#speech and debate training program for kids

[missglittersmiles]

Noble To The Core

Descendants × Fem! Reader

Summary: y/n didn't fit the mold that was given to her as a villain kid. She liked bright colors, cute things, and was hopeless romantic. Though the worst thing was that she was hopeful. The isle squashed anything hopeful and good, yet it didn't squash y/n. It was very close to until hope came to her in the form of a letter. She would be one of the lucky 5 to leave the horrid isle.

•| ⊱ Prologue ⊰ |•

The Eviction of Vices was a campaign against depraved individuals who were labeled villains. It was the King of Auradon who had convinced the other kingdoms to put their past discretions aside to focus on the real problem. His passionate speeches ignited a fire. He spearheaded the campaign and is very proud of being able to instigate a better tomorrow.

It's been almost two decades since then. The world isn't a peaceful paradise by any means, but compared to what it was like before the Eviction of Vices it might as well be. This was an age of contentment and healing.

So it was ironic that Ben, Prince of Auradon, wanted to give the villains' next kin a chance to be free. The king would be very against the idea naturally. How could he, with a sound mind, let juveniles that are no doubt influenced by their parents prowl the land? Who says that they won't act on the villainess behavior that was ingrained into them?

Ben wouldn't give up even after his father's vocal denial. He couldn't let the children of villains be denied opportunities for a better life and everyone knows the island isn't a thriving place to be. It was not only unfair but cruel to have the children pay for the sins of their parents.

Surprisingly or maybe not, Ben's mother was very supportive of the idea. And very proud that her son was displaying such empathy for those who might not receive any. It was a trait most forgot about when thinking of a good leader.

They'd work together on how the program would look and what would be the most beneficial approach. His mother organized most of not everything while Ben looked into the residents of the Isle. In his mind, he believed that going big or going home would be the best way to show that this wasn't just an ignorant dream. That someone from the island can live alongside others. That evil isn't born from nothing.

He needed to invite ones that are associated with the most notorious villains.

When he handed the files of who he believed to be the best candidates to his mother, she raised an eyebrow. She thought that he'd pick out some tamer people. Not Maleficent's daughter or the son of Jafar. Not only was this controversial, any topic of taking or putting someone on the island was taboo, but taking out people who are associated with highly known villains would lead to trouble. The other kingdoms would be outraged and victims of the villains would be offended. It just wasn't a good idea.

Yet Ben wouldn't compromise. The controversy was going to bring more eyes to the idea of reforming the people of the island. It would cost a lot, but this was worth it. Giving others a chance was worth it.

Long-winded discussions that turned into debates would go on for months between the family. Until one day the king yielded. Five invitations would be handed out.

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Name: y/n, m/n, Vainira

Sex: F Age: 16

Eyes: [eye color] Hair: [hair color]

Skin: [skin tone]

Family: She is the middle child and only daughter of Codrin the 3rd and Penelope. The oldest's name is Nikola and the youngest's name is Kronid.

°˖✧ BONUS INFO ✧˖°

❥Has a natural talent for fencing. It's debatable if she inherited it from her dad or because her Ex trained her a little.

❥Since she's not very villain-like, she's not very popular amongst her peers. She has various nicknames regarding her "goodness".

❥She is an artist. As in she doesn't like being called an artist. Peers see her falling into the stereotype of being eccentric and being too sensitive.

Love Interests and their relationship with y/n before the story…

『　Carlos　』

They've always been good friends. Maybe not bound to each other by the hip, but they were close enough for most to mislabel them as a couple until she started dating Hook. Wasn't as upset by her being with one of Uma's lackeys just that she started orbiting Hook. They're just close friends who like to hold each other's hands, that's all.

『　Evie　』

They talked and hung out before, but not that close. Though whenever y/n complained about not knowing what to draw, Evie always offered to be her muse. Every time y/n declined the offer Evie rolled her eyes while saying something snarky. She'd never admit that it hurts when y/n rejects her as a model.

『　Harry　』

They were such a cute couple. Both of their families approve of their relationship to an extent, but he puts Uma and her group above their relationship. They'd never fought before, but he believed that she needed to cool off and she'd come crawling back sooner or later. Imagine his surprise when he learns she was one of the kids invited to go to Auradon and that she actually went.

『　Mal　』

She doesn't like y/n that much and ignores her. There was something about her attitude or rather lack thereof one that Mal hated. Not only that she mingled with Shrimpy's gang and even dated the lackeys. Gross. Even after she stopped hanging out with them, Mal still doesn't like her. y/n was more of Carlos' friend and everyone's doormat anyways.

『　???　』

They haven't met yet.

『　¿¿¿　』

They haven't met yet.

Noble To The Core Masterlist

I might add more to the love interests. Have thought of adding Ben/Audrey/Uma, though I'm not sure. If anyone asks for them to be added or any other charters, I'll consider it. I haven't watched the movies since it first came out, so I'm going off memory. Though just writing scene to scene with some varying differences is boring.

There will be OC as love Interests.

Before reading the next chapter I'd like to mention that there will be mature language and violence.

#disney descendants x reader #descendants #disney descendants #descendants x reader #x reader #noble to the core #x female reader

[a-god-in-ruins-rises]

Once you become president and/or military dictator, what are your policy plans for cultural revival?

i have this dream of creating a federal agency whose acronym would be OPUS. idk what it stands for yet (i have a few ideas written down somewhere but i can't find them -- i need to organize my notes) but essentially it doubles as a jobs program AND a cultural affairs agency (and possibly a civil defense program but that's another story).

but this agency, inspired by fdr's works progress administration, would seek the train, educate, and employ the citizenry for a wide variety of jobs and this will include /cultural/ jobs too; writers, artists, musicians, poets, actors, museum curators, cultural scholars, historians, conservationists, etc.

and this agency, in collaboration with other agencies, would basically be in charge of overseeing all things culture (both its heritage and its continuing development): constructing, funding, organizing, maintaining libraries, museums, cultural festivals, civil-religious "shrines" and monuments, education curriculum, revolutionary/civil war reenactments, movies/books/tv shows/music/live performances (and censoring media in general), theme parks, incentivizing/mandating ornamentation and beautification of certain buildings and communities, huge political rallies and military parades, etc.

the list goes on but you get the idea. just to elaborate on a few of the things i mentioned above; cultural festivals. i want these to be way more common. i want festivals all the time. at the local, state, and federal level. i want them to celebrate local culture, state culture, national culture, ancestral culture, etc. people parading, live music, street performances, food, wearing traditional costumes, dancing, drinking, games, competitions (literary, musical, athletic, etc. hell, i think even having live debates as a form of cultural expression could be fun.), civil/religious leaders giving impassioned speeches, etc.

or the theme parks. ever since i was a kid i've always dreamed of having a disneyland-level theme park about america history and culture. i think it would honestly go so hard. i mean even disneyland has glimpses of what such a park could be like. just imagine it. a "colonial land" where you can see how the pilgrims and natives lived. a "pirate land" where they have naval warfare reenactments and rides like pirates of the caribbean. a "revolutionary war" land. "lewis and clark land." "yankee land" and "dixie land" and other lands to show off different regions' historical cultures. "civil war land." "america in the tropics land" to celebrate america's interventions in south america and asia and to celebrate asian american and latin american cultures. "wild west land." "westeward expansion/great plains land." "gold rush land" or "the gilded age" land. "roaring 20s" land. or a land similar to the aesthetics of "columbia" from bioshock: infinite. i have so many ideas for rides and attractions and themes. i just think it would be really exciting. you're wrong if you think otherwise.

[talentclubaustralia0282]

The Power of Public Speaking in Kids with Talent Club Australia

                               

Hey there, kids! Have you ever questioned why it's important to be able to speak confidently in front of others? Well, let's find out together! Talent Club Australia is here to help you discover the magic of communication through our fun and exciting classes.

In this world, talking to others is super important for doing well. And when you talk in front of a group, it can make you really successful. At Talent Club Australia, we help kids become great speakers. We believe in making kids feel strong and giving them what they need to do well in front of a crowd. Our way of teaching public speaking isn't just about saying words. We focus on helping kids feel confident, creative, and curious.

Imagine being able to stand up in front of your friends, family, or even a big crowd, and speak with confidence. That's what public speaking is all about! It's like being a superhero with the power to share your ideas and stories with the world.

At Talent Club Australia, we understand how important it is for kids like you to develop strong public speaking skills. That's why we offer our innovative "Speaks Craft" classes, where you can learn not just public speaking, but also creative writing, debating, and drama.

So, why is public speaking training is so important for kids like you? Well, let's explore some reasons together:

1. Building Confidence: Lots of kids get scared when they have to speak in public. But at Talent Club Australia, we see this as a chance for kids to grow. We have special programs that help kids turn their fears into strengths. We teach them how to talk with confidence and grace in any situation. With our help, kids learn to be themselves and catch the attention of everyone listening.

When you learn how to speak in public, you become more confident in yourself. You start to believe in your ideas and abilities, which helps you succeed in many areas of life.

2. Expressing Yourself: Public speaking allows you to express your thoughts, feelings, and opinions in a clear and confident manner. It's like having your own superpower for communication!

3. Making Friends: When you can speak confidently, you become more approachable and likable to others. You'll find it easier to make friends and connect with people from all walks of life.

4. Achieving Goals: Whether it's giving a presentation in school or speaking up for what you believe in, public speaking skills can help you achieve your goals and dreams.

5. Increasing Creativity: In today's fast world, it's important to keep people interested when you talk. That's why we tell kids to think outside the box and make their speeches fun and original. Our workshops focus on teaching kids how to tell stories that are exciting and funny. We show them how to use their imagination to make their stories stick in people's minds.

Now, you might be wondering how you can develop these super cool skills. Well, that's where Talent Club Australia comes in! Our "Speaks Craft" classes are designed to be fun and engaging, so you'll have a blast while learning.

Plus, our classes are not just for during the school term. We also offer holiday programs where you can brush up on your speaking skills while having a blast during your school breaks. You can join us in person at our Sydney location or even take our classes online from the comfort of your own home!

In today's competitive world, being able to talk well is more important than ever. That's why we give kids the tools they need to succeed not only in public speaking but in everything they do. From interviews to presentations, our programs help kids speak confidently, think carefully, and do well in any situation. With Talent Club Australia by their side, kids can step onto any stage feeling sure of themselves and ready to shine.

So, what are you waiting for? Join Talent Club Australia today and unlock the power of speaking with confidence. With our fun and innovative classes, you'll be rising to new heights in no time!

#public speaking #debating #drama #creative writing #holiday workshop #online classes

[ghost-party]

It’s important that all new hires attend training. Meet your coworkers, learn the ins and outs of camp life, and participate in valuable team-building activities. At the end of training, you can choose who you’ll work alongside this summer.

This post details your first week at Camp Paradis, including your initial interactions with your fellow counselors and support staff members. 😁

Warnings: swearing, Ymir jokingly threatens arson, mention of hazing, Porco terrorizes the youths, a big bowl of condoms, Miche’s abs

⬅️ Back to Camp Paradis

GIRLS’ CABIN

When you arrive for staff training and walk into the cabin you’ll be sharing with the other female counselors, you’re not exactly sure what to expect. But your worries are eased when you’re enthusiastically welcomed, and you quickly find yourself warming up to everyone.

Sasha Braus is energetic and quick to laugh, and she seems to have an endless supply of snacks and candy in her duffel bag. (She swears you to secrecy, eyes wide and mouth full of potato chips.) Junk food is one of her biggest weaknesses, but her dream is to become a chef at a high-end restaurant and impress her whole family with her renowned culinary skills. Mikasa Ackerman is quiet but kind, and she wears her camp name tag and keys on a bright red lanyard that hangs around her neck. She asks where you’re from and what your major is, and you find that she’s a very attentive listener. She tells you that her two best friends, Eren and Armin, are counselors here, too. Sasha interjects and informs you that her cousin is the archery and high ropes instructor, and Mikasa merely sighs and clarifies, “My second cousin...”

Annie Leonhart is also quiet, and from what you can tell, she mostly keeps to herself, nose stuck in a book. But when Sasha reveals that she’s the current reigning tetherball champion, and that she nearly broke one of the boys’ noses earlier this morning, she smiles and tucks her blonde bangs behind her ear. You learn that she teaches self-defense classes at the local rec center and volunteers at the animal shelter every other weekend. The blanket on top of her sleeping bag is patterned with tiny goldfish, and she wears a silver ring on her right hand — a gift from her father, who’s often out of town for work.

Historia Reiss and Ymir Lenz are, at first glance, nothing but contrasts. While Historia’s plastic storage drawers are full of pastel t-shirts and pressed khaki shorts, Ymir’s suitcase is spilling over with dark clothes and ripped denim. The petite blonde has fairy lights strung up around her bottom bunk, and the freckled brunette’s bed is barely made — a red sleeping bag thrown on top of the bare twin mattress. But Historia is quick to show off the lovely engagement ring on her finger and introduce her fiancée, Ymir’s arms easily sliding around her shoulders in a casually possessive gesture.

After you’ve unpacked, the Head of Girls, Petra Ral, pokes her head in and asks if there’s anything you need. She’s cheerful and upbeat, with a wide smile and glossy auburn hair. But when a young man with an undercut and a cocky grin saunters past on the path outside, teasing her with some inside joke you don’t understand, her eyes narrow and she leans halfway off the porch, calling after him, “Fuck off, Galliard!”

This only elicits a chorus of faux-offended shouts from the boys’ cabin, including, “My innocence has been ruined!” and, “These girls and their foul language! FOR SHAME.” Ymir casually suggests that you all steal their clothes in the dead of night and light their cabin on fire. When she’s met with awkward silence, she shrugs and says, “I’m kidding... Obviously.”

BOYS’ CABIN

When you visit the boys’ cabin later in the afternoon, encouraged by Petra to introduce yourself since you’re a first-year counselor, you’re met with seven curious stares. The first to speak up and say hello is a blond boy named Armin Arlert. He’s unfailingly polite, has a youthful face, and is very well-spoken. It’s unsurprising to learn that he’s the president of the speech and debate club at Eldia University. He elbows his bunkmate, Eren Jaeger, who’s listening to music, his hands busy trying to tie back his long brown hair. He gives you a crooked smile, says hey, and looks back down at his phone. Armin sighs apologetically.

