“There is only one kind of discipline. Perfect
discipline.”
~General George S. Patton
General George S. Patton was born on November 11, 1885 on his
fathers ranch and vineyard in Los Angeles County over what is
today the city of Pasadena and much of the UCLA campus. Early in
life he was small and weak, but raw determination and drive
built up body day-by-day, piece-by-piece.
As a small boy, he delighted in his father’s stories about his
family’s strong military lineage. He had a great uncle who was
wounded at Second Bull Run, and ultimately lost his life at
Pickett’s Charge during the battle of Gettysburg and a
grandfather who was killed in the Third Battle of Winchester.
It was clear George was intelligent, but he had a very tough
time learning to read and write. The result was George being
pulled out of school and the beginning of his home education.
Whether this was done for George’s sake, or out of the
embarrassment of his parents is unknown. George’s learning
difficulties included problems with reading, writing, spelling
and overall concentration. Due to these struggles with
education, George battled feelings of inferiority. George S.
Patton, soon to be one the greatest generals in the history of
warfare had dyslexia.
Despite his struggles with this ailment that was yet to be
classified, he became an avid reader of military history
especially warfare. His writing’s even into adulthood were full
of spelling errors. His challenges with expression forced him to
develop the communication skill of being able to precisely
describe a situation or message in incredibly vivid detail, but
in simple and understandable terms.
He decided to take on another challenge and enroll at the
Virginia Military Institute for a year in preparation for an
opportunity at entering West Point Academy. His objective was
fulfilled in 1904 when he was accepted. His academic struggle
continued. Plagued with failing math grades, he was forced to
repeat part of his first year. Nonetheless, discipline dictated
that he struggle on.
He compensated for is academic shortcomings by focusing on his
physical side and continuing to build his body. In 1912 he
competed on the U.S. pentathlon team, which included a 300-meter
swim, pistol-shoot, a 4000-meter run, fencing, and a 5000-meter
steeplechase. His team came in 5th, but his ability to exploit
an opponent’s weakness in fencing brought about his recognition
in Swedish newspapers. His boundless energy became a common
descriptor of his character.
His extraordinary swordsmanship allowed him to attend a Calvary
school in France, and then the Mounted Service School at Fort
Riley, Kansas in 1913. There he eventually became an instructor
and was appointed Master of the Sword.
With his ultimate desire to do battle, he took up arms in an
expedition against Mexico’s legendary outlaw, Pancho Villa. The
United States attempted to engage Villa after he was involved in
the execution of over 15 Americans and an attack on a New Mexico
city. While Pancho Villa continued to evade capture, there were
enough skirmishes with Villa’s followers to provide Patton an
opportunity to demonstrate his leadership ability. This ability
earned Patton the promotion to captain in 1917.
In April of the same year, the United States entered the World
War I. This was Patton’s opportunity for real combat. His first
contribution to the initiative was to become the first officer
to receive tank training. Soon after he completed his own
training, he was asked to set up the AEF tank school in France
ultimately leading the First Tank Brigade into battle. After
several other battles, he returned to the US in1919 where he was
promoted to major and given command of the 304th Tank Brigade at
Fort Meade.
Soon after, he attended the Command and General Staff School
with honors in 1923, and then attended the Army War College in
1932. During this time frame he was appointed to the army’s
general staff in 1927, chief of cavalry in 1928, and achieved
the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1934 and finally colonel in
1937. In 1940 he took command of the Second Argreaterd Brigade. His
next step was the promotion to temporary brigadier general, then
major general, and then was given finally given command of the
Second Arextrad Division in 1941.
Patton, metaphorically speaking, was all dressed up with no
place to go. This was all about to change with the emergence of
another war that would consume the entire world. With war
looming, the US began to conduct a series of war games in which
Patton proved his tactical, and leadership superiority and
received the attention of his superiors. To Patton’s
disappointment, his performance did not land him on the front
line in preparation for the greatest of wars, but instead landed
him in command of creating a Desert Training Center. Before the
Nazi’s were to be engaged in Europe, they were to be engaged in
North Africa and it was Patton’s job to ensure that the United
States was prepared for desert war.
Patton’s first taste of World War II combat came during
operation TORCH, which was the landing of the first U.S. troops
in North Africa. After a stunning U.S. defeat at Kasserine Pass,
Patton was sent in to ensure the success of the II Corp’s. Upon
his arrival at II Corp headquarters, he immediately identified
the problem as lack of leadership, and discipline. The troops
were disheveled, un-kept, and represented a dull edge as opposed
to a razor sharp combat unit. One of his first command decisions
was the enforcement of regulation uniforms, including the
wearing of neckties, leggings, and helmets. The objective was to
ensure that each time a solider knotted his tie, put on their
leggings, or buckled their helmets; they would be reminded that
the days of Kasserine Pass and defeat were over.
