The discipline did her a lot of good. I am glad I got her to New Orleans. She'd already been to the nationals and was going to pass because one of her friend was going through some sort of drama but I told her that when you are eligible for the worlds in anything you go, cause that's an honor even if you don't win and even if "worlds" is only true in the sense that it's above the nationals.
It wasn't easy and required a marathon overnight drive, not to mention maxing out the credit card, but I enjoyed New Orleans and I think it gave her a solid confidence that she'd been lacking. It may have helped her stay out of the messier traps at school. Apparently the type of karate she learned is a little offbeat -- shon ru? -- so she quit when her teacher retired but perhaps she had gotten what she needed from it by then. On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 12:42 PM, Scott Stewart <[email protected]> wrote: > > I loved competing, I took 15 State Titles in sparring and breaking, > and four National Medals under USATaekwondo and AAUTaekwondo. The > lessons in being graceful in defeat, how to turn "competition Scott" > on and offand just the sheer discipline of training for it are things > that i'll have with me for life. > > On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 2:30 PM, Dana <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Lara got quite a bit out of competition. I don't know if I ever told >> you that when she went to the worlds in new orleans she won one first >> place and I think three seconds... even if you allow for the fact that >> this was only girls at her age and rank, that's still pretty good. She >> had to beat four or five girls in each competition. >> >> On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 9:30 AM, Scott Stewart >> <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Here's the speech that I usually give.. >>> >>> 1) if the school isn't willing to give a couple of free lessons... run >>> 2) if the school will not let you speak to students or the other >>> instructors..run >>> 3) if the school will not let you observe classes...run >>> 4) if the school doesn't have a recognizable national governing body, >>> like the World Taekwondo Federation, or the International Taekwon-do >>> Federation, or the US National Karate-Do Federation.. run >>> >>> I'm partial to Taekwondo as dictated by the World Taekwondo >>> Federation, and USATaekwondo, they have acredidation and certification >>> for instructors and keep a pretty tight leash on them, every school >>> teaches the same basic curriculmn (so if you move he won't lose rank). >>> >>> WTF Taekwondo is full contact at the competition level, there's an >>> emphasis on taking a hit as well as dishing it out (read: no love tap >>> point fighting), but still very controlled in the school, discipline >>> is stressed, ranks are earned not just handed out (based on a >>> student's individual performance, and physical abilities) all while >>> maintaining a fun and safe environment... >>> >>> Trust your gut when you walk into the school, if you're not >>> comfortable, leave, beware of "Belt Factories", they tell you that >>> they'll put a black belt on your son in a year/year and a half.. it >>> took me eight years of solid training to get mine (factoring in >>> changing schools twice, with the same instructor, a divorce, injuries >>> and competition). >>> >>> A key point, there's no regulation of the Martial Arts industry, >>> anyone can make up an organization, declare themselves "World >>> Champion" and open a school. So buyer beware. >>> >>> On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 10:15 AM, Scott Stroz <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> I guess that should read - 'any suggestions on identifying a good >>>> instructor' >>>> >>>> On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 10:14 AM, Scott Stroz <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> We have, but at the time he did not seem too interested. That was a >>>>> couple of years ago, so it might be a good idea to revisit it. Any >>>>> suggestions on finding a good instructor? >>>>> >>>>> On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 9:57 AM, Scott Stewart >>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> that does suck... >>>>>> >>>>>> Have you thought about putting him a martial arts program? When I was >>>>>> teaching in NC I had a student who had a mild version of CP, it did >>>>>> wonders for his coordination and balance, not to mention his >>>>>> confidence. He was one of my best students. >>>>>> >>>>>> On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 9:40 AM, Scott Stroz <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Believe it or not, but when we first started home school, we got a lot >>>>>>> of inspiration from the Montessori 'methods'. As a matter of fact, >>>>>>> that scene you described is similar to how our kids each begin their >>>>>>> day - only there is only 2 of them. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I have made no secret of the fact that my older son had a stroke when >>>>>>> he was born. As a result, he has very mild cerebral palsy (CP) - so >>>>>>> mild most might not notice it. He does have limited fine motor skills >>>>>>> on his right side, particularly his arm and hand. One thing he asked >>>>>>> when he was still in kindergarten was to 'buy' his own lunch like the >>>>>>> other kids. We thought this would be a great way for him to gain some >>>>>>> independence so we gave him money the next day so he could buy his own >>>>>>> lunch. