Product Description
"A major contribution to the growing literature on fundamentalism and American life." --Wade Clark Roof, University of California, Santa BarbaraMany of us assume that Christian day schools foster a strict and conservative environment that is very different from the rest of the United States. Christian educators themselves foster this view when they say that following biblical strictures requires that they not always conform to this world. Melinda Wagner goes beyond this stereotype to portray the way these schools foster American popular culture and "professional education culture" as well as "Christian culture." In her participant observation study of a variety of Christian schools (sponsored by fundamentalist, evangelical, new charismatic, Holiness, and pentacostal Christians), Wagner describes and interprets how such compromises are made. In American culture, children are taught to meet challenges, to compete, and are rewarded for individual achievement. Conservative Christians label this individualism as "secular humanism," and find it antithetical to their view of the self. Instead, these Christians seek a culture of love, compassion, orderliness, noncompetitiveness, and separation from the material trappings of this world. But in reality, Wagner finds that the schools mix Christian values with the values of American culture. She discovers that even in Christian schools students compete fiercely and are recognized for individual achievements. Christian schools incorporate norms and strategies from mainstream American education. Alternative Christian schools are not as alternative as they could be; they are walking the Christian walk the American way. The Christian schools serve as a case study of the process of culture building. Conservative Christians are trying to revitalize their culture. Yet all along the way, they quite consciously compromise.Melinda Bollar Wagner is a professor of anthropology at Radford University. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fascinating and enlightening!
Well-written, balanced, and insightful. I especially appreciated theperspective, as it gave a truly unbiased view. ... Read more

Product Description
From Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Melinda Wagner, we have a playful new piece entitled Scamp for wind ensemble, commissioned by the United States Marine Band. Bearing the exquisitely crafted style characteristic of Wagner’s work, Scamp is a delightful romp. For advanced players. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good gift ideas
Gift ideas abound in this handy book.As the name implies, the gifts are food related.There are lots of recipes for cookies and breads, spreads, drink mixes, flavored vinegar, and even dog biscuits.Each page features a color photograph with the featured recipes in a gift basket.Most of the gift baskets/presentations are very attractive- a few look "homemade" which is why I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5.The instructions are clear, and just about all of the items are easy to make.A great source for creative gift ideas.

This book has not only good ideas but great recipies
This book has really good ideas on how to give gifts in creative ways.But where the book excells most is in the recipies.There is a recipe in here that is now mandatory at all my parties.Most are simple to make andeven more simple to assemble. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

great book! variety of crafts
This book is not too new, but it has lots of great ideas that are adaptable to any decor. It is useful too, because it covers such a variety of holidays and craft types. I found many unique ideas and enjoyed the book I got from the library so much that I bought my own copy on Amazon. ... Read more