In a remarkably short time, Patton transformed the II Corps into
a world-class fighting force. The daily discipline of dress was
a part of Patton’s belief in consistency and a solid daily
routine. His troops at first resented such treatment, but then
it became a token of pride. Patton’s troops looked different
than the other units and soon they began to act different as
well. Patton learned that when his troops were off hour, or
going into town that they were taking off their neckties and
dressing down. Patton soon issued a directive that any officer
would be court-martialed if they had two incidents of their
subordinates not adhering to dress code. He set an expectation
and expected his people to follow it.
Patton took over the Seventh Army and drove this organization to
successfully liberate Sicily. From there, Patton was given
command of the Third Army, which was stationed in Calais as a
decoy for the Normandy invasion. Germany knew that Patton was a
force not to be taken lightly. Seeing Patton positioned in
Calais, they immediately redeployed their forces in preparation
for an attack that would never come.
After Normandy was opened up after the D-Day invasion, Patton’s
Third Army swept across Europe unprecedented in terms of ground
liberated or captured, the distance covered, and speed of
execution. To further add to his legacy and that of the Third
Army, he turned his half-million man army around to march north
to Bastogne where a surprise German offensive had pinned down
the 101st Airborne nearly derailing the invasion.
With Germany’s surrender, Patton was assigned as the military
governor of Bavaria. After a few fresh politically incorrect
statements, Patton was relieved of his command of the Third Army
and placed in charge of the group that’s chief objective was to
compile a history of the war. That was his final position in
Europe until he was killed. Patton didn’t die a hero’s death,
but rather was thrown out of his vehicle on a road near Mannheim
on December 9.
Patton believed that the lack of discipline for an officer or
for an army was equivalent to committing murder. He understood
that attention to detail wasn’t just for success; it was for
survival. While decisions in the modern business environment
might not cost you your life, it could cost you your livelihood.
GERMANY: HOMESCHOOL KIDS TO CLASSFree Market News Network, FL – Oct 25, 2006A Nazi-era law requiring all children to attend public school, to avoid "the emergence of parallel societies based on separate philosophical convictions" that …
Wichita Homeschool Takes Top BEST Robotics Award for Second TimeUA Fort Smith News, AR – Nov 7, 2006Wichita Homeschool of Wichita, Kan., won out over 29 other teams from five states in the BEST Award category in the Frontier Trails BEST Regional Robotics …
This is a pretty harsh question to have to ask yourself, but most parents dont realize that if they are buying bleach, air fresheners, dish detergent, laundry detergent, disinfectants, other household cleaners and some personal care products that they may be unknowingly slowly poisoning themselves and their loved ones.
Safety conscious parents think their families are safe when poisonous products are put up high on shelves in closed closets or in locked cabinets. But, did you know that most of the poisonings of small children happen from common everyday household products that are within reach? According to the American Association Poison Control Centers, a child is poisoned in the United States every 30 seconds! Liquid dish soap is one of the leading causes of poisonings in children under six! (There is an estimated 2.1 million accidental poisonings per year. In 2001 and 2002, over 1 million children under six were poisoned. 69,000 children were exposed to or poisoned from common household pesticides and 26,338 were exposed to or poisoned by bleach.) Most common name brand dish detergents contain formaldehyde and ammonia. Are you using a top selling brand? If so, you are exposing yourself and your family to these two toxic chemicals on a consistent basis.
Are you surprised to learn that dish soap contains formaldehyde? Unfortunately, a lot of products do, and we dont know it because there are many chemical name variations that we dont recognize. Often times, trade names are used to disguise harmful chemicals. Be aware that the inactive ingredients are often the most harmful.
Another product that is very hazardous is air fresheners. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there are four fundamental ingredients in air fresheners and they are formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, p-dichlorobenzene, and aerosol propellants. The EPA states that air fresheners are strong irritants to eyes, skin and throat and can cause death if eaten. Do we want to be breathing such toxins? Not to mention the threats to pets and small children.
Indoor air pollution is 2-5 times higher inside our homes than it is outdoors, states the EPA. Is it any wonder that asthma rates have sky rocketed? Not to mention allergies, cancer, chemical sensitivities, childhood diseases and the list goes on and on. It really is time to stop and take a look at the products we are surrounding ourselves with and the environment that we are creating inside and outside.
