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Firestation Auto in Tyler

April 28th, 2012

I don’t know whether I’m like most people or not, but when it comes time to purchase a new car, I find that I become the worst of procrastinators. I hate the process. Sure I enjoy checking out vehicles on line or casually looking at cars on the lot, but I don’t like being rushed through a process, I don’t like collecting and filling out paper work, and while showing off the new ride to family is fun, I quickly tire of the phrase “Look at you! Moving up in the world huh?!”

Honestly, I’m not much of a car guy. I know what I like, but my knowledge is mostly limited to the practical. I also know when it’s past time to let an old admittedly beloved vehicle into the pasture for retirement.  Being that I drive an hour to work every day, one of my biggest concerns was gas mileage. Combine that with my safety and reliability concerns, my target market for cars makes for a fairly boring sale. Since the last couple vehicles I’ve owned have been private sales, I approached the dealerships somewhat reluctantly.  After shopping around on line, I decided to visit Firestation Auto in Tyler. As the name implies the dealership has been housed in an old fire station for over twenty years. While I have heard their ads on KTBB, and have family members who’ve bought from them in the past, I was still really surprised to find their sales techniques extremely hands off. Owner, operator, salesman, Lance Brown made himself available to answer questions, but otherwise I was free to search the lot looking and sitting in vehicles. After browsing around a little, I asked to test drive a vehicle of interest. The car was a late model, Toyota Corolla. It had low mileage, ran very well, and most importantly, gets about thirty five miles to the gallon. Only when I was ready to buy did Mr. Brown begin the process of checking my credit and putting together a deal.

Lance took all of my financial information into consideration and then worked with the lending institution to hammer out a great payment plan with a really low, fixed interest rate. In the weeks since, I have actually come to enjoy my commute. Looking back at my experience with Firestation , I am still struck by how low pressure, and laid back their sales staff was. Even with my young son exploring their office, the whole attitude, from their side of the deal in particular, was easy, reasonable and relaxed. For those considering a new vehicle, try Firestation Auto first. It’s a different car buying experience.  For more info, check them out on line at http://www.firestationauto.com/homepage.html .

Accelerated Christian Education

August 18th, 2010

ACE Accelerated Christian EducationAs a teacher for going on twelve years now, much of my writing focus for Tyler TX Directory has to do with that subject. It’s just what I know so naturally, it’s a topic that is often in the forefront of my mind. Recently I discovered that there is a new private school opening in our area, but I will refrain from mentioning it by name as I cannot endorse the curriculum the school is using. I feel I must be careful about critiquing this form of education because I realize that it’s very popular in religious circles.

For going on forty years now Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) has been a force in American Christian Education. In a time when Americans were waking up to the need for private religious schools, the publisher offered a curriculum that was easy to apply, not labor intensive for either students or parents, and required very little faculty or staff to implement. The timing couldn’t have been better, as church schools began to spring up around the country supplied by ACE.

In 1977 another curriculum company started. It borrowed the same methodology and (I can only presume) drew from ACE’s rich target market. Honestly I suspect the number of schools using it has dropped off a bit in recent years, but I may be wrong. The system worked essentially like this; the classrooms were quiet and nontraditional. Each student had his or her own work space or cubicle. The students set goals for themselves and in each subject and worked to complete those goals. If they finished early they could either press on in order to “get ahead,” or they could take a break. Each subject had its own series of booklets, called Paces or Lifepacs depending on the curriculum. At the end of each was a test. Tests and questions are often graded by the student, but (I assume) would also be corrected by the teacher present. The system allowed the student to work at the pace they chose, or necessary to “master” or memorize the material. As an elementary student I was briefly enrolled in an Alpha Omega school before my parents wisely withdrew me.

Of the two, the ACE program appears more popular with most homeschoolers. In practice they are virtually identical, if not in content. Eventually I was enrolled in a school with a more classical approach, but as a student I pined for the days when I could work at my own pace, (which meant painfully slow). I also lost a year (or something like that) due to the fact that I didn’t learn anything. My new classical private school came like a slap. I was back in a world that pushed me, required me to learn, and that didn’t allow me list away at my desk passively reading through a workbook. My new school taught me to think!