In the next bunk over, you meet Jean Kirschstein and Connie Springer, who have known each other since they were 10-year-old campers. Jean lounges on the top bunk, so tall that his feet dangle off the edge. His handsome face splits into a grin as he asks how old you are and where you go to school. Connie, who’s still unpacking, throws a flip-flop at his face and tells him to “pack it up, Casanova.” This leads to a brief but intense trading of insults, during which you learn that kids used to call Jean “Horse Face,” and up until he was 12, Connie sleepwalked around camp, occasionally ending up pantsless in the dining hall, mumbling incoherently about birthday cake.

Bertholdt Hoover is even taller than Jean, but you don’t realize it until he stands and offers to shake your hand. He’s friendly but shy, and he stammers over his words as he tells you he’s a student at Marley Private College. It’s his best friend and bunkmate, Reiner Braun, who reveals that they’re both English majors, and that Bertholdt runs the campus literary journal. The taller boy turns pink and shoots Reiner a bewildered look before busying himself with a pile of clothes. Reiner is built like an athlete, with muscles that strain the sleeves of his old high school football t-shirt. But you notice that he’s writing in a spiral-bound notebook, short lines that look an awful lot like poetry.

You caught a glimpse of Porco Galliard earlier, as he teased Petra. Up close, he’s even better looking, like some magazine model — or at least an Abercrombie employee. He reclines on a flannel-patterned beanbag chair under the window and asks how your first day is going, his eyes not-so-subtlely looking you up and down. He tells you about tonight’s campfire and assures you that no one believes in hazing here at Camp Paradis. “We’re above that bullshit.”

But despite this, in the early hours of the morning, you hear the newbie counselors next door — Armin, Bertholdt, and Reiner — running around their cabin, Porco chasing after them with a blaring bullhorn. Ymir peers out the window, cackles, and reports that they’ve all been forced to strip down to their boxers. Your cheeks heat up and you resist the urge to tiptoe to the window to sneak a peek.

DAY CAMP & RESIDENT CAMP

On your first official day of training, you meet Erwin Smith and Zeke Jaeger. They’re both tall and blond, accomplished graduate students at local universities, and former championship-winning athletes — soccer and baseball, respectively. But while Erwin is warm and charismatic, with a charming (some might say panty-dropping) smile, Zeke seems more detached, with a sarcastic sense of humor and a more flexible approach to the rules.

They explain that counselors will typically be assigned to day camp or resident camp groups depending on how many registrants there are in a given week. But all counselors will stay in cabins with resident campers, to keep an eye on them and offer guidance and support. The only exceptions are those who volunteer to be their aides. Those select counselors will instead bunk in either Erwin or Zeke’s dual-occupancy cabin, in the empty room opposite theirs.

After being given the rundown of each program, you’re split into two groups for icebreaker activities with each director, giving them an opportunity to get to know their staff. Erwin sets up a hoop relay, during which you end up holding his large, calloused hand and laughing as he attempts to work the neon blue hula hoop up and over his shoulders. Afterwards, your group participates in a memory circle, reciting and memorizing each other’s favorite subjects, ice cream flavors, animals, and places you want to travel. Without you really noticing, Erwin’s answers — history, butter pecan, dogs (more specifically, golden retrievers), and Australia — stay with you, even after the game is over.

When your groups switch and you join Zeke on the other side of the wide open field, you end up doing trust falls, one of the most dreaded get-to-know-you activities. Before you know it, you find yourself with your arms crossed tightly over your chest, tipping backwards, losing more and more of your balance, until he catches you in his strong arms. He grins down at you, wire-rimmed glasses glinting in the morning sunlight, before he gently lifts you into a standing position.

You then sit in a circle and play a simple game of two truths and a lie. Zeke never fails to guess someone’s lie, and you’re struck by how perceptive he is, despite the impression he gives that he doesn’t really care. Everyone else is less fortunate, stumbling through guesses like they’re walking in the dark, while he observes with a knowing smirk. The lunch bell rings before anyone — his half-brother, Eren, included  — can correctly guess his own lie. You have your own guess. But it will have to wait for another time.

WATERFRONT

You and the other counselors sit on the grassy hill overlooking the waterfront while Miche Zacharias — who’s somehow even taller than Bertholdt and always seems to be without a shirt — instructs you on swim time procedures and safety protocols. He mostly reads from the camp handbook, occasionally regaling you with a cautionary tale. Some of them sound too wild and crazy to be true, but his expression remains so serious, you’re not sure what to believe.

You’re called down in groups of four to take your swim tests, after which Miche determines whether you’re qualified to be a lifeguard or better off monitoring the shallow end. When it’s their turn, Jean dares Connie to do a cannonball right next to the waterfront director, which he does with zero hesitation. This directly contributes to them being stuck on buddy board duty for the foreseeable future, sitting around and checking campers in and out of the swim area, despite the fact that they’re both skilled enough to be lifeguards. Sasha laughs so hard at their disappointed faces that she nearly falls back into the lake, while the fourth member of their group, Armin, tries to give them some words of encouragement.

After each test, Miche hands out plastic wristbands with designated colors — red for lifeguards and blue for monitors — and makes all of you line up so that he can mark your board tag, a cheap plastic keychain, with your name and designation. When it’s your turn, you try to keep your eyes on his face. You really do. But it’s hard when you have to crane your neck to do so, whereas his perfect abs are right there in front of you. His pale green eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles down at you with clear amusement, placing your tag on an empty nail and dismissing you back to your cabin.

HEALTH LODGE

The camp medic, Pieck Finger, leads everyone through CPR and first aid training at the health lodge. The large building contains a room full of sterile-looking cots, a kitchen, a private bathroom, and Pieck’s bedroom. The basement, accessible through a separate back door, serves as a lounge for the counselors. There, they can do laundry, play foosball or darts (or try to revive the broken pinball machine), relax on the threadbare, thrift store sofa, or attempt to check their email on the circa early-2000s PC in the corner.

You practice your CPR skills in pairs on faceless plastic dummies. Your partner, Bertholdt, seems reluctant to push too hard on its chest, and Pieck gently reminds him that he has to push hard in order for it to actually work. He glances up at you, cheeks reddening when you give him a reassuring smile and tell him he’s doing a great job.

Connie takes several ridiculous Snaps with his dummy, whom he’s affectionately named Archibald. (”Look! He’s bald. Get it?”) Historia patiently sits across from him, her French braids neat and tidy, and Ymir glares daggers at Connie from across the room, where Armin is trying to refocus her attention — and keep her from inadvertently popping the head off their dummy.

Sasha keeps darting looks into the kitchen, convinced that Pieck must have a secret snack stash. The focal point of her envy is the full-sized refrigerator. She’s practically salivating at the prospect of what might be hidden inside, away from prying eyes. Meanwhile, Reiner does most of the work on their dummy, his strong arms easily pumping down on its stiff chest. Beside them, Mikasa patiently guides Eren through each step — sometimes two or three times — and Jean watches, wide-eyed, as Annie flawlessly performs every step, as if she’s been doing it for years.

First aid training is similarly chaotic, but Pieck takes it all in stride, her airy, pleasant voice somehow managing to cut through the noise and laughter. She then walks the group through various health-related scenarios — bed-wetting, allergic reactions, ticks, bee stings, dehydration... When she ends the conversation by telling everyone there’s a punch bowl full of condoms under the bathroom sink, hidden behind the extra toilet paper, “just in case,” reactions range from snickering to furious blushing to a surprised fit of coughing. She simply smiles and shoos you all outside, determined to squeeze in an afternoon nap.

ARCHERY & HIGH ROPES

When you and the other counselors notice that an entire day of your training schedule has been set aside for archery and high ropes, there’s initial excitement. But it quickly devolves into trepidation when you meet your instructor, Levi Ackerman. He’s on the shorter side, with slate gray eyes that seem to pierce straight through you. And when he looks away after you introduce yourself, saying nothing at all, you’re convinced that he already hates you.

As each of you spends the morning learning how to string a bow, shoot an arrow, and set up and tear down the archery range for group sessions, Levi is quick to call out mistakes. He sighs heavily when Eren’s aim is off. He makes a face when Sasha struggles to pull the loop of her bowstring over the notch, her arms trembling. And he swears under his breath when Armin can’t find one of his arrows.

But there’s a peculiar patience to him, as well. Gruffness aside, he gives fair critiques that are easy to understand and seems to genuinely care about everyone’s safety and wellbeing. When he notices that your bow is angled too low, you prepare yourself for a sarcastic remark or an exasperated huff. Instead, he places gentle yet firm hands on your arms and guides them into position, his chest nearly pressed against your back. He tells you when to loose your arrow and just barely smiles when he sees how excited you are to have hit the bullseye.

The high ropes course, however, is a much bigger challenge. Everyone spends the afternoon tightening and fastening harnesses, tying both simple and complex knots, learning terms like “belay” and “pitch,” and overcoming any fear of heights they might have — or at least trying to. But Levi doesn’t force anyone to climb to the top of the wooden tower. He tells you all to take it at your own pace, and that the fundamentals are what’s most important. Later in the summer, he’ll lead small training sessions on the zipline. Until then, it’s basic climbing and rappelling.

Most of the counselors take to it quickly, seeming at home off the ground. Others struggle to keep their balance or shake off their nerves enough to make it even halfway up the tower. You can’t help but be impressed by Levi’s skills, both as he belays and as he climbs. He’s much stronger than he looks, easily belaying for larger men like Reiner and Jean. And when he climbs, there’s a fluid grace to his movements that leaves you staring — perhaps a little too long, as he catches you once or twice, brows furrowing.

ARTS AND CRAFTS

After an intense day spent at the archery range and the high ropes course, everyone is eager for a more relaxed morning in the arts and crafts room. Set up in the basement of the lakeside lodge, it’s stocked with the typical colorful paints, all kinds of paper, markers, crayons, and colored pencils, friendship bracelet and lanyard-making supplies, and plastic containers of glitter, beads, and kids’ scissors. There are also tubs of clay, perler beads, stencils, and an old iron, flower pressing kits, and three wax-caked slow cookers used for dipping candles.

Moblit Berner, a friendly young man with a gentle smile, gives you a quick tour of the space and then encourages each of you to find something creative to try. Historia convinces Ymir to sit outside with her and paint landscapes of the lake, though Ymir spends the majority of her time gazing lovingly at her fiancée. Sasha and Mikasa make friendship bracelets while Annie watches, looping plastic lacing cords through intricate patterns to make what Moblit calls a “boondoggle keychain.” 

You’re surprised when Reiner joins you at the flower pressing station, a handful of small purple blossoms held carefully in his hand. Bertholdt sits across the table, moving on from die cutting to dropping tiny perler beads onto a plastic pegboard in the shape of a dolphin. Eren and Jean are having a competition to see who can sculpt the best clay animal. (Jean’s cat is a little more detailed with its tabby stripes. But Eren perks up when Mikasa compliments his monkey.) And Armin is desperately trying to keep Connie from burning himself as he dips multiple wicks into the now-hot slow cookers full of bubbling wax. When he fails and Connie lets out a surprised yelp, Moblit nearly has a heart attack.

NATURE CENTER & GREENHOUSE

The nature center and its attached greenhouse are set back in the woods, just off the main trail and not far from the waterfront. The small, wooden building that looks like a leftover from the 1970s functions as a classroom, with laminated posters, hordes of dioramas, shelves overflowing with books for all age groups, and tables laden with bundles of plants, tiny rodent skulls, field guides to mushrooms and edible plants, and discarded bird feathers that have been carefully cleaned.

You’re greeted by a very excited Hange Zoë, who takes you on a whirlwind tour of the facility while holding the center’s two resident rabbits, Sawney and Bean. They live in a spacious hutch outside that Hange built, with Moblit’s assistance. But Hange admits they have grown attached to the little furballs, sometimes letting them ride in the basket of the bicycle they ride across camp every day.

In the greenhouse, Hange shows your group how to differentiate between certain plants, what to look for when checking an area for poison ivy, and which plants have medicinal properties. They wave their hands wildly as they talk, the two rabbits tucked safely inside the wide pockets of their dirt-stained gardening apron. You notice a few stray smudges of dirt on Hange’s face as they crouch on the ground, beaming at your mention of aloe vera. “An evergreen perennial!” they happily shout, startling everyone.

EQUESTRIAN CENTER

The first thing you learn at your equestrian training session is that riding a horse is harder than it looks. You and your fellow counselors sit on rows of sun-heated metal bleachers set up next to an outdoor arena, where the director of the facility, Nile Dok, shows you how to properly tack a horse, mount and dismount, use the reins, and tack up. His staff members handle grooming the mounts and cleaning their stalls. But he emphasizes the importance of keeping a careful eye on your campers, ensuring that they don’t inadvertently endanger themselves.

He takes volunteers and brings them inside the fence, where they can choose a horse and practice the skills he just demonstrated, as well as learn how to trot and canter. You end up with a mount that’s a little taller than you would have preferred, and when Nile sees you struggling to swing up and into the saddle, he steps in and assists. His hands are warm and rough, and the harsh angles of his face seem to soften when he smiles. The moment is fleeting, however, as he notices Jean struggling to untangle his reins and jogs over to help.

By the end of the session, you’ve grown much closer to your horse — a somewhat mischievous spotted mare named Circe. After you’ve dismounted, Nile offers you an apple, which your steed promptly snatches from your hand, long tongue tickling your palm. When you ask Nile if her namesake is the enchantress from Homer’s Odyssey, you’re surprised when he blushes and nods, admitting that he’s always liked Greek mythology. As you’re leaving, he tells you that you’re welcome to stop by anytime, preferably with an apple of your own.

#camp paradis 🌤🏕 #attack on titan #aot #attack on titan x reader #aot x reader #sasha braus #mikasa ackerman #annie leonhart #historia reiss #ymir #petra ral #armin arlert #eren jaeger #jean kirschstein #jean kirstein #connie springer #bertholdt hoover #bertolt hoover #reiner braun #porco galliard #erwin smith #zeke jaeger #miche zacharias #mike zacharias #pieck finger #levi ackerman #moblit berner #hange zoe #nile dok

[uncloseted]

What are your thoughts on critical race theory and how it's being taught or should be taught in schools? Everyone seems to have a different idea of what is being taught and it's hard to keep up. I've heard extreme stories about certain schools but I've also heard that those are mostly people on the right exaggerating. Thank you for answering these political questions and giving such well thought out responses!

Okay so... there's a lot to unpack within the discussion of "critical race theory". I'm going to give a primer of what it is, how it is (and isn't) being used in schools, what the controversy is, and then I'll give my opinions at the end.

What is Critical Race Theory?

