‘Raise Your Voice’ Archives
No Need to Whisper
By Peter Molenaar When the brown-eyed children were exclusively praised in class, the blue-eyed children receded. Thus, many years ago, the connection between self-esteem and learning capacity was demonstrated. Moreover one”'s self-image is a refection of an historically determined social context. So, when we talk about the racial achievement gap in math and reading, there is no need for hushed whispers. Research shows that children facing hardships in their first five years of life are prone to developmental delays and long-term deficits. Hardships might include: poor access to healthcare and proper nutrition, lack of stable nurturing relationships, and little or no exposure to age-appropriate learning activities. The ongoing economic crisis exacerbates all the negative factors. Does anyone doubt that child development is a foundation for a prosperous and sustainable society? Prioritizing in-need children should then be high on Minnesota”'s to-do list. Here [...]
Newtown and Us
By Peter Molenaar Among the countless commentaries written in the aftermath of the Newtown tragedy there was an anomaly. The author advised that we not pursue empathy toward the parents. Any such attempt to connect with that moment of anguish and the extended grief would fall woefully short. Allow me to disagree slightly with this assertion. It does help to bow the head and close one”'s eyes. Call it whatever, with me as your witness, even atheistic communists do this. By this effort human beings are able to approach comprehension. We must try. To the Newtown Federation of Teachers, the Newtown Federation of Custodians, the Newtown Federation of Educational Personnel and the American Federation of School Administrators, the president of the AFL-CIO conveyed in part the following: “”¦As a father myself, this tragedy is a parent”'s worst nightmare”¦do what we do best ”“ support one another as we try to recover from this senseless [...]
Basilica and Savita
by Peter Molenaar Readers of this column might know that the realm of philosophy is divided into two camps, i.e. idealism and materialism. Idealists believe the universe was preconceived and then created, whereas materialists believe the universe has always existed and that consciousness is the product of material evolution. So now”¦ The exhibit of Ludmila Pawlowska”'s “Icons in Transformation” has completed its show at the Basilica of Saint Mary. Set in the awesome nave with its stunning statuary niches, the production was probably the most exquisite artistic exposition of philosophical tension ever. Enter the nave”¦ There were numerous larger-than-life panels suspended in space with eyes peering from beneath dirt and debris. Likewise, the majority of wall hangings cast eyes, often highly abstracted. The tension between ”˜intelligent design”' and ”˜natural selection”' was evident to this observer. In [...]
