International Day of Peace

September 21 marks the 36th celebration of The International Day of Peace. Established in 1981 by the United Nations, this annual event intends to provide “a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.” This year’s theme is Together for Peace: … read more »

Comic Approach to Reading: Graphic Novels

Comic books once were considered the worst things kids could read. Lots of irresistible issues were hidden under beds or between the covers of textbooks. Many comic books were banned because of their ephemeral nature, graphical format, and often mature and violent content. Think of those lurid covers featuring a scantily-clad, buxom girl in the … read more »

The First Amendment and Digital Citizens

“Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” In these few, brief written words, the First Amendment protects so … read more »

Women’s Equality Day

Little girls with dreams become women with vision. Unknown August 26 is National Women’s Equality Day. This is when we commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution granting women full and equal voting rights. Passed in 1920, this amendment is now closing in on its 100-year anniversary.  Although women enjoy full and … read more »

Ben Franklin’s Backstory as “Herstory”

Every summer around Independence Day, Benjamin Franklin and his importance to the birth of our nation are popular online searches. But many do not know that a quartet of women related to this founding father had useful, noteworthy lives themselves. We often hear little about the women who supported their more famous kin. Learning about … read more »