"Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees" by Qynn
Abstract: Farmers are the backbone of our economy, but they are breaking under the strain. They
spend hours on end dealing with tremendous amounts of paperwork, stressing over impossible
problems, and praying that God will give them good weather for the harvest. They are the hidden
heroes of God’s green earth—working day after day but getting little to no pay. Small local
farmers are not receiving enough income to continue farming or caring for their families. A
farmer’s fruit goes through a process—put in warehouses, sold by a seller, and placed in grocery
stores to be sold to consumers. Once the consumer buys the fruit, the money begins to flow
backward. Say the seller prices a bin of fruit for five dollars and the grocery store buys that bin,
the seller will take two dollars of those five, one for income and one to cover the costs, the
warehouse will do the same, but by the time the money reaches the farmer only one dollar is left.
The farmer—the one who supplies all those other people with their products is earning no
income. The industrialization of agriculture has created an economic divide between grocery
stores, agriculture companies, and farmers, forcing the farmer to be paid last instead of first. This
current structure puts farmers out of business and disheartens orchardists from continuing their
farms. When this happens, who will grow the food if the farmer disappears?
This podcast features music by Wyatt Darnell, alumni of The River Academy. If you want more information about his music, or about anything else we've discussed here, email us at podcast@theriveracademy.org
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"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: Trans Athletes and the Attack on Femininity" by Norah
Abstract:
“8 Times Women in Sports Fought for Equality.”
“Female Athletes Sue NCAA Over Trans Competitors.”
“Field Hockey Captain Slams Policy Allowing Male Athletes On Girl Teams After Injury.”
“Feminism In Sports.”
“Standing Up For Women Is A Dangerous Game.”
These are current headlines, fresh off the press, becoming an ever- increasing issue in
today’s culture.
And why is that? Because women are disrespected and people are upset about it. The
honor of womanhood is being attacked and diminished as seen through the deterioration of
women’s sports. Specifically, women’s sports are clearly being taken advantage of at all levels:
high school, college, professional, and Olympic. God’s intentionally-designed biblical gender
roles are losing hold in today’s society, leading to the culture ignoring and degrading the specific
functions of each gender.
Looking back through time, women have fought to receive rights, but now those are
twisting and changing. Basic biological facts show that men are naturally different from women,
being born with XY chromosomes that shape their development and hormones for the rest of
their lives. The physical, mental, and emotional differences of men especially display themselves
during physical activities such as sports, making an unfair and uncomfortable playing field when
they are allowed to compete with women.
Actions need to be taken to prevent this perversion of womanhood. If men and women
have been defined and separated for years, then instead of mixing the two together, another
bracket or a couple of competition brackets could be created. In this broken world there will
never be a perfect solution, but attacking women’s rights and distorting femininity in the process
cannot be the answer. In the end, the only true answer is resetting today’s culture to align with
biblical principles. People must look beyond their own feelings to the reality of God’s world and
those around them.
This podcast features music by Wyatt Darnell, alumni of The River Academy. If you want more information about his music, or about anything else we've discussed here, email us at podcast@theriveracademy.org
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"Classically Intelligent: Using Classical Music to Aid in Children’s Brain Development" by Belle
Abstract: Everyone listens to music constantly–whether on the way to work, while taking a shower,
while whistling and walking through a store, music constantly surrounds us in our modern
culture. However, there is one genre of music that has timelessly surrounded the minds of
humans: instrumental classical music has influenced our processing since the 5th century BC.
Most people do not know the true weight that classical music carries through its soundwaves. It
has been scientifically proven that classical music can enhance the brainpower of humans
through neural pathways. However, classical music effects the minds of children in the most
impactful way.
The minds of children are similar to sponges. They are designed to soak in all
information thrown their way through sound waves. So, when a young child listens to classical
music, it can have a lasting effect on their mind. But how does this effect even work? This has
been crowned the name “The Mozart Effect” because Mozart’s classics, more than any other
classical music, has been studied and dissected. It has been discovered that Mozart wrote his
classics in a specific mathematical way, resulting in this sound wave process, and studies show
that classical music has this beautiful and lasting effect.
This is why parents should integrate classical music into their children’s daily lives in
order to enhance the processing power of their brains, therefore increasing the quality of their
adult lives.
There are 3 key ways that parents can put their children in this said environment:
This podcast features music by Wyatt Darnell, alumni of The River Academy. If you want more information about his music, or about anything else we've discussed here, email us at podcast@theriveracademy.org
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*"Purity Pitch" by Hailey *
Abstract: The pure, moral world today is in peril. Morality is a hodge-podge of desire and whims in
a post-truth society without a transcendent grounding. It is far diverged from what God originally
designed and planned for His people. This divine design and framework for humans to live well
is outlined in His law: the Bible. The following of this plan is called “purity.” Purity is
God-ordained wholeness, an appointing of things as the way He made them to be: mentally,
spiritually, and physically. Each of these are interconnected and an outpouring of each other,
centered around a righteous relationship with God. He has told us how to live well, and there are
natural consequences for not following this: a mental health crisis and STDs run rampant as
human desire becomes increasingly perverse—and celebrated. Morality itself is slowly shifting
towards a more self-based system of autonomy. “You do you” and other post-truth phrases
plague the world today, idolizing self-love and pleasure over the loving altruism God calls for.