"Critical Race Theory" is a previously obscure academic concept. It's an approach to studying US policies and institutions and is typically taught in higher-education institutions like law schools or schools of social work. It's been in use since the 70s, when law professors began considering how racism shapes American law. Basically, Critical Race Theory states that intentional and unintentional racial bias are baked into the way our institutions and legal system functions. CRT is a way of examining how "racism is sustained more through law, policy and practices than through individual bias and discrimination," in the words of Boston University law professor Jasmine Gonzales Rose. It's focused on shifting our attention away from individual people's bad actions (what we commonly think of as being "racism") to instead center how systems uphold racial disparities.

Where did the Controversy about Critical Race Theory Come From?

After the murder of George Floyd last year and the resulting Black Lives Matter protests, these same topics were introduced to public consciousness. Is our police system racist? Are people of color disproportionately likely to be arrested and imprisoned for crimes, even though white people commit crimes at the same rate? (The answer to these questions is yes, just so we're clear). Are there ways in which racial bias is baked into our legal system? There were a lot of people around that time who became aware that our systems are discriminatory, and, as with everything, a lot of people who pushed back against anything actually changing.

Here's where the whole thing gets a bit convoluted. The debate over "critical race theory" can be traced to just one person- Christopher Rufo, a fellow at a conservative think tank. On September 2nd of 2020, Rufo appeared on Fox News's show, "Tucker Carlson Tonight". On the show, Rufo claimed that "critical race theory" had "pervaded every institution in the federal government" and called on President Trump to ban "critical race theory" in federal workforce trainings. It's somewhat unclear why he thought this to begin with. In that same conversation, Rufo deemed "critical race theory" "divisive, un-American propaganda". From there, this idea that "critical race theory" (used as "a catchall phrase for any examination of systemic racism" or even as a catchall phrase to denote anything advocating for social change, as opposed to the principles of Critical Race Theory that are actually used in educational institutions) is infiltrating our government took off on Twitter.

By September 17th of 2020, Trump was denouncing "critical race theory" and had created the 1776 Commission to "promote patriotic education". The 1776 Commission was in direct opposition to the 1619 Project, a Pulitzer Prize winning, long-form journalism project developed for The New York Times, which aims to explore American history through African-American perspectives. The 1619 Project was being used as a tool in public school curricula to help students understand the impact of slavery on modern society. It's important to note here that at no point was Critical Race Theory being taught in schools except at the university level, and that the 1619 Project is not based in Critical Race Theory. When discussing the 1776 Commission, Trump said, "we want our sons and daughters to know the truth. America is the greatest and most exceptional nation in the history of the world. Our country wasn't built by cancel culture, speech codes, and crushing conformity. We are not a nation of timid spirits."

To recap: Rufo introduces this concept of "critical race theory" to the conservative media on September 2nd. In his context, "critical race theory" has no real definition and has been divorced from actual Critical Race Theory. 15 days later, Trump adopts "critical race theory" as a major theme in his campaign, using the 1619 project to justify his claims that "critical race theory" is being taught to "our children" in schools, and he founds the 1776 Commission to provide an alternative narrative of American history. Conservative media outlets jump onto the "critical race theory" debate, but without a clear idea of what Critical Race Theory is (which is why it seems like there's a lot of different ideas about what it is and what's being taught) in an attempt to push for limits on teaching practices relating to racism.

In 2021, Joe Biden dissolved the 1776 Commission, but bills were introduced in Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas to "restrict teaching critical race theory in public schools". In some cases, these bills single out the 1619 Project in particular, even though it is not based in Critical Race Theory. Other bills have an even larger ban on programs that involve social justice in general.

I'm not familiar with any "extreme stories" about "critical race theory" being taught in K-12 schools, but if you want to send ones you come across my way, I'm happy to discuss the veracity of those claims.

As for my opinion, I think it's good that students are being introduced to the ways in which our country's history has impacted the way our country's systems are built, and it's good that they're being introduced to the ways in which those systems are discriminatory. 48% of Gen Z are POC. 50%(ish) of Gen Z is female. 15.9% of Gen Z is LGBT. We're becoming more diverse as a society, and so the ways in which people are discriminated against are more visible, even to kids. It's important that kids understand (in an age-appropriate way) what discrimination is, why it happens, and what they can do about it.

Kids who are POC or female or obviously gender-divergent don't get the luxury of being able to ignore discrimination. Black kids are aware of "critical race theory" (the way that society systemically discriminates against them) from the get-go. Nobody is arguing that we should be telling white six year olds that they're evil for being white or that their parents are evil for being white. They're saying that a white six year old will notice that they're being treated differently than their Black best friend, and they'll know that's unfair. It's better to respond to their questions about fairness with an acknowledgement that things aren't fair, but we can work to fix them, instead of insisting that there is no problem, and that we are the "Greatest and Most Exceptional Nation In The History of The World".

Our current educational system does a lot of whitewashing when it comes to US History. Just think back to any celebration you had of Columbus Day or Thanksgiving in school, where they make it seem like the colonists and Native Americans were friends. It's important that instead of whitewashing our history, we acknowledge that many people were, and still are, hurt by that history. It's important to center non-white voices in those curricula, because without them, the story we're telling isn't true. History classes should not be a stage for American nationalist propaganda, and yet that's what they become when we insist on only teaching about the "good" things we've done.

Do I think that the 1619 Project is the way to go about that goal? Not necessarily. There are legitimate criticisms that can and have been made about that project, and I agree with some of them. Likewise, I think actual Critical Race Theory is too advanced for your average K-12 student, and it's not the best framework for teaching these topics. There are educators much smarter than I am who can (and have) come up with age-appropriate curricula to talk about these topics. But it's important that we allow for and encourage discussion of those topics, and putting a blanket ban over anything social justice related isn't going to make that happen.

[r00en]

Still Good Chapter 4.

Small talk over dinner turned to a heavy topic as the great All Might gets a bit of perspective he's never seen before as he comes to terms with his feelings no matter what they might be. All Might finds out the price normal hero’s pay every day to make the world a brighter place...and he’s not sure he likes it. 

All Might x Reader (OC) 

Warning: Mentions of gore and blood. It only get’s worse from here folks! Oh...did you think this was gonna be a cute rom-com filled with sooches and wuv? NU! I make you WORK for that love! (Edited, added a line or two and fixed a bunch of mistakes that were glaring)

The lull of light dinner conversation mixed with the quiet muttering of the T.V behind them was soothing in a way. There was so few pauses that Toshi could let his mind focus on the topics at hand or things she pointed out on the program over his fluttering heart and twitching nerves. He wasn't so surprised that she was a decent cook. As bland as his food needed to be she picked a rather mild meat rub before cooking his chicken and even finished it off with a few minuets of baking to give it more of a texture over the rubbery feel it had when boiled. He had to admit it was a nice change of pace and tasted great. So much so that Toshi found himself hoping she would make it for him again. Bento boxes every day in a goofy All Might style bento with a little note from her would be the literal definition of heaven. He watched as she happily shoveled some meat in her mouth, catching the happy little hum of enjoyment she let out. A bit childish, not at all proper but Toshi wouldn't change her for the world. Her puffy cheeks filled with food and utterly thrilled expression over something so simple was adding to the atmosphere. Could he ask to stay the night? Make up some kind of excuse like his side hurt or it was too late for the trains. If he pretended to be in pain she might kiss his side again and his guts gave a thrilled twist as the image of her in the kitchen burst through the mental wall he was trying to keep it contained behind. 

"Sore wa hendesu!!"

The loud shout from the TV knocked him out of his day dreaming causing Toshi to fumble with his rice bowl for a second. He was caught by a dumb game show host. Shooting a glare in it's direction for good measure he gave a heavy sigh and started eating the end of his meal. "These shows are so weird, I still can't keep up with them. But the talk shows are nice it helps me get a bit more of a feel for professional conversation." The little nurse was covered up to her shoulders in the kotatsu blanket, looking happy and content as she wanted for him to finish his food. This sort of set up was strange to Toshi. Often when you would invite someone to dinner it was a bit more of a occasion, treating that person like a respected guest with constant conversation and offerings of snacks and drinks. This was so casual and seemed more like something married couples would do every night. Sit around and watch T.V and eat their cheap dinners only mildly chatting. No, this was far better. "Damn it Toshi stop thinking like that! This is a common dinner gathering with a friend! This is surely how they do it in the states. Stop getting your weird hopes up" 

His eye cast down to the end of his rice. He had eaten far more than he expected himself too given how nervous he felt. He hand't felt 'full' in a long time. If that was indeed what he was feeling. Full, happy and relaxed. That was until she stretched and stood up from her spot. Her work skirt getting caught from her odd position and holding just a bit too high up her milky thigh giving him a beautiful look of the creamy skin that was normally hidden from view. Blood dripped from between his teeth and he snapped his head away to sputter something she thankfully ignored this time around. 

"All done? I can start to clean up if you want to finish watching. You can tell me more about that kid you're training yeah? You said he knew about my work back in the states?" 

Toshi gave a sort nod, trying to stack his bowls carefully to make the work easier for her. "Yes, thank you! The food was wonderful! I had no idea you were not only a brilliant nurse and hero but you really can cook too." The flush that painted her cheeks was a wonderful reward for his mild complement and Toshi made it a point to do that more often. Constantly if possible. The way she wiggled on the spot and twisted some hair around her fingers, trying to look anywhere but at him with her flustered expression was quiet possibly the cutest thing he had ever seen! Oh he would do it again for sure. Next chance he got. 

She scuttled off quickly with a muttered thank you followed by a string of excuses and reasons why she was in fact NOT a good cook at all, facts Toshi ignored as he turned the TV down to listen to her as she set about cleaning their dishes. "So this kid, Midoriya was it?" 

"Oh yes right. Young Midoriya shows great promise. That young man is set to do great things..." His voice trailed off as he looked at his own clenched fist. So frail and skinny now it was so important to All Might to train that boy as quickly as possible. His time was limited and he was growing weaker day by day. The thought clawed at the back of his mind and forced a slight twitch in his jaw. Every day was one day less and soon he would have to live like this. A normal, weaker than average citizen who couldn't save people. Couldn't be the symbol he spent his whole life trying to be. Was this really all he had left in the coming days? Once Midoriya was ready and the torch was passed what would he even do with himself? A washed up old has-been hero who could hardly take care of himself. Hell he was here pressing the new nurse just because of a little pain in his side. Was this really what he had become? 

A small plastic object was thrust into his view causing Toshi to perk up and snap his head towards her and what ever she was wiggling in his face. That sweet smile greeting him as it always did, her hair let down now that all the work and dinner was done but she kept on that cute little apron and he felt his heart swell from gloom to joy. Was it her quirk? Could she radiate some type of joy through close contact? How quickly she was able to rip him out of his self loathing and into a peaceful quiet. "You can't have sweets normally right? I picked up these flavors honey sticks just in case." One small stick hung between her lips as she blinked down at him. "Non-processed should be better right?" 

He gave a soft nod and brushed his fingers against her's again as he took her offering. He thought he caught her little tremble at the contact but brushed it off as a chill from the sudden unexpected feeling of his colder boney fingers against her far warmer....far softer ones. She took the time to think about his needs and cater to them so diligently he was starting to feel like some unnecessary burden who selfishly pushed himself into her life, and for what? Just so he could get all warm and fuzzy seeing her smile? He must not have been hiding his own personal disdain well enough as that same soft hand he brushed seconds ago came down sharply on the top of his head. "H-hey! What-" "You keep getting this look on your face. I don't like it so cut it out." She was so blunt. That dead stare she gave telling him this was not up for debate. "A-ah...sorry I didn't notice I was making one. Didn't mean to upset you or-gah HEY!" Another swift chop and now his head was really starting to hurt. 

"A quit with the apologizing alright. We're friends arn't we? If something on your mind you should say it don't sit there and sulk. That's what friends do for each other." The sudden finger thrust in his face had him lean back and staring crossed at her hand. "Besides what good am I as not only your friend but the new up and coming nurse at the great UA high if I can't even mend the spirit and heart of a fellow employee! I'll be an absolute failure! I'll never be able to show my face to grandma again she'll scold me for sure!" Her speech was so dramatic and heartfelt Toshi couldn't stop the slight twitch of his lips that broke quickly out into a smile. Sitting forward he leaned on his elbows and let his head hang. "Cut right to the point don't you kid-" He chose to ignore the delighted look on her face at the return of his nickname but only just. "And you're pretty good at picking up on others emotions, that's a good quality to have in a school nurse. Better yet one at UA. Those kids are the future hero's, they carry a lot of weight on their young shoulders and I bet a lot of them will need all the emotional help they can get as well as physical. I have no doubt you'll be a great asset to the school from this point on." He had meant it to be some kind of compliment. Trying to match her emotional speed in this conversation but the look on her face now told him he fell short. She was scowling? 

After a few seconds of silence between them he moved and rubbed the back of his neck nervously "...I say something wrong? You don't-" "You're trying to deflect the conversation Toshinori...." Shit he was caught. She was far better than he gave her credit for. The sudden feel of her hand wrapped around his resting one caused him to jump and nearly fall back from the table. "Come on. Somethings bothering you. You're normally all kinds of jumpy and odd but ever since the kitchen you've been so quiet." Her eyes looked so worried but a different worried that Toshi was only ever used to seeing on her. Worry that went deeper than his scar and title. Worry for Toshinori Yagi on a personal level he hadn't felt in years. But he couldn't just open up to her like this, burden her with more than necessary or more than he already had. Almost instinctively he turned his hand so he could grip hers. Any other circumstance and his heart would be fighting it's way up his throat but he was being tactful here. A common sense misdirection. "It was something Young Midoriya said today. He knew you from your hero work back in the states. You went by Paladin back then right?" She seemed to relax a bit "He...mentioned the way you used to fight and I just can't get it out of my head. What kind of hero agency sends someone like you out on the front lines to be a punching bag for the rest of the fully capable hero's out there? Let you get hurt in their place....it didn't sit right and ever since Young Midoriya brought it up again it's been eating away at me. Knowing you were hurt so badly so often...." His hand squeezed her's tight, tighter than perhaps he should have given the small wince she gave in response but she didn't pull away. Only returned the pressure and placed her other hand over his. 

