It would be great to do videos of these class presentations and promote them for home schoolers or just anyone hungry for knowledge. Like the online courses that Hillsdale does. Love the enthusiasm.
I have thought of doing just that. We do video conferencing with a pastor in Uganda, which is what made me think about it. I will ask the school for permission.... Thanks!
That would be great - the camera can be set up so that you alone are filmed. That way you would not have to include any student faces or identifying information which would probably require permission from parents and the school.
This TED talk shows the "scientific plan" that was implemented in Africa based on a failure to understand ecology - these projects were funded by UN and global aid projects. So they move the tribes off the land and destroy 40,000 elephants to preserve the area - desertification was the results - here he examines what they failed to understand.
"the camera can be set up so that you alone are filmed. That way you would not have to include any student faces or identifying information which would probably require permission from parents." This is exactly what I'm thinking.....
I had to get out of my family home before I started learning anything he teaches. I keep on learning. Schools need so many more teachers like him and instead of physical education they need martial arts training.
:) I teach them a bit of martial arts. Kung Fu and Taekwando.... I teach them about the art and discipline involved in both. I also teach them not to be so intimidated by the complexity of the food supply and potential risks that they give up. "We are not purists," I often announce. "Don't get frustrated trying to figure out what is good or bad in the food supply (so many chemicals and preservatives!) or you will give up and resign yourselves to junk food and fast food." I teach them that they must help their parents learn what to buy, and avoid, in the grocery stores. We talk a lot about the microbiome of both soil and gut. So many "studies" of food and health simply ignore that vital foundation....
As a Christian Fundamentalist, I lean toward the understanding that God has created "food" ("meat" as it is referred to in Scripture) to be a pleasure to consume. Its supremely complex biology is veiled from our needed understanding, much like our own physical biology. As you clearly point out, the soil/gut micro-biomes which work hand in hand with each other on a microscopic level, need not be fully understood to the degree of today's bio-chemistry, which still comes short of full comprehension. It is not necessary, and consumes and complicates a process that God has designed and implemented. Our task is to provide for the systems, but not to understand exactly how they might interact or function. After all, a single living cell is far more complicated than the Space Shuttle, with all its functioning systems!
One of the things that absorbs quite a bit of my time, is botany. The differences among the grasses, plants, and trees hold my appreciation and wonder in captivity. Most things thrive in relatively the same substrate, yet their biology, their seeds, fruit, and structures and colors, are so dramatically different! Let's not forget FLAVORS!
Again, mountains of knowledge exist regarding the complexities within the discipline. But from simple experience, it can be generally agreed upon that an oxygen-rich, airy, dark, loamy- type soil will allow for healthy and abundant root growth. The above-ground plant will respond in like. Using naturally occurring compost and top-soil covers such as straw or dried grass-clippings (which will slowly form compost and keep the soil from drying out) is much preferred rather than synthetic fertilizer added to a sterile soil environment. The plants might LOOK healthy but there will be a lack of nutrition and/or flavor accompanying its "fruit."
And it might be said at this point that if the sun is harsh where you live, like here, it is a good idea to use sun-netting. Plants struggle with the intensity of harsh sunshine. That's been my finding.
All good points. Indeed, industrially-fertilized crops may have high yields (short term) but contribute to massive soil erosion, and often lack essential minerals and nutrients. Humanity has not improved on the natural order, however much it deceives itself that it can.
Here's a rule that would be very easy for them to learn and teach their parents, but it changes a little each year, The Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php This is good to know because the grocery stores don't pay attention!
I have hit these lists three separate times and we are doing that in both classes currently. On my ag tests, there is always a section with a list of fruits and veggies: they have to tell me which are "CF" (Clean Fifteen) and which ones are "DD" (Dirty Dozen). Some of them get all of them right! Their most recent essay was on eggs -- good or bad, why or why not? I had a blast reading them..... They all know I eat 4-5 eggs each morning from my organically-fed chickens. :)
How beautiful! What an amazing teacher! As an English major I love his story about great gatsby. His students are so lucky. Learning all these things at a young age will help them navigate the propaganda and be healthier.
Thank you Dr Nass. I so admire a teacher who shares the principles of life and wellbeing. as well as capacity to critically think, not be caught in the group think of fear. I wrote to Mr John Klar to thank him.
