Chris Palladino’s Blog

In the year 2000 my teaching schedule had finally allowed me to begin pursuing my graduate degree. My wife and I had decided that we would both apply for admittance at the University of Virginia for a graduate degree in Art History. We had already completed a course in Archeology at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest (his summer retreat house). In January we began to prepare for the GRE. Several weeks before the exam we discovered we were expecting our fist child. Although we took the exam together, thinking financially, our plans were now altered …

Since I did not want to be traveling to Charlottesville, a 65-mile drive from Lynchburg, a few times a week, I decided to look at other options. In the early spring we received an announcement from UVA that they would be offering a M.Ed. satellite program in Lynchburg. I was not initially interested in a degree in education but thought it would be the most convenient in these circumstances.

In the beginning I failed to realize how this experience would transform my life and views on education and what it means to learn. Through my studies and research I discovered how truly extensive theories on education really are. These discoveries impacted my teaching and later provided some recognition for my classroom.

After graduation in 2002 doors were opened at two local universities for me to begin teaching as an adjunct instructor in their Schools of Education. I began hosting numerous teaching candidates in my classroom and began delivering presentations to several groups of teachers.

However, as I graduated in 2002 on the lawn of the University of Virginia, I couldn’t help but wish that my wife was standing by receiving her degree as well. We love to learn and especially love to learn together. Yet the Lord had plans we couldn’t even imagine.

In 2006 we returned to PBU, where I would teach in the School of Education, and a door was opened for her to begin her graduate studies. On December 13, 2008, I had the absolute privilege of joining President Williams and Dr. MacCullough, Dean of the School of Education, on the stage to award my wife her Masters of Science in Education. I could not hear the crowd or see anyone but my wife as she ascended the stage. I was extremely grateful to God for this moment and very proud of my wife!

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It is Christmas week. Because I have two young children, I thought back to my own experiences on Christmas morning growing up. The one that stands out more than any other was when I was seven years old. I vividly recall descending the stairs and seeing a brand new blue sled leaning against the wall by the tree and immediately hoping it was mine (I have six siblings). It was, and proved itself to be the best sled ever made. It was sturdy, light, and versatile. I was now sought out by neighborhood kids who wanted to borrow it. It became a far northeast Philadelphia legend.

Now over 30 years later that same blue sled still leans against a wall. It is in our shed and anxiously awaiting this year’s first snowfall. My children have enjoyed countless runs down hills at PBU. My high school students in VA who lived in my neighborhood would knock on our door to borrow it. Our college students who join us on the hills on campus have also flown headlong on its back. I am looking forward to many more sorties with finest sled ever made.

Posted by Chris Palladino at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Last week, one of my independent studies students for World Civilization II was required to attend a discussion at my house. He was allowed to invite several of his friends to join the dialogue. Eight of us, including my wife and I, joined what Mortimer Adler called The Great Conversation. As we enjoyed several desserts, we wrestled with the ideas of Voltaire, Rhodes, Kant, Wordsworth, Thoreau, Shelly, and Kipling, among others. After four hours of intellectual conversation and some time for laughter, I was tired but satisfied. I appreciate how much I can learn from our students.

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This past Saturday at Washington Crossing Park in PA, I ran north on the canal trail to New Hope, crossed into Lambertville, NJ, ran the Jersey canal south back to Washington Crossing, NJ, and crossed back into PA. While I was traveling north I decided to add a couple of miles by ascending Bowman’s Hill. As I was descending the hill on trails I startled two separate foxes within three minutes. It’s always a treat to see wildlife when I am out running. Foxes are rare, so it was a special occasion

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Have you ever listened to Aram Khachaturian’s musical piece The Sabre Dance? If you have had the November that we have experienced, you could relate. Play the piece as you read … Now since the last blog:

• I attended the First Annual World View Conference hosted by PBU. The title was Beauty, Art, and the Church. During the evening my wife and I had the honor of dining with the dignitaries. We thoroughly enjoyed the discussion and the opportunity to get to know Nancy Pearcey and Makoto Fujimura a little better.
• On the return trip from Wisconsin I discovered that the 100k ultra-marathon I had already signed up for was on the same day as PBU’s December commencement. I was disappointed since this race is one of my favorites especially with the midnight start, the technical trails, and the 13,000 feet of elevation. I decided to run my own ultra in December and have continued my training attempting to run long distances on the weekends.
• In my attempt to find trails that I enjoy running on I have recently become fonder of the Washington Crossing State Park trail systems. I ran two 20+ milers there in November. I would love to plan a 50k race that would incorporate the Delaware Canal State Park and the Washington Crossing State Park. We can “run into history�.
• We have recently hosted two meals with the Social Studies Majors and an extended lunch with two of my trail running buddies from Virginia.
• Last Sunday I assisted two of our students with their first completion of the Philadelphia Marathon. At 7:00 a.m. the three of us stood with 18,000 other runners staring at 26.2 miles of history and memories. The race, which begins in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, has a glorious start as it proceeds down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway toward City Hall. As a person interested in vexillology I particularly enjoy seeing the international flags, which line the parkway, blowing in the wind.
• I have read several interesting books on education. One of them particularly was provoking since it addressed the economic utility factor of education from a completely different perspective then I have grown accustomed to. The title of the book is The Global Achievement Gap by Tony Wagner. I recommend it!
• I have also read and been fascinated by former Congressman Mark Siljander’s book called A Deadly Misunderstanding: Bridging the Muslim Christian Divide.
• Recently I led a voluntary field trip to the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia for a Sunday mass and a tour of the Cathedral. My world civilizations students have been studying medieval theology so I offered them the trip as well as opening it up to students from some of my other classes. Over 15 students and I caught the 8:09 a.m. train in Langhorne and headed into the city. After mass we hiked down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art. We had brunch in the café and toured several wings of the museum before promenading back to Suburban Street Station for the return trip. I am always delighted to share in this endeavor with my students
• Our family traveled south to the suburbs of Richmond, VA to observe a time of Thanksgiving with family.
• My wife Heather has been putting the finishing touches on her thesis relating to the value of reading and book clubs on communities and academia. She graduates in December with her MS in Education.
• My children have been pursuing nations of interest. Our daughter has researched “everything� about France and our son has been exploring Canada. Both of them have large replicas of the national flags hanging in their rooms and have enjoyed the individual anthems.

That’s it for now … Hope everyone had a great time of Thanksgiving!

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