A Southern Missive

News:

On June 25, at 12:45 p.m., I’ll be one of the speakers at a video conference for librarians across the state of Texas! It is entitled, At Your Library Video Conference  Region VII in Kilgore is the host for this state-wide video conference for librarians. Every education service center is invited to connect. Content will include best practices from those “good idea” Texas school librarians.

The agenda will include ten 20 minute sessions so participants can share and learn about the impact of active library programs on student achievement.
Here is a description of my program:

Why Authors Should Fall to Their Knees and Worship Librarians

This presentation will address the important role Librarians have in society and the educational system. Librarians are now the ones entrusted with the torch of cultural and academic enrichment. The presentation will touch on what authors need to know about librarians and will address how and what should be communicated to visiting authors to insure a successful program.

If you would like to see the schedule or the other speakers information, the link to the program is here:

A Teacher’s Review of Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House. 

Jessica Shultz is a teacher candidate in the elementary education program at Wake Forest University. She grew up in southern New Jersey, and has lived in North Carolina for three years. The purpose of this website is to demonstrate her growth as a professional during my time in the teacher education program at WFU. This site is a collection of her work from the elementary education program, and tracks the progression of her teaching philosophy.  She said this about my Jim Limber Children’s book:

Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House
Written by: Rickey Pittman
Copyright 2007
Grades 3-5
• This is a fascinating story about a little orphaned African American boy who was taken in by Jefferson Davis and his family and lived for a while in the Confederate White House. An amazing true story that will really make children consider their concepts of right and wrong. The Davis family treats little Jim Limber like one of their own children, which contradicts the view that many people have about the Confederate South.
• Covers Civil War history, the Confederacy, the Davis family
• Classroom application: This would be a great book to start or end a unit. If students already have some Civil War knowledge, this would be a great way to start a unit! It will definitely challenge children and most likely contradict many of their previously held beliefs about the Civil War and the Confederate south. A great discussion starter!

You can see Jessica’s site here: 

Fricasee is my word of the day. For some reason, I woke up thinking of it. It is a dish of cut-up pieces of meat (as chicken or rabbit) or vegetables stewed in stock and served in a white sauce. I first remember hearing the word in either a cartoon or a Restoration play in college.

Jim Limber: A Digital Book Talk

If you’re interested in a digital book talk, created by Bonnie Barnes of Region XI in Fort Worth, that you might could use to introduce the story of Jim Limber. Use this site.

New Books in My Library:

I’ve just ordered a Model Summer by Paula Porizkova and Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk. They should be in any day and I’m looking forward to reading them. I’ve been so busy that my reading has been slower than usual. I’ve got to remember that I am a writer, and that writers, busy or not, READ. I’ve also been given two new books this week. The first I received at the Memorial Day celebration on Monday, The Oxygen Revolution. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy by Paul G. Harch, M.D., and Virginia Mccullough. This treatment is being used with success with troops returning from Iraq with head wounds or trauma. Dr. Harch was there. Along with Kay Katz and Mike Walsworth, he was a speaker for the event.

The second book I received yesterday at the End of Year Luncheon for the Caddo Parish ISD librarians. Their organization is called CASL. This group of librarians has the best camaraderie I’ve seen. Librarians are my favorite people, and I think some of the least appreciated. They are also the last ones in education to be holding forth the lamp of cultural literacy in this day of State testing and resulting mediocrity. I intend to write some pieces to honor them. The event was held in the University Club in downtown Shreveport on Market Street and was a delightful program (in spite of the fact that I was the speaker for it). The theme was “Master the Art of Reading.” The book given to me was a signed copy of The Defense of Vicksburg: A Louisiana Chronicle written by All C Richard, Jr. & (Librarian) Mary Margaret Higginbotham Richard. I couldn’t have asked for another gift. I hope to have some photos of the event soon.
More from the Fort Worth Muster

Here is a photo of Cindy Harriman. She works with the Texas Civil War Museum. A beautiful and talented lady, she is doing so much to keep the history of the War Between the States alive. The gentleman is named Doug Harman. He is the retired CEO of the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau.

 I found some sites that are rich resources for those researching poetry written during or about the Civil War (More correctly, the War Between the States). If you are a song writer, a poet, or a reader of materials related to the Civil War, you will want to check these out.

The first is Poetry and Music of the War Between the States.  The site has a brief but well-written introduction that says:

“The War Between the States was the pivotal event in our Nation’s history.
If you want only the facts about the conflict, any textbook will do.  But if you want to understand the thoughts and emotions of the men who faced each other across the battlefield and those who waited for them at home, look to the poems and songs written during and after the War.”

You can find the site here: 

Another site, entitled Civil War Poetry and created by Rick Hearn is here:

An interesting aside on this site: Hearn has posted the Devil’s Dictionary and points out that Ambrose Bierce has some interesting poems and definitions on the Civil War veteran. I’ll have to investigate this, as the first time I read Bierce’s book, I was not looking for Civil War material.

Book News:

Today, I’m speaking for a banquet for the Caddo Parish librarians. Yesterday, I began my class at Delta Community College, teaching Academic Seminar, designed to help new students with study skills and strategies for success. I have a great, sharp group of students and I know that I will enjoy working with them.