I was just thinking about “what is a good basic education?” I mean beyond mastery of reading, writing, and arithmetic? (We won’t go into how poorly or well that is. Topic for another post.) I do think another very important part especially for those of us who are products of the Western world is a grounding in the classics – not just lit, but art, history, and architecture. I think a good basic education means you can recognize world renowned buildings – like Parliament, Kremlin, Machu Picchu, Great Wall, Sydney Opera house, Parthenon, White House, Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple at Deir el Bahari, the Pantheon, etc. Not only should be able to name them but tell why they are significant be it historical or architecturally or socially.
Which brings me to my morning coffee thoughts. I was surfing Pinterest as I do. (I have to limit it to my morning coffee time and breaks). There I saw a photo pinned under architecture as “the Forgotten Temple of Lysistrata“. Which I thought odd on several levels – the obvious one “Hey that’s the Pantheon’s dome, arches, and oculus” which led to the morning pondering. The more obscure one is Lysistrata is an ancient play about the battle of sexes, so why would there be a temple to a comedy? Now I don’t expect everyone to know that. But know the Pantheon on sight – yep I guess I expected that to be part of a basic historic education.
You see the Pantheon was the first understanding that arches in a series made a dome that would not need support in the center offering a large open interior space. Even my bumpkin small high school education taught me that. It was something that was modified and used later in the Medieval Period to make wall of glass and cross shape of cathedrals in the form of the flying buttress. Again I accredit my tiny country high school for the knowledge.
Next I quizzed Mike who has been to the Pantheon and doesn’t have as strong classical education as I got. “Would you recognize the interior of the Pantheon if you saw it photoshopped into another picture?” His answer “No, but I’d recognize the ugly outside of it.” SIGH my expectations are dashed. I’ll give him that it isn’t pretty on the outside the interior is the impressive and the knowledge gained in the use and modifications of arches. Heck, we aren’t really sure what it was built to do.
As my morning coffee grew cold I considered what I thought was a good basic education – a working understanding of how another language different from your own native tongue is structured, a grounding the the history of your predominate culture and introduction to other major cultures of the world (including art, architecture, mathematics etc), strong general science basics (biology, physics to include astronomy, chemistry), mastery of the basic grammar of your language, understanding of major literary works in that language (having read a few completely and introduced to others and their significance), basic economics (personal accounting, intro to various business systems), music at least two years on one instrument (including discussion of the math and physics of sound and how that is captured in written sheet music), physical education (including explanation of what exercise does what muscles to relate back to biology class), Geography (relating to history and general science as well as current political boundaries).
Okay maybe my expectation is a bit much but wouldn’t it be grand if we all got that as a foundation to start building our dreams…
The last post we talked about what Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and key words are. We had a link that would look at our site like a search engine does and tell us what it saw as key words. Now we know key words are how search engines direct people looking for those things to your website. We looked at places we can use keywords that readers don’t see but websites check. So now we got what they are and where to put them besides using them naturally in out posts. Now for the hard part – identifying what you want your keywords to be.
That’s where I’m stymied. That’s why I asked for you help as readers. I’m trying to define my top five keywords. The first step is defining what my site is about. I have one for multiple reasons: to sell my writing, photography, and jewelry, a form of creative outlet, to meet people with like interests, get feedback from on ideas, share my love of comic books, and get some name recognition for my published works.
Okay right there I know I want my keywords to include the following
my name
my published works
jewelry
my photographs
comic book reviews/commentary
But those aren’t going to be five key words. Okay my name is because that’s not gonna change. Now to figure out how to sum up what I do in my blog on those other four things in keywords that the search engine will like but not a lot of other websites use the same phrase. That’s where another link can come in handy. Google’s Keyword Tool lets you enter in a phrase that describes the concept. From there it generates a list of keywords but also lets you know how many searches there were for the terms and how heavy the competition is for the suggested term. Here’s a screen capture of a search I did for ‘comic book reviews.” (you can click on it to enlarge it)
So what does this mean? The first column there are keywords indexed by Google that relate to my entry. The next column tells you what the competition is like on that term. This is the number of websites vying to be on that coveted front page of search results. Next is the number of searches performed world wide for that keyword. The local area set there was the default for my IP address which is USA, English, desktop/laptop. For some reason Google won’t let you lump mobile devices in with traditional computers. So here I see the term cbr doesn’t have a lot of competition but it gets a lot of searches – the reason is it’s a well established website called Comic Book Resource . Great site! I can’t and don’t want to compete with them on their name. I see that graphic novel reviews is low but gets a good number of hits – that’s very similar to what I do reviews of complete story arcs. I might consider using that in my tags and alt text on comic book covers.
One place I learned that was heavily weighted by the search engines is the tag line here are WordPress. Here’s a screen cap of my page to show you just what I mean by the tag line – it’s not the tags you mark on you posts.
You see there where it says “sit down, have a cup of coffee, let’s chat” ? THAT’S my tag line. THAT is weighted very heavy by search engines. I need to think of a new one that reflects those five points up there, need to highlight keywords in that line right there. When I do those will be weighted more heavily and people looking for the things I write about in this blog can find me.
