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February 10, 2012
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David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
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The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
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Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
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Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
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Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
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Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
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January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
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Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
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John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
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January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
August 28, 2009
/ 8 Elul 5769
It's Back to Robert Hall Again
By
Greg Crosby
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
School bells ring and children sing
"It's back to Robert Hall again."
Mother knows for better clothes
It's back to Robert Hall again.
You'll save more on clothes for school
Shop at Robert Hall
I don't know where you grew up, but where I came from we kids knew that when you heard that jingle on radio or TV it meant summertime was over and school was just around the corner. I hated that jingle. I hated having to go back to school. But never the less I looked forward to getting all my new clothes and supplies for the school year. New shoes, a week's worth of new shirts, 3 or 4 new trousers and, best of all, a wonderful brand-new coat.
The feel and smell of the new clothing was heady and although I despised the idea of starting a new school year, I couldn't wait to get dressed that first day in my new duds. In that regard I guess going back to school was kind of a love/hate thing with me. I always enjoyed "new stuff" whether it was clothes or notebooks and pens. I even liked getting the brand-new text books. I liked the way they smelled and crackled when I first opened them (which would probably be the last time I'd open them for that entire school year).
I don't know if kids today have those sensations. Do kids today get new clothes for school anymore? When we got our new clothes in late August, early September, that was it for new clothes for the entire year. I think kids now probably get new stuff all year-long. Buying new clothing was very special for us. We looked forward to going shopping for school clothes. We were excited about it. Do kids think getting new clothing is special anymore? Do they get excited over it? I don't know.
Even though I hated school generally there were things about it that I liked and looked forward to. No, not sports, but there were other non-academic parts of the school curriculum that were of interest to me. Any sort of art was great. I loved to draw and work with colors; I was quite good at it. I enjoyed music too even though I never had any natural gift for it. I loved learning American history through American folk music. Songs like "The Erie Canal," "Make My Living in Sandy Land," "Oh Susanna," "Shenandoah" and so many others have stayed with me throughout my life. Are school children taught these songs anymore?
Academic studies such as mathematics, science, and learning the parts of speech mostly bored the heck out of me. It was just so much gibberish as far as I was concerned. However, I was lucky to have a couple of really good teachers in my life - teachers that made learning interesting. One was a history teacher who told the stories of our country so well that I was instilled with a lifelong interest in it. Another was an English teacher who taught Greek Mythology which I found fascinating. I can't remember if it was that same teacher or another who introduced me to English literature, but I can still remember the excitement in reading Julius Caesar and A Tale of Two Cities for the first time and discussing it in class afterwards.
Do kids learn English literature in grade school anymore? Do they learn American History that isn't tainted with political correctness? Do they learn American history that isn't spun to reflect current attitudes regarding multiculturalism? Are kids taught to love and respect our founding fathers and the story of our wonderful nation as we were taught? Are they learning to love America, to take pride in our country and its grand heritage and culture? How much time is spent in teaching kids to be good American citizens in the traditional sense? Patriotism. Is it encouraged anymore?
I raise these questions, but I know the answer. No, these values are not stressed in our schools anymore.
Robert Hall clothing stores are long gone - having bit the dust around 1977. The catchy little back to school jingle is no more. The store and the jingle were pure Americana. While I feel a tinge of nostalgia for the jingle, the greater loss by far is the lack of teaching pro-American culture in our public schools.
Teaching patriotism and American history has been, for the most part, tossed out along with the back to school jingle many years ago.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Greg Crosby, former creative head for Walt Disney publications, has written thousands of comics, hundreds of children's books, dozens of essays, and a letter to his congressman. A freelance writer in Southern California, you may contact him by clicking here.
Greg Crosby Archives
© 2008, Greg Crosby
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