FIELD TRIP ~ RCMP Police Dog Demonstration Held

The Lloydminster Homeschool Association sponsored an interesting field trip on Friday evening, May 6th ~ an RCMP police dog demonstration!  The group met in Lloydminster, behind City Hall, near the gazebo.  Several RCMP officers were waiting for us there.  The evening began with Homeschool President, Tim Krenz, warning everyone not to try to touch the police dog.  He also advised us the Constables at the event were on active duty and if there was an emergency, they could be called away at a moment's notice!  Luckily that didn't happen!

The first Member of the Force to speak was Cst. Stack.  He talked about general police duties and how everyone goes to Regina for six months to "Depot," for their initial training.  Last summer, Alisdair and Isobel toured the RCMP facilities in Regina with their Scottish grandparents, so that dovetailed nicely, to give them a broader understanding of what was being talked about.

Cst. Stack told us about the Lloydminster Detachment boundaries and that there are four platoons of officers who work each week.  He also noted that for every call there is alot of paperwork to complete to keep an accurate record of what took place.  Even a false 911 call requires a paper trail!

Next up was Cst. Trevor Lyster.  I recognized his name as he worked from the Cut Knife RCMP Detachment for several years.  Cst. Lyster is now working at IDENT in Lloydminster.  He gave a demonstration of the fingerprinting process.

First, he had Cst. Stack touch his sweaty brow.  Then Stack touched an empty beer bottle that had been brought along for that purpose.  Cst. Lyster said there are often beer bottles at a crime scene and they are routinely used to gather fingerprint evidence. We could see smudges on the bottle before Cst. Lyster went to work.  He brought out his "kit" and opened a container with some gray powder and a small brush inside.  When the powder was applied to the beer bottle, the fingerprints were clearly visible.  The next step was to preserve the prints on a sticky piece of plastic.  Once the backing was stuck to the prints, they were preserved between the plastic sections and could be analyzed as evidence.

The next item on the program was what everyone had been waiting for ~ the police dog demonstration!  Cst. Troy Raddatz brought his partner, "Argo," out of the mobile kennel in the back of his truck, and began explaining some of the things they can do as a team.

Cst. Raddatz and "Argo"

"Argo" is a German Shepherd who was born in Czechoslovakia and purchased for approximately $10,000.00.  Apparently there was a guarantee that he would be an excellent police dog.  If "Agro" had not been able to meet the rigorous RCMP standards, another dog would have been made available to the force.  Dogs are also bred in Canada, especially for the purpose of training them for work with police services across the country.  While Cst. Raddatz was talking, "Argo" enjoyed chewing his red ball!

Cst. Stack and another Member of the RCMP
 look on, while Cst. Raddatz explains some
 of the things "Argo" can do.

Initially, "Argo" and Cst. Raddatz were trained to sniff out bomb threats.  The pair went to the Olympics in Vancouver where they were part of the large security beat to keep athletes and visitors safe.  Afterwards, they were retrained to sniff out narcotics.  "Argo" can also track criminals or search for missing persons.  The RCMP hope to get approximately five years of service from each canine ~ however some work eight or nine years, while others need to be retired earlier in their career.

The "guard arm" is in place ...

Since everyone wanted to see what "Argo" could actually do, another Member of the RCMP was selected to assist with the demonstration.  He put on a "guard arm" to provide protection from "Argo's" sharp teeth.  Initially, Cst. Raddatz told "Argo" to attack the other officer.  The dog did as he was told and rushed forward.  Suddenly, Raddatz gave another command and the dog obediently quit running toward the intended target and returned to his handler's side.  Cst. Raddatz explained that it was sometimes necessary to get "Argo" to stop approaching someone midstream, as an innocent bystander could walk between himself and a criminal, or an incorrect identification of a particular target could have been made.


"Argo" goes into attack mode, lunging at the "guard arm."

The second time, "Argo" grabbed on to the "guard arm" with all of his might.  Cst. Raddatz came up from behind and demonstrated how the dog would not open his jaws until he was commanded to do so.  To illustrate this point, Raddatz actually picked up the canine's hind legs and tried to pull him away from the "guard arm" but the dog didn't even loosen his grip!

