October 31, 2007

To Christian Parents
Ray Shumacher
The Danger of the Dorky Dad

We’ll concede that through the centuries, women and girls have had to withstand a load of disrespect. Disrespect needs to be confronted as sin, with the full force of God’s law, no matter who the recipient is. It’s small consolation, but disrespect for women is no longer considered politically correct. Unfortunately, male bashing is.

I am hardly an authority on TV sitcoms. I rarely watch them. However, I have read reports that speak with authority. In his recent book Bringing Up Boys, prominent psychologist Dr. James Dobson notes that there isn’t a single TV sitcom that features an example of a healthy family. His definition of a healthy family is one that includes a father who shows traditional masculine traits. This man loves his wife and kids. He is, in return, respected by his wife and children. In contrast to Dobson’s definition, the men on current shows are usually the objects of ridicule.

Sometimes this ridicule isn’t masked as entertainment. In US News and World Report (May 7,1998), John Leo wrote about an incident in a Boston elementary school. Girls were allowed to wear shirts adorned with the words "Girls Rule." They openly taunted the boys with the chant: "Boys go to Jupiter to get more stupider; girls go to college to get more knowledge." But a protest arose when boys showed up wearing shirts with the words "Boys are good." A button worn by one of the protesting teachers was most revealing: "So many men, so little intelligence."

Visit your local retail card outlet, and you will likely see a whole line of male bashing cards. In a December 1, 1999, article in the Washington Times, Cheryl Wetzstein quoted author Warren Farrell: "If a man belittles a woman, it could become a lawsuit. But if women belittle men, it’s a Hallmark card."

Don’t get me wrong. I have laughed at some of those cards when they have pointed to my own weaknesses and idiosyncrasies. We need to be able to laugh at ourselves. But when an entire segment of society takes the brunt of constant ridicule- be it Hispanics, African-Americans, Asians, Norwegians, Poles, Germans, females, or males- it isn’t funny. It shapes the way we think about people and the way they think of themselves. That is the problem. We nurture our boys with a diet that is heavy on mockery. They grow up hearing that masculine traits are shameful. They enter manhood with suggestions of stupidity beamed all around them. Should it surprise us that our little boys grow up to be men who aren’t willing or able to take the reins of family leadership?

Mission Project
The mission project for the first semester of this school year is the ELS mission effort to support Christian schools in the Amazon of Peru. The money will be used to support our missionaries and teachers spreading the Gospel in the cities and rainforests of Peru. Please set aside an offering for your child to bring. This offering is collected during our weekly chapel services.

10/24-> $36.51
Total-> $333.89

Hot Lunch
Orders are taken on Mondays.
Tues.-> pizza from Rocky Rococo $2.25/slice
Wed.-> hard or soft shell beef tacos from Taco Bell $1.00 each
Thurs.-> Subs from Milio’s [Turkey or Ham ] $1.50
Sub Meal [includes an orange and a cookie] $2.50
Fri.-> Chicken Strips 3/$1.50
Chicken Strip Meal [includes string cheese and applesauce] $2.50

GradeKeeper
GradeKeeper is the teachers’ online grade book and is available for students in gr. 3-8. Please check your student’s progress regularly. Login IDs are available from your child’s teacher.

Veterans’ Day Celebration
Our annual Veterans’ Day event, titled United We Stand, is scheduled for 6:30 on November 9 [2 days before Veterans’ Day]. Grades preK-8 will be participating in the program. Feel free to invite your friends, neighbors and acquaintances who have served our country.

First Quarter Report Cards
Report cards for the first quarter will be sent home with students today.

Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parents can visit teachers in the classroom on Thursday, November 1 and Friday, November 2. Gr. K-4 teachers will be scheduled from 6:00-8:00 on Thursday and rooms for Gr. 5-8 will be open from 6:45-8:30. On Friday teachers will be available from 9:00-11:00. Parents of students in gr. 1-4 receive scheduled times. There is no school or ASC on Friday, November 2.

Upcoming Events
11/1-2-> Parent-Teacher Conferences
11/2-> No School- No ASC
11/3-> LLHS Grade School Band Rehearsal
11/9-> Veterans’ Day Celebration 6:30
11/10-> LLHS Grade School Band Rehearsal
11/11-> Jr. Choir sings at State Capitol 10:00
11/11-> LLHS/HCLS Band Concert @ Lakeside 7:00
11/12-> Windy City Players- Cinderella
11/21-> 11:20 Dismissal- Teacher Inservice 1:00- ASC 11:20-5:30
11/22-23-> No School – No ASC – Thanksgiving Break
11/28-> Mid-Quarter Report #2
11/29-> Madrigals from Stoughton High School- 1:00
12/7-> 11:20 dismissal- Teacher Inservice 1:00- ASC 11:20-5:30
12/9-> Jr. Choir sings- both
12/11-> Christmas Concert 6:30

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