderers or psychopaths. But I do emphatically believe that parents need to be more tuned in to what their kids are playing on their game systems.
If your child is under 17, they shouldn’t be playing an M-rated game. And if your kid is under 12, I would strongly suggest you monitor what T-rated games they play. What are you willing to expose your kids to in a video game that you would never allow in a film or television show?
In our house, the kids aren’t even allowed in the room when I play a game like Dragon Age or Mass Effect. My children aren’t allowed to play T-rated games until I know what’s in them, and we do our best to stick with E-rated games. There’s a whole world of great games for kids that doesn’t require them being exposed to stuff that only adults can truly handle.
Today’s Bottom Line: If your kids are under 17, they shouldn’t be playing M-rated games. Put an age limit on the video games, just like you do movies and TV shows.
Tomorrow: What about online gaming? How to protect your kids on the Xbox.
It’s practically a lost art these days, with most television shows having “themes” that last no more than a few seconds, and some, having none at all. But TV show theme songs are some of the most inescapable, most recognizable, and most likely to get a crowd of people (of a certain age) to sing along with you.
I love TV show themes. I sat with a recorder and meticulously recorded them from our TV’s speaker so I could listen again and again. And when TEEVEE Tunes began releasing the “Television’s Greatest Hits” collections when I was in high school, I was in heaven.
TV theme songs are cultural touchstones, often reminiscent of the time they were written, sometimes transcendent, but always–if they’re good–stuck in your head hours after hearing them. Mind, they may not be great music, but they are great fun. Here are my top 20 theme songs of all time–and it’s completely subjective:
20. THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW One of the greatest shows of all time (and the precursor to workplace sitcoms like The Office in an age when most shows never really showed what the dad did at work) also has a great theme song. Composed by Earl Hagen (who also composed I Spy, Gomer Pyle, The Mod Squad, and another one that will show up later).
19. BOOMTOWN A show with a great premise (the same side of every story as seen by a vast group of characters), Boomtown didn’t last long. But its theme by WG Snuffy Walden (The West Wing, The George Lopez Show) is one of the best theme songs of the last 10 years. The opening credits, which shows the history of the City of Angels from its founding to the present day, are also pretty impressive.
18. FRIENDS Inescapable in the early 1990′s, and the last TV theme song to become a #1 hit, “I’ll Be There for You” is a true classic. Sung by the alt-rock group The Rembrandts, who somewhat resented their unexpected success, the song is an instant reminder of a time and place for anyone who watched the show–and identified with its characters–for its 10 year run. “I’ll be there for you,” indeed.
17. ROUTE 66 Composed by a jazz legend who was also one of the greatest arrangers of all-time, this show’s piano-driven theme is one of the greatest of the 1960′s. The show is mostly remembered today because of the car (a Corvette convertible) and this song by the legendary Nelson Riddle.
16. THE FLINTSTONES Long before The Simpsons or Family Guy, the Stone Age version of The Honeymooners was a prime-time hit, nominated for the Emmy Award for Best Comedy Series in 1961. Most of the humor comes from seeing “modern” life in the caveman settings, and the theme song (as shown in the second clip, from Planes, Trains, and Automobiles) is one of the most familiar of all time.
15. I LOVE LUCY A ground-breaking television show (first major sitcom shot in Hollywood and filmed on 35 mm film in the now-ubiquitous 3 camera format) and still one of the funniest of all time. The show was the biggest of its day, winning multiple Emmy Awards and ending its six year run having been the number one show four of those years. The episode “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (where Little Ricky is born) had a rating of 71, meaning 71% of all televisions in America were watching that night. The theme song is one of the most instantly recognizable themes of all time, composed by Elliot Daniel.
14. LAW & ORDER Mike Post’s music for the original NBC staple, and one of the longest-running shows on television (20 years) is his second greatest theme song. The composer of hundreds of TV themes (including The A-Team, St. Elsewhere, Riptide, and lots of other 1980′s shows), it is this guitar and clarinet-driven piece that earns him his first appearance on this list. Imagine a Law & Order without this music–it’s not possible. Click on the arrow to hear the song. (Can’t embed the original titles. Sorry.)