"But it's the exact same thing they did to you." Toshi's head snapped up. What could that possibly mean?! He was the worlds greatest hero, no one could touch him in his prime. He wasn't some striking dummy set out on the streets to take hits he was saving people. "That sounds dumb let me explain. Here in Japan the only reason things are the way they are now is because of you. Sure all the other heros take care of minor crimes that pop up from time to time but you are the whole reason this society works the way it does. You take punches every single day in all different sorts of ways to keep people safe and thriving. No one stops to ask if you're okay, no one gives you a break or time off. For the past twenty years you have been the symbol the world needed you to be....but you were just an object of hope to cling to. A punching back for the worlds problems day in and day out but you did it with a smile. You never asked for anything in return and used your powers to help everyone else around you regardless of the sacrifices you had to make to do it." His side twitched slightly, as if affirming her words. "And you wanted to do it. Use that power in any way you could. Even now the only thing your mind is screaming is for you to help me, even if I don't really need saving. You view it as in injustice that you need to right. Our views on it may be different but I wanted to us my power to help people just like you. Every single use of it needed to go to that cause because otherwise what good is it to just let it sit there and do nothing? If I'm not helping someone with my quirk, even if that help is buying time for the right hero to do the job then what point is there to having it at all? Besides the best look on a villains face is the one they get when their punches just don't work! 

Toshi...I need you to understand how normal heros really think. Sometimes I wonder what the world would be like if I was there to take that hit for you....if someone could protect you for once rather than you always having to shelter us. I don't want to only rely on the symbol of peace, I want him to rely on me now! Even if it's just making him food and listening to his problems."

She was so passionate and god damn it was she smart. Ripped that morality right out from under him. He desperately wanted to save someone who didn't need to be saved, from a path they both walked. And she wanted more than anything now to be his hero. Putting herself out there for him here and now made his heart swell. 

Her hands were shaking slightly and he worried more than anything that this wasn't the whole picture but he wasn't going to push her. Not now. "While I might not have your power I needed to do this for the people I cared about. Without me so many others would have gotten hurt and many could have died. I can come back from those hits....they can't. Even if it's minor...even if it's scary how can I call myself a hero if I don't do everything I can to help?" She grinned up at him, that shining in her eyes was so hopeful and bright that he found himself starting slack jawed at her for a moment. "How else can I Go Beyond?!" 

This was the moment in every sappy romance movie he had ever seen where the hero wrapped his arms around the girl and kissed her until she was out of breath. Held her like he would never let go and showered her with love and adoration. But Toshi was stuck to his seat. Only able to hold her hands and smile right back at her. "You keep on surprising me kid. But you know, I'll never stop worrying about you. It's kinda my job. Even if I'm like this I don't really know any other way to be." 

The small laugh that pulled from her warmed his heart but it chilled just as quickly when she let his hands slip from hers to stand. "That's my line you dork. I'm the school nurse after all." As she passed him she let her fingers run over his wild hair and he leaned into the touch like it was second nature and watched her move into the kitchen. Damn it this wasn't good. His heart was thudding so hard he could feel it through his chest. In a few short minuets she had cemented herself as the most kind, beautiful and intelligent woman he had ever met. And cutest, he added as she stumbled out with a few more honey stick and a goofy grin chatting about something else she saw on TV to break the tension and lighten the mood. It was all white noise to him right now. She wasn't his friend. This wasn't a normal relationship with a colleague. This wasn't how he acted with Aizawa, Kayama or Yamada. Hell not even Dave. He couldn't remember a time where he just wanted to be near someone so desperately it hurt. 

Time came at last, and to Toshi dismay, that he had to head home. He wanted her to make a fuss and demand he spend the night, not that his nerves would allow him to do anything but stare awkwardly at the ceiling all night long let alone make any sort of romantic move. No, he would first try and talk to her without having a heart attack. Baby steps. She did whine a bit, rolling back from under the blanket and pouting when he insisted on catching the last train home. It was rather late. "I'll see you at UA tomorrow anyway. We need to go over plans for the entrance exam next week so don't look so down alright?" He wouldn't admit he liked that she looked so bummed out. Made his heart do a little flip that she wanted to spend as much time with him as he did her. That was a good start, knowing she wasn't forcing herself to stand him. 

"Yeah yeah....Grandma reminded me like six times today. I have alarms set I won't oversleep this time." They both chuckled as he slipped his shoes on and stood in the doorway. "H-hey uh...if you wanna get up a bit earlier we can grab some coffee on the way to work..." 

She looked at him with those wide eyes and gave a tilt of her head "Hm? You wanna go to work together?" Toshi stepped back and waved his hands frantically "Y-yeah I mean if you wanted! Only if that's not too weird! I figured you liked coffee given all the mugs you have around the kitchen....it's fine if you want to sleep in I understand don't push yourself." Geez what a stupid idea. This was the second time he asked to see her outside of work and he felt like a total creep. "I would love that." You're nearly fifty years old Toshinori this is unacceptable behavior, you should be ashamed of yourself. Pushing a young girl like this to constantly meet up, someones gonna call the police. "Just text me when you wanna meet up and I'll reset my alarms." Then again it's just coffee....it's not like you asked her out on a date. Was this a date back in the states...not like I dated there either but maybe it is. "Hey Toshi." Way to blow it, first the kitchen now this- a rough jab to his forehead had him fall back against the apartments railing. "You gotta work on your inner turmoil. I would love to get coffee tomorrow morning. Just text me when you want to meet up okay?" He was stuck standing dumbfounded, holding his foehead all slack jawed and flustered. "Y-yeah? Yeah...alright I'll text you." He muttered watching as she grinned behind the closing door until it clicked shut. Yelling out a 'Go home Toshi!' as she sensed he was still standing like an idiot on the balcony. It took him a few more seconds to right himself and step away from her door with one more glance at the apartment that belonged to his crush. He could say that now, be honest with himself, no matter how red in the face it made him as he nearly ran down the steps as if that would distance him from the utter embarrassment. 

As Toshi sat on the nearly empty train he found himself staring down at his phone. He wanted to wait at least a bit to text her not wanting to come off any more desperate than he already felt. While he killed time he tapped in her hero name in the search bar. He was surprises to find more than a fair share of hits everything from interviews to caught footage of fights. With a shaking finger he clicked on the first one listed. 'Paladin vs Iron Fist' at least her name was kinda cleaver. But what ever mild enjoyment he got from her hero name was quickly sucked out of him as he watched his poor little nurse get bashed in by a massive man possibly his own size. Not only that but he had; as his name implied fists of Iron that he had no issue using against the tiny girl.

She was quick on her feet at the very least. Dodging some of his slower telegraphed attacks, and he was sloppy and slow. A small time criminal who was used to just beating his way past opponents it seemed. Clearly not used to them getting back up. She took two heavy hits to the jaw and one uppercut that sent her flying upward leaving her open to a sudden massive barrage of punches to the stomach and chest. The force of it knocked her back into a wall that gave way with the power of it. Even he would be winded after something like that. The camera zoomed in as close as it could from their distance and Toshi was horrified to see the pool of blood slowly spreading from in impact site. Only her twitching legs visible behind and under the rubble. More blood that he was comfortable seeing coming from anyone. No one could get up from that...she must have been a mangled mess of bone. But slowly those feet moved in and some of the broken building was pushed away as she climbed out. Wiping her jaw from the small dribble of blood that still lingered. She was otherwise fine. Scraped up and winded, glowing that faint green of her quirk but otherwise no worse for ware. She was even grinning as she righted herself and gave a little stretch. "Think you can even me out big guy? Never feels right to only have one side punched you know?" As if she suddenly noticed the camera she turned and gave a thumbs up, what an All Might move. "Don't try this at home kids! You might not get up so quick!" The villain was back on her in a second shoving her body back into the rubble with a horrible crack and the sound she made turned his insides in knots. 

So it did hurt....every hit she took hurt as if she were a normal human. Every broken bone, every rip or scrape she could feel it all. And this villain was beating her into the ground with no mercy! His hands were shaking, gripping his phone so tightly he saw the screen suddenly crack and snapped him from the sudden rush of boiling anger that threatened to spill over. His phone still worked just fine he noted as he stared at his grim reflection in it's damaged surface. The hero's had figured out a plan by that point and someone was pulling him off her as he switched his phone off. She did that every single day with a smile on her face. Just like All Might. And people adored her for it if the comments and commentary were anything to go by. The person filming even said they didn't feel worried as long as she was on the scene. That did nothing for that burning hate he felt in the pit of his stomach. His hand clutched over his mouth as he sat in silence for the rest of the ride. 

Never again. No one would ever hurt her again. 

#All Might x Reader #All Might/reader #All Might #Toshinori Yagi #Toshinori x reader #MHA #my hero acadamy

[alternislatronemhq]

Congrats, BELLA, you have been accepted to AL for the role of FRANK LONGBOTTOM (FC: John Boyega). add some comments and stuff here. BELLYBOO! Wow, what a great app! It’s so exciting to have Frank here, and your portrayal of him just made me fall even more in love with him and your writing. OMG I can’t wait to see some of your plot ideas play out. Rachie is about to be PUMPED. Please send in your blog (no sideblogs for first characters, please) in the next 24 hours and be sure to take a look at our new player checklist. Welcome home (once again), we’re so excited to have you join the family!

OOC

name — bella! hi it’s me. age — 24. pronouns — she/hers/her. timezone — pst. activity level — i would give myself somewhere around a seven, but i always post at least twice a week.

IC Overview

name —franklin ibiyemi longbottom. faceclaim — john boyega age — 29. gender —cis-male. sexuality — heterosexual. patronus — elephant; frank is formidable, but not in the way that alastor moody is formidable. he’s a calming presence, one that brings people together, especially in times of crisis. he’s also known to be the protector, the person who will make sure others in his life are put first. his father’s patronus was also an elephant, and it’s a fact that he wears with pride. boggart — when frank was a little boy, a boggart escaped from a cabinet in his mother’s office. then, the creature appeared to him as a gigantic spider, scrambling around the house after him as he screeched for one of his family members. when frank was in school, slughorn allowed him to see another boggart. then, it was the thought of not being successful. of not living up to his mother’s expectations. it was an image of himself living on the side of the road, alone and without anyone in his family by his side. when he was finally an auror, it was his own death. he was so afraid of losing himself to the cause that it became his biggest fear.

his boggart has changed throughout his life. maybe that means that he’s always been scared; always been afraid of what might be. although he hasn’t seen a boggart recently, frank is certain it would be the loss of alice or neville, which is maybe his biggest fear of all. he now has a family, and he would be lost if he were to lose them.

IC In Depth

personality traits —

+ compassionate: frank has always been kind. he’s had a heart for those who need it; a keen eye to help when someone is hurting. he’s never known how he got pushed into the role of being the person people lean on, but he enjoys it. he enjoys knowing that he can make someone feel better with a long talk or a cuppa. it quite reminds him of his father, stern and stoic as he was. their ability to soothe was similar, and frank had always admired that in himself.

+ flexible: although steadfast in his morals, frank is not one to be stubborn. he easily bends his mind if it means that the job (or the conversation) will be easier. it makes him a good friend; a person who is easy to apologize for mistakes he’s made or the person hew as in the past. frank learns easily and doesn’t like to stay in one spot. he hopes to grow, and knows that it is impossible to do so if he isn’t flexible.

- over-protective: although he, sometimes, finds his protectiveness a use, for the most part it just gets in frank’s way. he can’t seem to stop protecting the people he cares about. if he knows they need help, he will over-help to the point where they might start to resent him. frank doesn’t know when to stop, and he truly doesn’t know what it does to the people around. he doesn’t realize that he might be stepping over lines that he shouldn’t be crossing.

- paranoid: hand-in-hand with his over-protectiveness is frank’s paranoia. especially since the war ended, frank has almost sounded like a conspiracy-theorist. he knows with every inch of his being  that the war will come back. he knows that he must take every precaution to keep them safe. this makes him not only a bit less present in his family life but in his job. he’s not quite sure how to stop it but it’s taking a toll on his mental health as well. it’s not long before he knows his physical health will go down the drain too.

character biography —

When Frank was born, no one would’ve expected him to turn out an auror. He was scared of everything: from too hot pans to tiny bugs that would appear in the kitchen. No one could understand how this child was the product of one Augusta and Abaeze Longbottom. For many years, Frank couldn’t understand it himself. His mother was on the Wizengamot and his father, having immigrated from Nigeria, rose his way in a new country through the Department of Mysteries (like his father before him). They were fearless supporters of muggleborn rights (although Augusta was not exactly the best at showing that support outside the debate room), bright minds leading Wizarding England into the future. Meanwhile, Frank couldn’t even learn to hold his wand properly without fumbling when a spark shot out of it.

Of course, that put a slight strain on his relationship with his parents, especially his mother. Where Abaeze had learned to be patient, Augusta had learned frustration. She would often get short with her son if he wasn’t able to figure out a spell and, even at a young age, expected nothing more than her son to be perfect. Frank tried as hard as he could to please her, and earned the reputation of a goody-two-shoes. Where other pure blood kids would sneak off at social gatherings to play games, Frank remained either with a book in his hand or socializing with those adults whom his mother hoped to please. And, a part of him never minded. He adored his alone time, especially if they meant settling in with a good book. Nothing to scare him there. Only words and stories that he longed to be real. He’d practically exhausted the selection in their home library by the time his Hogwarts letter arrived.

Frank finally was given an owl and a wand (his own wand! something he could hold and not fear an explosion from), and was sent off on the Express with few words of wisdom and money for pasties on the train. He was determined to make friends this go round, after all, muggleborns and halfbloods would be here as well. Maybe it was fate that he ended up in Alice’s cart. He knew of her, of course, from pureblood society, and was disappointed at first not to meet someone different. That disappointment quickly turned to a feeling of luck. He’d never met anyone who he’d bonded with faster than Alice Rosier.

When they got to Hogwarts, he was shocked to find the hat almost instantly shouting Gryffindor! upon touching his head. As if a switch had been flipped, Augusta wrote with a letter saying how proud she was that her son was in the same house as her. A bit of the pressure she’d put on him began to lessen, especially as Frank’s grades proved to be formidable. Soon, although still afraid of a lot, Frank began following in his parents’ footsteps. He even got detention once for trying to stop a Slytherin pureblood from hurting a first year muggleborn. His mother had cried tears of pride upon hearing that fact (although Frank still got a talking to as to why it was wrong to curse a bully and not talk to them first).

