Sand Hill Philosopher

Knowing One Another Helps Cooperation

A court has just shut-down a Charter School using a "Classical Curriculum".  One of the major tools that is used in the "Classical Curriculum" is making sure that students have a very strong foundation in the Basics. Then they progress through Latin, Mathematics, Classical Literature and History, much of which is learned by the study of Original Documents.

While long a believer in this approach to education, for a better critique of this approach to education and curriculum please visit www.beehive5.blogspot.com .

Michael Medved mentioned today on his radio program that a judge has once again intervened to "save people from learning the Bible." Interestingly, this particular Classical Curriculum contains studies of the Bhagavad Gita (Hinduism), the Book of Mormon, the Code of Hammaraubi (the oldest known codex of written law, from Persia), Mohammad and Islam. Altogether, ten world religions are studied.

The Judge ruled that it was only the Bible that was a problem, and the school must either drop the Bible from the curriculum, change to another curriculum, or shut the school. This is just another example of Judicial Activism, and Judicial Bigotry.

Interestingly, the curriculum is not a "Sunday School Approach" to the Bible, but a study of its impact on culture, history and the fact that not only Christianity, but Judaism and Islam rely heavily upon the text for their religion, worldviews and customs. While the Bible is generally considered a marvelous book of literature in its own right, many classicists, including William Shakespeare, quoted it frequently. Abraham Lincoln once said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." That is a simple, profound statement, imbedded in our nation's history. Whether you are Christian or not, the import of the fact, and the clearness of expression can't be denied, even if you discover that Lincoln was quoting Jesus, speaking in Mark 3:25. These words had great impact, and directed minds to a worldview that brought an end to The Great War (US Civil War, 1861-1865).

Medved added that even though his own children attended an Orthodox Jewish High School, one of the best teachers in that school dedicated significant class time to the discussion of the Christian Doctrine referred to as "Calvinism". Was it to teach the Jews that they should become Calvinistic Christians, or Calvinistic Jews? No. It was so they could understand so much history that occurred during the Age of Reformation, and hundreds of years of politico-historical actions effecting the whole world, regardless of the student's own religion.

All religions have a worldview, which is largely drawn from their religious beliefs. By studying these religions, and worldviews, we will understand each other better. My sons all studied the Major World Religions: I'm glad they did.

Let me try to set aside my outrage over the Bible portion of the court ruling, and close by saying,

Regardless of your opinion of religion in general, your personal choice of religion, or even your denomination within one of the bodies, Don't you think that you will be better educated and understand where the other person is coming from, if you understand at least a little about where their worldview is coming from?

You can have knowledge without Faith.

Just Thinking, The Sand Hill Philosopher

 

This Blog Post: http://bit.ly/7lCUlo   

www.MichaelMedved.com

www.Beehive5.blogspot.com

Why Isn't 'Common Courtesy' More Common?

America is becoming rude, and it is contagious.

How YOU can Stop Judicial Activism

The Process for removing Federal Judges (including Supreme Court Judges) is EASY.  The steps, in reverse order, are:

3. Have a judge that you disapprove of his lifestyle, a single court ruling, or a string of what the public believes are poor decisions, or patterns of dangers pending.

2. Have Congressmen (House and Senate) who are willing to impeach the Judges.

1. Have voters who will only vote for Congressmen who are willing to impeach judges who have offended the sensibilities of their constituents.

Economics to Know: the Books (Part Two of Two)

This is the Second of a Two Post Series on Economics. While each blog post will stand alone, most readers will do well to read the first post (published 11/13/09) in order to understand why there are so many misunderstandings about the Science of Economics, and the proceed to this post on the recommended reading. In the first post I tried to clarify some of the misunderstandings surrounding different views of economics. There is also an explanation of why only one School of Economic Thought is addressed here: there is only one proven view of economics. Every view of economics than what I set before you has never moved from the "theoretical" phase, and never will.