13. PERRY MASON Ah, memories of being home from school because I was sick and watching Perry Mason in reruns at lunchtime. Raymond Burr’s lawyer always managed to get the confession on the stand, from the least likely person, and poor Hamilton Burger, the District Attorney always lost. The theme song by Fred Steiner was not written for the show. It’s actually called “Park Avenue Beat.”
12. GILLIGAN’S ISLAND The show may have been ridiculous in concept and execution, but it has one heck of a theme song. In the tradition of its creator’s other shows, it lays out the premise for the show in a catchy way. And I’m pretty sure it will be stuck in your head as soon as you’re done listening to it. Written by Sherwood Schwartz, who created another top TV song, which makes its appearance in our top 10, and George Wyle, who co-wrote one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
11. RAWHIDE Once upon a time, Westerns were the biggest shows on TV. Maverick, Have Gun Will Travel, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, were all Top 10 hits. Rawhide introduced the world to Clint Eastwood and this amazing song, sung by the one and only Frankie Laine and composed by film composer Dimitri Tomkin and lyricist Ned Washington (who won an Oscar for one of my favorite songs of all time, “When You Wish Upon a Star” from Pinocchio). Hyah!
10. BARNEY MILLER I was never a fan of the show. Mostly because I was way too young to get it, and most of the characters were unappealing to me. But the theme song! The bass line at the start–the trumpets by the end. This is one of the great instrumental themes and is still timeless today. The versions on YouTube don’t show off the music, so click on the arrow to hear this one.
9. M*A*S*H The rare TV show to be based on a film and actually be more successful, M*A*S*H was groundbreaking in its 11 years on TV, and I remember watching the final episode (“Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen”) with the other 106 million people in America who tuned in, making it the most-watched show in TV history. The theme song, adapted from the Oscar-nominated theme from the film, is titled “Suicide is Painless” and has lyrics which are, thankfully, never heard in the titles for the show.
8. THE BRADY BUNCH Like his theme for Gilligan’s Island, Sherwood Schwartz’s theme for The Brady Bunch spells out the whole premise for the show. Cheesy as it may be, the show is a huge part of our American pop culture and deserves its place in the top 10–it’s just that unforgettable. The song in its first season (when the kids were still really cute and hadn’t hit that “groovy” stage) was actually sung by a bubblegum pop group called The Peppermint Trolley Company. Much preferred to later seasons, when the kids sang the song.
7. CHEERS I was never a fan of the show. I found the characters more annoying than funny, and I was frankly glad when it went off the air, leaving NBC Thursday nights to Seinfeld. However, the theme song is one of the best because it summarizes the philosophy of the show, is singable, and has a universal feeling. Who wouldn’t want to be in a place where “everybody knows your name,” after all?
6. THE TWILIGHT ZONE Easily one of the spookiest theme songs of all time, the theme for Rod Serling’s 1960′s anthology show still evokes strong feelings, long after the show went off the air. It has found new life, ironically, thanks to Disney, whose Twilight Zone Tower of Terror keeps the theme song alive for a new generation. The music is the best-known work of avant-garde composer Marius Constant. “Next stop–the Twilight Zone.”
5. PARKS & RECREATION The only show of the last 5 years to be featured here, Parks & Recreation has a theme song as bouncy, slice-of-life, and Americana as its characters. The mockumentary format show, set in Pawnee, Indiana is currently the funniest show on television. The theme song, a rare thing in this modern era of quick soundbites, evokes the American midwest sensibility through sheer pluckiness. Composed by Gaby Moreno & Vincent Jones.
4. HILL STREET BLUES Mike Post’s other big 1980′s era theme song was also a top 10 hit. Created by Steven Bochco, Blues was a gritty and realistic cop show–not because it showed violence, but because it showed cops as human people dealing with real life trouble. The theme is a piano-driven masterpiece that evokes the very humanity of these everyday heroes. “Let’s be careful out there.”
3. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Still amazing today, the theme song captures perfectly the energy and tension of the spies working for the IMF. Peter Graves and the team will, of course, disavow any knowledge of your actions, but the fact that this music still works today (put it on and even kids will start acting like secret agents) speaks to its greatness. Lalo Schfrin’s music is perfection.
