 This is Jon David Lowe for Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts I’m now into my 33rd year of teaching, 23 years at the same middle school. It is still early in the school year but I always begin full with hope. The more things change the more they stay the same. My father went to a one room school house near where I grew up in Pennsylvania, My mom’s mom trained teachers to work in one room schoolhouses. The Golden Rule of treating others as one wants to be treated should never go out of style. These are the inspirations for this artwork.
1.  Gather Supplies.
2.  Make Copies of Grade 2 Manuscript Practice Book and Transparencies of Vintage Black and White Schoolchildren.
3.   Use Dot Glue Runner or Double Sided Tape Glue Runner  to Adhere Transparencies to Manuscript Backgrounds.
4.  Print Copies of Vintage Classroom Rules on Vintage Looking Paper. Add Patina by Spraying with Water.
5.  Use Sizzix Big Kick Embossing Machine and Embossing Folder of your Choice on Front Portion of GSLC ATC Folder Frame.
6.   Randomly Paint GSLC ATC Folder with Shades of Yellow and Brown Acrylic Paints.
7.  Fill in Any Empty Spaces with TH pumice Stone Distress Stain.
8.  Paint Back Portion of ATC Folder Frame  With Blue Lagoon Acrylic Paint.
9.  Add Neon Blue  Acrylic Paint Using Dry Brush Technique.
10.                Add Patina by Randomly Adding TH Rusty Hinge Distress Stain.
11.                Paint front Portion of GSLC ATC Layered Frame with Art Alchemy Metallique Flame Acrylic Paint.
12.                Glue Layered Portions of Frames Together with Weldbond.
13.                Attach Prepared Black and White Manuscript Images to Frames Using Dot Glue Runner or Double Sided Tape Glue Runner.
14.                Use a UHU Gluestick to Add Wider Washi Tape to Spines of GSLC ATC Folders.
15.                Attach Frames to Back Inside Portion of Folder with  Dot Glue Runner or Double Sided Tape Glue Runner.
16.                Use a UHU Gluestick to Attach Copies of Vintage Classroom Rules to Inside Portion of Folder.
17.                Seal Everything with Matte Gel Medium.
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Some Final Thoughts.
 I used to say that by the time students made it to 6th Grade they knew the difference between right and wrong, students came to school with an understanding of social norms. It seems like the pandemic has seemingly changed our collective ethics and common etiquettes. We have lost the Golden Rule as this poem titled The Golden Rule by Jim Yerman contemplates:
 As I watch many world religions fight, acting inhumane and cruel
It makes me ask the question, what’s happened to the Golden Rule?
Countries at war with one another, soldiers dying, a world of dread
Again I ask, has the Golden Rule been buried with the dead?
People going hungry every day, so many in the world oppressed
Is it possible the Golden Rule has been forgotten or suppressed?
We read of people murdering one another, even children, and we’re stunned
And I ask as we wipe our tears, has the Golden Rule been shunned?
Yes, so many sorrowful stories we hear each day…we hope they can’t be true,
And we ask, have we forgotten Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?
As I see people hating people just because of how they look or who they are
I think to myself…Do unto others hasn’t really evolved very far.
In a world where we are so connected we should look within our hearts
And find the reason why, when we’re so close, we’re still so far apart.
I believe the answer is a simple one and will come as no surprise
For it’s been around since the dawn of man sitting right before our eyes.
If you look at most of the world’s religions, (I remember learning this in school)
A basic lesson in all of them is some form of The Golden Rule.
Ah, but it’s not enough for the religions of the world, the Golden Rule to teach
Another thing I learned in school…we must practice what we preach.
We can point fingers as to the cause but we all shoulder part of the blame
For it’s up to each of us to follow the rule and treat everyone the same.
Is it possible the answer is so simple or am I once again the fool?
For thinking the world would be a better place if we all practiced the Golden Rule.
If it worked, if starting today we all practiced The Golden Rule
And the world became a better place…then I would gladly play the fool.
I want my students to know the joy I felt when the Scholastic News Flyers were handed out in class and if we had the money my momma would allow me to choose one or two items. Students today seem to have no appreciation  for their immense requisitions, so much is given to them and they do not have a need nor a care. They live in a world of instant gratification and privileged entitlement.
 The two items I would most often Choose from magical Scholastic News Flyer was the latest Clifford, the Big Red Dog book, who originally was the runt of the litter, seemingly fated to small and sick, but grew to an enormous size apparently due to Emily Elizabeth’s love and care. The second treasured item was getting a yearly subscription to Highlights Magazine.
Highlight Magazines had wonderful features like “Hidden Pictures”, “Jokes and Riddles” and “What’s Wrong” being my favorites.
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Not to brag but I was always a ‘teacher’s pet” because I was a people pleaser and did not want to be noticed in a crowd. I did not need the  Goofus and Gallant cartoon feature created by Garry Cleveland Myers and drawn by Anni Matsick. The strip features two contrasting boys, Goofus and Gallant. In each cartoon, it is shown how each boy would respond to the same situation. Goofus chooses an irresponsible, immature and unkind path, while Gallant chooses a responsible, mature and kind path. My hope for my students to more often choose the path of Gallant and less often the way of Goofus.
Supplies:  GSLC ATC Folder Frames 2, Transparencies of Vintage Black and White Schoolchildren, Copies of Vintage Classroom Rules,  Copies of Grade 2 Manuscript Practice Book, Dot Glue Runner, or Double Sided Tape Glue Runner, Embossing Folder of your Choice, Sizzix Big Kick Embossing Machine, Shades of Yellow and Brown Acrylic Paints, TH Pumice Stone Distress Stain, Blue Lagoon and Neon Blue Acrylic Paint, TH Rusty Hinge Distress Stain, Art Alchemy Metallique Flame Acrylic Paint, Weldbond,  UHU Gluestick, Blue Neon Highlighter, Matte Gel Medium
I cannot wait to see your interpretation of this project. Share it
on the Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Craft Group Page on Facebook. I would love to see what new creations you
are working on!