Liberty and Learning

"What spectacle can be more edifying or more seasonable than that of
Liberty and Learning,
each leaning on the other for their natural and surest support."
- James Madison

From this, it would seem that the fourth POTUS, co-author of The Federalist Papers, and my best friend's namesake was an early social networking learner.

Last week, while visiting Washington, DC – the city Madison took back from the Brits in the War of 1812 – I saw social learning in action. The required learning: All students and chaperones needed to change meeting places following the Smithsonian tour. The problem: They were scattered all throughout 2 massive museum buildings. Their solution was their network: Texting. While aging chaperones like myself, more worthy of museum curio status than that of museum visitor, were thinking of how we would get the word out, the student TXT network kicked in and all were present and accounted for at the new location.

Simple model, but it worked.
Come get me, Mother. I'm through.

p.s. I don't want to post without pausing to honor our war dead on this Memorial Day. I appreciate the freedoms with which I have been entrusted – purchased and preserved by those who gave their last full measure.

"The tree of liberty must be refeshed from time to time with the blood of patriots."
- Thomas Jefferson

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. ... For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
- Paul (Galatians 5:1, 13-14)