And I am very grateful for the encouragement. I was actually concerned I'd get investigated by the State of Vermont for my radicalism if I wrote about it.... If so, so be it -- I would use the state's attack as a teaching moment. :)
What a wonderful, wonderful article. I wish I would have had even one teacher that was passionate about what they taught. The closest one was my art teacher in 7th grade. He was a real, producing artist. I still find that awe producing.
You were probably not yet born when I had to take Ag. in 9th grade (1972-1973), of which I have communicated a bit. We learned Robert's Rules of Order, how to tell if a cow is pregnant, what to expect of a Poland-China hog, and that we had to make $50 that year on an animal project. that usually meant raising a calf, which I did.
Your inspiration to really teach reminds me of Mrs. Smith, who I had for American History that same year, which she taught in an exploratory and questioning way.
DAMN! American History was weird and interesting... Who knew?
Oh to have had a teacher like Mr. Klar! It has taken me decades to learn these lessons. IMHO students also need to be taught about money. The history, bankers wars, fiat, budgeting, mortgages, digital currency and centralized banking. Just think how much better off we all would have been with a real understanding of food and money.
I have related the ideas of money supply, using Milton Friedman's "Money Mischief," in which he traces the history of money but also the temptation in fiat currencies to print money recklessly to reward one's cronies because the dire consequences can never be traced back to the perpetrator. I have then told them about Zimbabwe -- I have the kids look up on their computers on ebay to buy a $10 Trillion Zimbabwean dollar (currently $18.95 US). Their eyes light up -- my teaching gets connected to the real world. I once had different kids simultaneously look up the obesity rates of the US and Japan -- eyes lit up wide on that one!
Marvellous! Yes connecting to the real world when teaching keeps them engaged. Unfortunately your teaching skills are not the norm. They follow a syllabus that has a lot of propaganda teaching students how to think, not how to think critically. I was in school in the 60's and 70's and I now realize overall it was a lot of brainwashing (especially history) and not skills for real life. Your students are very fortunate to have you as their teacher.
I have been thinking that classical christian schools need this. It would be considered under "manual arts". One school that I know of, St. Constantine in Houston, created a garden, chickens, orchard. . . and the children get much unstructured outside play. This headmaster understands what is foundational to "learning" - including good food and movement. Others need to learn this.
Also there are homesteading sites and programs - but for adults/parents.
Thanks so much (as usual) Dr. Nass. I was attending the annual dinner for the school last night, a vibrant and entertaining affair -- entertained by the kids, who did skits, songs, videos, and even miming. :)
I was trained as an attorney, but my undergrad degree was in English and Poli sci. I teach them things like the rules of evidence, mens rea, standards of proof, free speech cases (State of California v Cohen is a classic). Always I try to 1) keep them engaged, and 2) make what we study relevant to their futures and the world around them. After reading these comments, I think I will try to film a class -- not so people can watch me teach, but so that they can watch these kids learn. They come to class eager and excited, and we use every minute of it. Once I showed them old commercials on youtube for Parkay margarine and Chiffon: "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature" has become ironic. Eggs and red meat are good for them. I have taught them about the history of cigarette labeling and early ads that touted their health benefits -- by doctors and famous athletes. Then I teach them that the food industry is no more trustworthy. (We follow national lawsuits over glyphosate and other chemicals, including a current case regarding heavy metals in baby foods -- Beech-Nut allegedly knew there was mercury and cadmium in its products and sold them anyway. (I try not to terrify them... but this food reality is utterly terrifying).
It would be great to do videos of these class presentations and promote them for home schoolers or just anyone hungry for knowledge. Like the online courses that Hillsdale does. Love the enthusiasm.
I have thought of doing just that. We do video conferencing with a pastor in Uganda, which is what made me think about it. I will ask the school for permission.... Thanks!
That would be great - the camera can be set up so that you alone are filmed. That way you would not have to include any student faces or identifying information which would probably require permission from parents and the school.
You may find this interesting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnNaLSKDf-0
This TED talk shows the "scientific plan" that was implemented in Africa based on a failure to understand ecology - these projects were funded by UN and global aid projects. So they move the tribes off the land and destroy 40,000 elephants to preserve the area - desertification was the results - here he examines what they failed to understand.
Thanks and stay free
"the camera can be set up so that you alone are filmed. That way you would not have to include any student faces or identifying information which would probably require permission from parents." This is exactly what I'm thinking.....
Took me years to learn all he is teaching to his very fortunate students. Bravo to John Klar!! thanks for sharing.
I had to get out of my family home before I started learning anything he teaches. I keep on learning. Schools need so many more teachers like him and instead of physical education they need martial arts training.
:) I teach them a bit of martial arts. Kung Fu and Taekwando.... I teach them about the art and discipline involved in both. I also teach them not to be so intimidated by the complexity of the food supply and potential risks that they give up. "We are not purists," I often announce. "Don't get frustrated trying to figure out what is good or bad in the food supply (so many chemicals and preservatives!) or you will give up and resign yourselves to junk food and fast food." I teach them that they must help their parents learn what to buy, and avoid, in the grocery stores. We talk a lot about the microbiome of both soil and gut. So many "studies" of food and health simply ignore that vital foundation....
Bravo!
As a Christian Fundamentalist, I lean toward the understanding that God has created "food" ("meat" as it is referred to in Scripture) to be a pleasure to consume. Its supremely complex biology is veiled from our needed understanding, much like our own physical biology. As you clearly point out, the soil/gut micro-biomes which work hand in hand with each other on a microscopic level, need not be fully understood to the degree of today's bio-chemistry, which still comes short of full comprehension. It is not necessary, and consumes and complicates a process that God has designed and implemented. Our task is to provide for the systems, but not to understand exactly how they might interact or function. After all, a single living cell is far more complicated than the Space Shuttle, with all its functioning systems!
One of the things that absorbs quite a bit of my time, is botany. The differences among the grasses, plants, and trees hold my appreciation and wonder in captivity. Most things thrive in relatively the same substrate, yet their biology, their seeds, fruit, and structures and colors, are so dramatically different! Let's not forget FLAVORS!
Again, mountains of knowledge exist regarding the complexities within the discipline. But from simple experience, it can be generally agreed upon that an oxygen-rich, airy, dark, loamy- type soil will allow for healthy and abundant root growth. The above-ground plant will respond in like. Using naturally occurring compost and top-soil covers such as straw or dried grass-clippings (which will slowly form compost and keep the soil from drying out) is much preferred rather than synthetic fertilizer added to a sterile soil environment. The plants might LOOK healthy but there will be a lack of nutrition and/or flavor accompanying its "fruit."
And it might be said at this point that if the sun is harsh where you live, like here, it is a good idea to use sun-netting. Plants struggle with the intensity of harsh sunshine. That's been my finding.
Yours, for your growing concerns,
R
I'm in Vermont so heat is rarely an issue.... :)
All good points. Indeed, industrially-fertilized crops may have high yields (short term) but contribute to massive soil erosion, and often lack essential minerals and nutrients. Humanity has not improved on the natural order, however much it deceives itself that it can.
Here's a rule that would be very easy for them to learn and teach their parents, but it changes a little each year, The Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php This is good to know because the grocery stores don't pay attention!
I have hit these lists three separate times and we are doing that in both classes currently. On my ag tests, there is always a section with a list of fruits and veggies: they have to tell me which are "CF" (Clean Fifteen) and which ones are "DD" (Dirty Dozen). Some of them get all of them right! Their most recent essay was on eggs -- good or bad, why or why not? I had a blast reading them..... They all know I eat 4-5 eggs each morning from my organically-fed chickens. :)
I say them to myself as I shop! :)
My goal is that my students will ape your consciousness. :)
Loved reading this presentation. The children in your classes will do much better in their lives having
received you teaching. Thank you .
Thank you Dr. Nass
How beautiful! What an amazing teacher! As an English major I love his story about great gatsby. His students are so lucky. Learning all these things at a young age will help them navigate the propaganda and be healthier.
The Professional Organization of English Majors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRP6KxEZi44
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx11kR9oS7I
Hilarious and true.
Awesome story.
I am passing it on to my children!
Thank you
🙏
Me too! And other parents including a few homeschoolers
Thank you Dr Nass. I so admire a teacher who shares the principles of life and wellbeing. as well as capacity to critically think, not be caught in the group think of fear. I wrote to Mr John Klar to thank him.
And I am very grateful for the encouragement. I was actually concerned I'd get investigated by the State of Vermont for my radicalism if I wrote about it.... If so, so be it -- I would use the state's attack as a teaching moment. :)
A very wise choice. We all in our own way need to stand up and redress the current situation. Remember Patch Adams.
What a wonderful, wonderful article. I wish I would have had even one teacher that was passionate about what they taught. The closest one was my art teacher in 7th grade. He was a real, producing artist. I still find that awe producing.
Thanks for the heavy dose of "wake up" medicine. Hopefully the "normies" will catch on.
Good-on-Ya, John!
You were probably not yet born when I had to take Ag. in 9th grade (1972-1973), of which I have communicated a bit. We learned Robert's Rules of Order, how to tell if a cow is pregnant, what to expect of a Poland-China hog, and that we had to make $50 that year on an animal project. that usually meant raising a calf, which I did.
Your inspiration to really teach reminds me of Mrs. Smith, who I had for American History that same year, which she taught in an exploratory and questioning way.
DAMN! American History was weird and interesting... Who knew?
I had a similar history teacher, who was extremely passionate. I was not a big history fan in my youth, but now wish I had paid better attention.
Oh to have had a teacher like Mr. Klar! It has taken me decades to learn these lessons. IMHO students also need to be taught about money. The history, bankers wars, fiat, budgeting, mortgages, digital currency and centralized banking. Just think how much better off we all would have been with a real understanding of food and money.
I have related the ideas of money supply, using Milton Friedman's "Money Mischief," in which he traces the history of money but also the temptation in fiat currencies to print money recklessly to reward one's cronies because the dire consequences can never be traced back to the perpetrator. I have then told them about Zimbabwe -- I have the kids look up on their computers on ebay to buy a $10 Trillion Zimbabwean dollar (currently $18.95 US). Their eyes light up -- my teaching gets connected to the real world. I once had different kids simultaneously look up the obesity rates of the US and Japan -- eyes lit up wide on that one!
Marvellous! Yes connecting to the real world when teaching keeps them engaged. Unfortunately your teaching skills are not the norm. They follow a syllabus that has a lot of propaganda teaching students how to think, not how to think critically. I was in school in the 60's and 70's and I now realize overall it was a lot of brainwashing (especially history) and not skills for real life. Your students are very fortunate to have you as their teacher.
That’s largely Ed Griffens ‘The Creature of Jekyll Island’.
I have been thinking that classical christian schools need this. It would be considered under "manual arts". One school that I know of, St. Constantine in Houston, created a garden, chickens, orchard. . . and the children get much unstructured outside play. This headmaster understands what is foundational to "learning" - including good food and movement. Others need to learn this.
Also there are homesteading sites and programs - but for adults/parents.
Thanks so much (as usual) Dr. Nass. I was attending the annual dinner for the school last night, a vibrant and entertaining affair -- entertained by the kids, who did skits, songs, videos, and even miming. :)
Wow! John Klar is an authentic teacher. God bless you sir.
Wonderful read 🙏
Thanks for posting this. As a pharma scientist turned into educator, Mr. Klar’s words are truly inspiring.
I was trained as an attorney, but my undergrad degree was in English and Poli sci. I teach them things like the rules of evidence, mens rea, standards of proof, free speech cases (State of California v Cohen is a classic). Always I try to 1) keep them engaged, and 2) make what we study relevant to their futures and the world around them. After reading these comments, I think I will try to film a class -- not so people can watch me teach, but so that they can watch these kids learn. They come to class eager and excited, and we use every minute of it. Once I showed them old commercials on youtube for Parkay margarine and Chiffon: "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature" has become ironic. Eggs and red meat are good for them. I have taught them about the history of cigarette labeling and early ads that touted their health benefits -- by doctors and famous athletes. Then I teach them that the food industry is no more trustworthy. (We follow national lawsuits over glyphosate and other chemicals, including a current case regarding heavy metals in baby foods -- Beech-Nut allegedly knew there was mercury and cadmium in its products and sold them anyway. (I try not to terrify them... but this food reality is utterly terrifying).