Back to School? .. sorta

This is that time of year where I pull out all my cartoons to 'honor' the students, teachers, and parents uniting as one to make sure those little darlin's get a good education.

Of course in 2020 in America education is a muddle due to the response to Covid-19.  Like most of you I have my opinions on 'To mask or not to mask'.. as that is the question.  But no matter any of our opinions the school year 2020-2021 will be like no other. No matter if you homeschool, zoomschool, or do school in the classroom.. EDUCATION 20-21 must go on.

But for today, let's return to a day gone by (fall of 2019) where masks were for thieves, and social distancing was reserved for avoiding that Uncle at your family reunion who has BO.  A day when Education was freely shared, and teachers ruled the land.  Kinda like the Jurassic period ruled by the T-Rex.

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School Days, School Days..  Dear old Golden Rule days  

' Reading and 'riting and 'rithmetic  
Taught to the tune of the hick'ry stick' 
hick’ry stick?     

So NOT politically correct! but.. I like it!

It is kind of odd to think this was a song to describe 'classroom management', but to me it is not nearly as strange as hickory sticks being replaced with blaming the teacher first and sending them to a workshops on what they did wrong.  GO FIGURE.
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The School Year begins traditionally the day after Labor day in America. Parents, students, and teachers like the migration of geese transition from vacations, picnics, and the beach to a world of chalk dust, text books, surprise quizzes, and report cards.

Actually chalk dust is becoming a part of old school urban legend. Before Covid we feared breathing in chalk dust. lol.  Chalk boards are replaced with white boards, smart boards, and technology. The current techno-tools of choice include I-Pads, chromebooks, and smart phones. These are the tools (aka distractions) of today's student.  They say..  You are only as smart as your smartphone? 

A good smartphone is today's student's Swiss Army Knife even replacing the amazing Texas Instruments Scientific Calculator from back in my day.  note: In our weapons sensitive schools can you can have even a figurative Swiss Army Knife?

​The timeless excuse "My dog ate my homework" has been upgraded with.. "my wi-fi was down", "access denied to my cloud", or "a  computer virus ate my homework". AND NOTE.. the time honored  nuisance of passing notes between students has been replaced with texting, and/or latest (snapchat, instagram, tictok) social media craze .

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So the above is what I would call the 'lay of the land'. Students k-12 and beyond meet teachers found in public, private, and home school environments. No matter if there is Covid-19 or not the education process continues. Ready.. Set.. LEARN!
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TEACHERS..
God bless all of you gifted educators in the public and private school systems. And God bless you homeschoolers as you all are so important.  While teaching the 3 Rs,  never forget to teach the Christian world view. Always remember prayer for our students, the families, our nation, and  all centered first around the worship of  the God of  our Bibles.   Truth be told education can be as much of a ministry as  an occupation.

SO I PRAY for all you dedicated educators that Jesus be first and  foremost in your lives. May your faith and God's truth guide your words  and deeds. Kindness,  compassion,  and loving discipline are the marks of a Godly educator. AND I PRAY for all you students for challenges that are ahead in 20-21.

MY PRAYER OF CONCERN​ is for our public schools and a direction away from our nation's Christian heritage. Public Schools in their determined quest to remain NEUTRAL in matters of  faith have become NEUTERED in respect to civics, Christian values, and our Christian heritage. While there is no question we are all to respect this nation's many faiths it is a MISTAKE to become so SECULARIZED.  

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PATRIOTISM
And  while we are at  it, I pledge allegiance to  the  flag and  the  United States  of  America. And  to the Republic for which it stands,  one nation UNDER GOD..This pledge needs to be in schools.  Patriotism, civics, and honoring our  country (flaws  and all) needs  to  be an integral part of education.  AND Christians should  not be alarmed the pledge puts God and Country on the  same plane.  The pledge clearly states one nation UNDER GOD. 

you know 'under' as in 'not above'.

​OBTW,  please don't kneel during  the  Star Spangled Banner. Save your kneeling for your prayer time.
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IN SUMMARY .. Happy/blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord Psalms 33:12,.. and so it goes without saying happy/blessed is the SCHOOL whose God is  the Lord and teaches a Christian World View.  When our nation and/or schools compromise Psalms 33:12 this erodes what God intends for good for His people.

For a complete (exhaustive, or is it exhausting?) cartoon look at all things school from a Back Pew perspective, click here-> SCHOOL

​Jeff (semi-educated/bus drivin') Larson

note: 20-21 will be year two of my job as a bus driver.The role of School Bus Driver has provided me a treasure trove of new cartoon ideas. Elementary kids especially are just too darn cute.

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