"Argo" waits for a command from his handler.

At the conclusion of the dog demonstration, three police cruisers were made available for the group to view.  The children had a lot of fun, climbing into the backseat where people are usually detained behind plexi-glass.  They were also able to turn on the lights and the siren (to either 'yelp' or 'wail' mode).  One officer even obligingly handcuffed the homeschoolers upon request!

Homeschool President, Tim Krenz
 is shown some of the features of a 
police cruiser on display.

Isobel wanted to go for a ride in the police car!

The next field trip, sponsored by the Lloydminster Homeschool Association, will be held Thursday, May 12th, when members of the group, who wish to do so, can tour the local radio and television station.  Although Isobel is scheduled to attend Kindergarten that day, we hope to be able to participate in the event.  Later in the school year, a field trip to explore the Lloydminster Airport is planned.  There will also be a "farm safety" seminar, and a wind-up BBQ.

BOOK REVIEWS ~ "Election Day" ~ By: Margaret McNamara

It's a thin (32-page) "Ready-to-Read" book, but I think every politican should take a moment or two to read this childrens' book!  It's called "Election Day" and was written by Margaret McNamara, as part of the "Robin Hill School" series.

There is a new student in Mrs. Connor's class at Robin Hill School.  Becky has arrived on the day voting was to take place for the position of class president.  Who will lead the students in the room?

"After lunch, the children gave speeches.  'I promise to get us a candy machine!' said Nick.  'Hooray!' said the class.

" 'I promise no homework!' said Emma.  'Hooray!  Hooray!' said the class.

" 'I promise summer vacation will last for six months!' said Nia.  'Hooray!  Hooray!  Hooray!' said the class."

At this point, Mrs. Connor asks if there are any other students who would like to give a speech.

"Becky thought she could be a good class president.  But she was new.  She did not have any friends.  She did not have a speech."

" 'Anyone?' asked Mrs. Connor.  She was looking right at Becky."

"Becky took a deep breath.  She got up from her chair.  'I cannot promise candy machines, or less homework, or more vacation,' she said.  'I can only promise to do my best.'  Becky sat down.  No one else said a word.  Especially not 'Hooray.' "

" 'Now,' said Mrs. Connor.  'It is time to vote.'  The children put their heads on their desks and their hands in the air.  Mrs. Connor counted all the votes.  'Becky is the winner!' she said.  The new class president was happy."

" 'You made a good promise,' Hannah said.  'It is a promise I will keep,' said Becky."

***

That message seems particularly appropriate as Monday, May 2 was "Election Day" in Canada. The results were somewhat surprising ~ with the Liberals losing most of their seats, the New Democratic Party becoming the official opposition, and Harper's Conservatives gaining a majority for the first time ever.

It's true ~ we DON'T need empty promises or charismatic, flamboyant individuals to represent us. But we DO need honest, dedicated, hard-working politicians at all levels of governance ~ local, provincial and federal. Are you willing to run for office and to serve your country in that way? Perhaps YOU could make a difference next time the call for nominations goes forth.

*** 

 

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
                                                                                                                          ~  John Quincy Adams

BOOK REVIEWS ~ "I Am Rosa Parks" ~ By: Rosa Parks with Jim Haskins

A little while ago, Alisdair was learning about Rosa Parks and her role in the Civil Rights Movement.  While searching the library catalogue for additional books on the topic, I came across an "Easy-to-Read Book For Young Readers." 

"I Am Rosa Parks," is a 48-page book, at the perfect level for reading to a child of Isobel's age.  The story begins with a chapter called "I Get Arrested."  Here, Parks explains the concept of segregation. Readers are told about separate schools, restaurants and water fountains.  Then she writes:  "When we rode a bus, we could only sit in the back seats.  The front seats were just for white people.  If all the front seats were filled with white people, we black people had to give up our seats to the next white people who got on the bus.  That's the way we rode the buses in the South when I was younger.  I rode the buses and obeyed the laws that kept me apart from white people.  But I did not think they were right" (Pages 6 - 8). 