It is important that it be established as fact that every person MUST possess some degree of economic understanding. Even the person that has no money has to use these same principles in barter. In this second post, I will review Twelve Fundamental Books. With each of those books, The Sand Hill Philosopher will describe why he considers these books, and the Laws of Economics they set forth, to be foundational to any wise understanding and use of Economics. Please note that neither The Sand Hill Philosopher's brevity, nor length, should be used to determine the importance of the book, or its relative value.

Economics is considered a science, because an economic theory can be developed, tested, measured and then reproduced. This is because certain laws that are immutable are at play. It is the most stable nations that have always been (and always will be) capitalistic in nature. It is paradoxical that people keep turning to socialism, and it always fails. The paradox is not that it always fails, but that people keep trying it, even after it has failed repeatedly throughout history. These laws of economics are as predictable as the laws of physics. No person, No law and No government can break them and persevere. Each person and government who breaks these widely known laws cannot transgress them without paying stiff financial penalties.

These books that you will be introduced to will teach you the breadth, depth and length to which these Laws extend. I should point out that the major emphasis of this work is not an examination of theory that "will hopefully work," which is what most universities teach, and they therefore do not have enough time to reinforce the areas of theory and application that have stood the test of time, across cultures and governments, and still work. There is neither the space or time to teach every theory that doesn't work; we will hone your skills on those things which do.

Your teachers in this noble mission of education are the Best of the Best. Some of your professors are hundreds of years old, and some are living and publishing to this day. This is further proof of the enduring quality and identifying means of the Principles of Economics. They all have one thing in common: they have seen in their own time, and in their own way, how the governing Laws of Economics present themselves. The commonality among the authors, and through the tests of civilization and history, mark these truths as standing true throughout the ages.

 

Basic Economics: a common sense guide to the economy, Sowell, Thomas (2007) http://bit.ly/2RljiI

 

In this first book, you will learn some terms that will help you interpret much of what you hear on the news and read on the business pages of newspapers. Dr. Thomas Sowell's book is called "Basic", but do not confuse this with "easy". This may be the slowest book to read in the series, but it is also the most thorough. The material is not hard to understand, but the extent to which these principles affect us, from the worker to the Federal Government, will take some time for you to think upon, and recover from the impact of the consequences of, that we will soon start to reap. If you are a Sand Hill drop-out, you will have at least read one of the greatest books ever written. on the subject of Economics. A true Classic of American writing.

What Everyone Needs to Know About Economics: Even YOU

With the current understanding of Economics being so shallow even among so-called Thinkers and Economists, I will propose to teach you more than most regular universities require for a degree in the Science of Economics.

Over the course of two posts, I propose to first establish the fact that every person MUST possess some degree of economic understanding. Even the person that has no money, has to use these same principles in barter. In the second post, I will give a review of Twelve Fundamental Books. With each of those books, The Sand Hill Philosopher will describe why he considers these books, and the Laws of Economics they set forth to be foundational to any wise understanding and use of Economics.

Aristotle on "Term Limits"

Aristotle was known as “The Master of the Knowers”. History regards him

Political Sermons of the American Founding Era (1730-1805)

Most Conservatives and Christians are well aware of the fact that any twist on the “separation of church and state” was meant to keep the government out churches, and NOT the church (or church ideas) out of government.

Healthcare and Debt: Driving Forces Behind Economic Decisions

When able to practice medicine, every year we would go through the meetings, where employers, insurance companies and doctors

Economics: The Last Six Rows of Corn

While in college, trying to escape the sadistic heat of roofing in West Texas,

Health Care Debate Exposes the Left's Anti-Democratic Agenda

The following is an excerpt from an article on Health care Reform by Hillsdale College Assistant Professor of Political Science, Dr. Kevin Portteus.

Book Review: My Grandfather's Son

Growing up in Muleshoe, Texas (far Western Panhandle), during the 1960's & 70's,

Liberal Arts Education & Its Link to Freedom

The lack of education will soon make America a nation of slaves.