It was on a warm spring day that an Auror visited their Defense Against the Dark Arts class and talked about what it was like to work as a premiere wizarding law enforcement agent. Frank was star-struck. Starting his fourth year, Frank came into school with a new purpose and it wasn’t long before he started to look forward to the future. With a recommendation from both Flitwick and McGonagall, Frank was almost instantly accepted to the program, especially upon getting Head Boy in his final year of school. It was sometime in there (although Frank never was certain when he fell in love with Alice, he always just was in love with her) that he’d asked Alice to be his girlfriend. When they became aurors together, well, that was just a cherry on a very tasty cake.

And then the war started.

It was almost like his dream turned slowly into a nightmare. The bright edges turned a little bit grayer. Yet, there were always moments of sunshine. He and Alice got married and had Neville. Frank thought he knew love; thought he knew what it meant to be in love, but then Neville was born and it was like the entire world had stopped. The prophecy was spoken and he felt as though he were going to explode every day with the thought of keeping his son safe. He didn’t expect what was to happen next. He didn’t know that it would be his mother to be the one to save his son.

To this day, he wishes it were him. Frank feels a deep sense of regret that his father was left alone because his mother did what he couldn’t. Of course, he wasn’t home. Alice and himself were on a mission. It’s been five years and he still feels a deep sense of guilt for what happened to his mother. And, surprisingly, he misses her. He misses her quips and her over-the-top speeches. He misses her silly outfits and the way she had to wear her hat just right. But most of all, he misses the fact that he had just started to become friends with his mum. The war is over but he can’t help but think that it might start up again. And Frank refuses to lose anyone. No, not this time. Frank would be damned if he let anyone take away his family again.

plot ideas —

madness: i want to see what happens if frank lets his paranoia take over. he’s got a good heart, but what if he thinks his family is in trouble? what if he thinks that alice or neville might be at risk again? he would go to any lengths to see them safe, even if that means betraying what he believes in.

grief: i don’t think that frank has ever truly dealt with what happened with his mother. he has never given himself the time to realize what happened to her and take a breath. he has been so consumed with taking care of everyone else, namely his dad, that he hasn’t thought about taking care of himself. what happens if he gives in to his grief? what happens if he finds himself falling in too deep?

care: frank cares deeply about his friends and he can’t imagine what lily potter is going through right now. while he wants to make sure remus was alright, he also hopes that the young mother is taking care of herself as well. while he knows there’s not much he could do, the thought of losing alice in an attack was enough to make him want to help in any way he can.

worry: while he knows that remus doesn’t need the care, he worries about the younger man. his status as a werewolf is precarious at best, and frank doesn’t know just how to help. he fears he’s overdoing it. and what if he is? what if he’s pushing remus away because he cares too much? it’s the dad in him, of course, but he hopes he won’t lose a friend in his paranoia.

family: frank knows that alice is having a rough time lately, just like his father. they are both feeling as guilty as he is, and he hopes to take some of that guilt off their shoulders. besides, he loves alice more than anything in the world. maybe it’s time that he shows them what his love means.

work: i want something to go terribly wrong for frank at work. i think up to this point he’s had no conflict there. he’s good at his job, but what if his paranoia makes him suffer? what if his inability to stop makes him lose some of his security?

#al:accepted #frank longbottom #harry potter rp #hp rp #marauders rp

[fracturedmotivationwriting]

the one where ace says 'i love you' and ravyn wants to get married...

Atticus wasn't expecting visitors. He'd already met with Torin and Excalibur to discuss their progress. He'd checked in on Alice earlier, leaving her locked safely in her room to work on a big project for one of her more advanced courses. He'd seen Ravyn during their shared courses, and they hadn't made plans to hang out. In fact, Atticus had explicitly told his best friend that he was planning on spending his evening alone to focus on some projects he had seriously been neglecting due to the recent events with Lev. 

So when he heard three distinct knocks at his door, his eyebrows furrowed. He knew instantly that it had to be Ravyn -- Atticus had made it a mission years ago to learn how every one of his friends and acquaintances knocked so he could distinguish them easily. 

"Ravyn, I told you I need to work on this report, you-" Atticus had started to nag as he opened the door before stopping himself short. 

There were tears in Ravyn's eyes. She wasn't crying. Ravyn had only ever cried once that Atticus knew about. But definite tears were blurring her usually shining eyes. Atticus felt his heart drop into his stomach at the sight. Simultaneously, his blood began to boil as he internally questioned who could be responsible. The obvious answer loomed large in his head. 

"What did Zima do?" 

Ravyn shook her head, pushing past Atticus and making herself at home in his room immediately. Crawling onto the side of the bed reserved especially for her, she wrapped her arms around herself and looked at Atticus expectantly. 

"I didn't come here to discuss that. I need a distraction," she informed him stoically, her usual cool demeanor building back up. "I need my best friend. My joking, spouts off random literature quotes, doesn't take anything too seriously best friend." 

She looked up at Atticus with something akin to determination in her eyes.  She was not going to discuss whatever Lev had said or done this time, and nothing Atticus could say would change that. Atticus knew better than to even try. If she just needed him to distract her, to cheer her up and make her heart ache a little less, then that was what Atticus was going to do.

"Okay," Atticus nodded, his voice gentle as he climbed into bed next to her. "How bout the 'that's what she said' game?" 

Atticus was referring to a game he and Ravyn had played many times. It was something his mother taught him -- though she never gave it a name, that was from a drunken night he and Ravyn had played it. After his mother passed, Atticus had refused to do something so childish, despite Alice's pleading to play with her. He refused to do a lot of things after his mother died. But then he met Ravyn, and slowly the pain in his chest eased up. He had found himself enjoying the silly and childish things again. So he taught Ravyn how to play one night, and the two of them did it whenever Atticus was having one of 'those' nights and needed to be reminded that he could still be a kid. 

The rules were simple: put on any movie, mute it, and pick characters to do the voices for. You can say absolutely anything, but you cannot quote the actual movie. 

Ravyn merely nodded, allowing Atticus to pull up a random movie to start. She would have preferred going out and pulling pranks, maybe doing a little vandalism around the school, but she knew Atticus was trying to keep her from making a mistake. He was keeping her in the safety of his room so that if she did something stupid it wouldn't have too big of repercussions. But also so that if she changed her mind, if she needed to talk and cry, that she could do so in the comfort of his bed. She knew her best friend well enough to know his motivations. Last year, he may have supported her urge to go break things and cause mayhem. But the Atticus next to her today had matured. She supposed the recent events with Lev, Ravyn, and Alice had a lot to do with that. 

Allowing her mind to shut off a bit, she leaned into Atticus as the two of them focused their attention on the old black-and-white film Atticus had chosen, ridiculous dialogue forming between them as they tried to outdo each other in absurdity. 

////

Two movies and three bags of popcorn later, Atticus felt pretty good with how the evening had turned out. He had managed to get Ravyn to laugh. He could see her stress ease from her shoulders as the two went back and forth trying to get the other to break first. Her eyes were clear of tears, their usual sparkle of mischief back in them. Although, somewhere towards the end of the first film, Atticus had momentarily brought tears to her eyes -- but that had been from laughter, so Atticus' heart skipped a beat rather than clenched in anger. 

The credits were rolling on the second film. Ravyn's head was on Atticus' chest, his arms wrapped around her. They had migrated closer to each other as the movies continued, finding themselves cuddling like old times by the end. Atticus couldn't help but feel content. Despite everything going on -- Lev hurting his sister and Ravyn, Ravyn's engagement to the asshole, Atticus' father being a bigger jerk than usual -- Atticus felt at ease. With Ravyn safe in his arms, their abs hurting from laughing, and a plan in place to get back at Lev, how could he not feel at peace? Sure, he still had to figure out how to stop the marriage, but that just required a little extra brainpower. Right now, at this moment with Ravyn by his side, everything was as it should be. 

For the first time since his mother passed, Atticus felt completely and truly happy. 

Maybe it was this (false) sense of contentment that led to Atticus ruining the moment. Or maybe this was karma reminding him that he was a piece of garbage that didn't deserve happiness. 

Looking down at Ravyn curled into his side, a small smile gracing her face, Atticus' breath hitched. She was the love of his life. She was unhappily engaged to another man, but she was his best friend and he was head over heels in love with her. And he had to tell her before it was too late. 

She must have sensed that he was staring at her, or maybe she could hear his brain screaming, because suddenly her eyes were trained on his. Her eyebrows furrowing a bit at the intensity of his stare, she leaned away to get a better look at him. 

"What's wrong, Ace?" she whispered, confusion evident in her voice. 

"Ravyn, I-" Atticus stopped, shaking his head. Debating inside with whether or not to do this, and if so, how to say this. 

Ravyn could see him struggling with something in his head. She could tell by the way his brow creased, how frustration flashed in his eyes, how he gnawed on his lip. She'd seen Atticus worry over something many times, but this internal conflict seemed greater somehow. It made her a little worried. Afraid that he was going to deliver more bad news. She wasn't sure she could handle any more on top of everything else going on. 

But this was Atticus. Her best friend. If he needed to get something off his chest, she would be there for him. 

"Atticus, just tell me," she said as softly as she could, but it still came out a little harsh, like a demand. 

Atticus took a deep breath. Now or never. 

"Ravyn, I'm in love with you." 

The silence was deafening. Atticus felt like he couldn't breathe. He certainly couldn't look Ravyn in the eye anymore, not when she was giving him that blank stare. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head, and he wasn't sure he wanted to see what response they chugged out. Maybe this was a terrible idea. 

And yet, after a beat, his mouth opened again and he couldn't stop the words from tumbling out. 

"I'm not talking about 'you're my best friend and  I love you.' I mean, I well and truly am in love with you. Like my heart stops when you smile at me or laugh at my jokes. It physically pains me to see you upset. I'm a disaster, but with you, I want to be better. I don't want to be with anybody else. I would do anything to keep you safe and make you happy. Even if it meant never being happy myself. I am in love with you, Ray."

More silence. Atticus can feel his heart pounding. He thinks he's going to puke if she doesn't say something soon. She's moved out of his hold, sitting up straight and staring at the wall now as she processes his words. He's not even sure she heard the rest of his speech. She hasn't moved, blinked, or made a noise since the beginning of his confession. Atticus vaguely wonders if he's broken her brain. 

"Atticus," she finally breaks the silence, her voice low. Atticus can't detect emotion in it. Can't tell if this is going to be a happy sentence or a heartbreaking one. He really might puke. 

"This... This is perfect." 

Confusion fills his brain as Ravyn turns her gaze to him. She looks... Thrilled? But something seems off. This isn't a 'you love me and I love you' kind of thrilled, Atticus realizes. This is something else entirely. 

"Ravyn?" 

"This is perfect. This is the solution we've been looking for!" Ravyn exclaims, a crazed-like smile coming to her face as she jumps from the bed and begins pacing the room. Atticus remains on the bed, feeling a bit like he's looked Medusa in the eyes. 

"I don't have to marry Lev!" 

He can feel his heart becoming stone. 

"I can marry you. My dad may bitch about it at first, but- this could work. Atticus, you're a lifesaver." 

He feels empty. Maybe he should feel heartbroken. Like he's been turned to stone and then crushed into a million pieces. His world shattered. Like he felt when his mom died. But instead, he feels hollowed out. Still standing, still together. Like all the walls he's built over the years have been reinforced and raised higher. But empty. 

Ravyn must see it in his face. How his expression went from adoration, to scared, to confused, and now blank. Stone cold. His eyes dulling in a second and then turning icy and sharp the next. The kind of expression that would have gotten him into the assassin program if not for all his problems. Her own expression goes from glee to worried. She takes a step towards him. 

Atticus stands, arms crossed. Closing himself off. 

"You should leave." 

"Atticus-"

"Just go, Ravyn." 

Ravyn almost doesn't recognize him. In an instant, he's changed completely from her best friend to a stranger. She doesn't quite understand. But she listens. Doesn't argue. Doesn't question or apologize. She leaves. 

#a coalition story #ravyn white #ravyn and atticus #race #atticus hamish blackbourne iii #man our kids are screwed

[altuniver]

Homestuck characters at school (Humanstuck)

Karkat: Blasting his headphones to drown out the morons beside him who won't shut their talk-blasters, without realizing the entire class can hear his romcom soundtrack.

Kankri: Preparing a speech for Speech and Debate while running for School President and downing his third cup of coffee. Getting yelled at for constantly checking his Tumblr and threatend by his pupils for consistently barging in on people's business.

Aradia: Paying close attention to the teacher, and asking an abundance of questions

Damara: In the principle's office for smashing Rufioh's head into the lunch table and smoking cigarettes on campus.

Tavros: Daydreaming about wild adventures and Pupa Pan, then realizing he's behind on notes.

Rufioh: In the nurse's office after getting his head beaten in by a table.

Sollux: Skipping literature to reside in the Computer Lab and hack the school's system into giving him an A for that class and to clear his absence. Then, writing viruses.

Mituna: Skipping with Latula and getting told to take off his helmet

Nepeta: Attempting to understand geometry by doodling in her math notes

Meulin: Running a matchmaker service in the cafeteria and ruining everyone's relationships by accident

Kanaya: Trying to ignore the hiddeous "trendy outfits" around her alongside the kids who like to use juvenile 6th grade jokes as an outlet to their inner depression. Finding resource in the library to study.

Porrim: Getting Kankri out of trouble with his classmates. Swooning most of the school.

Terezi: Trying to figure out who stole her glasses and hitting people with her cane in the face of justice.

Latula: Skipping with Mituna and being a total B4D 4SS

Vriska: Stealing Terezi's glasses and cheating off her phone during tests.

Aranea: Also running for school president. Assisting in the library and spreading rumors on accident.

Equius: Enjoying two gym classes and an additional weight training class, accidentally breaking the majority of the equipment and internally panicking about having to pay for it.

Horuss: Being everyone's handy man and repairing virtually anything and everything. Also constantly daydreaming about Ruhfio.

Gamzee: Being made fun of for his face paint and coming to school high. Laughing with his bullies like they're his greatest pals.

Kurloz: Not being made fun of because everyone is batshit terrified of this motherfucker

Eridan: Bragging about his grade on his history exam but then raising hell for managing to fail English for refusing to work in a team.

Cronus: Only goes to gym to pick up the ladies. Failing gym on account of not participating because everyone is playing "unfair :("

Feferi: Making good grades, while prepping for the cheer team meet. Accidently being stuck up but people like her anyway.

Meenah: Bullying people but sticking up for some. Only some. She would do cheer but it's overrated. She's Queen Bee but doesn't really care, because she's on top in her mind anyway.

John: Busy planning his next prank on Dave and Karkat, and arguing in the middle of the library about his favorite movies and how they're the best creations known to MANKIND.