That’s it. That’s all I know about Search Engine Optimization and keywords. I’m not an expert by any means just a novice. I don’t want to go overboard in this but being aware and doing little tweaks here and there (like a good tagline) can help improve the number of people I’m reaching.
I’m only half way through my class. Took the midterm recently and made a 96% WOOT! I am sure I’ll learn more as I go. I’ll be sure to pass on that knowledge. As I said in my earlier post – explaining a concept to another helps me grasp it. Trust me this aging brain of mine needs all the help it can get grasping things.
Kemper Center is an important landmark here in Kenosha. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 for historic significance in architecture (Italianate/Gothic), Education (girls school 1865-1975), and religion (Episcopal Sisters of St. Mary Western Provence). It is named for Bishop Jackson Kemper, the First Missionary Bishop for the Northwest Territory of the American Episcopal Church. It’s Register number #76000067. The last time I did a post about it was highlight the Durkee Mansion during the holidays. Today highlights the school itself.
It’s not often open for tours. Mike and I were determined to see the center when we read in the paper it was to be completely open for tours on that Sunday. From the nun’s lodging through the chapel to class areas including the first women’s chemistry lab and the Griffin observatory then out through the Simmons Gym. Sounded great and we were looking forward to seeing the interior.
The campus of the school grew of the years. We started in Ambrose Hall which was home to 36 nuns and was built in 1911. It even had a red door – yes I made a picture of it! It is named for Sister Mary Ambrose who was Mother Superior and headmistress at Kemper for nearly 40 years. This hall featured the dining room for the nuns where they took their meals in silence but had a wonderful view of the lake. Upstairs were the quarters for all the nuns except the Mother Superior who resided in the Durkee mansion. There is a private chapel upstairs for the nuns. This area was off limits to students and men it was the nuns area.
There were many beautiful stain glass windows here as there were in the Durkee manison. It was tradition that each graduating class design and donate a glass window to the school. I’m going to give them their own post since the were so colorful on the sunny day of our tour. Just know they are beautiful.
Next the tour moved into the Red Brick Cloister built in 1911 connecting Ambrose Hall to the campus Chapel. This was the final area of the sister’s retreat. It is made of dark wood and red brick with Gothic arch ceiling. Both sides are lined with beautiful stain glass windows each window offering a different stylization of the lily. The Order of the Sisters symbol was the lily. The area was very peaceful and calming.
From there we moved into the brightness of the campus Chapel built in 1875. Like many structures it’s been expanded and elaborated upon since it was built. In 1904 the marble Baptistery was added. That features stain glass windows of the archangels. The iron gates to the Baptistery and the Baptismal font were gifts from the Morrell family in gratitude of their daughter surviving the Chicago Iroquois Theater fire. The rood screen separated the sitting area of the sisters from that of the students. It was designed by Anna Upjohn a student and was built in 1889. The altar and pews were hand carved in the Germany. The triptych over the altar features the main painting is a copy of The Mystical Marriage of St. Catherine by Fra Bartolommes. The two side panels were painted by Anna Upjohn the same student that designed the rood screen. There were numerous stained glass windows given as memorials, honorariums, and class graduations.
From there we entered the school proper. The intention of the school was to teach the girls to have spiritual, intellectual, and physical force to become leaders in society. Roy Roger’s daughters attended here as did Basil Rathbone’s as did the future Mrs. Alan Ladd. Ms. Frances E. Willis the first woman ambassador was a member of the 1916 graduating class. Today there are about 2,000 living alumnae living in all 50 states and 8 foreign countries.
Through this connecting hall to the larger part of the school we passed the Bridal room. A lovely room for brides to dress in their gowns and prepare for their wedding. Also there were various displays about dorm rooms, class rooms, preparation of the chapel for services, and such. Oh and yes still gorgeous stain glass windows continued throughout.
Then we entered the dining hall. We’d been here before for A Casino Night fund raiser for the care of the hall and observatory. There was a lady that had worked in the kitchen. She told us stories about the girls, nuns, and priests. Seemed many of the girls were children of families that traveled for work. She remembered daughters of circus performers, diplomats, military families, and such. She said she thought they started awfully young, at 5th grade. Hard to be away from your family at that age. School was year round not September – June as it is today. They always sang a Latin prayer before meals and two sisters roamed the dining room watching for proper use of utensils and table manners.
Next for us was the chemistry lab that was built in 1894. It was modeled after a new one installed in Harvard at the time. One of the Sisters came into an inheritance and felt this area of the school needed attention. They did not shy away from teaching the girls science offering classes in astronomy, biology, botany, and chemistry. This was the first chemistry lab in Wisconsin and the best lab outside of Harvard. IN A SCHOOL EXCLUSIVELY FOR GIRLS! I found that amazing! I was very proud of the progressive stance these Nuns took in their education of the girls.
Next was the Tower Stairway to the Observatory built in 1890. We didn’t get to use the stairway as it is close due to not being to today’s code. We used the modern elevator but were allowed to look down it and hear of hopes to renovate it. It was astoundingly beautiful. I can’t imagine climbing those stairs in those long dresses of the time.
