The Art of Teaching & Writing

I found an unexpected treasure at one of the three "Square Books" stores in Oxford, Mississippi last month. It was the book The Art of Teaching by Jay Parini. This is a small book, but one that I savored as I read and was both anxious to get to the end and yet wishing it could go on and on. With thirty years under my belt of standing in front of a classroom, I still need all the help I can get. Dr. Parini's book is not a "how to" text (Thank God); instead, he tells stories of his own education, his university experiences as a student in America and Scotland, his successes and failures as a teacher, and his memories of his own teachers. And he reminds teachers to have passion and humor. This book has been perfect for me in August as I contemplate another year in the classroom. As I said, it was a treasure, and yet, it was a sale book for which I paid about $7.

Jay Parini has now been upgraded in my mind from a FAVORED WRITER to a FAVORITE WRITER. I have lots of Favored Writers, but it isn't easy to move to that next category. If I could, I would like to hop up to Middlebury University in Vermont and sit in on Dr. Parini's classes, especially if he is teaching on Robert Frost or William Faulkner.

Books I read by Jay Parini in past years:



A really good biography of a great poet by Parini:


Every time I start re-reading Frost, I am astounded at how good he is. His ear for the rhythyms and sounds of words was outstanding. His combination of form and beauty are powerful. Frost was a complex man. Parini's biography brings out the complexities along with the gifts.

An insight into the tragi-comic vision of William Faulkner:



If Frost as a man can be called complex, Faulkner is far more so, and he is also incredibly complex in his writings. Faulkner's life is not admirable, but the life does give insights to the texts.

Current Readings include...

This is a very insightful survey of the impact of Calvinistic and Reformed theology. America's heritage was largely Reformed and many in the colonies believed in a Sovereign God who predestines all things according to the counsel of His will. Opponents of these doctrines were many; they included Universalists, Unitarians, Methodists, Cambellites, Mormons, and others. Worthy study.



Gene Edward Veith, who I recently met and heard speak in Houston, has written a number of fine books on quite a few topics of interest to Christians. Finding this book--on his book table--about American painters, particularly those of the Hudson River School, was a surprise. These landscape artists were primarily motivated and guided by their theological beliefs, which were Protestant and Reformed. My knowledge of art is incredibly deficient. This book is good medicine.

Classical Christian Education Conference

On July 30 & 31, Stephanie and I attended a conference on Classical Christian Education sponsored by Memorial Lutheran Church and School in Houston, Texas. This conference featured Dr. Gene Edward Veith, who is a prominent Christian author, culture warrior, scholar, and promoter of classical Christian education. Along with Dr. Veith's lectures on the history of classical Christian education in Lutheran communities, other speakers presented talks on music, Luther's love for Aesop's fables, and the impact of technology on education.

For us as Presbyterians and as members of the Association for Classical Christian Schools, it was encouraging to see what God is doing in other places with other Christian communities. Lutherans have a rich history of involvement in Christian education tracing back to Luther, Melancthon, and Johan Sturm. That tradition was transplanted here by Lutheran immigrants in past times and is being recovered.


Dr. Gene Edward Veith and me. As I say in the bibliography of Punic Wars and Culture Wars, Gene Veith is following faithfully in Luther's footsteps in bringing reformation to our age and his books are all well worth owning and reading.


I was thankful to see some friends at the conference. George and Ann Thompson have been faithfully teaching in Christian schools for years. George is the co-author of some really useful Christian textbooks on world history, American history, and government published by A Beka. He is a walking encyclopedia of history, and he and I share a passion for books, history, and the South.


Reverend Tom Obersat and his wife Jane wear the many hats of Christians in education. Reverend Obersat pastors Memorial Lutheran Church and teaches in the school, and Jane teaches (German and ESL) and helps in all kinds of ways in the school. We really enjoyed meeting this dedicated Christian couple, even though they occasionally make side comments to each other auf Deutsche (in German)!



The Obersats and Dr. Veith. This was Memorial Lutheran's first education conference. The cost was $30, but that included three wonderful meals. Six feasts for the minds and souls and three for the body--what a blessing. Thank God and Memorial Lutheran for their work.

Rigors of Church Camp

To counter the false reports that I am a very sedate, inactive, lethargic person who sits in the house reading all the time, here is proof of the opposite. Here I am at summer camp, sitting outside, in a ROCKING chair, reading Gene Edward Veith's book State of the Arts, with a moleskine notebook in hand, occasionally glancing up at the activities going on across the lake. Let the truth now prevail.

Current Readings Include...

I'm still celebrating the 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth. If you notice the contributors to this book, you will see that it is a virtual "who's who" in Reformed circles. These essays are good devotional and historical readings. It is part of what starts the day for me--along with strong coffee.



My recent visit to Oxford, Mississippi (which was on the tail-end of a vacation to the Smoky Mountains and two delightful visits to Parish Presbyterian Church where Dr. George Grant preaches) has inspired a desire to read Faulkner some more (a desire that is almost always present anyway). Knight's Gambit, a collection of six mystery stories, proved to be the perfect book to take along to church camp (Summer Sanctus 2) in southeast Texas this past week. The story titled "Tomorrow" is my favorite. This book is a good picture of Faulkner's world without overwhelming the reader with the complexities of Faulkner's style.