In January he really got busy and started working on his science fair project. However, time constraints with his mentor, Bro. Christopher Long, prevented him from getting everything done in time for the science fair. This hasn't stopped him from continuing with his project. He plans to keep gathering data and will submit his project next year.
Here's what his project is all about...in his own words:
Basically, I'm taking a bunch of data and on what conditions affect the accuracy of GPS. I'll do this by taking a bunch of GPS readings in different places and putting where the GPS thought we were and where we actually were on a map. That's about it.
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I believe he's been greatly inspired by The Piano Guys, he even wants to pick up violin again. Hummmm, we'll have to see about that.
The Key of Liberty class has been a butt kicker for him this semester, but he's keeping up with it. He has to journal the entire Constitution--which means read the document, section by section, and rewrite it in his own words. This, along with reading novels and biographies, memorizing 10 scriptures, research project and a power point presentation has kept him hopping. He also has an opinion paper due each week based on a question. Here's a sample of his work:
Connor Hale
Tatiana
Fallon
March 22,
2013
Key of
Liberty
Never
Twice
The Constitution is the most advanced
document governing a nation in existence. But what would life be like without
it? What if the constitution had never existed? Would America have stayed its
own nation, or would another power have taken control? What would have become
of America?
The first thing which would happen in
the absence of the constitution would be a return to the articles of
confederation. The articles of confederation were the original attempt at a
constitution, made at the beginning of the American War for Independence. These
articles gave all the power to the states, forbidding the federal government to
have any power whatsoever. The federal government couldn't tax, and it couldn't raise an army. Everything was left to the states, nothing to the federal
government. This may seem fine, but no federal government, complete with the
checks and balances of the constitution, would inevitably fail. With no higher judge
or supreme law, a state may do whatever it pleases. If a state forbids free
speech, who shall stand against it? Without a national currency, one thousand
dollars in one state may only be ten in another. Commerce between states would
be impossible. In a confederation, a state may decide to require a passport to
cross into its land, and no one can stop them.
The second thing that would have
happened would be the reclaiming of America by the British. Great Britain was
waiting for America to collapse, and it clearly would under the Articles of
Confederation. It would be at that moment that the British would swoop in to
reclaim her lost child, who would no doubt be more wary of separation from her
mother country. The immediate effects would be small. America would most likely
demand as part of her demands of surrender to have a vote in parliament, and
for a while life would go well. America would not be as large on account of the
Louisiana Purchase not taking place, as well as the war of Mexico, but on the
whole life would be fine. However, around the time of World War I, problems
would occur. It was America, who didn't enter the war until 1917, who ended the
war. If they had entered at the same time as the rest of Britain, their forces
would have been more expended than they were, with Germany having been able to
fight them off while their forces had still been strong.
Life without the constitution would
leave us under the tyrannical rule by Germany, and had done so since 1918, or
the general area thereof. At some point, that power would collapse and history
would restart the cycle which follows a destroyed empire. However, the most
unfortunate loss would be the loss of the most advanced form of government ever
invented. Without the constitution, the chance to make a government completely
free of the bonds of previous government may not arise for centuries, nor have
they a second time since the birth of the constitution.
Connor Hale
Tatiana
Fallon
Key of
Liberty 2
February 5,
2013
Two
Powers
What can the average citizen do to make
laws? Since everything is done by congress, one might that they have no power,
or very little. This is not true. The common person has two means of influence
in making laws. The first is obvious: voting. The second is not so obvious, it
is expressing their opinions. These are two ways normal people can help make
laws.
The first thing that an average citizen
can do to make laws is vote. When you vote, you put your input into laws
through voting for leaders. If you choose the leaders who will make laws that
you want made, you put your input into laws, thereby making laws. This is the
first power most people have in making laws.
The second way people are able to make
laws is to express their opinions. When we tell others our opinions, the ideas
will eventually make it to those who make laws directly, whether the opinions
are expressed directly or through others. Also, the opinions one expresses can
be influential in how others vote. Thus, it is important to express our
opinions.
To answer the question at the top of
the page, the average citizen can vote and express opinions. These two things
are what make laws, essentially.
Connor Hale
Tatiana
Fallon
Key of
liberty 2
February 27,
2013
Rectitude
for Our Actions
The ability to declare and levy war is
important, as well as dangerous. This is why the Founding Fathers added
numerous checks and balances to the constitution. But is congress really the
group able to declare war? Is there another party involved?
The foremost balance of power is that
while congress can declare war, the president is in charge of the armed forces.
Congress can declare war, but they can’t send forces without the authority of
the president. Additionally, each state has its own national guard, which can
only be called forth on the authority of the states themselves. These checks
and balances stop any one from abusing the military. For this reason, the power
to declare war rests where it belongs.
For a republic, which is better for
large groups, or a democracy, which is better for small groups, to function,
people must be willing to except recompense for their actions. Likewise, when
the people elect representatives they must choose with care, for it will be the
direct result of those decisions which govern the nation they live in. If they
elect too many pacifists, a reaction to war would not take place fast enough.
If they elected too many war lovers, war would begin too quickly and
unnecessary violence would occur. This means that the power to declare war
falls indirectly onto the heads of none other than the people of the United
States of America.
The power to declare war falls to the
people. This should be the basis of every government. Rectitude for actions is a
divine principle, one that cannot be removed for any reason. This means that
the people should be, and in America are, in charge of declaring war.
One day in January he picked up two books on logic. He later told me that he thinks a study of logic would be a great thing for him to have. So he began to read and study the books....and pepper us with lots of logic thinking puzzles. I've always known I wasn't a very logically minded person, this has confirmed it. Barry does quite a bit better than I do. For presentations meeting in February, he shared some of what he learned and let some of the others play some logic games as well. His next plan will be to re-read the book and annotate it.
Books he's read since January:
Issac Asimov books (many of them)
Logic Made Easy by------------
Freedom Factor by Gerald Lund
Fifty Five Fathers
The Hobbit
The Great Little Madison
Due to the most wonderful changes to the youth Sunday School and mutual Sunday lessons.....can you tell I love them?....Connor gave the lesson in Sunday school today. He just wrote a key word outline to remind him of what he planned to discuss with the class. here are his notes:
Sometimes, feel, inadequacy.
Courage, promise, “grace is sufficient to
make weak things become strong”.
Acknowledge, weakness, faith, strengthen,
teach.
Jeremiah 1:9 Quote: I submit to you that may be one of the Savior’s
commandments that is, even in the hearts of otherwise faithful latter-day
saints almost universally disobeyed. I am convince that none of us can
appreciate how deeply it wounds the loving heart of the Savior when he finds
that his people do not feel confident in his care, or secure in his hands or
trust in his commandments. Jeffrey R. Holland.
D&C 1:19-23, Jacob 4:7, Alma 17:9-11, 29:9.
Savior, prepare, fasting, prayer.
Seek, guidance, Heavenly Father.
How, follow, example, teach?
Requirement, class, diagram, constitution. State, meaning. Help,
understand. Must, understand, teach.
Role-play: Friend, assignment. Feel, inadequate. How, help, friend.
No, ridicule, others. Courtesy, respond.
I'll have him write more about it later....but Cailin said that he did a wonderful job.
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