Archive for April, 2006
Protected: Reflection on Krishna’s Story (Term 2 Session2)
In Bahai children's classes, Bess Teacher Journal on April 26, 2006 at 4:42 amProtected: Term 2 Begins – Caring for the Earth – Coming up in BESS classes
In Bahai children's classes, Bess Teacher Journal on April 23, 2006 at 8:28 pmLouis Gregory Project
In Bahai arts, World Citizen Dreaming on April 18, 2006 at 10:01 amIt was wonderful to hear recently from Lex about a project dedicated to the memory of Louis Gregory. My son's middle name in Louis because of the incredible life and example of Louis Gregory. I have included an extract from Lex's site here and encourage anyone interested in reading more about both Louis Gregory and this project to visit. Perhaps Lex will post us an update as the project develops.
Source Website
Louis Gregory Project
"The Louis Gregory Project invites individuals from the African Continent to respond to the statement of the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith which explains the Hand of the Cause of God Mr. Louis George Gregory's Role in the future of Africa: "Rising Bahá'í generation in African continent will glory in [Louis George Gregory's] memory and emulate [Louis George Gregory's] example". The project will be completed when a youth from every nation, tribe and ethnic group in Africa responds to that statement with a statement of their own on exactly what memory and example is meaningful to them and applicable to the most urgent and vital needs of her or his community and continent. The intent is to be both spiritually uplifting and intellectually challenging.
The Louis Gregory Project has evolved from Lex Musta's study of the Hand of the Cause Mr. Louis George Gregory since 1997, though its genesis dates from the August 6, 1951 cablegram of the Guardian Shoghi Effendi which established both his place in history as well as his most prominent role in the future. This project is dedicated to the production of a book to be distributed for free in Africa to encourage the "Rising Bahá'í generation in" the "African continent" to "glory in his memory and emulate his example". In addition, it serves as a cultural repository and resource for the citizenry of the world. "
For more information click Louis Gregory Project
Protected: Craft creation
In Bahai children's classes, Bess Teacher Journal on April 13, 2006 at 5:48 pmHawkeye’s Column 1
In Juniper's World Journal on April 11, 2006 at 10:12 amA Team of Seven Billion Members
"Pass! I'm clear!" I was playing soccer for my school; hardly an achievement – it was a very small school, and they had trouble filling all the sports teams. The basic requirement for representing the school in the soccer team was legs. If you had legs and you wanted to play, you were a fully-fledged, card-carrying member of the team. You were in. This sounded like a very inclusive attitude; anybody willing to have a go got a run.
The trouble with sports though is they are competitive. There is a scoreboard you are accountable to and our school had just enough really brilliant athletes to make the team competitive. Nobody was going to pass the ball to me no matter how clear I was. I weighed about 28 kilograms and stood about 128 cm tall. I looked like a sick umbrella stand wrapped in tissue paper. Turning up to an athletics carnival in my body was like fronting for a renaissance painting class with a jackhammer and an arc welder.
The point was I was in the clear because even the opposition ignored me. So my position on the team involved running up and down the field, following the action more like a partial line judge than a participant, watching the real players do their stuff. On rare occasions when the score suggested the match result was irretrievably beyond doubt somebody would sympathetically pass me the ball, and in a state of inexperienced panic with four or five guys bearing down on me I'd kick it anywhere. You could hear the groans for miles.
I noticed something though. Every time I received a pass I became a little more level headed; a little more experienced and most importantly I felt a little more included. If people were willing to pass to me, I thought, I must be contributing something worthwhile to this team. I improved tremendously. Soon I was an asset to the team because I had something the other players didn't – the ability to find myself on my own.
The Bahá'í community doesn't need too many people who can get themselves clear of the opposition and shoot. It is however very much like a team and as such is enhanced enormously by universal participation. This is beneficial to both the community and its individual adherents not only in a practical sense but spiritually as well. The building of the Arc on Mount Carmel is so important to the Bahá'í community not only because of its spiritual and practical significance, but because every single Bahá'í community in the world that was able to, played a role however small in its construction. We all own the achievement.
Given that we as a race are supposed to be working together towards a single ultimate goal, there is little reason to ignore the pale little scrawny kid in the uniform three sizes too big. We need to be inclusive. We are a part of a team with almost seven billion members and the coach requires us not necessarily to be perfect or even to do our best, but to accept that everybody whatever their background, education, or goal accuracy has a role to play.
By Hawkeye
Hawkeye is a Highschool science teacher with a PhD in Chemistry. He has had columns published in Herald of the South and the Australian Baha'i Bulletin. Pearlzocreativity will include these from time to time. (C) All rights reserved by Hawkeye, email for permission to reprint.