2. THE SIMPSONS Now the longest-running show on television, Matt Groening’s cartoon family has stood the test of time. Easily still one of the funniest shows around, the show’s music is as much a reason for its success as its writing and voice acting. While Alf Clausen writes and arranges the music for the show (including such amazing pieces as “Streetcar!” a musical version of A Streetcar Named Desire), former Oingo Boingo frontman and film composer Danny Elfman created the theme.
And my choice for best TV Theme Song of All Time?
1. THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB Jimmie Dodd’s song for Walt Disney’s second venture into television–tapping the then-unheard of preteen market–stands the test of time for a great theme song. It is singable, memorable, gets stuck in your head. But unlike most TV show theme songs, this one has had a long and happy life of its own at the Disney theme parks and in hundreds of other venues and ways. Originally created in 1955, Walt’s show was named after his most famous creation, but its main stars were preteen boys and girls featured in long-running serials about girls and boys. (Much like today’s Disney Channel. Walt was way ahead of his time.) This song has taken on a life of its own because of the power of the Disney brand–if you say the words “Who’s the leader of the club that’s made for you and me” to a kid today, they still know the answer: “M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E.”
That’s my top 20. What are yours?
Here’s a few honorable mentions: Family Ties, The Muppet Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, The Office, Modern Family, Home Improvement, ER, and Futurama.
In this ongoing series, I will discuss parenting elementary age kids through the online world. This includes everything from email to Xbox Live to video games and movies. Part Two discussed Facebook and its age 13 requirement that any child or parent has to lie about to get an account set up. Today, a bit more about the dangers of having a preteen on Facebook.
From a biblical standpoint, the fact that a child under the age of 13 has to lie (either with or without parent approval) to get a Facebook account is bad enough. Lying, no matter what it is about, is never the right path for anyone to take to achieve something. And you may think, it’s just a little thing. Maybe you think, “It’s just my son and his friend. It’s no big deal.”
Sadly, this is not a thing limited to just “your son and his friend.” According to Consumer Reports, 7.5 million kids under the age of 13 are registered Facebook users. Of that staggering number, 5 million were under the age of 10.
“Children under 13 who post personal information on Facebook that can be publicly viewed defeat protections afforded by the Federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA). That act prohibits sites from knowingly disclosing children’s personally identifiable information. “We are very concerned about kids eliding around COPPA’s restrictions,” Federal Trade Commission chair Jon Leibowitz told Consumer Reports.“
(If you are an adult user of Facebook, ask yourself–when was the last time you checked the information you share? And did you realize that Facebook’s default settings may share far more than you are comfortable with?)
In addition, the constant sharing of information, games, pages, and more, what has the potential of being just a place to chat with friends becomes a place where underage children can find themselves talking with, sharing information with, and friending complete strangers. You most likely wouldn’t let your child become friends with a 47 year old man who loves to play videogames in real life–and yet, this very easily can happen on Facebook due to fan pages and the like.
Another sobering statistic? Only 18 percent of parents are friends with their kids on Facebook. And only 10 percent of parents actually have frank talks with their children about using the internet appropriately.
You may think your 11 year old is going to only think about 11 year old things. But in the world of the internet, the dangers of exposing your kids to mature content is very real. And your 11 year old son can quickly discover pornography–even through Facebook. Your daughter can easily be sent inappropriate pictures through her account. Just ask the parents of the 17 year old who was one of Rep. Weiner’s online acquaintances.
And what about cyber-bullying? More than 1,000,000 underage children have been harassed or bullied on Facebook, according to the report. And in a case that made national headlines, two Issaquah preteens (11 & 12 years old) were charged with hijacking another student’s account and posting lewd updates, offering sex to other kids at school.
“That’s not my kid,” you may say. “My child won’t do that.” That’s what every parent of every kid who has ever made an unwise choice has ever said. You may be the parent who helped set up the account and promised yourself that you would always monitor it. So–do you? Do you know everything on your child’s Facebook account? Do you know the kinds of decisions she is making? What pages she is “liking” and who she is friending?
