Of course it is very ironic that "The Dred Scott Decision" is one of the volumes in the "Cornerstones of Freedom" series because the 1857 U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding slavery is one of the darker moments in the nation's history. Brendan January does an excellent job of presenting this infamous decision in its historical context. This is an extremely informative book that covers every stage of the case, culminating in not only the major arguments in Chief Justice Roger Taney's majority decision but the dissenting opinion offered by Justice Benjamin Curtis. January makes it clear that the decision was based more on the prejudices of the justices than Constitutional principles. The only omission of any significance I can see is that January does not talk about the geographical limitations that were stopping the spread of cotton into the southwest, which threatened the precarious balance between the free and slave states in the U.S. Senate. This was what forced the slavery issue to a head as much as anything else, but given the comprehensive presentation of the issues and personalities involved in this case, this is a minor quibble (besides, I love the aside January provides that Missouri supreme court justice Judge William Scott was not related to Dred Scott). High school students will be hard pressed to find a comparable volume for their own age group that provides as much information about the Dred Scott decision as this volume. I have found the "Cornerstones of Freedom" series to be very good across the board.

I had to write a paper on the Dred Scott Decision. Although I am not of the age group group that this book is geared towards, it explained the very complicated subject in a simple way that was very informal. It was quite useful in writing the paper and I would recommend it to children as well as adults interested in important rulings of the supreme court and history.

I purchased Exploring Oklahoma with Children last year and was checking for a third edition. I will purchase a new one each time it is released. The price ranges are accurate and the book paints a true picture of the attraction/location. We have visited several places recommended in the book with a four year old and a twelve year old and never been disappointed. Directions, phone numbers, and extra tips are extremely valuable.

As the end of the school year was approaching this mother of five wondered what to do with our summer. Our family was born and breed here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, yet we had never seen many of the natural wonders this great state has to offer. I certainly did not look forward to a summer of "paying" to be entertained at the movies, water parks or (eeek) in front of the TV. Oklahoma is rich in its Native American heritage. With a state that suffered the "Grapes of Wrath" image and then overcame to be a rich oil capitol, surely we could be entertained here. I purchased a copy of "Exploring Oklahoma With Children" in May. After a brief review of the book, I knew I had stumbled upon the key to an eventful summer. I spent every night for a week highlighting sights and events. I committed to the children "field trips" two days a week using our book as our guide. To fully appreciate this you must understand that this summer our children were: 8, 7, 5 (twins) and 1. We had the summer of our lives! We saw an old fort, Pawnee Bill's home, Will Roger's birthplace, a dairy farm, a port, many museums, parks and much more. These were all child friendly and were cheap to FREE! Our summers will never be the same. This year we will go further than one hour from Tulsa (our limit with a 1 year old). As the book is revised and reprinted each year (chalked full of discounts and coupons) I will be first in line at Amazon Books to purchase "Exploring Oklahoma With Children". We all look forward to exploring Oklahoma year round with the help of author, Sarah Lowrey Taylor. We'll see you in Oklahoma!

This is an extremely well written introduction to Texas history, and one that your children will embrace from the "get-go" as they say in Texas. I must say that the most impressive feature of this book is the illustration. Scott Arbuckle has done unbelievable work here - the detail will allow your children to look at the book again and again with the same level of fascination as the first time they view it.

I highly recommend this book - it's a wonderful resource book for home schoolers as well.

Most sociologists who have written about ritual abuse (RA) has tried to analyze what they see as a "mass hysteria" or a "moral panic". They usually dismiss all evidence for the existence of RA and instead tries to analyze those who believe in it..
But Sara Scott is not among them. On the contrary she analyzes the inner logic of the backlash movement against survivors and above all she analyzes the sociology of the ritually abusive groups. I have never before seen such a convincing analysis ot the belief systems and the power structures in these groups.
Sara Scott had done a lot for RA survivors and those who support them by writing this book!

This tape is one of the most beautiful meditation tapes I've every listened to. The two wooden flutes weaving and intertwining in and out are like going back thousands of years to a serene temple, or like sitting on a mountain top and having the beautifully simple yet masterful music waft over you. I feel very relaxed and recharged at the same time! I listen whenever I need a recharge, a re-focus, an energize, or to get my creative juices flowing. Thank you!

I am a Macon State College student majoring in education and I read A Passion for Teaching for a class. I really enjoyed this book because I felt as though I was able to peek into the lives of different teachers. It was like I was reading their personal journals on why they teach and how they are able to stay passionate about the profession. I also enjoyed this book because it was easy to read. I found this book useful because it proved that after spending several years in the classroom, teachers can remain excited and passionate about teaching. The one thing I didn't like, however, was that there were no articles from a middle or high school math teacher's point of view.

