History in the Making

It's been a while since I've posted.  Our very busy fall at The Learning House was all consuming.  We do want to thank all of our wonderful customers for helping to make it a resounding success.  I do have several posts in the works and you will see them in the coming weeks.  However, it occurred to me yesterday that with our election literally just around the corner a quick mini-post might be in order.

Next Monday we will have a federal election in Canada.  Many of you may have used the past few weeks to teach a unit on our electoral system.  Others may have thought this would be a good  idea but not have been able to carry through.  This is not a time to feel guilty about what we haven't done but a great opportunity to teach our children about voting as we "walk in the way with them"

I would like to encourage you to make Election Day a learning day. It doesn't need to take much time to teach a few basic principles.  You don't need a big fancy curriculum. You do need to take a few minutes and explain to your children why we vote.  Teach them that this is how we have our say in who will govern our country.  Talk to them about the various candidates in your riding and how you have decided who you will vote for.  Share about the issues that are deal breakers for your decision on who to vote for.


Then take your children with you when you vote.   Let them see how this works.  Explain that voting is private and that no one else sees our ballot. Talk about the fact that there are many places in the world where people would give their lives to have the freedom to cast their ballot.  This is a privilege and a right that men and women have fought and died for. We have a responsibility to participate. it is important and we need to communicate this to our children not only with our words but also with our actions. This is teaching living history at its best.

Even though there are many times we despair over the state of our country we cannot deny that we are blessed to live in a nation where freedom still reigns.  As our children grow we can share our love for our country with them.  While we may not know the future the Lord does. Perhaps, our lessons in government and our political process will spark one of children to consider political involvement in the future.

Unless the Lord Builds the house they labour in vain to build it