The chapter goes on to detail the now legendary events of the fateful day when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat.  Parks writes:  "The policemen took me to jail.  They took my picture.  They put my fingers on a pad of ink and rolled my fingers onto white cards.  That way, they had my fingerprints.  Then they put me in a jail cell.  I did not have to spend the night in jail.  My husband came to get me.  A friend paid my bail money.  That meant I could go free for now.  The police told me to come to court in three days.  I went to court.  The judge said I was guilty of breaking the law.  I was fined ten dollars, plus four dollars in court costs.  I never paid it.  I did not feel I had broken the law.  I thought black people should not have to give up their seats on the bus to white people.  I thought the law should treat black people and white people just the same way.  I always wanted rules to be fair, even when I was small" (Pages 12 - 15).

The second chapter is titled, "How I Grew Up" and it gives biographical information on this interesting woman, who was born Rosa Louise McCauley on February 4, 1913.  She was named after her grandmother and grew up in Pine Level, Alabama. Parks tells the reader about her parents and grandparents and about the farm where she was raised.  As a young girl, she liked to go fishing.

This section of the book also gives details about what schools for black children were like.  Parks recalls, "Sylvester [her little brother], and I went to a school for black children.  It had only one room.  White children went to a bigger school.  There was a school bus for the white children.  There was no school bus for us.  Sometimes when we walked to school, the bus would go by carrying the white children.  They would laugh at us and throw trash out the window.  There was no way to stop them.  One day a white boy named Franklin tried to hit me.  I picked up a brick, and I dared him to hit me.  He went away.  My grandma was angry.  She told me not to talk back to white folks.  I thought I was right to talk back" (Pages 22 - 24). 

Next Rosa tells about her marriage, in 1932, to Raymond Parks.  He was a barber and lived in Montgomery, Alabama.  She writes:  "I was proud of my husband because he worked to help black people.  He helped get lawyers for people who had been arrested.  I began to work to help black people too.  I wrote down their stories when they were hurt by whites.  I asked young black people to try to use the white library.  It was very hard work.  It was also very sad work, because nothing we did really helped make our lives better.  Then came that day on the bus when I would not give up my seat to a white person.  I was tired of black people being pushed around.  Some people think I kept my seat because I'd had a hard day, but that is not true.  I was just tired of giving in" (Pages 26-28).

The third chapter is titled, "We Stay Off The Buses."  It outlines the events of the bus boycott, that began on December 1, 1955 and concluded on December 20, 1956.  The boycott began, thanks to the footwork of Jo Ann Robinson, who "passed out leaflets asking all black people in the city of Montgomery to stay off the buses for one day" (Page 30).  "The day of the boycott came.  The buses were almost empty.  Very few black people were on them.  A man named E. D. Nixon called a big meeting of black people.  The meeting was held in a church.  A young minister named Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., told all the black people to keep off the buses.  Everyone at the meeting cheered, and the boycott went on.  We walked to work or took taxis.  We got rides from our friends.  But we did not ride the buses.  Christmas passed.  It was very cold, but we did not ride the buses.  White people were very angry.  They wanted us to ride the buses again.  Some black people even lost their jobs because they would not ride the buses.  Some black people were arrested.  Some were beaten up.  I got telephone calls from people who would not give their names.  They said they wanted to hurt me.  Spring came.  Now it was nice weather for walking.  All the black churches had station wagons to drive the people who could not walk.  Summer came.  The buses had stopped running.  There were not enough riders without the black people" (Pages 31 - 38). 

Eventually there was a ruling by The Supreme Court, "that the segregation laws were wrong.  Black people should not have to give up their bus seats to white people.  Our boycott worked, and we had won.  We went back to the buses at last.  We did not have to give up our seats anymore.  We had stayed off the buses for a whole year" (Pages 39 and 40).

