Deby Adair's Blog, page 2
November 4, 2016
Our children and their educations.
'Do you believe that children, in general, receive a more well-rounded education if they go to private schools, or public schools?'
This question arose in a Goodreads forum and I feel that it's important in terms of perspective and what we think of as education for children worldwide.
There were many interesting responses and I felt a need to add one as well.
'An education begins at home: socially, emotionally, ethically and academically. However, within our schooling systems we are largely crafting 'education' to meet the requirements of becoming workers, not well-rounded human beings who will accomplish a life filled with promise and upliftment for all.
It is seen as normal to ram information down children's and young people's throats that requires testing that seems to fill no real need. Academic information has its place, absolutely; however, children on the whole despise their school years - not much has changed generationally - unless they are very fortunate.
I have seen the result of illiteracy come from private schools as much as public schools and this issue is a massive concern in my opinion. The ability to read and write with excellence, at least in your own language if not in any other is paramount to a sense of security in life. I have also seen the need for extra tutoring in subjects such as maths and science in both school systems.
My personal take on education has no preference for public, private or home-schooling... my problem with how we educate children is that we expect them, in the end, to fit like neat little square pegs into a round world that accommodates only a small portion of the population.
We don't cater to educate on a large scale unless it fits with corporate needs. This leaves a mass of children having to scramble to work 'to earn money' and that's about it. Quality of life or rather lack of it revolves around this matter for most. Education doesn't seem to really want to address the holistic approach to children being human beings with a wide range of needs.
I would prefer that we change many of the systems used in education, both private and public on a global scale. Children are not automatons.'
This question arose in a Goodreads forum and I feel that it's important in terms of perspective and what we think of as education for children worldwide.
There were many interesting responses and I felt a need to add one as well.
'An education begins at home: socially, emotionally, ethically and academically. However, within our schooling systems we are largely crafting 'education' to meet the requirements of becoming workers, not well-rounded human beings who will accomplish a life filled with promise and upliftment for all.
It is seen as normal to ram information down children's and young people's throats that requires testing that seems to fill no real need. Academic information has its place, absolutely; however, children on the whole despise their school years - not much has changed generationally - unless they are very fortunate.
I have seen the result of illiteracy come from private schools as much as public schools and this issue is a massive concern in my opinion. The ability to read and write with excellence, at least in your own language if not in any other is paramount to a sense of security in life. I have also seen the need for extra tutoring in subjects such as maths and science in both school systems.
My personal take on education has no preference for public, private or home-schooling... my problem with how we educate children is that we expect them, in the end, to fit like neat little square pegs into a round world that accommodates only a small portion of the population.
We don't cater to educate on a large scale unless it fits with corporate needs. This leaves a mass of children having to scramble to work 'to earn money' and that's about it. Quality of life or rather lack of it revolves around this matter for most. Education doesn't seem to really want to address the holistic approach to children being human beings with a wide range of needs.
I would prefer that we change many of the systems used in education, both private and public on a global scale. Children are not automatons.'
May 27, 2016
Something I never do...
Recently, I did something which I never do. Not because it's a bad thing, but because writing novels has captured my attention and most of my writing time in recent years. I spent some delightful time writing a short story of under 5,000 words.
I have quite a stash of short stories tucked away in my files, but I never seem to do anything with them. And they really are so much fun to write!
Often, between writing novels, a short story is a great way for my creative juices to 'stay alive'. I highly recommend it to anyone who feels lagged after writing a book yet wants to write something... anything!
I have quite a stash of short stories tucked away in my files, but I never seem to do anything with them. And they really are so much fun to write!
Often, between writing novels, a short story is a great way for my creative juices to 'stay alive'. I highly recommend it to anyone who feels lagged after writing a book yet wants to write something... anything!
December 20, 2015
Holidays and a New Year
Another year almost over! Everywhere I turn I meet people who tell me how much change happened in their lives in 2015. I have to say that it was a year of 'almost everything changed' for me.
Change is something that most animals find very difficult, even when it's a good thing. Humans are no different! We love getting married but get the jitters. We love travel but it can be stressful hopping in and out of airports and discovering new places, different languages. We love new food but wonder if we will like it.
So many of us are truly blessed. We have the opportunity to enhance our lives through change and new directions. Certainly 2015 was a year of difficult change for huge members of our fellow humans this year; changes that took them away from their homes, their homelands and their lives. And I always worry about the changes to our magnificent mother Earth and all of the very precious sentient animals who should be treated with respect and care.
There's no doubt that we live in a world that is changing in almost every way, every day.