So, right now youre thinking, Okay, Ill look into alternative cleaners. But, did you know that the personal care products you are using are just as guilty for toxic chemicals? Yes, even products like shampoos, deodorants and other products we put on our skin have toxic chemicals, and again, formaldehyde rears its ugly head in some of them! Our skin is the largest organ of our body, and it is a big sponge. If you are using products with unhealthy ingredients, your skin is absorbing toxins on a daily basis. (Think about how the pharmaceutical companies have been dispersing some drugs lately, through skin patches! Yes, our skin is very absorbent.) So, from pesticides on your food, chemicals in your water and then, chemicals from products used throughout the day and on a daily basis, you can see that it all adds up. Additionally, children have been poisoned and some have died from ingesting such products as shampoo. Most people dont even stop to think it could happen from such a product.
Where do you keep the pesticides in your home? In the garage? How about in your laundry room or in your bathroom? If you are using bleach, or common brand name disinfectants, you are using pesticides. Do you swim in swimming pools? Chances are unless the pool is using some healthy alternative, you are swimming in pesticides! Yes, pool chemicals along with bleach and disinfectants are listed by the EPA as pesticides! Cide in pesticide means to kill! Most of us know that pesticides, because they are lethal, are used to kill pests such as bugs, insects and rodents. Do you still want to use toxic disinfectants to spray down surfaces you touch everyday? How about spraying high chairs and childrens toys with a pesticide? How much of these poisons are children ingesting or absorbing when they put fingers, toys or food in their mouths after the item has touched or been sprayed with toxic chemicals?
Many people believe that the government protects them from exposure to harmful chemicals through laws and regulations, but this is not the case. Companies are left to their own ethics as to what they will put in their products. Does this make you feel safe? There is no law requiring manufactures to list the exact ingredients on consumer product labels.
Government legislation or regulations may not be the answer, because the amount of products and chemicals currently on the market is so vast that trying to regulate it all would surely be a nightmare. However, we as consumers can change what we buy and send a strong message to companies that we wont purchase their toxic brews. Then perhaps, we can get these horrible toxic products off the shelves and safer and healthier ones in their place.
Since World War II approximately 70,000 chemicals have been introduced into the market place and the environment. Isnt it time we stop bringing these chemicals into our homes, businesses, schools, daycares and our environment?
There are safer and healthier products available that work superbly, and many of them are higher quality and dont cost anyhigher than their counterparts. For innumerable information on safer and healthier products, feel free to contact me through my website.
Copyright 2005 Kelly Hoffman
About the Author: Kelly Hoffman works from home as a Wellness Consultant and is a homeschooling mom to her daughter. She is also an advocate for health awareness and for taking personal responsibility of our own health. For larger health awareness information, visit her website at http://hoffman.kidsneedus.com .
Homeschool student turns class into cashGaffney Ledger (subscription), USA – Nov 10, 2006By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com. Charles A. Pressler Jr. never thought a private art class would lead …
Help is on the way! Many cities have parent co-ops to help share
resources. Check with your local library to see where and when
your local home schooling group meets. Sharing books and
resources with other parents is an excellent, low cost option.
What if your child is smarter than you? It’s a scary thought,
isn’t it? But don’t feel bad – be proud of the great job that
you’ve done so far. A great resource of your ‘advanced student’
is to tap into the online home schooling resources. There are
curriculums that can be purchased and completed online. Some
will provide textbooks as well as standard home schooling
products. Another option is to take classes that can be held in
a virtual classroom, students can use a web cam to participate
or they can simply use lecture based courses online.
Should you consider public or private school instead? Many
parents feel that during the high school years, education at
home is too difficult. They consider sending their child to
public high school. But, this can be a difficult and troublesome
transition for your teenager. The environment in a public high
school can be anything but rewarding or inviting to a child who
has been home schooled up until now. A private school may be
better, but still has draw backs including cost. There are still
the problems with your child being ‘the new kid’ at school. New
friends, new teachers, new expectations are all anxiety
producing for your child.
What else can I do? If you feel over-whelmed about home
schooling your senior high school student and don’t want to
consider public or private high school – what else can you do?
Consider your network of fellow parents who home school. What
are you number one at? What are their strengths? There may be a way to
trade skills with other parents. A parent who has skills and
interests in high school educating may be willing to teach your
child along with their child in trade for you teaching one of
their children who is younger. The double bonus here is added
socialization for both high school students.
Post Secondary Option Another resource for your ‘advanced
student’ is the post secondary option at your local college or
junior college. This has great advantages for both you and your
student. Your child won’t be branded as ‘the new kid’ – everyone
at college is new. Many times you don’t pay college tuition for
the classes that your child takes. Your child receives high
school credit and enjoys the socialization and mental
stimulation that advanced classes can bring. It’s a win – win
for both of you!
