Being a Teacher

When I was in college, back in the 1960’s, I spent lots of time trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life. I wanted to be an architect or a mining engineer or a treasure hunter, depending on the mood of the day.

Then I stumbled onto a brand new profession, called computer programming. It sounded technical, mysterious and lucrative. I decided to give it a try. It was a great way to make a living and lasted about 35 years.

Then at the turn of the century, known as Y2K in the computer world, my career as a computer programmer was coming to a grinding halt. What once had been technical had become mundane. Programming was no longer mysterious or lucrative as thousands of programmers had flooded the job market and, after Y2K, many of the programming jobs were outsourced overseas. A thriving profession had become a dead end. So once again, I spent lots of time trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life.

In the spring of 2001, my life took an unexpected left turn. Ozarka College in Melbourne, Arkansas, was looking for a person to teach computer courses.

Such person was required to have a master’s degree in the discipline and some related experience. Since I appeared to be such a person, this caught my interest. I also had a B.S. (business) and an M.S. (management information systems), plus plenty of related experience, thus I appeared to be qualified for the job.

Even though I had no teaching experience, except for tutoring junior programmers, I applied for the position. The job interview went well. I talked to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the head of the business technology department, detailing my work history. They were two of the nicest people I’d ever met. My first reaction was to check to make sure I still had my wallet. Having been a city slicker most of my life, my instincts around overly nice people are that they want to sell you something or swindle you out of something, or both.

For whatever reason, I was offered the job and started in the fall 2001 semester with one night class called CIS1303 – Computer Information Systems. I gave it my best shot, the students appeared to learn things, and no one got hurt.

I went on to be an adjunct instructor at Ozarka College for the next six years, teaching a couple of differing night classes each semester, at facilities in Melbourne and Ash Flat. Every desk had a computer, tied into the main system at the Melbourne campus.

Being a teacher had been one of the most wonderful experiences in my life.

I taught computer classes in the evenings (or late afternoons) and only taught a few nights per week, which fit my ambition level at the time of taking life easy. While being a teacher is not the road to riches, it kept the lights burning.

Teachers are a special breed. When I worked in the corporate world, particularly in larger companies, being adept at office politics was often more important than doing a good job. Workers tried to please management by making themselves look good and making others look bad. In order to survive in such an atmosphere, you had to join the action or be trampled in the process.

However, teachers generally tend to be cooperative and helpful. They’re more focused on what’s best for the students than what’s best for themselves. It may be different in larger colleges, but everyone at Ozarka College was so nice that I was constantly checking to make sure I still had my wallet.

The greatest benefit of being a teacher was the satisfaction that came from helping others gain knowledge.

“Share your knowledge -- it's a way to achieve immortality.” 14th Dalai Lama

Computer skills have become a basic necessity in much of everyday life these days. The more I was able to help students improve their skills, the better I felt about myself and my new profession. There’s no greater reward than the sense of fulfillment that comes at the end of a semester when my students confidently scatter into the real world.

Computer students generally came in two varieties -- youngsters not far out of high school who had considerable computer skills and older people who wanted to learn about computers so they could make use of their home PCs.

One thing I learned along the way is that a teacher never stops learning. For example, there is a big difference between young whippersnappers (younger generations) and old codgers (older generations).

One semester at the Melbourne facility, there were 18 students in my Microprocessor Applications class. Four of them were older students, in their 40s and 50s. These four students had impeccable attendance records and the four highest overall grades, based on computer projects and tests. The rest of the students were a year or two out of high school. With few exceptions, they had spotty attendance and didn't seem to put forth an effort equal to their older counterparts.

By the way, everyone in that particular class was a female student, thus these differences had nothing to do with gender.

One semester at the Ash Flat facility, I had 11 students in my Introduction to Computers class. There were five older students, ages 30 to 75, and six students fresh out of high school. Once again, the five older students had good attendance records and the five highest overall grades, even though they knew less about computers at the outset than the youngsters.

This isn't exactly a scientific survey, but from my point of view old codgers seem to have a strong ethic to succeed while young whippersnappers have a strong yearning to slide through life with the greatest of ease.

Having interviewed and hired people in the past as the Lead Programmer and General Manager of a Computer Software Company, it's been my experience that the best workers are the ones who actually show up and put forth an effort once they get there.

A strong work ethic and eager attitude (beyond the false persona of the interview process) were always major requirements when I hired people. Having finished college is also a must. An employer is more willing to hire someone who has demonstrated they can finish what they started rather than some hotshot who quits in the middle. Being smart is secondary to a good work ethic. And being a class clown only helps if you want to become a comic or a writer.

"What a teacher is, is more important than what he teaches." Karl A. Menninger

There seems to be a generation gap throughout society these days. Many young people don't want to take responsibility for their own future. It's as though they expect some outside force, such as an omnipresent government, to control their world so they can just float through life without encountering too many obstacles or making too many decisions.