Today’s Bottom Line: The danger is real, and even good kids can make poor decisions online. It would better to help your kids make wise choices by keeping them off Facebook until they are at least 13.
Tomorrow? The importance of your reputation. All it takes is one bad status update. Or one bad Tweet. Just ask Rep. Weiner.
The song below seems a fitting way to start this post. I heard it as I was driving to school to deliver my last final. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day.
Five years ago this August, I received an unusual phone call. It was from the high school principal at Seattle Christian School. He had been one my favorite teachers when I attended there, but it wasn’t like we were close buddies. I hadn’t heard from him or seen him since a visit to his school while I was in college.
He asked me a question I did not think I’d ever hear:”Would you like to teach high school drama?”
It was unexpected because at the time I was a full-time pastor at a large church in Redmond, Washington. My job at the time was creating, producing, and directing large-scale outreach productions. I was not looking for a second job. But the elementary principal attended my church, loved my work, and suggested me when the job suddenly came open two weeks before school started for the year.
My answer was uncertain, but maybe, perhaps? Eventually, after some prayer, some conversation, and an adjustment to my work schedule, I agreed. I would teach a high school theatre arts class. One hour, Monday through Friday.
My first class was intimidating. The teacher I was replacing was well-liked and cared for by the student, most of whom were seniors who had had her for years. I hadn’t taught in a classroom setting since my college days, and I desperately wanted them to like me. I really wanted to be like Robin Williams’ character in Dead Poets Society, someone who would inspire his students with more than just lessons. Someone who would inspire them to seize the day–to do something more with their lives than just the expected. My hope? That even an elective teacher could inspire them to greatness.
I wasn’t unfamiliar with high schoolers–I worked with them frequently on my shows at church, after all–but this was a new setting. I was the interloper, the newcomer, and I was invading a space that was very dear to them. The room, a space we shared the octogenarian French teacher, was small. The only non-classroom furniture was an old green wingback chair which, I understood, made frequent appearances in the drama productions.
I had syllabus, which I had copied from somewhere on the internet, and a lesson plan–also copied from somewhere on the internet. And I was determined to teach the kids facts and history about theatre, how to do improv, stage design, lighting, marketing, etc.
After 5 years, I think I may have taught a little bit of all of that.
You see, that was not my forté. What I liked most, and loved to do most, was to talk and share and take my students on a journey into life. We did it through improv, through interaction, through shared experiences, and mostly, by being honest. My theatre arts students may have left my class without knowing every great playwright, and they certainly had very little “hands on” experience in stagecraft. But they knew a lot about being a real person–a real honest Christian–in a world that very much needed them to be that.
I have watched 5 groups of students graduate from high school. Some of them from that first class I am still friends with (via Facebook) today. Some have dropped off the radar. Every single class has had its share of amazing talent, awkward moments, and far more innuendo than I ever imagined on that very first day of teaching.
I knew I’d arrived–passed the test–when I achieved a nickname. When AJ’s affectionate shortening of my last name from “Montague” to “Monty” became the name I was called by every student–that’s when I knew that I had been judged, had been found acceptable, and was going to make it. I know this because the teachers that meant the most to me in high school–the ones who mattered most to me–were the ones I gave nicknames to. It was a true highlight of that first year.
There were other highlights that year. I was privileged to take the students to the annual ACSI Speech Meet in Idaho. In their 4 years of going, the students had never won. We had elaborate plans on how to steal the trophy, including using the stroller of my youngest child to stash it in and use as a getaway vehicle. When we actually won, it was a shock that made even my normally talkative students sit in stunned silence.
My first real play at SCS, Pure as the Driven Snow (or, A Working Girl’s Secret) was a classic melodrama with a moustachioed villain, a virginal heroine, and a manly hero. Because I was no longer working two jobs, I threw myself into this first play and dedicated myself to making it their best play in years.
Thanks to performances from students like AJ, Ciara, Trevor, Ian, Tiffany, Lauren, and a few others, the play was an uproarious hit. But in the midst of all the fun of the school play, the students were with me when I received a call from my wife right before class started one day. As I was about to begin teaching, I found out that the baby we were expecting was not going to make it–the miscarriage was going to happen at any time over the next week.
