Nope. Popcorn didn't help.

Depends on the kid. I was 9 when it came out and saw it in the theater. I was SO BORED. Spent about as long as I could watching the video games in the lobby play itself (ZooKeeper). So unless there's already interest in the topics, I'd say no :)

I like these. http://www.jetpens.com/Lamy-Vista-Fountain-Pen-Extra-Fine-Nib-Clear-Body-Chrome-Clip/pd/1929 I've bought a couple times from JetPens and like them as well.

Nope. I don't agree and here's why you're wrong.... ;)

I enjoy (love) his book On Writing. It's especially cool at the end where he shows a first draft and the his editing changes.

Here's a link that has a video of LeVar Burton talking on CNN about his experiences as a black man and how he taught his son to respond when being pulled over by the police. I saw it elsewhere & this is the first link I found to it. It really struck me because his experiences are SO NOT mine - and it's not something that I'd even THINK about to teach my son. One of my son's friends is black and as they move into the teenage years, after seeing this video, I couldn't help but think what a different experience they're likely to have in the next decade or so just because of skin color. That's an example of white privilege that I hadn't had a clue about just how deep it goes. I appreciate those of you who have engaged me in conversation about this and listened (waves at Dandelion!) I think more listening rather than denial goes a long way here. I also think that this thread right with the one on The Bluest Eye hit me especially hard. It has been 20 years since I read The Bluest Eye, so I don't remember too much about it. The rape doesn't even register in my memory. What does stay with me though is that I recall it as a story about a little black girl who has such issues with her self image that she thinks if she had blue eyes her life would be better - because people who are white have blue eyes. That is what she takes from the white representations in society. I think the parallel conversations really struck a nerve with me - hearing "Oh the horror!!" about reading a book that TALKS about racism and a denial of the existence of white privilege and an argument about terminology here just feels like too much. At any rate, thanks for listening. Now I'm off to teach the boy today and go see The Butler (where I'll likely get worked up about racism again).

I'm definitely not meaning to attack you in any way, but I think you (and others) may be misunderstanding the concept of white privilege. It's not the same as white guilt and it's not a concept intended to make people feel guilty. I think in conversations that are difficult, like this, it can be easy to misread or misinterpret what someone is saying. I think "privilege" and guilt are being mixed up here (in the discussion...not just your post). It's really hard to have a discussion about some of the realities when being told that your experiences don't exist...and that's what some of the posts in this thread (and in many other similar conversations) sound like. That's how I took Sadie's post...I read it not as an attempt to shut down dialog (although I do see how it can be read that way), but as a frustrated plea to people to LISTEN to what others are saying. The concept of white privilege is that if you have it, you very likely just WON'T see it around you because it isn't a part of your reality. When people who do deal with the realities of racism daily get told that this isn't worth talking about, it shuts down the dialog very effectively on its own. I get that that's not your intent...and that you've been open to listening...but there are very real issues that you're saying (to my ears) that shouldn't be discussed because the language or acknowledgement makes you uncomfortable. I'd ask that you consider where that discomfort comes from. White privilege carries no accusation IMO...rather its an acknowledgement that in the US, being white gives you advantages. It doesn't mean you have an easy life or that you don't confront other issues...but you are playing the game on "easy" difficulty. I often think about how amazingly lucky I am to be living in a first world country. There are billions of people around the world who don't have access to all I take for granted. When I worry about bills or finances, I am thankful that I have enough food to eat and for my family to eat. Millions don't have that regularly. That's privilege just from being born in the country I was in. It doesn't mean I don't have difficulties of my own, but in comparison to many, I've got it so easy. That's privilege.

My son's egg allergy does allow them in baked goods although he still can't tolerate baked milk (sigh). So we do use eggs in the Namaste brownie mix. I believe they have optional directions for without egg...replace with oil and vinegar maybe? I think that's the egg substitute in a other cookbook.... http://www.amazon.com/Milk-Free-Egg-Free-Nut-Free-Allergy-Cookbook/dp/0970278500/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1377225872&sr=8-8&keywords=Milk+free+cookbook This cookbook and her other one have some good cake recipes. Good chocolate cake too! :) I know it's overwhelming now, but it WILL get easier with time.