In a recent poll of 100,000 high school students, only 51% believe newspapers should be allowed to publish content without government approval and 20% feel people should not be allowed to express unpopular views. Apparently, fascism is a desirable concept among an alarmingly large percentage of the youth of America.

Clearly, there are real differences between generations.

• Young whippersnappers worry about the driver's test – old codgers worry about the vision test.

• Old codgers remember where they were when JFK was assassinated – young whippersnappers remember where they were when INVASION OF THE ZOMBIES movie came out.

• Young whippersnappers arrange for their next KEG – old codgers arrange for their next EKG. 

• Old codgers move to Arizona because it's warm -- young whippersnappers move to Arizona because it's cool.

• Young whippersnappers often have long hair – old codgers often long for hair.

• Old codgers fought wars for freedom of speech – young whippersnappers believe in freedom of speech as long as you get government approval first and don't say anything disagreeable.

If you want to get ahead in this world, show up and do the work. If you want to goof off, move to San Francisco. I've been there a few times -- it didn't take very long to get past it, but I still have a little bit of goof-off in reserve.

If you believe in freedom, fight for it. If you want to be a slave, empower those in charge to monitor everyone more closely and suppress unpopular thought, and perhaps build "re-education" centers for those who stray.

Government is dominated by those who yearn to control others. It becomes increasingly powerful by eroding liberty, requiring conformity and demanding obedience.

When you lose your individuality, you lose your soul.

Being a teacher is a lot like being rich -- it’s a wonderful way of life, just in a lower tax bracket.

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Quote for the Day – "Those who know how to think need no teachers." Mahatma Gandhi

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Bret Burquest is the author of 12 books. He lives in the Ozark Mountains with a few dogs and fond memories of being a teacher.

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Lincoln and Kennedy Assassinations

John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln each attempted to extract American currency away from the private banking interests (who eventually formed the Federal Reserve in 1913) and back into the U.S. Treasury.

The banking interests in the Kennedy years (through today) are the same intergenerational dynasty of foreign banking families in the Lincoln years, in the 1800s.

On February 25, 1862, President Lincoln authorized the printing of greenback notes from the U.S. Treasury, backed by silver, in the form of silver certificate notes. This fostered growth that could not be taxed and controlled by foreign banking interests. Needless to say, this action angered the international banking dynasty families.

Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865.

In 1886, a group of millionaires purchased Jekyll Island, off the coast of Georgia, and converted it into a retreat, the USA’s most exclusive club. By 1900, the club’s roster represented 1/6th of the world’s wealth, with members such as Astor, Vanderbilt, Morgan, Pulitzer and Gould on the club’s register.

In 1908, J.P. Morgan (purportedly) created a national money panic, whereby, Congress established a National Monetary Authority.

In 1910, a secret group was formed consisting of the chiefs of major corporations and banks in this country. The group left secretly by rail from Hoboken, New Jersey, and traveled anonymously to the hunting lodge on Jekyll Island, where they laid the groundwork, primarily drafted by (international German banker) Paul Warburg, for what would eventually be called the Federal Reserve System (the Fed) -- the new central bank could not be called a central bank because America did not want one, so it had to be given a deceptive name. A majority of Fed members were to be selected by the private banks that would own its stock.  To keep the public from thinking that the Federal Reserve would be controlled from New York, a system of 12 regional banks was designed. Given the concentration of money and credit in New York, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York basically controlled the system, although, it was portrayed as a regional concept, which was a ruse.

Thus, the Federal Reserve System was created (orchestrated) in 1910 and codified by Congress in 1913 to become a reality.

Also, in 1913, the personal income tax system went into effect as part of the new system. This allowed the banking interests to inflame the nation's citizens to become involved in the European War in 1914 (World War I). The bankers financed and profited from both sides of the war -- just as they had also financed and profited from both sides in World War II, a couple of decades later.

Since 1776, the USA has been at war 222 out of 239 years. International bankers and many others prosper from global conflict, much of which they manipulate into occurring. For some, war is good.

President Kennedy often made remarks about the negative covert influence of the Fed and of the nefarious covert actions of the CIA. He had expressed the desire to abolish the Fed and curtail (renegade) CIA activities.

"The very word Secrecy is repugnant in a free and open society… There is a plot in this country to enslave every man, woman and child. Before I leave this high and noble office, I intend to expose this plot." John F. Kennedy

In November of 1961, President Kennedy halted the sales of silver from the U.S. Treasury. Until then, the silver within the U.S. Treasury was rapidly being sold off at very low prices.

President Kennedy then drafted a bill (H.R. 5389) to authorize the printing of silver certificate notes from the U.S. Treasury to replace the depletion of silver from the Treasury.

In June of 1963, the same day the bill became law, Kennedy issued Executive Order 11,110 which authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to issue silver certificate notes, without any input from the Federal Reserve.

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

President Lincoln angered the banking dynasties and was assassinated -- President Kennedy angered the banking dynasties and was assassinated.

Perhaps, it was simply a coincidence?