I walked back to class heartbroken. I couldn’t disguise how I felt. My students asked me what was wrong and I remember choking up as I told them. I was honest, painfully so, about how much this made me angry. How sad I was. And yet, I also knew that God would give Robyn and I the strength to get through it. The room was quiet after I finished, having talked nearly the entire class. I apologized to them, I think, for blabbing on for so long.
But that moment changed everything for me and my relationship with my students. No longer would I try to hide life from them. Life gets messy. Life can be painful. Sometimes hurts come your way, sometimes amazing things happen and everyone is happy. But these students deserved to have at least one teacher tell them the truth about life, their place in it, and the fact that God’s way was still better, still worth it.
That was a game changer for them, too. Now they could ask honest questions about things like faith and life. They could be real, and as they got real, our class got a lot more honest, truthful, open, and fun. Our art got better, our shows improved, and when we said that drama was holding up a mirror to life and showing it as it could–or should–be, we understood what that meant.
The highlights were different every year, but I enjoyed every single one. The Idaho trips, even when we were unfairly judged and lost, were worth it for the big dinner at the hotel in Couer d’Alene (and the big ice cream sundaes). The Christmas musical we did at Foster, and the Christmas musical we didn’t do because of snow which instead became a series of readings, awkwardly delivered but wonderfully received. Movie treatments never finished, lesson plans abandoned, and way too many rabbit trails during lectures. Strange large-scale improvs in creepy places, medieval mystery plays that should have been rated NC-17, the “Heaven/Hell/Purgatory” board, the ongoing battles with the French teacher, and improv scenes that always seemed to go dark–or creepy–or, well, you know. So many more wonderful–painful–awkward–fantastic moments.
From an administrative standpoint, I’m probably not the greatest teacher. I have rarely taken attendance, frequently struggled with keeping my grades updated in InfoDirect, and often pushed the limits of what students can do, or should talk about, in class.
Looking back over 5 years, I realize that that doesn’t matter. It’s not what the students walk away from your class with. What they do walk away with is hopefully more than just the fact that Aristotle was the father of drama, that Shakespeare was an amazing playwright, that Sondheim is, as one critic puts it, “the beginning and end of musical theatre.” If that is all my students have learned from me, than I have failed.
But if they have learned that life is a struggle worth fighting, that art can transcend the mundane everydayness, that sometimes it’s worth it to argue with authority, and–most of all–that a deep and abiding faith and relationship with God comes from going into the dark, yucky places of life, knowing He will go there with you and help you find your way to the other side? Then everything, all the hours, all the work in doing two jobs at one time, is worth it.
And if I, as a teacher, have learned anything from the students I interact with every day? Then that makes it even more worthwhile. To realize that dreams are still important, that friendships matter. To remember the feelings I had at the same age–feelings of unconquerable optimism, or fragile worrying. To take their experiences, hopes, dreams, and fears, and help them see them in a bigger picture? To encourage them to stay strong in their faith, to embrace the gifts God has given them. Worth it.
The seniors I had that first year of teaching are graduating from college this year. The freshmen I had that year are just ending their freshman year of college, and my final group of freshmen are now entering into that great unknown world out of high school. They’ve left the safety of the Christian school and are now venturing into the world where they will be tested. I truly hope that I played a small part in the victories they are now experiencing.
I hope when they watch a bad movie, they will remember the many episodes of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 we watched together. Eegah!, Manos: The Hands of Fate, Outlaw, The Creeping Terror, and so many more wonderful, horrible memories. And I hope they remember that good art doesn’t come because you have good intentions. Every single one of those movies were made with the intention of doing well. Talent, effort, and a lot of hard work go into making “good” art.
I hope that when they think of the plays we did together, they will remember lines, moments, and memories that will bring back that unique rush that comes from putting on a live show for a live audience. Whether it was AJ’s appearance in a dress in Pure as the Driven Snow (an SCS first), the rickety ladders and bare stage of Our Town (my favorite play of all time, brought beautifully to life by my young cast)–and the onstage kiss during the wedding scene (another SCS first), the mistaken identities and brooding drinking (another SCS first) in The Bride of Brackenloch, the cross-dressing confused love in A Fate Worse Than Death (another SCS first), or the “to heck with it, let’s put on a show that confuses the heck out of everybody” of Hold Me!, every play is indelibly etched in my mind.