Jane: Frusterated with people making Betty Crocker references and doing her work but still getting test anxiety.

Dave: Constantly getting bitched at for wearing his glasses and refusing to take them off. Making passing grades and snapping yet another obscure photo for photography club. No one talks about photography club. No one. Did someone say pho-

Dirk: Really? He watches My Little Pony FOR ACADEMIC REASONS ONLY. Comes close to beating Sollux with his technological skills. Very socially inept on occasion. Argues with teachers on why they're wrong.

Rose: Making straight A's and achieving over a 5.0 thanks to AP classes. Studying virtually everywhere and annoying classmates with questions that cause teachers to go on tangents. Writing convoluted wizard stories when she's beyond ahead of everyone else.

Roxy: Comes to school late and drunk but that's okay. Being a good GOOD friend and listening. Also constantly falling asleep in class. Running an Anti-Bullying program.

Jade: Talking gleefully to her friends and gardening some pretty amazing plants in her science class. Running five clubs.

Jake: The ladies man. No really. Like no I'm not kidding they really dig this guy for some reason. Gets yelled at for watching Netflix on his phone in class.

Calliope: Writing fanfiction in the middle of science.

Claiborne: He's the high school bully. Picks on everyone and makes Crocker References. He's relentless and will stop at nothing.

Andrew Hussie: The Principle of this shithole.

Doc Scratch: Assistant Principle. No one likes this guy

#homestuck #humanstuck #schoolstuck #charactersatschool #karkat #kankri #aradia #damara #tavros #rufioh #sollux #mituna #nepeta #meulin #kanaya #porrim #terezi #latula #vriska #aranea #equius #horuss #gamzee #kurloz #eridan #cronus #feferi #meenah #john #jane

[resilientreview]

What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack?

📷By Stephen Sawchuk — May 18, 2021 10 min read Education Week is the #1 source of high-quality news and insights on K-12 education. Sign up for our EdWeek Update newsletter to get stories like this delivered to your inbox daily.

Is “critical race theory” a way of understanding how American racism has shaped public policy, or a divisive discourse that pits people of color against white people? Liberals and conservatives are in sharp disagreement.The topic has exploded in the public arena this spring—especially in K-12, where numerous state legislatures are debating bills seeking to ban its use in the classroom.In truth, the divides are not nearly as neat as they may seem. The events of the last decade have increased public awareness about things like housing segregation, the impacts of criminal justice policy in the 1990s, and the legacy of enslavement on Black Americans. But there is much less consensus on what the government’s role should be in righting these past wrongs. Add children and schooling into the mix and the debate becomes especially volatile. SEE ALSO 📷 EQUITY & DIVERSITYWhat Black Men Need From Schools to Stay in the Teaching Profession School boards, superintendents, even principals and teachers are already facing questions about critical race theory, and there are significant disagreements even among experts about its precise definition as well as how its tenets should inform K-12 policy and practice. This explainer is meant only as a starting point to help educators grasp core aspects of the current debate.Just what is critical race theory anyway? Critical race theory is an academic concept that is more than 40 years old. The core idea is that race is a social construct, and that racism is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies.The basic tenets of critical race theory, or CRT, emerged out of a framework for legal analysis in the late 1970s and early 1980s created by legal scholars Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, and Richard Delgado, among others.A good example is when, in the 1930s, government officials literally drew lines around areas deemed poor financial risks, often explicitly due to the racial composition of inhabitants. Banks subsequently refused to offer mortgages to Black people in those areas. SEE ALSO 📷 EQUITY & DIVERSITY SPOTLIGHTSpotlight on Critical Race Theory (PDF Download) June 11, 2021 Today, those same patterns of discrimination live on through facially race-blind policies, like single-family zoning that prevents the building of affordable housing in advantaged, majority-white neighborhoods and, thus, stymies racial desegregation efforts.CRT also has ties to other intellectual currents, including the work of sociologists and literary theorists who studied links between political power, social organization, and language. And its ideas have since informed other fields, like the humanities, the social sciences, and teacher education.This academic understanding of critical race theory differs from representation in recent popular books and, especially, from its portrayal by critics—often, though not exclusively, conservative Republicans. Critics charge that the theory leads to negative dynamics, such as a focus on group identity over universal, shared traits; divides people into “oppressed” and “oppressor” groups; and urges intolerance.Thus, there is a good deal of confusion over what CRT means, as well as its relationship to other terms, like “anti-racism” and “social justice,” with which it is often conflated.To an extent, the term “critical race theory” is now cited as the basis of all diversity and inclusion efforts regardless of how much it’s actually informed those programs.One conservative organization, the Heritage Foundation, recently attributed a whole host of issues to CRT, including the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, LGBTQ clubs in schools, diversity training in federal agencies and organizations, California’s recent ethnic studies model curriculum, the free-speech debate on college campuses, and alternatives to exclusionary discipline—such as the Promise program in Broward County, Fla., that some parents blame for the Parkland school shootings. “When followed to its logical conclusion, CRT is destructive and rejects

the fundamental ideas on which our constitutional republic is based,” the organization claimed. (A good parallel here is how popular ideas of the common core learning standards grew to encompass far more than what those standards said on paper.)

Does critical race theory say all white people are racist? Isn’t that racist, too? The theory says that racism is part of everyday life, so people—white or nonwhite—who don’t intend to be racist can nevertheless make choices that fuel racism.Some critics claim that the theory advocates discriminating against white people in order to achieve equity. They mainly aim those accusations at theorists who advocate for policies that explicitly take race into account. (The writer Ibram X. Kendi, whose recent popular book How to Be An Antiracist suggests that discrimination that creates equity can be considered anti-racist, is often cited in this context.)Fundamentally, though, the disagreement springs from different conceptions of racism. CRT puts an emphasis on outcomes, not merely on individuals’ own beliefs, and it calls on these outcomes to be examined and rectified. Among lawyers, teachers, policymakers, and the general public, there are many disagreements about how precisely to do those things, and to what extent race should be explicitly appealed to or referred to in the process.Here’s a helpful illustration to keep in mind in understanding this complex idea. In a 2007 U.S. Supreme Court school-assignment case on whether race could be a factor in maintaining diversity in K-12 schools, Chief Justice John Roberts’ opinion famously concluded: “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” But during oral arguments, then-justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said: “It’s very hard for me to see how you can have a racial objective but a nonracial means to get there.”All these different ideas grow out of longstanding, tenacious intellectual debates. Critical race theory emerged out of postmodernist thought, which tends to be skeptical of the idea of universal values, objective knowledge, individual merit, Enlightenment rationalism, and liberalism—tenets that conservatives tend to hold dear.What does any of this have to do with K-12 education? Scholars who study critical race theory in education look at how policies and practices in K-12 education contribute to persistent racial inequalities in education, and advocate for ways to change them. Among the topics they’ve studied: racially segregated schools, the underfunding of majority-Black and Latino school districts, disproportionate disciplining of Black students, barriers to gifted programs and selective-admission high schools, and curricula that reinforce racist ideas.Critical race theory is not a synonym for culturally relevant teaching, which emerged in the 1990s. This teaching approach seeks to affirm students’ ethnic and racial backgrounds and is intellectually rigorous. But it’s related in that one of its aims is to help students identify and critique the causes of social inequality in their own lives. Many educators support, to one degree or another, culturally relevant teaching and other strategies to make schools feel safe and supportive for Black students and other underserved populations. (Students of color make up the majority of school-aged children.) But they don’t necessarily identify these activities as CRT-related.As one teacher-educator put it: “The way we usually see any of this in a classroom is: ‘Have I thought about how my Black kids feel? And made a space for them, so that they can be successful?’ That is the level I think it stays at, for most teachers.” Like others interviewed for this explainer, the teacher-educator did not want to be named out of fear of online harassment.An emerging subtext among some critics is that curricular excellence can’t coexist alongside culturally responsive teaching or anti-racist work. Their argument goes that efforts to change grading practices or make the curriculum less Eurocentric will ultimately harm Black students, or hold them to a less high standard.As with CRT in general, its popular representation in schools has been far less nuanced. A recent poll by the advocacy group Parents Defending Education claimed some schools were teaching that “white people are inherently

privileged, while Black and other people of color are inherently oppressed and victimized”; that “achieving racial justice and equality between racial groups requires discriminating against people based on their whiteness”; and that “the United States was founded on racism.”Thus much of the current debate appears to spring not from the academic texts, but from fear among critics that students—especially white students—will be exposed to supposedly damaging or self-demoralizing ideas.While some district officials have issued mission statements, resolutions, or spoken about changes in their policies using some of the discourse of CRT, it’s not clear to what degree educators are explicitly teaching the concepts, or even using curriculum materials or other methods that implicitly draw on them. For one thing, scholars say, much scholarship on CRT is written in academic language or published in journals not easily accessible to K-12 teachers.What is going on with these proposals to ban critical race theory in schools? As of mid-May, legislation purporting to outlaw CRT in schools has passed in Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Tennessee and have been proposed in various other statehouses. SEE ALSO 📷 STATES INTERACTIVEMap: Where Critical Race Theory Is Under Attack June 11, 2021 • 2 min read The bills are so vaguely written that it’s unclear what they will affirmatively cover.Could a teacher who wants to talk about a factual instance of state-sponsored racism—like the establishment of Jim Crow, the series of laws that prevented Black Americans from voting or holding office and separated them from white people in public spaces—be considered in violation of these laws?It’s also unclear whether these new bills are constitutional, or whether they impermissibly restrict free speech.It would be extremely difficult, in any case, to police what goes on inside hundreds of thousands of classrooms. But social studies educators fear that such laws could have a chilling effect on teachers who might self-censor their own lessons out of concern for parent or administrator complaints.As English teacher Mike Stein told Chalkbeat Tennessee about the new law: “History teachers can not adequately teach about the Trail of Tears, the Civil War, and the civil rights movement. English teachers will have to avoid teaching almost any text by an African American author because many of them mention racism to various extents.” The laws could also become a tool to attack other pieces of the curriculum, including ethnic studies and “action civics”—an approach to civics education that asks students to research local civic problems and propose solutions.How is this related to other debates over what’s taught in the classroom amid K-12 culture wars? The charge that schools are indoctrinating students in a harmful theory or political mindset is a longstanding one, historians note. CRT appears to be the latest salvo in this ongoing debate.In the early and mid-20th century, the concern was about socialism or Marxism. The conservative American Legion, beginning in the 1930s, sought to rid schools of progressive-minded textbooks that encouraged students to consider economic inequality; two decades later the John Birch Society raised similar criticisms about school materials. As with CRT criticisms, the fear was that students would be somehow harmed by exposure to these ideas.As the school-aged population became more diverse, these debates have been inflected through the lens of race and ethnic representation, including disagreements over multiculturalism and ethnic studies, the ongoing “canon wars” over which texts should make up the English curriculum, and the so-called “ebonics” debates over the status of Black vernacular English in schools.In history, the debates have focused on the balance among patriotism and American exceptionalism, on one hand, and the country’s history of exclusion and violence towards Indigenous people and the enslavement of African Americans on the other—between its ideals and its practices. Those tensions led to the implosion of a 1994

attempt to set national history standards.A current example that has fueled much of the recent round of CRT criticism is the New York Times’ 1619 Project, which sought to put the history and effects of enslavement—as well as Black Americans’ contributions to democratic reforms—at the center of American history. The culture wars are always, at some level, battled out within schools, historians say.“It’s because they’re nervous about broad social things, but they’re talking in the language of school and school curriculum,” said one historian of education. “That’s the vocabulary, but the actual grammar is anxiety about shifting social power relations.” The literature on critical race theory is vast. Here are some starting points to learn more about it, culturally relevant teaching, and the conservative backlash to CRT.Brittany Aronson & Judson Laughter. “The Theory and Practice of Culturally Relevant Education: A Synthesis of Research Across Content Areas.” Review of Educational Research March 2016, Vol. 86 No. 1. (2016); Kimberlé Crenshaw, ed. Critical Race Theory: The Key Writings That Formed the Movement. The New Press. (1996); Gloria Ladson-Billings, “Toward a Theory of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy,” American Educational Research Journal Vol. 32 No. 3. (1995); Gloria Ladson-Billings, “Just what is critical race theory and what’s it doing in a nice field like education?” International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education Vol 11. No. 1. (1998); Jonathan Butcher and Mike Gonzalez. “Critical Race Theory, the New Intolerance, and Its Grip on America.” Heritage Foundation. (2020); Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic. Critical Race Theory: An Introduction. 3rd ed. New York, NY: New York University Press. (2017); Shelly Brown-Jeffy & Jewell E. Cooper, “Toward a Conceptual Framework of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy: An Overview of the Conceptual and Theoretical Literature.” Teacher Education Quarterly, Winter 2011.A version of this article appeared in the June 02, 2021 edition of Education Week as What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack?

[empowertherapy]

It is true: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is now becoming more prevalent across the USA. There's not any consensus on the incidence of this problem is continuing to grow. Theories range from more consciousness, to better identification, to hereditary mutations... to environmental elements. Irrespective of the reason or reasons for the growth in identification of children with disabilities, experts worry it is essential for parents to have early screenings for ASD and, even in case their child shows any indications, to take instant actions.

This not only induces communicating difficulties but difficulties with each day social interaction. Because folks have a vast range of symptoms and seriousness --varying from moderate to acute or someplace in between--it's regarded as a "spectrum" condition.

Every kid on the autism spectrum includes a range of issues and problems to overcome.

Not all these indicators are necessarily shown. Kids may have only some of them or perhaps unique symptoms which are either different from those or in conjunction together. Some kids may only have mild impairments while some face greater barriers. Furthermore, a number of these symptoms may persist during the kid's life.

There's absolutely no cure for ASD and there is no consensus about what causes it. But, everyone agrees that the earlier intervention starts for kids with ASD, the more striking of a difference it could make in their own lives.

Identification is perfect when produced from age two, and this is currently the oldest age that's dependable [I]--though symptoms may appear as early as 12 to 18 weeks.

Regrettably, most children with ASD aren't diagnosed until after they're 4 years old, so they're overlooking the most opportune time to be receiving therapy. There are an assortment of motives for this, for example parents' reluctance to recognize and comprehend the intensity of the symptoms exhibited, in addition to a lack of trained professionals.

There's considerable evidence that early intervention may enhance social and communication abilities during infancy and this has the capacity to greatly aid in improving the child's later development. Furthermore, early intervention prevents debatable behaviour from becoming a habit.

