Shawn L. Bird

Original poetry, commentary, and fiction. All copyrights reserved.

Irish celebration! March 17, 2012

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:24 am
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Here it is St. Patrick’s Day, and it seems as if a little music is in order!   I love Celtic music, and would happily play my folk harp in a Celtic band.  If I was practising my harp, that is.

I saw the Irish Rovers in concert as a kid in Calgary.  This particular tune always has been a favorite, as it playfully explores the religious conflict in Ireland.

Erin Go Bragh!

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building cathedrals March 16, 2012

Filed under: Pondering — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:03 am
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Over the last few years, we’ve had the opportunity to visit several basilica and cathedrals in Italy and France.  These huge edifices dedicated to the glory of God, all share one commonality: the architects and builders who began the project did not get to see it completed.  Building a cathedral is a gift to the future that you will never see.  This thought first occurred to me when I read Ken Follet’s Pillars of the Earth, but it has been reinforced by recent experience.

Take La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, for example.  The project was begun in 1882.  The initial architect retired in 1883 and Antoni Gaudi took over.  He was so dedicated to the project that he moved in, and had a bedroom in the church.  He died in 1826.  In the book, The Gaudi Key, I read that he was hit by a tram, and he was dressed so poorly that he was presumed to be homeless, and taken to a pauper’s hospital.  When he was found, he refused to move, and he died there.  He had spent over 40 years building the church at that point, and he remains there, buried in a crypt under the high altar.

In keeping with Gaudi’s style, La Sagrada Familia is a very organic building.  Animals and nature abound.  Some of the spires seem to have been inspired by termite nests.  Trees sprout from others.  The columns supporting the roof are like primeval trees.  The ceiling has parabolic circles Gaudi intended to improve the acoustics of the choir loft, which was built for 1000 choristers.

It takes a special kind of vision to look into the future and begin building a cathedral.  La Sagrada Familia is scheduled for completion in 2026, in time for the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death.  The project is completely financed with donations and entry fees to the church.  We bought our tickets and climbed the stairs of those spires.  We contributed a little bit to the building of a cathedral, a little nod to the future whether we are part of it or not.

Great projects are begun by simple men.  When others assume the vision and accept the challenge, the baton is passed, and great accomplishments can be achieved.

 

SERVICE ABOVE SELF March 15, 2012

Filed under: Rotary — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:43 am
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The following article was written for the Rotary page in the local Shuswap Observer paper.

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SHUSWAP ROTARY MEMBERS DEMONSTRATE THE ROTARY MOTTO: SERVICE ABOVE SELF

When we choose to join a Rotary Club, we choose to commit ourselves to community and international service. Sometimes our service is about fundraising for a worthwhile project, like our Pennies for Heaven drop held at the fair which raised money for the purchase of a Gamma probe for the hospital and for the accessible playground being built at Blackburn Park. Other projects are hands-on. There are small projects, like fixing up trails at Haney Park, or the Rotary Trail that winds from Little Mountain to Shuswap Lake. We clean up parks, like Peter Jennick Park on the shoreline. These small projects offer community improvement, and are a visible demonstration of our effort.

However, some of our projects are larger in scope, and make a significant difference in the lives of people around the world. Last summer, Mike Boudreau of Tech-Brew Engineering went to Kenya. As a result of meeting with a Rotary Club there, he organized a project to improve a water system, and to provide lunches for students at Burrani High School. Knowing how important nutrition is to learning, we know that this project is making a difference.

Dental Mission Esperanza 2012. Imagine the pain of these barnacle-like cavities

Another huge project is the dental mission to poor people in Cuenca Ecuador. In January of this year Dr. Eugene Tymkiw and dental assistant Donna Cook were part of Medical Dental Mission Esperanza (“hope”) providing dental treatment to children in poor mountain schools as well as to patients about to have orthopedic surgery. When our club saw photos of the teeth he treated, some that looked more like barnacles than teeth, we were particularly proud to support Gene in his international service. Our club helped purchase a portable digital dental x-ray machine which proved to be invaluable to the team.

Dr Gene Tymkiw and happy patient in Ecuador

Rotary makes a difference in our community and our world. We’re proud to put service above self. We invite you to join us.  Come visit our club website at ShuswapRotary.org

 

much ado in English class! March 14, 2012

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:45 am
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Just for fun, here is an interpretation of Act Two of Much Ado About Nothing by a group of my linear English 9 class.  They did a good job with it, and I have to say, I love Don John! ;-P

 

A musical Ben March 13, 2012

Filed under: Grace Awakening — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:28 am
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Enjoy this original composition by Ben Kraft, who is one of my most memorable students.  The character of Ben isn’t named after him, but in Grace Awakening Power, Wesford Kraft is.  ;-P

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Don’t I have talented kids?  You can check out more of Ben’s music on his Fandalism site.

 

help wanted March 12, 2012

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:26 am

Here’s a parent perspective on the issues in the school from Ginger Hartman. It would be wonderful if hers was the only story like this, but I expect an alarming percentage of our students’ parents can say the same.

I am trying to remember if it was at the school where I am now, of one of the previous ones, where over 25% of our student body had some government coded special need. You can be assured that there were almost the same number un-coded, but noted as needing help, and possibly even more demanding than the identified students.