And it is actually the methodology that I’m taking issue with. I would probably find much to debate in the programs content and theology as well, but there is no perfect curriculum in that regard. Our preferences generally tend to depend on our denomination. But (in my opinion), the approach to education offered by these program is far too rote. As an educator it is my job to teach my students reason critically. The methods mentioned above do talk a lot about God, but they fail to reason with him. Plugging a student into a cubby hole with a Pace or a Lifepac while an “instructor” walks around the room is not helping them to think. In my experience these systems merely teach the student to perform the minimum requirements necessary to complete a given task. There is no excellence. There is no discussion. There is no mentoring.

The ACE literature suggests that most curriculums focus on how to teach, but should focus on how to learn. However learning is itself a skill to be learned. This brings us back to the original question of how best to teach. Another problem I have with this model is that it greatly devalues the role of the teacher, and quite frankly the parent by proxy. Students merely read from the booklet and plug their answers into the blanks. Yes as a parent or teacher, you may be sitting next to your child, but he or she is not learning from the wisdom or experience that you have to offer, he’s learning from his Lifepac. The fact is the parent / teacher should be irreplaceable in the classroom. Good teachers guide the students through a subject far more complicated than what booklet can present. And let’s face it many or most students would rather not be in school in the first place. The teacher’s role is partially to inspire in their students a love of learning, to get more out of them than they realized they could do, or to introduce them to new concepts they never expected to understand.

I realize the each student is unique, and not everyone has the opportunity to benefit from the education my brothers and I did. Some students (like my sister in law) have grown up in an ACE or Alpha Omega program and come out with a tremendous education. But I would suggest that those were students who would have prospered in nearly any environment because they are excellent students who love learning. I’d venture to guess that most are more like me. I was more inspired to chase my classmates on the playground with a sharp stick in some mock battle than sit quietly in my cubby filling in blanks.

I can appreciate the goal of these publishers. It is not my desire to impugn the religious nature of their mission, only to examine their methods. To read more about my philosophy of education (if that interests you) look for my recent article entitled Guadalupe Radio Network located elsewhere on this site. To read more about Accelerated Christian Education visit their webpage at http://www.aceministries.com. To learn more about Alpha Omega check out their site at http://www.aop.com.

Target Super Market in Tyler Texas

February 5th, 2010

TARGET

7003 S. Broadway Ave
Tyler TX, 75703
Phone #: 903 939 1900
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8am-10pm
Sun 8am – 9pm

Target stores are nationwide department stores which sell clothing, shoes, jewelry, health and beauty products, electronics, CD and DVDs, bedding, kitchen items, sporting goods, toys, pet food, automotive supplies and hardware. They also carry seasonal merchandise such as patio furniture during the summer and a large selection of decorations for every budget at Christmas. Tyler Target also has a pharmacy and a photo center.

As you enter Target the first thing that hits you is the delicious smell of popcorn. There is a small café on the right of the store as you enter. On the left is a budget area where you can buy seasonal items like toys and party favors for a dollar. Once you pass this you are entering the clothing department. The fashions are low priced and subsequently, low quality, but are still very popular. The lingerie and sports wear include brand names and are reasonably priced. Target also stocks quite a selection of bags and accessories plus some jewelry.

The housewares and home décor sold by Target are much more attractive than those sold at Walmart. Their team of designers are brilliant at making the ordinary look cool and contemporary. There is an extensive toy and game department and well-stocked baby section. Target is a favorite for baby and wedding gift registries.  You can print registry lists on dedicated red computers just inside the door.

The food sold at Target is limited but they do have their own brand of foodstuffs called Archers Farm which are great quality and in general, of high nutritional value. They have regular discounts on these items and details of these and other offers can be found in their weekly circular newspaper. In addition Target have their own brand of toiletries and household consumables – now called ‘Up and up’ (look for the white labels with arrows) – they claim to compare to the best selling brands and are usually at least 10% cheaper. Look for orange colored price labels throughout the store for clearance prices.

Finally, Target has a selection of cards and party goods for all occasions at a range of prices, and a photo center near the exit. If you use an internet service like Shutterfly you can order prints online and pick them up at Target.

One negative thing about Target is their return policy. They are only required to take things back with a receipt – even if the item is labelled as a Target exclusive. The moral of the story is that you should always keep your receipts and ask for a gift receipt if you are buying presents for someone else.

Target.com is a good place to look for bargains and they have things that are not always available in store. However, you need to watch for shipping costs – there is no ‘site to store’ free shipping which is such a bonus at Walmart.com.

Target sells such a wide variety of goods that they are the biggest seller of giftcards in the USA. We bought some for our nephews and nieces at Christmas and were impressed to find cards that light up and sing for the recipients! They are always well received…