And the rockets red glare

I hate to jump on the Star Spangled Banner boat but I feel I have something to add. Bernie's World really stated the situation in this country perfectly, however my addition is in a positive light.

I have a student who has huge promise musically. She has already decided that this is her dream and she has the drive and the talent to do so. She is a stunning young lady and incredibly personable. My hour with her is one of the privileges of my life. She makes me work harder as a teacher than I have ever had to and as a professional she makes me work as hard as I make her.

Tonight we had a lesson. I should tell you that going to her house is always an experience. I don't know the town that well though its directly north of me I never have cause to go there.
She lives in a lovely neighborhood and has a large house. Her mom, breeds small white fluffy dogs not sure if they lassa's or bijon's but they are small and white and loud and yipey.

Each time I go there, a pack of 6-10 of them come rounding the corner and if you could please picture the bumpus hounds from "A Christmas story" only miniature you would be able to appreciate the musical soundtrack behind it. then they descend on you. One of the pack is an ankle nibbler I refuse to call him a biter since I could fling him across the yard with a well placed flick of my foot. They are all sweet dogs ( and this is a HUGE step for me since I hate little dogs as a rule), but they are all jealous of one another.

Once I make it past the cavalry, she and I settle into our lesson. We talk about school and apparently this week, her English teacher decided to do a few lessons on the Star Spangled Banner, its history and the text and what it means. This same teacher also proceeded to play different versions of it for the class. My student was able to name the artists singing and tell what was wrong AND right with the performances.

I can't tell you how important it is to me that our schools are doing this. I am frankly surprised that the English teacher is doing it, but I don't care if the SHOP teachers do it, as long as it gets done. lets face it, we are a country that doesn't have any experts on the national anthem, since we barely know it as a country.

I am performing it in two weeks at the Kiwanis installation where I am receiving my award. Its the first performance in my season of singing this tune.

If you haven't read it, please read it on Bernie's world. IT IS a crisis. We as educators, parents, and citizens need to help correct it.

This has been a public service announcement. :-)