I know I’m not meeting the needs of all my identified kids. I try to adapt and modify lessons for them, but I can’t stretch enough to monitor them every minute of the class, when there are 25-29 others in the room who also need attention. So many of these kids really need one on one support all day.  Each would function best with a Special Education Assistant at their side in every class to keep them on task, guide their understanding, and articulate issues that the student can not articulate. I have one SEA in one of my four classes, but she’s attached to one wheelchair bound student, not the deaf student, or the learning disabled students, or the behavior challenged students, or the socially challenged students.  I need to deal with them, and try to ensure that they’re all on target, learning, and meeting the prescribed learning outcomes.

I am just one body, and while I have a lot of strategies to encourage success in my students,  I am only one body!

Teaching cost me over $500 last year in personally purchased books and supplies used/destroyed/stolen in my class room.  Teachers are not allowed to list these expenses on our tax returns.  That drives me crazy. Other professions are allowed to deduct for tools and supplies used on their job.  I have never been able to figure out why we’re not.  The only thing I can think of is that the federal government has already given the provincial government funding for these things, and so they believe we don’t need to purchase them.  Well, we’re taking a stand.  What’s our job?  What’s not our job?  Our job is teaching, and we’ll do it between the bells, until this government recognises that it is eroding one of the best educational systems in the world.  We’re falling fast.

 

star dust March 11, 2012

Filed under: Commentary,Pondering,Reading — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:13 am
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“The secret has been within you since the day you were born.  We are all children of the stars–everything is.”

Martin and Carranza in The Gaudi Key

Where did I read that this is literally true?  Our nature as “carbon based life forms” shows that genetically we are full of star dust.  Crazy, isn’t it?  What secret is within us when we emerge bloody from the womb, open to the infinite possibility that is life itself?  What secret waits to tell us our purpose or destiny?  What is yours?

 

perseverance beyond prevention March 10, 2012

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:02 am
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It is what we think we know already

that often prevents us from learning.

Claude Bernard

Isn’t this a profound sentiment? I recently heard that studies have shown that the key to success in mathematics is not being ‘math brained,’ but rather, it’s about simple perseverance.  I know so many people who had to have math for a career training who just fought through, because they ‘had to have the course’ who said, “It’s much easier than it was when I was in high school.”  I don’t think it’s about easier at all.  I think it’s about knowing there is no other option than getting it done.  That change of attitude is the key to success.  We ‘think’ we suck at math, so we don’t try.  When we come up against a concept that is difficult to grasp, instead of working through it, we give up.  If you must have it the math credit to do what you want to do, you stick with it, and lo and behold, you figure it out!

I have a friend who was told in high school that “Girls can’t do math.” and “Blonde girls are so stupid, they can’t do math at all.”  A bet was made.  My platinum blonde friend went to university to get a math degree, and then for good measure, she got a masters in applied math.  (Last I heard, she was working for the Canadian Nuclear Energy Board).  Trust me, Karen had a lot of stubborn perseverance!

So the next time you think you can’t do something, remember that it’s what you think you know that’s the problem.  Quite often, your premise is wrong.  Open your mind, and explore all the options.

 

net zero? March 9, 2012

Filed under: Commentary — Shawn L. Bird @ 12:52 am
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All public sector unions are expected to take net zero on their contracts, and yet, the government itself has no issues giving itself double digit raises- forty percent or more.  I don’t think health care workers or teachers work less than these folks, and many of them are better educated than these overpaid bureaucrats.  Check out Norman Farrell’s insight in this issue.  He’s got facts and figures.  It blows my mind.

 

One day March 8, 2012

Filed under: Friendship,Poetry — Shawn L. Bird @ 4:00 pm

A few posts ago I mentioned the talented Catherine Novak and how she’d adapted my poem, “My Tribute,”  into a song back in high school.  I sang in a gospel musical group called Koinonia with Catherine , and she composed a song that we loved to perform.  It was bouncy and rocking and our audiences always loved it as well.  It’s another one that only exists in our memories, but this is what I recall of Cathy’s Song.  The lyrics are great, too.

One day a long time ago

When I had lost my soul

I knew I needed someone who would come and make me whole.

I looked around me and I saw Him standing there

He said that He would help me

my burdens He would bear;

and He said, I’ve got the time

If you will only follow me.

Come to my house, I will teach you to be free.

And you’ll become a part of one great family

and I said, “Lord, have mercy on me.”

We talked a long, long while, I told him of my fears

He comforted my soul, He wiped away my tears.

He said that he love me and save me from my sin

and if we just knock but once, you know He’ll let us in.

and He said,

I’ve got the time

If you will only follow me.

Come to my house, I will teach you to be free.

And you’ll become a part of one great family

and I said, “Lord, have mercy on me.”

And now I live my life in  h a r m o n y with G o d ….

and He said,

I’ve got the time

If you will only follow me.

Come to my house, I will teach you to be free.

And you’ll become a part of one great family

and I said, “Lord, have mercy on me.”

I wish there was a recording for you to hear this, because it is really quite a wonderful song.  It’s good as a poem, too, though.  ;-P

Thanks Cath, for some great musical memories!