Dining hall today with the lady that once worked in the kitchens.
From there we went out onto the astronomy observation deck. Talk about a view of the lake! WHEW! It was lovely. We could look at the aged copper dome over the Griffin Observatory but the actual telescopes were locked. They are now used by the local Carthage College and were secured.
From there we went back down to the floor where the chemistry lab was and looked over the study hall, library, and classrooms. These were all located just above the dining hall. Each student had an assigned school desk in study hall where they kept their books for various classes. Some classes were also held in the Durkee Mansion. The classes often took place in several rooms. The example we were shown were the foreign language rooms. All girls were required to study Latin and another language. There was a classroom sitting where they did their basic classroom studies of the language. There was a conversation room, where the girls would adjourn in small groups with a teacher to converse only in the language being studied. The thought was moving about and changing venue for different aspects of the lesson helped the learning experience.
As always you can click any image to enlarge. This is the the class of 1886 who chose for their class portrait to be in chemistry class. This was before the spiffy new lab. Still the women were studying chemistry back then. Look into the background on the left and you will see diagrams of the human body posted full size in the other room.
Finally we made our way back past the chemistry lab, observatory elevator and out to the Gilbert Simmons Gymnasium built in 1901. NOW I know why people always go on about the Simmons Gym. It’s not like my high school gym oh no! It’s painted beautifully in the style of the Bayeux Tapestry! There’s an ornate balcony where the Sisters observed the gym class. The mural is stunning! It was painted between 1910-1916 under the supervision of the art teacher Edit Bacon. It was drawn by the students and painted by professional painters. The center design has the motto of the school in Latin “fight the good fight” The work on the mural was a gift from the 1915 and 1916 graduating classes. The other dates on the shields were dates that restoration work was done. The other tour members had been to weddings in here and say it’s lovely when fully decorated for a reception.
From there we exited the school and enjoyed looking over the exterior given what we had just learned. Then we gawked at Lake Michigan from the fishing pier. The day was beautiful and many sailboats were making use of it. Another tour group waved to us from the astronomy observation deck. All in all it was an excellent tour and I was glad we went.
Back to school was always an exciting time for me. For most of my life I welcomed it. It was a time to get to see people of my own age on a regular basis. Living out where we did I didn’t see my friends as much as I wanted in the Summer. I envied city kids on TV who could walk out there door and BOOM! there were their friends and in a short walk together they could be at school. For me to see friends it took planning. The trip home from school was over an hour on the crowded school bus as it wound in out of tiny country lanes to drop off a person here and there.
That’s me back row second from left. I have on the light shirt and have shoulder length hair.
College for me was an exciting time in the big town of Knoxville. Going home to puny Greeneville paled in comparison. Heck there wasn’t even a midnight showing of Rocky Horror! GASP! Most of my high school friends didn’t go to UTK like I did. I’d made a whole new set of friends (and a boyfriend that became my husband) that didn’t just scatter across the state for the summer but the world. Once I moved into an apartment I went to summer school in college. Honestly I liked that better than regular quarters. It was smaller classes and closer knit group but I was also an upper classman by then so who knows.
Then my next school experience was at Western Michigan University. It was different this time – I was working and paying my own way. I loved it. I liked the organization of it. I liked learning new things. Heck I even like the stuff of school pens, paper, books, and such. I went from the social aspect being the strongest attraction to learning being the big attraction.
From there life has been a series of seminars, self teaching, parenting a school age child, on-line classes, and supporting Mike’s various graduate degree processes (he’s gotten three so far). I think I turned to writing because I love the research it takes to write fiction well. I like learning new things then exploring them in my writing.
Now it’s time for my new experience. I’m taking an on-line class on how to use WordPress. I know I use it regularly here but I feel I under use it immensely. I know there are many resources out there to learn how to use it but they haven’t quite fit my need. I love the structure of school learning, remember? I want one lesson to build on the other. I’ve tried books but never found one that worked well for me either moved WAY TOO SLOW or WAY TOO FAST. Finally I looked about at local schools and found that University of Wisconsin Parkside offered two on-line classes, WordPress 101 and 102. Looking them over 101 starts out basic (how to set up a blog on WordPress, got that check) but ended past my knowledge. That’s where I started it moves fairly fast looking at the syllabus. My first week starts – TODAY!
I am looking forward to getting more out of WordPress and spiffing things up around here. Making the place more my own, kinda like I did in a dorm room or college apartment. But this means a few things for you dear reader… you might experience some assignment posts. Don’t worry they’ll not be painful, nothing required on your end but a look-see, and there will be NO POP QUIZ at the end of them. Next my new routine posts might not be daily now, depends on the workload. I’d like to keep Comic Comments daily until my backlog of arcs has been worked through but, I’m making no guarantees here until I see how class fits into other required life things. I’d like to get no lower than three a week on those. Photo posts are up in the air, I’m getting slim on new photos and have to get out there to get more of them. So again it depends – I’d like to stay at least weekly on those.
There you go I’m going back to school today. I’ve got a new notebook, new pens, new paper, my computer, and my blog. I’m set to learn!
Mary Louise Eklund 