I hope that when they remember the long rambling conversations about faith, art, films, culture, and politics, they will recall that life is varied. It’s good to surround yourself with people who don’t always agree with you. It’s good to question things, to not be afraid of post-modernism, to challenge the status quo. It’s also good to be respectful, to find meaningful ways to dialogue about things that trouble you, and to be okay when things get messy and ugly. God is big enough to handle the questions they may ask.
I can’t remember all of their names, sad to say. Their faces are still familiar to me, and I am grateful for those who have stayed friends with me via Facebook. But I want them all to know, being your teacher was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I will never forget the memories we made, the laughter we shared, the tears we shed. I am grateful beyond measure for the experience of being in class with you, whether I was on time–or late–and seeing you every day of the week. I am a better man, and a better pastor, because you were my students.
Carpe diem, kids.
Seize the day. Seize the moment. Whatever you are doing now, godspeed to you.
I have been a fan of Facebook since I first discovered it in 2007. Now, 4 years later, I’m still a fan. Of all the many digital revolutions of the last several years, Mark Zuckerberg’s social network is the one I enjoy the most and use most often. And yet, Facebook is a huge danger zone for parents, and not for the reasons you may think.
I bring up Facebook because many of the other digital innovations do not have set guidelines. Netflix has no written age limit for how old you have to be to watch something in the instant queue (although you must be 18 to join, since you enter a pay-based contract with them). Xbox has parental features that allow you, as a parent, to choose what your kids may or may not do–but there are no set “rules.” Cell phones, texting? There’s no written guidelines from Verizon or Sprint or T-Mobile that says you have to be a certain age to use their services.
Facebook does. If you try to sign up for a Facebook account and you are under the age of 13, you are redirected to a page that says: “You are ineligible to register for Facebook.” Why? Because, on its terms and service page, Facebook states this: “You will not use Facebook if you are under 13.”
You will not use Facebook if you are under 13.
May seem arbitrary, but that’s the age limit that Facebook has put on account users.
And if you are the parent of a child who is under that limit, you are doing her–and yourself–no favors if you help her skirt around that age limit. You can fudge that birthdate. You can make yourself a hundred years old. You can make yourself 23. But if your child is under 13, they should not be on Facebook.
This is the rule we are enforcing in our home. This is part of my passion as a parent. But it also comes from my heart as a pastor of children. As I said in Part One, I see too many kids every week who need their parents, pastors, adult friends, to be strong when things get tough. A lot of parents don’t want to keep up the fight–they are tired of the arguing or fighting. But kids need parents who help their kids make the decisions they may not be old enough or mature enough to make.
So, from someone who is passionate about helping kids grow to understand that they can make the wise choice in every situation, that they can trust God no matter what, and that they should treat others the way they want to be treated, here’s my reasons why I agree with Facebook: if you are under 13, you shouldn’t be there. Here’s why:
1) If your underage child is on Facebook, then you–or they–have lied to get an account. Whether you helped them set it up or they set it up themselves, dishonesty is what helped get past that age limit.
I know, some people have argued, “One little thing like this isn’t going to turn my kid into a liar as they grow up.” I would venture to say back that it’s not that there was a little dishonesty involved. It’s that you, as your child’s primary influence–the one who has the greatest potential to shape your child’s view of ethics and value–have shown them that even a little lie is okay. A little dishonesty, about something as inconsequential as a social media site, isn’t a big deal.
Let me be clear to you: It’s a big deal.
Children model their parents’ behavior, and if you show them that little lies about Facebook are okay,they can start believing that little lies about other things are okay, too. Would you be okay if your child lied about doing their homework? About taking money from a friend? Would you be okay if they got a fake ID? Snuck into an R-rated film?