The final chapter, of the book, is titled, "Since the Boycott."  Due to worries about their safety, Rosa, her husband and mother, soon moved North to Detroit, Michigan.  The reader is then told about Martin Luther King, Jr. It says, "He led black people in the fight to vote and to eat in restaurants, just as white people did.  He was fighting for their rights.  This fight was called the civil rights movement.  Some white people joined the fight.  Most went down South from the North.  But some white people in the South joined the civil rights movement too " (Page 42 - 44).  Parks made speeches, telling of her personal experience, when she was arrested.  "I went down South for some of the big marches for black people's rights.  The civil rights movement won many rights for black people.  New laws for equal rights were passed.  The old segregation laws were over" (Page 44).

Parks is quick to downplay her role in the fight against segregation.  She writes, "Some people say I started the whole civil rights movement because I would not give up my seat on the bus.  I know that many people started the civil rights movement.  And many people worked very hard to win the rights that black people have today.  But I am glad I did my part" (Pages 45 - 47).

The book concludes with a challenge.  It states, "There is still much work to be done.  The laws that kept black and white people apart have been changed.  But there are still many people who have not changed their hearts.  I hope that children today will grow up without hate.  I hope they will learn to respect one another, no matter what colour they are" (Page 47 - 48).

I, for one, hope so too!

HEALTH ~ HEPATITIS 'B' Vaccination Series Completed

The telephone rang.  When I answered, it was the local Public Health Nurse on the other end of the line.  Could Alisdair come over to the clinic for the last of his series of immunizations Saskatchewan students receive in Grade 6?  Reluctantly I made the appointment, as I knew he would be upset.


This was the third time we'd had to meet with her for a Hepatitis 'B' immunization as it is given in three doses.  On one of the first occasions, Alisdair tried to tell the Nurse that he wasn't going to be a drug user and he wasn't going to "sleep with a lot of partners" so therefore he didn't need the shot.

Alisdair was also very concerned about the possibility the vaccines contained "high levels of mercury."  Although she appreciated his knowledge about the reasons for having the shots, the Public Health Nurse didn't "buy" his excuses and neither of us let him off the hook!  She tried to reassure him that she wouldn't have immunized her own daughters, if it wasn't safe to do so.  Regardless, it was a relief to get the procedure over with!

Notice of Immunization

The Public Health Nurse said the next set of booster shots are not until Grade 8 ~ so it's good to know we don't have to go through this again for a while!

In his search to find evidence against getting children vaccinated, Alisdair found this amusing video by Sid the Science Kid called, "It's Gonna Help A Whole Lot," which was made by PBS.  Enjoy!

BOOK REVIEWS ~ "Freedom Summer" ~ By: Deborah Wiles

Today we read the book, "Freedom Summer" by Deborah Wiles. 

Alisdair says:  "This book is about John Henry Waddell, who is black, and his best friend, who is white.  The story is told from the white boy's perspective.  The events of the story take place during the summer of 1964, just after the Civil Rights Act was passed.  The boys worked and played together and especially enjoyed swimming in Fiddler's Creek."


"John Henry swims better than anybody I know.
  He crawls like a catfish, blows bubbles like a swamp
 monster, but he doesn't swim in the town pool with
 me.  He's not allowed.  So we dam the creek with
 rocks and sticks to make a swimming spot,
 then holler and jump in, wearing only our skin."



"Then we float on our backs and spout like whales."

"One day the boys heard that the segregation laws would be changed the next day.  They were excited about going swimming together in the town pool.   John Henry had not been able to swim there before, because it was a White's only facility.  But the boys are disappointed when they arrive at the pool early the next morning.  Instead of finding refreshing water, to swim in, they find city workers pouring asphalt and tar into, what once was, the pool." 

"So we hunker in the tall weeds and watch all
 morning until the pool is filled with hot,
 spongy tar.  Sssssss! Smoky steam rises in the air.
  Workers tie planks to their shoes and stomp
 on the blacktop to make it smooth."

"It's so quiet now, we can hear the breeze whisper
 through the grass.  We sit on the diving board and stare
 at the tops of the silver ladders sticking up from the tar.
  My heart beats hard in my chest.  John Henry's voice shakes.
  'White folks don't want colored folks in their pool.' 
 'You're wrong, John Henry,' I say, but I know he's right."