Proper early therapy may reduce children's symptoms and may boost their general development by assisting them learn new abilities which will enable them to be independent during their lifetime. Since they are getting proper therapy at crucial developmental stages, children with disabilities are more inclined to obtain fundamental social skills and the capability to behave much better in social situations. All these are invaluable tools which will assist the kids to be independent need fewer providers as they age. In a nutshell, early detection can help the kids make the most of their strengths and give them the capacity for a much better, more independent life during childhood and well beyond.

Early identification may also benefit kids. Rather than noticing symptoms and stressing that something's wrong with their child, a historical identification allows parents to do it and start helping her or him. Under the advice of organizations and specialists like Alternative Behavior Plans (ABS), parents may start after the prescribed therapy to help their child improve during their developmental phases --setting the stage for substantially improved results.

Now we understand how early identification and intervention has been demonstrated to be most helpful to maximize the child's capacity to operate, the major question is that therapy will end up being effective. As stated before, ASD can't be avoided, but there are effective treatment options which could aid in improving behaviour, language and skills growth --and emerging therapies are still evolve.

The most effective naturopathic remedy for ASD, ABA is a qualitative treatment which utilizes systematic, evidence-based assessments to quantify outcomes in real-time dimension of behaviour. This guides intervention choices and any necessary alterations can be made on the basis of strong data. In reality, it's the sole remedy for ASD that's been designated as medically required and recognized from the U.S. Surgeon General.

A behavioral instruction program, ABA strengthens and promotes positive behaviour when negative ones that are negative. Furthermore, ABA educates children with ASD new abilities and how to use them in real-life circumstances.

Contrary to other service versions, ABA is a extreme therapy, with as much as 40 hours a week prescribed. Dramatic improvements are seen when children get early and extreme ABA treatment to construct their operational skills. Treatment can effectively assist with difficult behaviours, such as persistent behaviour, self-injury and pops and help children in areas like social and language skills.

Decades of research has shown that ABA's intensity of therapy is a crucial part of helping a child with ASD to learn new abilities, decrease problem behavior and create lasting gains. At a groundbreaking study conducted by Ivar Lovaas at the late 1980's, kids received 40 hours a week of intensive therapy for 2 to six decades. A 2016 study included into the present support for greater intensity therapy for children with ASD.

Furthermore, a variety of research have proven the best results are achieved when therapy intervention is started as soon as you can and using a high intensity (or hours) a week. 1 research [iii] revealed that children who have greater therapy intensity and longer treatment length gain favorable consequences in their own intellectual functioning, language and adaptive behavior. In another after research,[iv] exactly the very same researchers discovered a mix of intensity and length was the only predictor of and also the maximum contributor to treatment results.

Conclusion

The strain of caring for a young child with disabilities can be hard for families and parents. However, with the ideal approaches and aid for their kid, treatment can lessen the consequences of ASD and assist the child flourish. With prior diagnosis, therapy intensity and longer treatment duration, kids with ASD can attain statistically significant gains and optimum therapeutic outcomes.

Contact : [phone]

Visit url: https://www.empowertherapy.com/services/aba-therapy

#autism occupationaltherapy speechtherapy

[rendexus]

The Point of No Return

NOTE: I wrote this in 2019 and never finished it. I meant to, but never got around to it. Ironic, since it ends with me saying I’m finally ready to write it all down, but I guess that wasn’t true.

I. The Conference

Here’s a story that I’ve never let out. 

It was the weekend of January 30, 2015. I was a sophomore in high school attending a Model United Nations (MUN) conference in Boston with my school. I was never good at MUN, having no skills in speaking extemporaneously  in front of a room full of strangers. But it was one of the few activities I participated in at all in high school, so I planned to make the most of it. At the very least it was a trip to Boston and I even got to miss school. This particular conference, HMUN, was a big deal in the world of high school MUN. Schools from around the world came to it. Every committee would be considered huge in comparison to some of the smaller conferences. Not the best venue to try and improve my debating skills, though I fully intended to take a more active role than I had at my last conference. 

I was not super close with any of the other members of my delegation, which consisted of about 15 students from my school, though some of them I liked a lot. We headed up to Boston with our advisor, my history teacher Ms. Abel, via an Amtrak train on a Thursday afternoon. We checked into the hotel, which was also where the conference was being held, and began a typical schedule at these sorts of things - registration, opening ceremonies, filing into committee.

My partner was Gal, a freshman whom I hadn’t known at all before being paired with her. She seemed nice and we got along fine. Unfortunately, she had as much desire to get up to the podium and talk as I did. A power duo we were not. But we both felt we had done an adequate job at researching our committee (African Union), country (Libya), and topic (a fictional outbreak of Ebola). Armed with our placards, Gal and I left the group to find the drafty hotel event room where we’d be spending the bulk of the weekend.

It’s a good idea to arrive at your committee room early, so you can meet and network with the other countries and begin forming alliances that you will need to treaties passed. Everyone moves about the room, shaking hands and asking where everyone is from. This portion was never my favorite as I am not personable. But it’s fun to size up the other delegations. Since MUN is largely a rich kid activity, it’s very easy to feel out-classed in an environment like that. It can seem like everyone else goes to a fancy private school and has better clothes than you and is better looking than you. And older! Even though we were all roughly 15, the other kids looked older to me, making me feel like there was something in the water in my home town stunting my growth. Feeling insecure and out of my element, I was not emotionally prepared for what was about to happen. Only now, looking back on it four years on, am I able to identify it for what it was - a formative, this-changes-everything, you-are-now-passing-the-point-of-no-return step in the creation of my identity.

                                  ------------------------------------

II. Niger

We met his partner first. During the meet and greet portion of the first committee session, Gal and I met one of the delegates for Niger. “Us too! What school?” was his response to hearing that we were from New York. Immediately I realized the communication error and became internally horrified. Gal said our school name, which is the public school in the town where we lived about thirty minutes from the city, to which the delegate from Niger replied “Oh, not the city, got it” in a way that made me feel like low-class garbage. Perhaps he hadn’t meant to come off as smug, but his whole demeanor seemed to suggest an air of superiority. He was like a lot of MUN kids in that way. I shouldn’t care about things like that, but there was practically class warfare going on under the surface of these banal interactions. To make the situation worse, Gal, whose imprecise answer to a simple question got us in this situation, it turned out, had friends at Niger’s school, a private international school in Manhattan where a lot of kids of diplomats go. As they bonded over mutual acquaintances, I felt utterly abandoned because I was the only one who didn’t know Johann or whoever. I awkwardly continued to smile and nod, secretly wishing to be anywhere else.

Right around this time, I can’t remember exactly, is when I saw him for the first time. He was the other delegate for Niger and he was the first boy I ever had a crush on. Tall and skinny, dressed in a suit like all the other guys, and with bangs subtly swept to the side. Even now, I can’t really explain what it was, but from the first time I saw him, I felt a way I had never felt before. There was an awareness in the pit of my stomach that was totally new to me. My palms got a little sweaty and I felt off-balance, like I was light-headed except I wasn’t. I didn’t even know that that was what it was like to have a crush. It caught me off-guard. From that moment on, containing the Ebola epidemic was the furthest thing from my mind. 

The room was set up in rows of chairs all facing the podium, with one center aisle. The first few rows, and the aisle seats generally, are where the “power delegates” sit. These are the ones who will do the lion’s share of the speechifying, participating, and treaty-writing, the ones who came to win the awards handed out on the last day of the conference. Typically, they came from private schools that devote far more resources to their MUN programs than my school did. The back several rows of the rooms were informally reserved for the kids who didn’t participate, who were just there to have a good time and/or to put it on their college application. My ideal seat, as I explained to MUN-newbie Gal, was right in the middle of these two groups. Close enough so you could take an active if you wanted, but far enough away that you weren’t in the way if you felt like just watching for a bit. We took the middle seats in a middle row. No one claimed the seats in between me and the wall, so I had a place to rest my notebook and placard. The delegates from Niger took the two seats nearest the aisle in the row in front of us. Uh oh. I was one row up and four seats over from this boy who I was suddenly obsessed with. 

I spent much of that first committee session trying to actually do a good job; I made Gal go up and present our opening speech, though I wrote notes for what she should say. Though certainly aware of this new feeling, I was ill-equipped to excavate and categorize it as something different from the twenty-odd other things I was nervous about that day. A MUN conference could be hellish for someone with social anxiety, so adding this on top of everything else really did a number on me. 

I thought I could put it in a box and shove the box so far under my bed that I would never have to deal with it. If it would just never come up, I would never have to acknowledge it. 

A version of this story started swirling around in my head almost immediately after these events took place, and four years later I finally feel ready (yet still terrified) to write it all down.

[aion-rsa]

Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 Episode 7 Easter Eggs & References

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This Star Trek: Discovery article contains spoilers for “Unification III.”

It’s Spock time! In “Unification III,” Star Trek: Discovery has continued a story that The Next Generation began in 1991. And, in doing so, the series has created an episode of Trek that is both nostalgic as hell and also forward-facing and new. Back before we even knew what Discovery would be like, we were told Michael Burnham was Spock’s adoptive sister. And now, Spock’s sister has come home! 

From TNG vibes to sweet nods to the reboot films, to a lot of references to Spock, here’s all the Easter eggs and shout-outs we caught in Star Trek: Discovery, Season 3, Episode 7, “Unification III.”

New Starfleet Logo on USS Discovery

During the opening moments of the episode, we see that a newer, more rounded Starfleet insignia adorns the shuttle bay of the Discovery. This feels commensurate with the upgrade we saw the ship get last week.

USS Yelchin 

One of the “black boxes” Burnham recovered is from an “old” Federation starship called the USS Yelchin. This feels like a huge tribute to actor Anton Yelchin, who played Chekov in the Star Trek reboot films. Tragically, Yelchin died just before the release of Star Trek Beyond. 

Two-Dimensional Thinking 

Tilly tells Burnham that mapping all the Burn data works fine in two-dimensions, but not in three-dimensional space. This could be a slight nod to Spock in The Wrath of Khan. In that film, Spock points out to Kirk that Khan’s strategies indicated “two-dimensional thinking.” 

Vulcan becomes “Ni’Var”

The new name for the planet Vulcan — Ni’Var — comes from OG Star Trek fan culture. In the 1968 fanzine called Spockanalia, fan writer Dorothy Jones came-up with the word “ni var,” which she claimed was a Vulcan word that referred to “two forms.” This is not the first time this word has made it into canon though; in the 2002 Enterprise episode “Shadows of P’Jem,” the NX-01 encountered a Vulcan ship named Ni’Var.

Saru and Burnham have no idea that Romulans have pointed ears

When Saru learns the Romulans are sharing the planet formerly known as Vulcan, he says: “The Romulans were considered enemies in our time.” Vance points out that “history forgot this in your time, but Romulans and Vulcans were two tribes of the same race…” All of this is true, but the funny thing is that because DISCO’s point of origin happens in 2258, that’s a full eight years before the events of “Balance of Terror,” in 2266, in which Kirk, Spock and pretty much everybody in Starfleet, learned that Romulans looked a lot like Vulcans.

Spock and “Unification III”

The title of this episode is a reference to the two-part episode in The Next Generation, “Unification Part 1” and “Unification Part 2.” However, in the TNG days, some of the multi-part episodes were styled this way; meaning the onscreen text read “Unification II” not “Unification Part 2.” This was also true of episodes like “Redemption II.” It was not the case with “The Best of Both Worlds,” “Time’s Arrow,” or “Descent.” It’s also not the case with the title of Discovery’s first episode of Season 3, “That Hope Is You, Part 1,” which very clearly spells-out the “Part 1.” That said, Discovery is the first Trek series to not actually show the episode titles during the opening credits, a tradition that continued with Picard. (Although Lower Decks used the TNG style and has the titles spelled-out in the credits.) That said, “Unification III” is the very first time an episode title in one Trek series directly posits itself as a sequel to an episode title from a totally separate show. 

Spock’s “death”

Vance mentions that the reunification of the Vulcans and Romulans “took centuries after [Spock’s] death.” To be clear, this is a presumed death. Starfleet’s records would show that Spock fell into a black hole in 2387, right around the time of the Romulan Supernova. They have no idea he actually went back in time to 2258, and also slid sideways into the J.J. Abrams universe in Star Trek 2009. Then, he eventually died in an alternate version of the year 2263 (Star Trek Beyond), which, in the parallel Prime Universe is like two years before Kirk and Spock even meet. 

So, Spock “died” in 2387, according to Starfleet records, but really went back in time to an alternate 2258, which in the Prime Universe, is the same year from which Michael Burnham went into the future. If you count Spock’s “presumed” death established here in Discovery, and his temporary death in The Wrath of Khan, and his “actual” offscreen death in Beyond, Spock has died three times. Starfleet’s recorded death of Spock being false when time travel was really involved also echoes Starfleet’s incorrect records of Spock’s bestie James T. Kirk, who everyone thought died in 2293 on the Enterprise-B (Generations) but, really, time-traveled via the Nexus and died with Picard in 2371. (It’s like space-poetry. It rhymes.)

Finally, it should be noted that all of Sarek’s children end-up as time travelers, except for Sybok, who, in The Final Frontier, touched the face of an evil space god, and got esploded. 

Multiple Spocks! 

The flashbacks we see of Michael talking to Spock (Ethan Peck), as well as kid Spock (Liam Hughes), come from the Discovery Season 2 finale, “Such Sweet Sorrow Part 2.” Combined with the archive footage of Spock (Leonard Nimoy) from TNG, this is the only episode of Star Trek, ever, in which Spock appears three times, played by three different actors and in none of the scenes is the character “alive” in the present. This is also the only time Ethan Peck and Leonard Nimoy appear as young and old Spock in the same Star Trek thing. That said, there are oddly several precedents for Trek episodes or films in which multiple Spock actors appear in the same story. 

In the TAS episode “Yesteryear” Spock (Leonard Nimoy) meets himself as a young child (Billy Simpson.)

In The Search For Spock, Leonard Nimoy appears in the same movie with four other Spock actors, Carl Steven, Vadia Potenza, Stephen Manley, and Joe W. Davis. All of these other Spocks played Spock in his various stages of hyper-aging on the Genesis planet. But, don’t get it twisted, like Billy Simpson and Liam Hughes, these Spocks are canon!

In The Final Frontier, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) is in the same scene with an infant version of Spock. We don’t know who that baby was, but it’s a good bet that it wasn’t archive footage of Nimoy’s actual birth.