Pleasure is idolized as a personal truth, and people have agency enough to do whatever they
would desire. However, what we whimsically desire is usually not what is best for us and when
untempered, can lead to heartbreak and destruction. God wants us to obey Him, and by doing so,
we are protected from consequences and prepared to live our lives in the best way He designed.
To live purely is to follow God’s plan, and this faith is one of the pillars of a Christian’s
relationship with others and God.
This podcast features music by Wyatt Darnell, alumni of The River Academy. If you want more information about his music, or about anything else we've discussed here, email us at podcast@theriveracademy.org
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"From Shadows to Salvation: Unmasking the Power of Faith in Overcoming the Chains of Pornography" by Isaiah
Abstract: Drug addiction is very harmful, especially if the drug of choice is pornography. It can have devastating effects on both individuals and society. About $3,075.64 is being spent on porn every second. It makes more than the NFL, NBA, and the MLB combined! It promotes sex trafficking and causes people to be unfaithful to their spouses. It creates unrealistic expectations, objectification and has heavy emotional and mental health effects. Drugs can “promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for ‘people are slaves to whatever has mastered them’'' (New International Version, 2 Pet. 2.19). The internet is like an infinite ocean of information, where each website is a unique island waiting to be explored in seeming anonymity! It is a vast and ever-expanding universe of knowledge, entertainment, and connections. Like the ocean, surfing the internet can be both exciting and overwhelming, with endless possibilities at the touch of a button. Tragically, the same universe of possibility and peril has opened for the proliferation of porn. Except, due to the damaging and addictive nature of this certain “ocean,” it is more like a maelstrom, constantly sucking the surfers in and enticing them, making them crave more and more—a dark vortex that pulls powerfully back, every time someone tries escaping.
The addictive nature of pornography can warp the mind and lead to harmful behaviors, impacting one's ability to have healthy relationships and causing physical, mental, and psychological harm. However, through the power of faith and seeking help from God, individuals can find healing and redemption from the damaging effects of pornography addiction. Utilizing a step-by-step plan, seeking guidance from professionals or support groups, and practicing positive self-talk can all contribute to overcoming the addiction. By acknowledging the issue, seeking forgiveness, and developing healthy coping mechanisms, individuals can work towards a path of healing and recovery. Ultimately, finding solace in the grace of God and the teachings of Jesus can provide the strength and guidance needed to break free from the chains of addiction and experience a renewed sense of self and healthier relationships.
This podcast features music by Wyatt Darnell, alumni of The River Academy. If you want more information about his music, or about anything else we've discussed here, email us at podcast@theriveracademy.org
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Fractured Education: The School System’s Prejudiced Social Divide by Quinn
Abstract: Despite all of our advances in ridding ourselves of the injustices that have plagued our nation, a particular example of bigotry has been left to fester. People with special needs have historically been a consistent target for prejudice and oppression; this discrimination has bled out of the history books and into the American school system. To this day, American schools operate under ableism and discrimination, causing incredible social development problems our for students, and continuing to contribute to a bigoted culture. It is imperative to the development of all students that students with special needs are socially included within school culture. School culture unifies a school, it dictates the tones and conditions that a student body will operate under. For students to overcome a culturally instilled attitude of ableism, they must be educated on and exposed to their peers with special needs, specifically in these culture-building events. Inclusion in these events is the first step in breaking through the prejudice that students and their educational system share, exposing the humanity in the students who are treated as less-than, and bringing to light the inhumanity in the ableism that has dictated the lives of so many students with disabilities.
This podcast features music by Wyatt Darnell, alumni of The River Academy. If you want more information about his music, or about anything else we've discussed here, email us at podcast@theriveracademy.org
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This summer, we're posting the audio of our Senior Thesis Defenses one at a time, starting with Sarah, who will be arguing that the church needs to be more involved in the foster care system.