"After discussing this sad turn of events, the boys  go and get an ice pop from the convenience store.  The white boy always used to buy two ice pops while John Henry waited outside.  This time, he could go through the front door and buy his own ice pop.  Later they would go swimming at the Creek.  Some changes take longer than others to happen."

"If I was one of the boys, I would have felt very disappointed that I couldn't swim with my friend at the public pool and very sad and angry officials would choose to ruin the pool instead of allowing blacks to swim there."   

This book, although fiction, is based on fact.  The author, Deborah Wiles writes, in "A Note About The Text": 

"I was born a white child in Mobile, Alabama,

and spent summers visiting my beloved Mississippi relatives.

  When the Civil Rights Act was passed, the town pool closed.

  So did the roller rink and the ice-cream parlor.

  Rather than lawfully giving blacks the same rights

and freedoms as whites, many southern businesses

 chose to shut their doors in protest.

  Some of them closed forever."

Thanks to Wiles, and her book about these childhood experiences, we have been provided much food for thought.

***

"Freedom Summer" was published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers in 2001.  This fiction picture book won both the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award (2002 - New Writer Award and Illustrator Award) and a Coretta Scott King Award (2002 - John Steptoe New Talent Award for the illustrator, Jerome Lagarrigue.)

CURRENT EVENTS ~ The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton ~ Friday, April 29, 2011

The balcony kiss

Although we were far from London and the pagentry of the Royal Wedding, Alisdair wanted to watch "history in the making."  He went to bed early, and after sleeping for a couple of hours, got up again around midnight.  We watched the entire CBC broadcast with Peter Mansbridge.  These are some of Alisdair's impressions of the event:

"Union Jacks were flying everywhere across the screen.  Before the Royal Wedding began, CBC did a short segment on the history of Westminster Abbey.  Prince William and Catherine Middleton are the 16th Royal couple to be wed at the Abbey.  Kate's dress, in my opinion, was very lacy and the design was brilliant.  All the ladies, in attendance, wore hats or fascinators.  Some of the hats were kind of crazy and I am glad I didn't have to wear them!  There were 5,000 security officers on duty and approximately one million people were predicted to line the streets of London for the occasion. My Mother fell asleep before the balcony scene.  I had to poke her, to get her awake, in time for the little peck that was going to happen! ... (That's the second time I've had to wake her up for an important event.  See our blog post, "The Peace of Christ Be With You," dated December 28, 2010). A lot of people were happy the wedding was made an official Bank Holiday in the United Kingdom, so they got extra time off work!"

"I had the day off work, too!  I was so tired, after staying up all night watching TV, that my stepdad said I should go have a nap.  While I was sleeping, Mum and Isobel did my newspaper route.  I also got the day off from regular school work, because I had been learning about history all night!  I hope that the Royal Couple are very happy and will have some good times together."

SAFETY FIRST ~ 97% ~ Saskatchewan Safety Council Baby Sitter Training Course

Alisdair's Manual

We are pleased to announce Alisdair has successfully completed the Saskatchewan Safety Council Baby Sitter Training Course.  We took a trip to the library (to borrow some videos) and the Librarian presented Alisdair with his official card, signed by the Course Leader, Fay Hewko, dated April 19th.

We were also given his "Babysitter Training Course Exam."  There were a total of 100 marks available, broken down as follows:   (30 marks for Short Answer questions; 40 marks for Multiple Choice questions and another 30 for True and False responses.) 

The front page of the test booklet

We were delighted to learn Alisdair had received 97% on this test!  The instructor wrote at the bottom of the exam "Good Job!"

Special thanks to Mrs. Hewko for her willingness to teach the Course and to the Neilburg Branch of the Lakeland Library for sponsoring this valuable training.  I am sure the wealth of information that Alisdair gleaned from the course will serve him in good stead in the months and years to come ~ whether he eventually begins to babysit or not.