Probably not. So let me ask you, why would you be okay with them lying to get access to Facebook? What is the difference? A lie is a lie. Dishonesty is dishonesty. And God says this about it:
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. (Proverbs 12:22, NLT)
Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed. (Proverbs 12:19, NLT)
The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.(Proverbs 17:20, NLT)
You get it. God is against lying, and I don’t know any parent who isn’t against it, either. But kids will do what they see. They watch, they learn, and then they go out and do it. If people they love and respect do things, kids see that and say, “Hey, if it’s okay for them to do that, it must be okay for me, too.”
It’s a small thing, to change your kid’s birthdate on a form. But the value lesson you teach your child is not. Parents–or pastors–who are dishonest, even about the small things, tell kids that it’s okay for them to be dishonest, too. So ask yourself the next time you are about to “fudge” the truth: is it the wise choice? And what do I teach my children when I do it? And is teaching this lesson to your kids about something like Facebook actually worth it?
There are more reasons to come. Starting tomorrow, some facts and studies. Studies from Consumer Reports and Barna Research have some frightening statistics about Facebook that should make the parent of any underage child think twice about allowing their child to open an account. John Adams once said that “Facts are stubborn things.” When it comes to kids under 13 and Facebook, facts aren’t only stubborn. They are sobering.
Today’s Bottom Line: Your child should not be on Facebook if they are under 13 because they had to be dishonest to get the account set up.
This new connected age we live in is absolutely amazing.
I love the ways I am able to connect, nearly instantly, with friends and family via my iPhone. I love the way I can share pictures and status updates with my friends on Facebook. I have fully embraced the technological advances of the Xbox, Netflix, Hulu Plus, and nearly every other innovation that has enabled me to bring information closer, enjoy life in a whole new way. Even this blog is a result of that digital revolution, allowing me to share thoughts on everything from faith to family to art and beyond.
But as a parent, the digital age can be rather daunting. There are so many ways to connect online, and so many ways kids want to connect, that it can feel like a parental minefield. What games do you let your kids play? What ratings of TV shows do you let them watch on Netflix? Do they get to play online via Xbox Live or Toontown? What about email? Cell phones? Texting? This is truly a “connected generation.”
Every week, I stand in front of the 700+ kids in my ministry and remind them that they can make the wise choice. I reminded them yesterday that even though they can’t see God, they can trust Him and know Him and have faith in Him–and that we can do what He asks because of it.
It’s a challenge. The digital age makes it that much harder for parents and kids to stay the course. To not grow weary of doing good. Because there’s just so many cool things we can do. On my Xbox alone there are just too many awesome ways to do things and have fun with other people. How do I navigate it?
So how do you weather it? How do you help your children stay strong, make wise choices, and do what God asks them to do when there are just so many awesome ways to connect, have fun, and enjoy the digital world?
For the next several days, I will be talking about just that.
Too many Sundays, I interact with kids–elementary age kids–who are dealing with more stuff than I even dreamed about when I was their age. They are being forced to grow up faster than they should, and many of them are struggling with very “adult” issues.
Kids struggling with pornography. Self-image issues. Parental abuse. Divorce, drugs, sex, stealing, lying, and stuff that I had no idea existed when I was in the 4th grade. It breaks my heart to see them struggle. These are good kids who need adults–pastors, parents, teachers, and friends–who will help them stay strong and follow the better way that God has created for them.
Adults who will help them find ways to enjoy this crazy new connected world without sacrificing their principles, giving up their core values, and staying true to the guidelines of scripture.
As we get ready to celebrate our nation’s birthday on Monday, I’d like to share a quote from one of our greatest patriots. John Adams, our 2nd president, and a firebrand of a legislator who was largely responsible for fanning the flames of independence in the American colonies, wrote to his wife Abigail on July 2, 1776–the day that Congress decided to declare its independence from Great Britain:
Warren G. Harding is not a name that springs to mind when thinking of inspirational leaders. Although he was a Senator and President of the United States, he is not thought of in the same league as Thomas Jefferson or Ronald Reagan or Woodrow Wilson or–well, just about any other president except maybe Millard Fillmore. (Remember him? Didn’t think so…)
Just one more reason why I “Bing” instead of “Google.”
The games these 11 year olds were busy playing at home are rated M by the ESRB. This means the game is rated Mature. According to the ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board), Mature games “have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.”