Beyond Words, Performing Arts in South Africa
In Bahai arts, Bahai arts sites on April 7, 2006 at 10:32 amI am coming across some fantastic performing arts initiatives in the Baha'i world. This one from South Africa is all about Youth and Children's Empowerment. I hope to include interviews with some of these groups in upcoming posts as Drama is one of those art forms that inspires me as its collaborative, uses many creative forms from music, acting, art and writing and has the capacity to move the heart perhaps the most of any of the art forms (yes well I do love drama). If you know of any other groups please feel free to email or post a link in the comments section. Thanks (:
"Beyond Words – Bahá'í Performing Arts and Empowerment Initiative – addresses issues facing society and shares a message of hope, unity and peace with the world's youth. Beyond Words expresses this message through dance, drama and music, as well as activities such as Youth Empowerment Workshops and Children's Classes.
An initiative of the South African Baha'i Community, Beyond Words draws its membership from youth representing a diverse blend of nations and cultures, united in one common vision; that of the advancement of the human race.
Their presentations are based on principles of the Bahá'í Faith: the oneness of humanity through its diversity, the elimination of prejudices such as racism, the equality of men and women, inordinate economic disparity and the avoidance of harmful and addictive habits.
Beyond Words offers valuable solutions that can help to uplift our world."
For more click on Beyond Words
Slide Shows
In Bahai children's classes, Bess Teacher Journal on April 6, 2006 at 11:25 pmFor those of you who enjoy slide show presentations Progressive Revelation Slide show
There are some other slide shows at this site
Drama Circle
In Bahai arts, Bahai arts sites on April 5, 2006 at 2:58 pm
Photocredit: Drama Circle Website, Photograph of youth involved in one of their projects.
Recently I came across Drama Circle on the net. I encourage readers of this blog to visit their site, which features a Junior Youth Drama Circle Lesson plans, extracts from some of the plays such as On the Rooftop with Bill Sears, and A Dress for Mona, which to quote their site "looks great! This is no typical, cheesy videotaping done from the back row. This is full three camera setup with close-ups, reaction shots, and pains-taking editing. "
The group is touring the US and Canada so if they are coming to a town near you, check them out and send in your comments.
I was really impressed by their mission statement.
THE DRAMA CIRCLE – an outline
MISSION
-to encourage the development of the Art of Theatre in the Bahá'í community and in the greater community.
OBJECTIVES
In order to accomplish this, the Drama Circle intends:
-to produce Bahá'í-inspired plays (or plays consistent with the Bahá'í vision) on a regular basis and to make them accessible to the greater community.
-to foster the development of new works and their authors by sponsoring play contests and by hosting readings and workshops.
-to occasionally host gatherings of theatre professionals and amateurs where ideas may be exchanged, workshops given and new or little-known works presented.
-to maintain a website with resources and links for Baha'i communities and theatre artists.
-to discover a theatre arts curriculum that is consistent with, and draws inspiration from, the writings and principles of the Bahá'í Faith, and to offer this “Drama Circle” curriculum to Bahá'ís and the general public.
-to make available to Bahá'ís around the world an assortment of suitable plays through such means as online publication, and to act as a third party in contract negotiations.
To read more click on the following links
News Stories Links
In Cyclone Larry - Our Story on April 4, 2006 at 6:04 pm
Some photographs of Tully before Cyclone Larry.
The following blog is tracking in some detail the Aftermath of the cyclone. It is an interesting one to read to get a regular tracking of the news and issues around the aftermath Cyclone Larry Aftermath
Thinker’s Keys
In Bahai children's classes, Bess Teacher Journal on April 3, 2006 at 10:18 pmThinker's Keys by Tony Ryan seem like a wonderful tool to combine with the Virtues. These books are generously available as PDF files from the Author as they are no longer in print.
I'll post here at some stage when I have had a really good read of the three books to examine how these might be used in the delivery of BESS, creative and spiritual thinking- hmm sounds like something to think about as a teacher.
I am very impressed by the books and came across them in QUT library and hope to use them whenever relavent when teaching and in parenting.
Courtesy on the Net
In Site News and Announcements on April 2, 2006 at 3:36 pmOkay so here's something to think about if you are new to using stock photos and images from other sites, always download the images to your own server(if public domain or if you have permission to use them) do not make use of other people's bandwidth by inserting the properties of their URL site to put in the image on your post.
This is a simple courtesy, so please also take it into account if using any images from this site (: Also remember it if you are a compiler, reviewer of other sites.