"The Fostering of Foster Care Through the Church" by Sarah
**
**Abstract: When a child needs help, who do they run to for help? Usually to their parents.
Sometimes it is a friend, but the younger someone is, the more they tend to rely on their
parents. However, children in the foster care system don’t have that option; they don’t
have parents to run to. While the foster system’s intentions of wanting to take children
out of toxic environments and put them into a safer place are genuine, it is also in dire
need of help–of the Christian church’s help. Simply because children are taken out of an
unsafe living environment, that doesn’t mean that the place they are sent to is necessarily
a better place than the previous one. Foster children need a loving home, and Christians
are called to love and help all people as God loved everyone. Even though Christians are
called to help all people, not everyone is able to afford the cost to adopt a foster child
which can range anywhere from $20,000-$65,000 primarily depending on the race of the
child in question. It is for this reason that the church should be financially involved with
the foster care system by raising money through the church or by getting involved with
the expenses. The foster care system needs help, and the Christian church, through the
calling of Christ, is the help that is needed.
This podcast features music by Wyatt Darnell, alumni of The River Academy. If you want more information about his music, or about anything else we've discussed here, email us at podcast@theriveracademy.org
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Michael and Tyler discuss a classic piece of literature taught to our 7th graders. They talk about why they teach it, what it means to our curriculum, and gives parents an idea of what they can talk about with their students.
Don't forget to email us with any questions! podcast@theriveracademy.org
This podcast features music by Wyatt Darnell, alumni of The River Academy. If you want more information about his music, or about anything else we've discussed here, email us at podcast@theriveracademy.org
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This week, we sit down for an interview with recent alumni Wyatt Darnell (who also composed the music for this podcast!) to talk about sticking it out through the end of high school at a classical Christian school.
This podcast features music by Wyatt Darnell, alumni of The River Academy. If you want more information about his music, or about anything else we've discussed here, email us at podcast@theriveracademy.org
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In this episode, we interview our secondary science teacher about awakening wonder in our students, pursuing the sciences from a Christian worldview, teaching as learning, and employing rhetoric in the science classroom.
This podcast features music by Wyatt Darnell, alumni of The River Academy. If you want more information about his music, or about anything else we've discussed here, email us at podcast@theriveracademy.org
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Tyler and Michael reignite the podcast with an eye toward discussing Classical Education's tenets in general, while also talking about the TRA Difference–how do we do Classical Education at The River Academy. Today's episode, in particular, is about Humane Letters, what it is, and our approach to literature, history, worldview, philosophy, and writing in general.
This podcast features music by Wyatt Darnell, alumni of The River Academy. If you want more information about his music, or about anything else we've discussed here, email us at podcast@theriveracademy.org
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NEW PODCAST from The River Academy:
Because of COVID's curveballs, we decided to try something new: Old Time Radio Theatre. So, in the classical vein of the Golden Age of radio, we took our stage to the airwaves! We'll provide a mixture of plays, poetry, and prose, all performed by the students of The River Academy.
Find us here.
We present a reading of William Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud" from Emma Cenotto.
"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"
by William Wordsworth
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
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Learn More: https://www.theriveracademy.org/
NEW PODCAST from The River Academy:
Because of COVID's curveballs, we decided to try something new: Old Time Radio Theatre. So, in the classical vein of the Golden Age of radio, we took our stage to the airwaves! We'll provide a mixture of plays, poetry, and prose, all performed by the students of The River Academy.
Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and online.
For our inaugural episode of The River Academy Theatre on the Air, we present a reading of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's "The Charge of the Light Brigade" from Emma Cenotto, Hailey Anderson, and Caden Vasquez.
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As our school has started–essentially–an online school, a virtual River Academy, we need to calibrate, to rethink what education looks like. Listen to Eric and Tyler talk about this daunting, yet exciting prospect!
This podcast features a portion of the song “Happy end” by Distemper, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.
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In this special, early edition of Going with the Flow, Eric and Tyler give updates on the Coronavirus and how they're preparing their school in case of closure.
This podcast features a portion of the song “Happy end” by Distemper, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.
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This week, Eric and Tyler address anxiety surrounding the coronavirus as well as contingency plans and the importance of knowing all the facts before we panic about something.
This podcast features a portion of the song “Happy end” by Distemper, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.
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Eric and Tyler talk about a new study presented by the Association of Classical Christian Schools that examines the long-term effects of Classical Christian education on its students.
Link to the study: https://classicaldifference.com/good-soil/
This podcast features a portion of the song “Happy end” by Distemper, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.
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This week, we have a special guest: Matt Canlis. He's the pastor of a church here in Wenatchee, he's a filmmaker, an author, and is passionate about the arts–and using them to glorify God.
Links:
This podcast features a portion of the song “Happy end” by Distemper, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.
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Special Guest: Matt Canlis.
Eric and Tyler talk about some of the apps that you should be aware of–but it's not about being afraid of the things that may be on your kids' devices. Talk with your kids, be open, be purposeful, be aware.
Links:
This podcast features a portion of the song “Happy end” by Distemper, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.
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This week, Eric and Tyler discuss a mindset of awareness for how you manage your technology individually and as a family.
Links:
This podcast features a portion of the song “Happy end” by Distemper, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.
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