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> After he picked out what he wanted and paid for it, he was walking >>>>>>> across the cafeteria to sit down and a child came up behind him and >>>>>>> knocked him over, spilling his lunch all over the floor and himself. >>>>>>> Not only were we not called so, at the very least, we could bring him >>>>>>> a change of clothes, but they refused to give him a replacement lunch >>>>>>> because he did not have enough money left over. That is not the kind >>>>>>> of environment I want my children to be learning in. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> When we asked what happend to the child who pushed our son, we were >>>>>>> told, 'Nothing,. That is just kids being kids'. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 9:21 AM, Zaphod Beeblebrox >>>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> We had very similar issues with our first born in public school >>>>>>>> kindergarten. We tossed around home schooling for a while. We >>>>>>>> decided we didn't the correct combination of time/patience to do it. >>>>>>>> So we went with a Montessori private school. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Yesterday, I had to take a picture of the class for a school project. >>>>>>>> When I arrived, there were 3 students who were not there yet. I sat >>>>>>>> down in the classroom and watched my daughter start her work. After a >>>>>>>> few minutes..I realized it was extremely quiet. I looked around and >>>>>>>> saw that all the kids were busy doing "works", but I didn't see any of >>>>>>>> them doing the same thing. I even noticed a girl reading book that >>>>>>>> didn't look like an assignment type of book. I asked the teacher >>>>>>>> later about the book. She told me that the girl liked to start her >>>>>>>> day reading for pleasure. That wasn't an issue because the girl >>>>>>>> always set aside the time "pleasure reading" in her daily plan and >>>>>>>> would accomplish everything else she set out to do. She said their >>>>>>>> method is not to micromanage the students, but to help them set goals >>>>>>>> and accomplish them. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I thought about that later and realized, that's a lot like real life. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Apr 15, 2010, at 5:00 PM, Scott Stroz wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I have to say, when we first had issues with my child's teacher, my >>>>>>>>> wife mentioned homeschooling and my knee jerk reaction was 'No way in >>>>>>>>> hell'. At that point I had only known like 3 people who were home >>>>>>>>> schooled and they were all what I would consider 'weird'. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> But the more research I did, the more I talked to people, the more I >>>>>>>>> realized that while those 'weird' people might be the stereotypical >>>>>>>>> home schoolers, they are not the majority. I found out that a lot of >>>>>>>>> people I knew and respected were home schooled for all or part of >>>>>>>>> their childhood. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Now, I would have it no other way. I think we have the perfect life. I >>>>>>>>> work from home, my wife does not need to work (to pull in a paycheck) >>>>>>>>> and we homeschool. No mater how busy any of our days get, we still see >>>>>>>>> each other every day and eat every meal together. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 5:51 PM, Ian Skinner <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On 4/15/2010 2:15 PM, Eric Roberts wrote: >>>>>>>>>>> That is exactly my point Ian. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Eric >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> No, I'm afraid you missed the point. My point was that *I* could not >>>>>>>>>> home school. Don't have the time, don't have the aptitude. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> But I also *recognize* that I am a lucky parent. Through no effort >>>>>>>>>> in >>>>>>>>>> my part, I just happened to be living in the foot print of a good >>>>>>>>>> school >>>>>>>>>> when our children where born. My oldest is advance, my youngest is >>>>>>>>>> challenged. They both have had great teachers to date. They both >>>>>>>>>> have >>>>>>>>>> received great support and encouragement from the schools system so >>>>>>>>>> that >>>>>>>>>> neither has been held back. The grade school is right across the >>>>>>>>>> street >>>>>>>>>> and is a 'residential' school, meaning there is no busing. It only >>>>>>>>>> servers the immediate neighborhood in walking distance around the >>>>>>>>>> school. Thus small class sizes and plenty of parental participation. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> The youngest in under an IEP and receives significant help from that >>>>>>>>>> program. The oldest was advanced to the 1st grad math program when >>>>>>>>>> he >>>>>>>>>> had completed the kindergarten level work and was getting bored. He >>>>>>>>>> is >>>>>>>>>> now in a Charter School that strongly embraces the arts. *Creative >>>>>>>>>> Connections Arts Academy* incorporates art into his academic >>>>>>>>>> curriculum. And I count myself lucky that this school is within >>>>>>>>>> walking >>>>>>>>>> distance of our home as well. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> But I know all of that is quite lucky on my part. I live within >>>>>>>>>> range >>>>>>>>>> of great public schools so that I don't have to consider home and|or >>>>>>>>>> private schooling. But if all of the above was not true, I would be! >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> >> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Want to reach the ColdFusion community with something they want? Let them know on the House of Fusion mailing lists Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:316160 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/unsubscribe.cfm