Brought to you by Help-For-High-School-Moms.info and
Home-School-101.info where help is what we’re all about!
About the author:
I developed Help-For-High-School-Moms.info and
Home-School-101.info to give parents resouce ideas to help with
home schooling their most esteemed asset – their kids!
Homeschool Father: ?I Thought I Would Go to Jail!?Home School Legal Defense Association – Oct 25, 2006After a year attending public school while living with his grandmother in New Mexico, Justin returned to his family in Texas. His …
Although, the majority of Brits buying in Bulgaria are looking
for holiday homes/buy to let and investment opportunities, there
are people relocating permanently. It is not just retired Brits
who are planning to move to Bulgaria but also families with
young children.
Despite the natural adaptability of children, the younger the
better, any major change in their life will have some impact.
One of the most influential factors which worry most parents is
changing schools. In this case, it is not just a simple change
in schools but a change to an educational system that is not yet
European.
If you intend to live in Bulgaria permanently, you will want to
look at the state education system. On the other hand, those who
plan to spend a short period of time or are not yet convinced
about their move may wish to consider private, international
schooling.
State education in Bulgaria is free. Compulsory education is
from the ages of 7 to 16 but many begin earlier attending
kindergarten or preschool from the age of 5. Primary school
begins for children aged 7 and continues for 4 years before
pupils graduate to middle school where they recentral for a further
3 years. Secondary school or high school is for between 3 and 5
years. Almost one third of students go onto further education.
In an attempt to move it away from communist rhetoric, the
entire education structure has been undergoing major reforms
which began back in 1989. Today the government spends around 3%
of the country’s GDP directly on education as it aligns itself
for joining the EU in 2007. It should continue to improve as
children will need to learn the skills and gain the knowledge to
compete with their European counterparts in the future.
However, despite these attempts, according to Maria Antova’s
report “Education for Human Rights, Peace, Stability, And
Democracy
status……..”(www.gewi.kfunigraz.ac.at/csbsc/country_reports/Ed
ucation_Bulgaria.htm) there are still numerous problems with the
system including inflexibility, centralisation and lack of
guarantee of equal opportunities for young people.
If you want to educate your child through the medium of the
English language in Bulgaria, most of the private schools tend
to be located in the country’s capital of Sofia as opposed to
the coastal areas and ski resorts where people are buying.
Nevertheless, as we have seen in the Costa del Sol, as extended and
higher British families move in the demand for International
Schools will increase and consequently so will the supply.
List of Private Schools in Bulgaria
Rovel “The optimum private school in Bulgaria” Address: 1393
Sofia,r.a. Bankia Ivaniane 66 Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii str. Tel.
+359 2 9977454 www.rovel.bg/e_index.html First Private
English Language School William Shakespeare “Specialized high
school with a foreign language training” Licenced Member of
Bakeu Optima. Address: 1000 Sofia, 13 Stara Planina str. Tel.
+359 2 9831520, +359 2 9835126 Fax. +359 2 9831520 www.fpels.ws/english.htm
Drita “Private secondary comprehensive school and kindergarden
with early foreign language teaching” Address: 1434 Sofia, r.a.
Simeonovo 13 Kamenitsa str. Tel. +359 2 9613242, F Fax. +359 2
9613242 www.dritaschool.com/about1.html
Veda “Private school and kindergarden with studying of German
language” Address: 1233 Sofia, 5 Marin Dachev Hristov str. Tel.
+359 2 9311359, +359 2 9311467 Private business school
Address: 1303 Sofia, 148 Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii str. Tel. +359
2 9310034, Fax. +359 2 9863113 Ivan Vazov “PPS Ivan Vazov
and PK Malechko with early foreign languages education” Address:
1619 Sofia, r.a. Kniazhevo 8 Studen kladenets str. Tel. +359 88
8281122, +359 88 8436277, +359 2 9571800 PGSS Buzema
“Professional high school for agriculture” Address: 1632 Sofia,
h.c. Ovcha kupel 74 Maestro Kanev str., Tel. +359 2 8563458,
+359 2 8563558 32 SES St. Kliment Ohridski 66 “School
with intensive study of English and Russian language” Address:
1303 Sofia, 63 Hristo Botev blv. Tel. +359 2 803901, +359 2
9874361 Nikola Vaptsarov “College of agriculture”
College with third rank of professional qualification. Address:
2360 Breznik, Tel. +359 7751 2466, +359 7751 2526
Professional high school for clothing and tourism “Education
in sewing and nutritive-gustatory industry” Address: 2300
Pernik, 3 Radomir str. Tel. +359 76 24438, +359 76 24518
7 SES Naiden Gerov Secondary Education School. Address: 9000
Varna, 1 Tsarevets str., above Chataldja market, Tel. +359 52
302228, +359 52 302923 Dr Petar Beron Mathematical
Secondary school 125 Mathematics high school in Varna. Address:
9000 Varna, r.a. Chaika, Tel. +359 52 302106, +359 52 302106
Speech treating kindergarten “Teaching and therapy of speech
and linguistic problems” Address: 1164 Sofia, h.c. Lozenets 22
Sveti Naum blv. Tel. /Fax. +359 2 8662197 Woodworking and
Building Professional High School “Prepares specialists for
furniture production” Address: 6300 Haskovo, 38 Plovdivska str.
Tel.: +359 38 665006, +359 38 665134 SES Emilian Stanev
Secondary educational school. Address: 5000 Veliko Tarnovo, 1
Maria Gabrovska str., Tel. +359 62 646940, +359 88 7225454
Prof. Ivan Apostolov High School 457 “Specialised in Law,
Management and Computer Studies” Address: 1113 Sofia, h.c. Iztok
46 Raiko Aleksiev str. Tel. +359 2 8720582, tel./fax: +359 2
9713081 Solid – K Agency English school and computer
literacy. Address. 1113 Sofia, 6 Prelom str. Tel. +359 2 8707698
Child’s Art Studio Nik Club occasions, child’s
celebrations Address: 1606 Sofia, r.a. Lozenets 14 Vezhen str.
Tel. +359 2 9635494 Urii Gagarin Professional technical
high school Vocational High School for preparation of
Technicians Address: 2300 Pernik, 10 Tarnovo str. Tel./Fax. +359
76 600910 PKG Rai “One of the First Private
Kindergarten” Address: 1756 Sofia, 47 Bistrishko shose str.,
Tel. +359 2 9611333 St Patriarh Euthimius Primary School
Address: 1000 Sofia, 24 Tsar Samuil str., Tel.: +359 2 9895127
Erich Kestner Private German School Private School.
Address: 1336 Sofia, h.c. Liulin 6 , 47 ODZ, Tel.+359 2 267280,
Fax. +359 2 9250838
Druzhba Private Profile High School . Address. 1320 Bankia,
65 Varna str., Tel./Fax. +359 2 9977234 Britanica
Language school. Address: 1000 Sofia, 23 Vitosha blv. ent.1 apt.
8, Tel. /Fax: +359 2 9874078 PPS Riorih Language
school. Address: 1434 Sofia, r.a. Simeonovo 9 Krairechna str.,
Tel. +359 2 9613030, Fax. +359 2 9532995 Vassil Zlatarski
Private School Address: 1756 Sofia, h.c. Darvenitsa 49 Sv.
Kliment Ohridski blv., Tel./Fax. +359 2 9743666 Educo
Bulgaria – International Adventure School “Experiential
education outdoors” Address: 1784 Sofia, h.c. Mladost 2 fl.1, 19
ODZ, Tel. +359 2 9753037 Espa Private High Language
School. Address: 1784 Sofia, h.c. Mladost 1 , next to block 67,
Tel. +359 2 9743027, Fax: +359 2 9753367
Daga Private Junior school and Kindergarten “Private
Education” Address: 1720 Bankia, 5 Tsaribrodska str., Tel. +359
48 954625, +359 88 8536576 The Little Prince Private
Primary School and Kindergarten. Address: 9000 Varna, h.c.
Chaika, in front of block 19, Tel. +359 52 300514, +359 52
302924
Sveta Private Primary School Private Education. Address:
1619 Sofia, 7 Moreni str., Tel./Fax. +359 2 8570119
Child’s Friend Association Kindergarden and pre-school
education in foreign languages. Address: 1504 Sofia, h.c. Iztok
19 Krakra str., Tel. +359 2 721771, +359 2 9442918
Friedrich Schiller Stiftung Language education for preschool
and school age children. Address: 1756 Sofia, 3 Dabnitsa str.,
Tel./Fax: +359 2 777752 Mecho Puh Daily kindergarten.
Address: 6100 Kazanlak, 6 Starozagorska str., Tel. +359 431 62369
Truant Officer ?Checks Up? on Homeschool FamilyHome School Legal Defense Association – Nov 7, 2006… The father explained to the official that his children were being homeschooled, and that he had sent a letter of notification of their homeschool only a month …