Ironically, there is an additional remarkable set of coincidences between President John Kennedy and President Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.

Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Lincoln was elected President in 1860.

Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

Lincoln’s secretary was named Kennedy.

Kennedy’s secretary was named Lincoln.

Sometime prior to Lincoln's assassination -- he was in Monroe, Maryland.

Sometime prior to Kennedy's assassination -- he was with Marilyn Monroe.

Both Presidents were shot in the head on a Friday.

Lincoln was assassinated in a theater named Ford.

Kennedy was assassinated in a limousine made by Ford.

Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.

Lyndon Johnson, succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

Both alleged assassins had three names of 15 letters.

John Wilkes Booth was born in 1839.

Lee Harvey Oswald was born in 1939.

Booth ran from a theater, was caught in a warehouse.

Oswald ran from a warehouse, was caught in a theater.

Both assassins were assassinated before their trials.

In 1976, the House Select Committee on Assassination investigated the Kennedy assassination, concluding that President Kennedy was probably assassinated by a conspiracy involving the mob, and potentially the CIA.

And if that is true, the mob or the CIA could have conspired to do it at the behest (under the direction or manipulation) of the banking dynasty cabal.

Or perhaps, a coincidence is merely a coincidence?

Sometimes it's hard to believe in coincidence. Perhaps, a coincidence or synchronicity is a supernatural way of drawing our attention to hidden truths.

Follow the money.

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Quote for the Day – "We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values." John F. Kennedy

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Bret Burquest is the author of 12 books. He lives in the Ozark Mountains with a few dogs and an imaginary girlfriend named Tequila Mockingbird.

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Thanksgiving

On December 4, 1619, the first Thanksgiving celebration was held in America at the Berkeley Plantation in Virginia. Thirty-eight English settlers attended the event. It was part of their original charter to set aside one day every year to observe a day of thanksgiving for their annual harvest.

Due to hardships and other factors, the annual festivities lasted only one year.

On December 11, 1620, 102 Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. The first winter was brutal. Nearly half died from starvation and illness.

The following summer, assisted by friendly Indians, the survivors reaped a bountiful harvest. To show their appreciation, Governor William Bradford invited nearly 100 Indians to join the Pilgrims in a feast of thanksgiving, starting on December 13, 1621, and lasting for three days.

Two years later, the Pilgrims were hit with a draught. One day they gathered to pray for rain. The next morning it started to rain and didn’t stop for several days.

With the crops saved, Governor Bradford, being the party animal he was, declared another day of thanksgiving. Once again the Indians were invited.

As other settlers arrived to the colonies, they too held their own thanksgiving celebrations, each independent of the other.

In 1668, the prevailing government decided to get involved, as governments tend to do, declaring November 25 to be the official Thanksgiving Day. This proclamation lasted only five years.

The first national celebration of Thanksgiving occurred in 1777. It was a one-time event to celebrate the American victory over the British at Saratoga.

Americans love to celebrate wars, which may be why they participate in so many of them.

In 1789, President George Washington created a proclamation declaring Thanksgiving a national event, to be held on the first Thursday of November. Apparently, the first President of the USA was a party animal too.

John Adams, the second President, moved Thanksgiving from Thursday to the previous Wednesday.

Politicians are often meddlesome blockheads who believe that making changes, whether they make sense or not, are a sign of leadership. Later in his tenure, Adams moved it back to Thursday.

Not being much of a party animal, the Third President, Thomas Jefferson, was opposed to Thanksgiving and cancelled the national festivities.

Finally, in July of 1863, shortly after the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving.

Over the next 75 years, every President followed Lincoln’s precedent, annually declaring a national Thanksgiving Day.

Then in 1941, when Congress had a majority of party animals in attendance, they permanently established the fourth Thursday of November as a national holiday called Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving is a tradition in my family. Some of last year’s activities included:

• Built a pyramid of empty beer cans at halftime of football game.

• Performed the Heimlich maneuver on my nephew to remove a walnut.

• Moved a couch over the spot where the cat threw up to avoid a messy cleanup.

• Debated Uncle Earl about the impact of global warming on Japanese baseball.

• Wrestled with my brother to see who got the wishbone.

• After dinner we set up the Christmas tree in anticipation of the next holiday in line.

• Most of us took a short nap, except for Uncle Earl who kept debating by himself.

• Wrestled with my brother to see who got stuck driving crazy Aunt Edna to the airport.

• Scanned the Internet, looking for a list of symptoms of salmonella.

Thanksgiving is an occasion to thank Mother Earth for blessing us with a bountiful harvest and to thank Father Time for allowing us to enjoy life for another year. And to remind ourselves to start our annual diet, right after the New Year rolls in.

Life is a precious experience.

Be thankful for all the joy and sorrow it brings -- for without sorrow, there would be no joy.

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Quote for the Day – "Thanks for the memories." Bob Hope

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Bret Burquest is the author of 12 books. He lives in the Ozark Mountains with a few dogs and is thankful for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

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