So I'd just like to say that if you are reading books and have the money to buy them, if you have a loving home and kindness in your life, and if you have no lack, please find a small way to share your blessings with others this holiday season and pass it on into 2016 and beyond.
Whether that might be saving a family of kittens, helping an elderly person cross a road, learning something important that might help to change our world for the better, or a keen eye on how you can use less of what you don't need and help save the planet,
It really will make all the difference.
A wise person once said, 'Love is the only answer, no matter what the question.'
Love needn't always mean throwing rose petals around the pavement as you walk or pretending to be happy.
Sometimes it's as simple and as complicated as an act of courage in the face of overwhelming moments.
Keep the spark of your best self flaming into the future and never let it go.
I wish everyone a very special and empowered 2016.
Change is something that most animals find very difficult, even when it's a good thing. Humans are no different! We love getting married but get the jitters. We love travel but it can be stressful hopping in and out of airports and discovering new places, different languages. We love new food but wonder if we will like it.
So many of us are truly blessed. We have the opportunity to enhance our lives through change and new directions. Certainly 2015 was a year of difficult change for huge members of our fellow humans this year; changes that took them away from their homes, their homelands and their lives. And I always worry about the changes to our magnificent mother Earth and all of the very precious sentient animals who should be treated with respect and care.
There's no doubt that we live in a world that is changing in almost every way, every day.
So I'd just like to say that if you are reading books and have the money to buy them, if you have a loving home and kindness in your life, and if you have no lack, please find a small way to share your blessings with others this holiday season and pass it on into 2016 and beyond.
Whether that might be saving a family of kittens, helping an elderly person cross a road, learning something important that might help to change our world for the better, or a keen eye on how you can use less of what you don't need and help save the planet,
It really will make all the difference.
A wise person once said, 'Love is the only answer, no matter what the question.'
Love needn't always mean throwing rose petals around the pavement as you walk or pretending to be happy.
Sometimes it's as simple and as complicated as an act of courage in the face of overwhelming moments.
Keep the spark of your best self flaming into the future and never let it go.
I wish everyone a very special and empowered 2016.
November 4, 2015
Winners!
Congratulations to all the winners of the Goodreads Giveaway for, 'Hope' -The Ambit of Light.
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
August 9, 2015
Small endings...
About a year ago I finished writing Book Four of the Unicorns of Wish: Hope - The Ambit of Light.
The long journey of sending to editing, book covers, proof reading, software, creating the final product and enjoying (or not) all the little rollercoasters up to the final production, is as interesting, but certainly not as fulfilling, as writing the book!
So now at last, 'Hope' is out in Paperback, soon to be in Kindle and then in time, the next step - Audio.
This small ending brings the excitement of a Goodreads giveaway, an Amazon giveaway, eventually a Kindle giveaway and the wonderful beginning of new readers.
I loved writing this book. It flew with me across an ocean and back and, like the three books before it in the series, had much to do with the real-life animals in my life who always seem to create their own special input.
And now, book five is finding its way to becoming its own special entity in the not so distant future.
The long journey of sending to editing, book covers, proof reading, software, creating the final product and enjoying (or not) all the little rollercoasters up to the final production, is as interesting, but certainly not as fulfilling, as writing the book!
So now at last, 'Hope' is out in Paperback, soon to be in Kindle and then in time, the next step - Audio.
This small ending brings the excitement of a Goodreads giveaway, an Amazon giveaway, eventually a Kindle giveaway and the wonderful beginning of new readers.
I loved writing this book. It flew with me across an ocean and back and, like the three books before it in the series, had much to do with the real-life animals in my life who always seem to create their own special input.
And now, book five is finding its way to becoming its own special entity in the not so distant future.
March 11, 2015
Book Covers
One of the things I love absolutely the most is the process of creating the covers for The Unicorns of Wish series! Right now, the big decision has finally been made by Unicorn Kisses for the cover and colour scheme of Book Five. With Book Four ready to roll off the presses late this June, once that is released for the readers, then the adventure is on for the next book... of course!
March 6, 2015
March 3, 2015
The Naughty Corner
Each book demands a different way of being written. You can plan all you like, plot a certain way, and then you wake up at 2 AM and the book tells you what IT wants! Ho hum... here we go again! Book Five of The Unicorns of Wish is being very naughty... I think it's on red cordial.
December 31, 2014
Happy New Year!
Here's wishing a Happy New Year to all creatures, great and small.
Let 2015 be the year when we heal the Earth!
Unicorn Kisses to all.
Let 2015 be the year when we heal the Earth!
Unicorn Kisses to all.