We'll have to agree to disagree there. :) It has been 20 years since my Morrison class. I found Beloved to be much more disturbing than The Bluest Eye. I loved Song of Solomon and Jazz. I definitely see reading and discussing books together to be important and I certainly wouldn't say everyone must read Morrison, but I think dismissing her work without looking at the book itself is narrow minded and that's what I saw in the original link.

It is graphic and disturbing, but I don't agree that it's gratuitous. I wouldn't hand my 10 yo the book, but I absolutely would hand it to my 16 or 17 yo. Isn't high school when we're supposed to be engaging our students in these discussions?

Hugs. It's hard! FARE has resources and recall info. Check them online. Namaste brownie mix is YUM! Earth Balance is the safe margarine. It comes in tubs and sticks. It's okay. I can't stand Daiya. Enjoy Life does safe chocolate chips and candy bars (so you can get a chocolate fix). We are milk free for ds (although dh and I eat some) and the house is completely nut free. Coconut ice cream isn't bad. And vent here when you need to (or feel free to send PMs)!

I'm reading a thread on a different board about "rape culture". It's very similar. The explanation given that I'm stealing and using here is basically to think about the assumptions you have when hearing a story. Do you immediately picture a male unless it's mentioned that it's a woman? Is your image someone who is white? That's your mental "default setting" and that's white privilege. You likely aren't aware of it if you're benefiting from it, but that doesn't mean it's not there. I asked a friend once about 8 years ago if he'd ever been pulled over for DWB (driving while black) and he had...young black male. I've never been pulled over. ?Love has a story about getting his first car, driving around and getting repeatedly stopped in a neighborhood. One officer told him it was because he was black. There was also a recent experiment done (don't have link) where different people tried breaking a lock at a bike stand to get a bike. The black males were accosted more than anyone else. I think it was a white male who had others help him break the lock to get to the bike. This is recent stuff. Also there have been studies on resumes and names (AA names are less likely to get interviews than traditionaly white names) Again, if you benefit, you're not likely to see it and it can be uncomfortable to acknowledge. White privilege is absolutely here.

The Bluest Eye is a classic. Toni Morrison won the Nobel Prize for literature. I did not read the linked article but I did read The Bluest Eye in college for a Morrison class. I will likely have my son read it or definitely some of her other works while in high school.

There's a difference between someone in a service uniform walking in your front yard or at the side of your house where meters might be and seeing someone suddenly in your back yard. A couple years ago my son and I were eating lunch when someone walked across our deck...back yard, right past the windows where we were eating. It's years later and I can still easily remember how startled I was. That fear can easily turn to anger. The guy in my back yard was checking for termites and we do have a contract with them...but he should have come to the front door first and said he was here. We did have a discussion about that. The impression I got from the OP was a situation similar to ours. I'd be furious.

As a heads up, this can be risky to count on. I got my MAT and knew that loans could be forgiven when I was teaching. Student teaching was enough to tell me that I'd work fast food again before setting foot in a high school. And thus I ended at the cc with no loan forgiveness but a lot less antidepressants!

You can use NUMATS for testing in 3rd.

If you can see how the grant is paid for (like a foundation from the cc) then a thank you would be nifty, I'd think.

My folks have set up a college fund for my son. I don't know if there'll be much there to help him, but I'm thrilled that they're thinking of it. We aren't saving for his college. Instead, we're saving for retirement. It is an either/or proposition. Dh's parents didn't help with his college. He had to pay his share and their share every year. He's the only one out of his siblings with even a high school diploma. Definitely family culture.

Not at all. I've used 3 different 3rd option groups. One did want me to send in a list of what we used, but no one has mandated what we use at all. I've never even heard of it :)

Sounds like people have gotten attention by posting on Facebook pages as well. Does BSA have a wall where you can post your story and complaint?

It's easy. 3rd option requires joining an accountability group (doesn't need to be in your part of the state). Different groups have different requirements & different level of support (& different fees). You will likely find a local support group to be useful. You do need to follow state requirements (180 days, reading, writing, math, science, social studies), but there's tons of freedom within that. Testing is optional (unless your accountability group requires it).

:grouphug:

I tried some of these books when ds was in 2nd. They're really not that good. I'd agree with the suggestion of CWP or something from Prufrick Press or just extra books.

:grouphug:

:grouphug: On the plus side, you recognize that you're irrational. I see that as a HUGE win! :hurray: