Musings of Thursday's Child

Comp. 2 Thoughts and a Brief Discourse on Testing

Tyler Fontaine — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 07:52:23 +0000

Because I’m a philosophical person, I thought I would take a minute to write a brief discourse on the ideas suggested in the readings.

The Ancient Rhetorics book was exceptionally good, the idea of imitation and notebook keeping are ideas that I hold dear to my own heart. I often will write a quote down I enjoyed, and use other books as both literary allusion as well as informative components to my own writing. This idea of copia is one with which I will struggle, as I have a knack for being far to practical in my writing, but I’m intrigued by the opportunities it presents.

The majority of this post will be discussing the Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing book (Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau). The essays at the end of the first chapter concerning school testing piqued a particular interest in me. As you may or may not be aware, the idea of a grade-less educational system is, indeed, in existence. Reed University holds to the idea of a value gained intrinsically from the classes, rather than extrinsically through grades. Assignments are handed back full of comments and suggestions, but no number/letter grades to detract from the feeling of accomplishment or failure of the student. All assignments are, therefore, a wonderful way to continue the learning process of a particular subject without forcing a false “understanding” of a subject by the students ardent about getting a decent grade. This idea, I think, is exactly the kind of reform that the American educational system needs. Grades have become such a big part of a student’s life that more worry is put into what percentage of an arbitrarily chosen number value will be earned for the work they did, rather than worrying instead about the synthesis of the material and quality of the work itself.

Such great strides have been taken by so many students (myself included) to just get the grade that course material is all but lost in the melee. I, for one, have started to take a different view of assignments. I have decided not to worry so much about the number on the page as much as I do, indeed, worry about the material and content that I put into that assignment. It just so happens (surprise, surprise) that I not only get a greater understanding (and therefore a greater appreciation) of the material, but my grades stay good. It is no longer a rat race to find the absolutely correct “book answer”; it is a quest to gain the fullest understanding possible of a given topic. It’s a wonderfully freeing feeling.
~Tyler Fontaine

Spring 2006 Schedule

Tyler Fontaine — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 18:18:21 +0000

Well, after many hours of thought, many meetings with professors, and several talks with my dad, I’ve got it figured out.

Tada! my beautiful schedule for next semester! It’s 19 hours, but It’s going to be lots of fun, methinks. I’ve got some great professors!

Exegeticize

Tyler Fontaine — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 15:09:46 +0000

Ahh yes, Exercising with the Bible.

In all seriousness, I just completed my first ever exegesis paper. 12 pages of Analysis of the Bible, My particular passage was Colossians 3:12-17.

Here it is if anyone is intereseted. In Heart-healthy, Doctor recommended PDF goodness.

Tyler Fontaine — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 23:27:36 +0000

Now playing: The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There

For those of you who don’t know who Kevin Scarbrough is, I urge you to check out his site.
88 Lemons He’s an amazing graphical artist.

In fact, here’s a wallpaper he did, that I’m currently using! Here

Really! He’s good!

Of weekends and weeks

Tyler Fontaine — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 15:06:17 +0000

Now playing: Casting Crowns - Love Them Like Jesus

I had a great week last week, capped off with a most wonderful weekend. Got to do a lot of soul searching with Rachel, we both figured out some things that should have been figured out long ago. I mentioned Casting Crowns a couple of posts back, I want to exound on what I was talking about a little bit now.

Love Them Like Jesus - Casting Crowns (Lifesong, Copyright 2005)
The love of her life is drifting away
They’re losing the fight for another day
The life that she’s known is falling apart
A fatherless home, a child’s broken heart

You’re holding her hand, you’re straining for words
You trying to make - sense of it all
She’s desperate for hope, darkness clouding her view
She’s looking to you

Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don’t need the answers to all of life’s questions
Just know that He loves her and stay by her side
Love her like Jesus
Love her like Jesus

The gifts lie in wait, in a room painted blue
Little blessing from Heaven would be there soon
Hope fades in the night, blue skies turn to gray
As the little one slips away

You’re holding her hand, you’re straining for words
You’re trying to make sense of it all
They’re desperate for hope, darkness clouding their view
They’re looking to you

Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don’t need the answers to all of life’s questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus

Lord of all creation holds our lives in His hands
The God of all the nations holds our lives in His hands
The Rock of our salvation holds our lives in His hands
He cares for them just as He cares for you

So love them like Jesus, love them like Jesus
You don’t need the answers to all of life’s questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus
Love them like Jesus

They hit, right on the head, exactly what we should do when one of our friends, one of our brothers of Sisters in Christ, is having troubles. It’s not us that can make the big difference, it’s the love that was shown to each of us that we mush do our best to Show, and God will take care of the rest. The song is so powerful, there’s nothing that I really need to say.

What was said now is done.

Tyler Fontaine — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 15:09:24 +0000

(What follows is nothing but an extension and further explanation of the ideas expressed in my last post.)

After many hours and days and weeks in thought, and after speaking with those whom I respect enough to request guidance, I have come to a decision. Beginning in the Spring of 2006, I, Tyler Fontaine, will be and English (and possibly History) major at LeTourneau University.

“Why?” you may undoubtedly ask, seeing as how engineering is what I’ve been talking about for so long. I’ve been doing some soul searching, some much needed introspection, and for once listening to what God would have me do, not sticking to the plans I had made in years long past. I have an overwhelming conviction that we are given a purpose, and we are to use the gifts we are given to fulfill that purpose. Those gifts that we are given—that’s the key.

At the risk of sounding prideful, I believe that I have been gifted with a powerful mind. (by no means the most, but above average anyhow.) I believe that in whatever field I choose I could do well and be successful, but I must admit there are some things I do better than others. We are all this way, we all have the things we’re naturals at. Those things would be the gifts. I believe that I am a good writer, I believe that I am able to help others in their writing by pointing out mistakes and helping them to understand why it is a mistake and how to improve upon it. I believe that I am able to reach people on that academic level in such a way that the concepts stick with them. I believe that I have been given the gifts of both English and teaching.

If I take an honest look at myself, I have to see a few things: I love to read, I love to write, I’m good at writing and I rarely forget much of what I read. I’m bad at math.

Looking objectively upon those things, I must wonder why I decided to ignore those things and go into a field that so heavily relies upon something that is a weakness in me. If I have an aptitude for something else, doesn’t it follow that I could be that much more effective in teaching it? Some would say yes, some would say no. I’m in the camp that would say yes, and infinitely more importantly, I’m following what I believe to be God’s will for me.

And so it goes.

Tyler Fontaine — Wed, 05 Oct 2005 15:13:23 +0000

I figure it’s been long enough, I can post again…. right…

I really mean to keep up with things, but It just never seems to happen that way… ah well… you know how it goes.

As for myself, things have been going well. I am pretty much decided on what I’m going to do as far as major goes, I’m going to be switching from Electrical Engineering to English (Possibly English and History). I just feel that I would be using my gifts more fully in those lines of study, and I’ll rathe enjoy it, I think. I love to read and I love to write… how much better can it get?

And just something to chew on, I urge you all to get the new Casting Crowns CD… it’s a lyrical masterpiece. Not only are they muscically talented, but their words are so moving, and so true. I have never heard an album that moved me as much as this one did, and very rare is it that I would consider song lyrics to be of literary merit, but most of the songs on this album definitely apply. I’ll post some snippits of lyrics later, just to give you a taste. But Lifesong by Casting Crowns will definitely not let you down if you decide to buy it.

Off to chapel I go… I’ll post something witty and insightful later.

Marshmallow Philosopia

Tyler Fontaine — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 14:34:36 +0000

I find the natural tendencies of mankind to be uncannily true to the lawlessness found in Golding’s Lord of the Flies. If left to one’s own devices, one will take the archimedian journey downward into lawlessness. This holds true even for superficially supervised events. The “give an inch, take a mile” mentality further demonstrates the goldingesque qualities of man. Take something as innocent as a Smore cookout, in which little or few rules and regulations are imposed. Things start simply enough. 400(odd) 18 year olds gathered around a fire talking, laughing, joking, turned into chaos, small as the scale was, chaos quickly set in. It started with a few thrown marshmallows, nothing too serious, but as humans are wont, the “favor” had to be returned. This escalates into marshmallows flying in all directions hitting both those who are involved in the revelry and those those who aren’t. Those involved have already lost their sense of civility, and don’t care about the bystanders, is “kill or be killed,” even with something as innocent as marshmallows. This is, of course, not enough for those quickly falling into the animalistic nature of the game. They must up the stakes. Marshmallows begin to be roasted before being thrown, this sugary napalm rains on both the warriors and the bystanders alike. As more and more people are bombarded with this new weaponry (and it follows that more and more people join in) the authority figures decide they should step in. “Clean up” is called and those so engrossed in their game so recently come immediately to their senses and promptly huddle around the fire in order that they can feign ignorance to the order called. They stay circled among themselves so the arduous cleaning can be accomplished by the meek, by the bystanders who braved the vicious battle that had so recently taken place. The fickle authority doesn’t care who did what, it’s a task that needs completing and the meek are there to do it. Human nature: quick to regress to animalistic killer instinct, and just as quickly realize their own frailty and huddle together to avoid the predators. Those nor originally strong are fodder, and the hunters remain safe. The aggressive flew influence the neutral many. The passive few are those who carry the blame for the many. The good of the many at the cost of the few.

Of class and relatedness

Tyler Fontaine — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 15:10:37 +0000

So…. it’s been a while.

Classes are in full swing, I’m loving (almost) every minute of it. I always knew I’d be at home in a colegiate atmosphere… and here I am. This school is absolutlely amazing. The staff is knowledgable, they are all passionate about 2 things: God and teaching. I’ve never seen so many people who have such a heart for God, like I’ve seen here.

I’ve grown so much already, and I’m a changed person now. I’m happier, I’m more positive, I’m less cynical, I’m thinking more clearly than ever before. This has done me a world of good.

I’ve got to be getting off to class, I’ll do a more indepth analysis later on.

Slashdot quotes are wonderful.

Tyler Fontaine — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 13:09:45 +0000

It’s questionable for a doctor to get involved with one of his patients. For a vet, it’s right out. (Stonlen from a /. Sig.)

mm… Indeed!

As rachel posted as well, I got bit by my Boss’s dog while at work, I’ll be okie dokie, it’s just a little uncomfortable, which is to be expected.

In other news, I’m leaving for school in less than a week! Yay! I’m extremely excited, and am most certainly going to have a blast. School starting soon could be one of the best things in my life. College is what you make it, I pray that the rest of my peers do as I plan to and take it by the horns, and steer it in the direction in which it will best enable me for the future.

~Tyler.