In Star Trek 2009, Leonard Nimoy obviously appears alongside Zachary Quinto, but you also have a third, child Spock played by Jacob Kogan. 

In Star Trek Into Darkness, obviously, both Quinto and Nimoy appear.

In Star Trek Beyond, two still photos of Nimoy exist in the same story as Zachary Quinto as Spock.

In the Star Trek: Discovery episodes “Light and Shadow,” and “If Memory Serves,” Liam Hughes plays child Spock in the same episode that Ethan Peck plays an adult Spock.

Anyway. That’s a lot of Spocks! Does any other Trek character come close to having this many people play them? Second place seems to be a tie between Jean-Luc Picard and Christopher Pike, who have each been played by four distinct actors. Oh, and don’t even get me started on Molly O’Brien. 

The Spock flashback!

By now, it’s obvious, but just in case you missed it, the scene in which Michael views archive footage of Spock comes from two different scenes in “Unification II.” One scene, where Spock alludes to “closed minds” happens fairly early in the episode. The rest of the speech, however, happens at the end of the episode. In both instances, Spock was talking to Jean-Luc Picard. 

I never finished the command training program

Tilly mentions that she never completed her command training. This was a major plot point in Discovery Season 2, specifically the episode “Point of Light,” when we saw Tilly win the Command Training Program half-marathon. 

Graduate of the Vulcan Science Academy

Burnham mentions she is a “graduate of the Vulcan Science Academy.” This is something her brother did not complete. We saw Burnham’s graduation day in the Discovery Season 1 episode, “Lethe.” 

“Since the time of Surak”

Burnham mentions Surak, the founder of Vulcan logic. The first canonical reference to Surak was in the TOS episode “The Savage Curtain,” in which Surak fought with Kirk and Spock, alongside Abraham Lincoln. 

Qowat Milat and “absolute candor”

We learn that Burnham’s biological mother, Gabrielle Burnham, has become a member of the Qowat Milat. This references the Romulan warrior nuns, introduced in the Picard episode “Absolute Candor.” Like Elnor, Gabrielle Burnham has a sword on her back. This episode was written by Kirsten Beyer, who, along with Michael Chabon, Akiva Goldsman, and Alex Kurtzman, co-created Star Trek: Picard.

The Temporal Accords

The Vulcan president, T’Rina (Tara Rosling) tells Saru: “Your jump to the future is not widely known, even within Starfleet.” Saru tells her that’s because they don’t want to be “polarizing, given the Temporal Accords.” This references Enterprise, in which Daniels told Archer that the Temporal Accords prevented time-travel from being used illegally. But, it also seems to indicate that Vance hasn’t told all of Starfleet where Discovery is actually from. 

Essof IV

Burnham’s mom mentions that she landed “right back on Essof IV.” This references the planet on which the Discovery crew tried to “capture” the Red Angel. Presumably, Dr. Burnham didn’t land “right” back on Essof IV. She also, clearly, journeyed into the future. How long has she been living on Ni’Var? We don’t know. Long enough to become a warrior nun! 

Needs of the many

Saru and T’Rina briefly debate about the maxim: “The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few.” This originates in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. That said, in The Voyage Home, Spock’s mom, Amanda, pointed out that Spock’s friends believed that “the need of the one” — specifically Spock — was “more important to them” than the needs of the many. Amanda raised Michael Burnham, too! 

Vulcan gongs and fire reference “Amok Time,” and The Search For Spock

When Burnham invokes the T’Kal-in-ket, some very retro Vulcan-ceremony vibes. The gongs and fire are not only evocative of Spock’s “wedding” in the TOS episode “Amok Time,” but also the ceremony in The Search For Spock, in which Spock’s Katra was put back in his body.

Tilly and Burnham still share a room!

After much speculation, it seems very clear now that Tilly and Burnham still share a room. This is because Burnham makes a joke about Tilly asking her to “switch my bed to the other side of the room.” This means that they have been roommates since “Context Is For Kings” in Season 1 of Discovery. Is there just not that much room on the ship? Or do they just like it? 

“Live long and prosper”

Somebody doing the “Live long and prosper,” thing isn’t exactly an Easter egg, but it is the first time we’ve seen Saru give the famous Vulcan salute. Saru joins several other non-Vulcan Starfleet captains who have flashed the famous hand gesture, including Captain Picard and Captain Archer. Is Saru the first non-human and non-Vulcan to do it? It seems so.

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Star Trek: Discovery is streaming now on CBS All Access.

The post Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 Episode 7 Easter Eggs & References appeared first on Den of Geek.

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#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

[lady-divine-writes]

Kurtbastian one-shot - “Professionalism” (Rated G)

Coach Beiste is giving a brand new 'stage mom' a tour of her facility - a woman lured to the Westerville Ice-plex by the stellar reputation of their ultra-serious junior coaches, Kurt Hummel and Sebastian Smythe.

At least, that's what she thinks. (1956 words)

Part 33 of Outside Edge

Read on AO3.

“Now you’re sure my children will get the training they need at your facility to become gold medal winners? I’m paying good money for them both to become champions. National champions.”

Coach Beiste stops herself from groaning as she leads her latest stage mom, Mrs. Arnell Blankenship, through the double doors to the South Rink.

But she does roll her eyes when the woman’s not looking.

“Like I said, Mrs. Blankenship, we have one of the finest facilities in Ohio: two Olympic-sized rinks, a state-of-the-art gymnasium specially tailored for competitive figure skaters …”

“State-of-the-art.” The woman scoffs, stopping to lightly kick a sideline bench that’s seen better days – one of the few relics left over from the rink’s latest renovation. But what Mrs. Blankenship doesn’t know (and she probably wouldn’t care) is that that bench is an heirloom. One of the first American hockey teams to ever compete in the Olympics visited the Westerville Ice-plex a long while back (when it was called the Westerville Ice-flow Arena) and their players sat on those benches. As far as Coach Beiste is concerned, they’re going to bury her with them – disassemble them and use the wood to build her coffin. “This whole place looks a bit outdated if you ask me.”

No one asked you, Beiste thinks.

“We’ve been in Ohio a long time. We have a rich history here. There’s no crime in gettin’ older, is there?” Beiste winks at the woman who looks personally offended by that remark. “Besides, our rink boasts more gold medalists than any other rink in Ohio.”

“So you say.” Mrs. Blankenship turns up her nose. “But that doesn’t necessarily impress me. Like you said, you’ve been around a long time. That could just be a consequence of old age.”

This time, Coach Beiste does groan, but manages to segue into a hacking cough when Mrs. Blankenship gives her a judgmental side-eye glance.

“My children could have trained at any rink in Ohio, Coach Beiste. They were personally invited to train at the rink in Columbus by the owner himself.”

“So you say,” Coach Beiste mimics to herself. “And about a hundred times already ...”

“But I came here, in part, because of the popularity of your junior coach program.”

“Oh, yes.” Coach Beiste puffs up proudly. “It’s one of a kind. We have more junior coaches on the ice during skate school than any other rink. We feel it’s important for our kids to interact as much with the junior coaches as our adult coaches. It’s good for the kids to have someone their own age that they can get help from. Plus, the friendships our kids form with their peers …”

“My kids don’t need friends, Coach Beiste,” Mrs. Blankenship cuts in. “They have each other. That’s why I had the two. And they have me. They don’t need anyone distracting them and wasting their time. The only reason why I want my kids interacting with the skaters in your program is because I want them surrounded by quality peers; peers who are proven winners, who know the value of hard work, and who have a thirst to excel. I want my children to know that there are skaters their ages who strive for perfection, who let nothing get in their way.”

Proven winners. Coach Beiste shakes her head. They’re not race horses. They’re kids. Every time she meets a woman like Blankenship, she thinks she might be getting a little too old for this. She became general manager when she was twenty-six. She’s twice that age now. She’s spent every day of her life at this rink – coaching, working the box office, doing maintenance, cutting the ice, even cleaning the johns. She doesn’t go on vacation, doesn’t take sick days. She has more than enough to retire comfortably, to a small house on the beach, where she never has to talk to another uppity skate mom or angry hockey dad again. The only reason why she sticks around is so she can make sure these kids have a safe place to come and practice.

And she has a special place in her heart for the figure skaters and hockey players whose parents put too much pressure on them to be perfect.

In that case, she doesn’t see herself retiring to that little beach house anytime soon.

“We support all our kids here,” Coach Beiste says, “competition skaters or not, and encourage them to do their best. But we also like our kids to be kids, and to remember that there’s more to life than winning gold medals.”

“Funny you should say that when you advertise your rink as home to Kurt Hummel and Sebastian Smythe. If I remember correctly, they rank in the top five, don’t they?” Mrs. Blankenship sniffs superiorly as if she had just made some damning point. “You don’t rise to that height without serious dedication to the sport.”

“Really?” Coach Beiste says, amused at the amount of condescension in this woman’s voice. It’s hard to believe that she’s a mom. She seems to know nothing about children.

Coach Beiste takes that back. She sees half a dozen parents like Mrs. Blankenship a day. Just goes to show – you don’t need to know anything about raising children to actually have one.

“Really.”

Coach Beiste bites her lower lip. “Hmm. Interesting.” From the corner of her eye, she sees the train wreck coming their way, but there’s no way for her to stop it.

Nor would she want to.

“Onward! Onward and upward! We must forge ahead into the great unknown!”

Both women turn towards the sound - a young boy crowing over the roar of plastic against ice, sliding full-tilt towards them.

Coach Beiste snickers.

Mrs. Blankenship’s face goes white.

Sebastian, dressed in hockey pads over his practice outfit with a helmet on his head and perched on top of one of the rink’s blue dolphins, points emphatically forward, while Mrs. Blankenship’s daughter Tammy (also dressed in hockey gear) pushes him down the ice, giggling madly while Sebastian cries, “Go, Tammy! Or they shall capture us forthwith for sure!”

“Aye-aye, Captain!” the little girl manages between fits of laughter, her slightly too-big helmet falling over her eyes. She jars the dolphin to the right, which almost unseats its rider, but Sebastian shifts his weight and they carry on. Behind them, another blue dolphin gives chase, this one with a padded-up Kurt poised more conservatively in its plastic saddle, raising a broken hockey stick aloft in his right hand.

“Get ‘em, Thomas!” Kurt encourages the boy (whose gear fits him better than Tammy’s fits her) pushing his dolphin and laughing just as hard as his sister. “We must capture them and avenge our hoooonnnnooooorrrr!”

“Yes, sir!” Thomas calls, whooping and hollering as he digs his blades into the ice to pick up speed, nearly rear-ending the dolphin in front of them.

“Wha---what the hell are they doing?” Mrs. Blankenship screeches, debating between racing onto the ice in her boots to drag her kids off or watching this disaster play out.

“This is how our junior coaches train,” Coach Beiste says, holding back a laugh.

“How is this training!?”

“Strength and balance.” Beiste tuts as if the answer is obvious.

Mrs. Blankenship scowls, her offended expression permanently glued to her face. “You’re making that up!”

“I am not. Our coaches find it easier to train our skaters through games and play instead of just strict repetition. When you learn to enjoy practicing the hard stuff like endurance, speed, and strength, it seems less like a chore.” She turns away from the giggling skaters and back to their mortified mother. “After all, if your kids aren’t having fun on the ice, what’re they there for?”

Mrs. Blankenship attempts to come up with an answer, opening and closing her mouth like a gaping fish, but what would she say? That someone who claimed they were a coach told her that her kids had heaps of natural talent and she decided to capitalize on it? That she chose this for them when they both saw it as a hobby? That the decision to turn them into champions was hers, not theirs? That they’d rather be playing soccer with their friends right now than be out here on the ice, but she knows better?

She can’t admit to any of that, because that might make her sound like a jerk.

Sounding like a jerk in her head is one thing. Saying it out loud and having someone else confirm it is quite another, especially to the behemoth woman in front of her, smirking with one side of her mouth like she already knows.

Sebastian howls, and she focuses back on him.

“Come about!” he cries. “Let us stop running like cowards and fight like men!”

“I don’t want to be a man! I want to be Wonder Woman!” Tammy grunts, leaning on the handle of the dolphin to get it to change direction.

“Capital idea! Positively top notch! Come about, Wonder Woman! Let us vanquish our foes!”

Tammy’s blades skid over the ice as she attempts to spin them around, but even though she’s running fast, she goes nowhere. She stops for a second, pulls back, then pushes hard left, trying to force the dolphin to turn, but that tosses Sebastian to the ice, and the whole caravan comes to a screeching halt. Everyone, including Coach Beiste and Mrs. Blankenship, gasp. But Sebastian rolls to his knees and leaps to his feet in an instant.

“I’m o-kay!” he announces, and the two kids cheer, gathering around him to give him a high-five. Kurt, still sitting on his dolphin, laughs so hard, tears leak from the corners of his squeezed eyelids.

“And that’s why they wear pads,” Beiste says, wiping tears from her own eyes.

“What!?” Mrs. Blankenship takes a deep breath and counts to five, trying to regain her composure. “Coach Beiste,” she says, ready to launch into a huge speech about commitment and professionalism and attitude and decorum, the same speech she’s given her kids more than a dozen times this week alone, but Coach Beiste speaks up before she has a chance.

“Before you say anything, pumpkin, you already signed the contract, so your deposit’s not refundable.”

Mrs. Blankenship’s speech dies inside a small yelp in the back of her throat. “But, I … no, I …” She looks from Coach Beiste’s challenging stare to the kids on the ice, hers included, rolling around and fanning their arms and legs, laughing and making angels.

Her kids are laughing.

For the first time in weeks, honest to God laughing.

She may not like why they’re laughing, but they’re laughing.

She could stick to her guns, grab her children and leave, but she’s in no mood to be the bad guy today, not when she’s up against the two young men she’d so adamantly used as examples of greatness. If she did that, then one way or another, she’d have to admit she was wrong – either about them being role models, or about the amount of seriousness required to be an exceptional athlete. Besides, $300 is a lot of money to flush, especially when other rinks with less stellar reputations charge twice as much for their programs. She crosses her arms tightly and huffs. “Fine.”

“Wonderful!” Coach Beiste beams at the reluctant woman, clapping her on the shoulder. “Welcome to the Westerville Ice-plex family!”

Mrs. Blankenship takes a step to her right out of the infuriating woman’s reach, but she can’t help smiling when she sees her little Tammy break off with Coach Sebastian and perform her first ever clean waltz jump with the biggest grin ever on her face. “Fantastic.”

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