I am a college student majoring in education and I had to read A Passion for Teacher for a class. When I first picked this book I didn't even open the cover. I felt the title of the book said enough for me to know it was something I wanted to read. Now that I have read the book I am so glad I went with my first feelings about this book. It was so refreshing to hear positive comments from veteran teachers about teaching. Each excerpt spoke to me and had something I needed to hear. There are quotes in this book that I will reflect back on throughout my career. In a time where schools and the teaching profession are thought of as less than desireable, this book gives me a true desire to continue my education and teach simply for the love of teaching! Bravo to all of these veteran teachers!

I am an Education student at Macon State College. I read A Passion For Teaching for one of my classes, and it is a wonderful book. I believe that any educator would find this book enjoyable and informative. It reminded me of a Chicken Soup for the Soul book. I loved the personal stories that the teachers told and the enthusiasm that the teachers felt. If you enjoy stories and enjoy learning while you read, then this book is for you.

This is a wonderful story based on the true life of a young girl. The author has taken Sallie Clayton's diary and turned it into an account of life before, during, and after the Civil War.

The only problem is the long footnotes. Some of these notes take up most of the page and tell boring historical information. Sometimes, it helps set up the plot. At other times, it's annoying and makes me want to throw the book against the wall...

I say you should read this book if you want to look inside the life of a Civil War woman, or if you just want to learn more about life during the Civil War...either way, it's a wonderful book.

I found this work fascinating! Sallie Clayton's account was so descriptive as to make day by day life in war time Atlanta come alive. Her account of Sherman's seige was particularly engrossing. A must read along with other such biographical accounts of the period.

An interesting and provocitive account of the attacks on the civilian population of Ante-bellum Georgia by Federal forces under command of William (kerosene) Sherman. This book substanciates that the "Lincoln-Sherman Plan" to make Georgia "howl" was an unpresedented reaction to propaganda and political gain. The sacking and burning of Atlanta and its long term effect on the state are sobering. Another book related to this topic that fully illustrates this unlawful and evil destruction is "The War-Time Journal of a Georgia Girl," by Eliza Francis Andrews.

The "Hounds of War" destroyed Georgia's economy well into the 20th Century.

Orson Scott Card, who usually writes science fiction, turns his hand here to the story of Sarah, from Genesis. He begins with a spunky ten-year old "Sarai" and her bratty sister "Qira" who will later turn out, interestingly, to be Mrs. Lot. Card takes a number of liberties with the biblical story, but he has done prodigious research, and is able to make those almost prehistoric times, customs and peoples believable. I enjoyed the book and recommend it, but it has some limitations. The characters are one-dimensional and they never seem to grow or change. I was disappointed in the portrayal of Abraham's relationship to God--it was unique and unheard of for his time, not just another religious guy. Still and all, the book was most enjoyable and easy to read!

While reading Sarah the above question kept occurring to me. Sometimes I thought Card created a female character that was convincing, appealing, and heroic. Other times I found Card's depiction of Sarah unbelievable. Many times while reading this novel, I thought to myself: "No woman I've ever known would act that way . . ."

However, I really did enjoy this novel. It is an easy read. I would highly recommend this book as a young adult book. Adults will enjoy it but it is not as engaging as I expected it to be.

Card does play with Biblical stories in order to make the novel more interesting. For example, Lot's wife is Sarah's sister, which creates several subplots including the destruction of Sodom.

I also thought Abraham was a little two-dimensional. And the treatment of the other female characters in the novel was stereotypical. Every female was "evil" or bad except for Sarah, who oftentimes lacked a certain depth and complexity.

Sarah is not a book I would reread again but I think it is worthwhile reading material.

The Bible seems to bring out hypersensitivity in people today (either they want to hear nothing from it, or it can't be touched as it is too sacred.) While the Bible is sacred scripture, the stories from the Bible are wonderful material for creating living, vivid stories.

This book reminds me of the out-of-print and rare Joseph and his Brothers by Thomas Mann, although much smaller in scope. Both books tried to put ancient life in the light of human behavior that is timeless. This is the novelistic trick that makes the characters come alive with drama and realism. Sarah is a Bible figure with many sides that are hinted at in scripture; the conflict with Hagar, her long and difficult period of infertility (a total tragedy in her society) and her marriage to the powerful Abraham. The side story of Lot is also wonderfully fleshed out.

Orson Scott Card always creates memorable characters, especially woment characters, and this book is immensely enjoyable.

As a lawyer, when I am asked about proper procedure at a meeting, my first question is: What rules do you use? Is there an applicable statute, or bylaws or rules that the organization has adopted? Nine times out of ten, the answer is: "Robert's Rules of Order." Robert's is the most widely used parliamentary manual in the United States.

General Henry M. Robert published the original "Robert's Rules" in 1875 and 1876 and, since the copyright on that edition (and the next few editions) has long since expired, there are numerous unofficial editions on the market. The third edition, published in 1893, is still marketed in paperback by more than one publisher as the "original" Robert's Rules. With the copyright expired, even the name "Robert's" has passed into the public domain, and many imitators have slapped the name "Robert's" on books of parliamentary procedure that bear minimal relation to General Robert's work (much as many dictionaries claim the name "Webster's" without any connection to Noah Webster or the Merriam-Webster brand that carries on his work). This book is the real Robert's, composed by an editorial board appointed by General Robert's heirs (including his descendants Sarah and Henry III, both eminent parliamentarians). Now in its tenth edition, published in 2000, this book "supersedes all previous editions and is intended automatically become the parliamentary authority in organizations whose bylaws prescribe 'Robert's Rules of Order' . . . or the like, without specifying a particular edition."

Robert's is not necessarily the best parliamentary manual on the market: "Modern Parliamentary Procedure" by Ray Keesey is far more logical and user-friendly, and "The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure" by Alice Sturgis (commissioned by the American Institute of Parliamentarians as a contemporary alternative to Robert's) is more readable and more rooted in modern practice. But no other book has gained as much as a toehold in Robert's dominance in the market. If you are interested in parliamentary procedure, or figuring out how most organizations work in the twenty-first-century United States, this Robert's is indispensable.

Question: Which edition of Robert's Rules is official? Aren't they all the same? Which one do professional parliamentarians refer to? Answer: The National Association of Parliamentarians, and the American Institute of Parliamentarians, only recognize one book as the current official parliamentary authority: Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised [1990 edition, Scott, Foresman] Everything else is old, or a variation. The bible of parliamentary law, it is this edition that your bylaws probably mentions, not the 1876 original text, like some publishers are selling. Be forewarned, it is literally a book of rules, and not easily absorbed. -- You may have to learn what's practical for your average meeting by a simpler beginners book. If you want simple, go elsewhere; if you want complete, this is it. No other book is ADDING things to Henry M. Robert's original classifications & rankings (it's 700+ pages!), only shortening & simplifying & rephrasing.

While there certainly are other options to understanding parliamentary procedure, "Robert's Rules of Order (Newly Revised, 10th Edition)" is a traditional key to knowing the ways things are done.

True, true... this isn't exactly the sort of book you bring to a coffeehouse on a Saturday. However, it is also true that if you are part of an organization that has organized meetings, 'Robert's Rules' is a great place to start. The liturgy of meeting procedure starts and finishes with the rules set forth in 'Robert's Rules.'

Get this book, but consider getting one of the plain English versions as well. If you are new to parliamentary procedure, you'll find both books in tandem quite helpful.

I fully recommend, "Robert's Rules of Order (Newly Revised, 10th Edition)" by Henry M. Robert III.

Anthony Trendl

Sarah Bishop
By: Scott O'Dell
Reviewed by: C.Li
Period: P.6

Sarah Bishop is a 15-year-old girl who struggled through many troubles during the American Independence war. Her father was killed and her brother joined the patriot and was captured in a prison ship and died. Sarah was left alone to make a living by herself, and the author portrayed her as an independent, determined, and tough young girl. Because of the death of her farther and brother, she built up a hatred to the British and never trusted anyone she met. She was convicted for starting a fire but she was innocent. She was given a musket by a ferry man and escaped from prison and started to live in a cave near Long Pond. With this musket Sarah was able to hunt and live independently in the wilderness.
I liked the detailed and realistic writing of this book. The author expressed the difficulties Sarah faced in very specific details. With the complex and descriptive sentences, the book was extremely thrilling. For instance, "It was a bright day, with the sun glinting on the trees."
However, there were some sections I disliked. When Sarah survived in the wilderness, the author didn't entirely describe how she survived every season. "Snow fell early in December, as John Longknife had predicted, and lasted for three days." Although the author did not describe in detail about the outcome of the trial, the story ending suggests that Sarah was set free. "Above the trees, down in the valley, I watched the lamps in Ridgeford village go on."
I found this novel very appealing, especially when Sarah runs away from the British soldiers. This section is my favorite part of the book because the descriptions are so real and make the readers feel that they are actually involved in the story. Overall, this book is a fantastic historical fiction.

Sarah Bishop is a story about a 15-year-old girl named Sarah Bishop, who lives during the American Revolutionary War. Sarah's father is a loyal Patriot who reveres King George by framing his picture above his bed. It is for this reason that the rebels tar and feather him. Sarah's father soon dies. Sarah has no one to sympathize for her, so she leaves her hometown to live on her own. She establishes a home of her own within a cave. During the story's climax, Sarah is wrongfully accused of practicing witchcraft. Overall, Sarah Bishop is an interesting and accurate rendition of the revolutionary war era. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy historical fiction.

Sara Bishop, a girl who lived during the Reveloutionary War who had life rough after her father, a Tory, was killed being tarred and feathered. Her brother on the other hand, joined the patriots. He was captured and soon died on a prison ship. After being accused of something she didn't even do, Sarah escapes from the British and travels from town to town, tavern to tavern, and torubles to troubles. She finds a cave in the middle of the woods, by a great lake. She runs into people she likes, people she wishes she'd never see again, and more troubles that are life threatening. If I had to read this book again I would for sure.