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By Tracy Luscombe
DATE CHANGE FOR POETRY NIGHT. Teen Council Evening of Poetry has been changed to March 1, 4:30-6:30 pm. So sharpen your pencils, and get your creative juices flowing if you want to present something original. You can also read a favorite published piece. If you’re extra shy, you can have a friend read your original piece for you. Extra class credit is being offered by the following teachers: Mrs. Fleming, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Judd, and Mrs. Potts.
Last weekend I took a visit to our nation’s capital and had the privilege of touring several of the museums. It reminded me how many of our founding fathers believed reading is a vital part of education, and an educated citizenry is most important to the success of our nation. In this election year we all need to take a look at our past and know how it has affected us so we can make decisions for the future. Read the writings of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and other great statesmen. Know that they debated arduously for various rights for a reason. Come by the library and find a good book to learn all you can about our country so you can be a part of its future success.
Another great experience I had in D.C. was staying on campus at Galludet University. Established in 1865 by an Act of Congress under the leadership of President Lincoln, this university has a student population that is almost all deaf. American Sign Language (ASL) is the official campus language. They know they live in a fish bowl since everyone can “eavesdrop” on your conversation if they can see you. It was wonderful to walk the campus and learn the history of various people involved in the development and success of this educational institution. I was often in the dark with the conversations since my own ASL is minimal, but I learned so much about the deaf culture experience. They can’t hear you say excuse me as you accidently bump into them so they just dispense with these pleasantries. While the cafeteria is largely quiet, music in the dorm is very loud like any other college campus. It was a reminder I’m too old to be living in a college dorm. If you want to know more about sign language and the deaf community, without making a trip to the campus, come by your library and check out one of these books: American Sign Language by Deborah Kent, Changes for Julie (an American Girl book) by Megan McDonald, or a biography of Helen Keller.
Hope to see you around the Van Alstyne Public Library.
DATE CHANGE FOR POETRY NIGHT. Teen Council Evening of Poetry has been changed to March 1, 4:30-6:30 pm. So sharpen your pencils, and get your creative juices flowing if you want to present something original. You can also read a favorite published piece. If you’re extra shy, you can have a friend read your original piece for you. Extra class credit is being offered by the following teachers: Mrs. Fleming, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Judd, and Mrs. Potts.
Last weekend I took a visit to our nation’s capital and had the privilege of touring several of the museums. It reminded me how many of our founding fathers believed reading is a vital part of education, and an educated citizenry is most important to the success of our nation. In this election year we all need to take a look at our past and know how it has affected us so we can make decisions for the future. Read the writings of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and other great statesmen. Know that they debated arduously for various rights for a reason. Come by the library and find a good book to learn all you can about our country so you can be a part of its future success.
Another great experience I had in D.C. was staying on campus at Galludet University. Established in 1865 by an Act of Congress under the leadership of President Lincoln, this university has a student population that is almost all deaf. American Sign Language (ASL) is the official campus language. They know they live in a fish bowl since everyone can “eavesdrop” on your conversation if they can see you. It was wonderful to walk the campus and learn the history of various people involved in the development and success of this educational institution. I was often in the dark with the conversations since my own ASL is minimal, but I learned so much about the deaf culture experience. They can’t hear you say excuse me as you accidently bump into them so they just dispense with these pleasantries. While the cafeteria is largely quiet, music in the dorm is very loud like any other college campus. It was a reminder I’m too old to be living in a college dorm. If you want to know more about sign language and the deaf community, without making a trip to the campus, come by your library and check out one of these books: American Sign Language by Deborah Kent, Changes for Julie (an American Girl book) by Megan McDonald, or a biography of Helen Keller.
Hope to see you around the Van Alstyne Public Library.
