2nd Friday Discussion Group will meet on Feb 13th at Becks Prime:
1822 SH-6 S, Sugar Land, TX 77478.
Near the Sugar Land Whole Foods.
Here’s the menu: https://www.becksprime.com/menu/menu.pdf
TOPIC: Patio Ponderings
At the Second Friday gathering THIS FRIDAY we’ll discuss a possible field trip next month to the Ismaili Center (https://the.ismaili/us/en/spaces/ismaili-center-houston) Our tour would include a tour of the building, Q & A, optional lunch onsite, and the opportunity to independently explore the vast gardens. Some sites say there are 5 ½ acres of gardens; others say 7 acres. Besides explaining the distinctive (and somewhat UU-like) values of the Ismaili sect and walking us through the museum, gallery, and other indoor areas, our guide would discuss the various garden areas as we pass window views of them. That will help us all decide which gardens we’d each like to wander after lunch.
Some have expressed special interest in those gardens. Some web searching will direct you to a variety of sites providing the details you may care most about. Here’s one from the Ismaili Center website: https://the.ismaili/us/en/news/the-architect-who-creates-landscapes-that-forge-community
Mostly, we’ll discuss whatever YOU’D like to discuss. Maybe the Midterms? Or Trump’s election interference? OR, as a break from national & global issues, we could discuss Texas education - maybe start with how state schools may reduce “world history and culture” to make more room for Texas history. Have a look at this excerpt from https://eedition.houstonchronicle.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=3ad38e6d-e495-4e0b-a367-415530b01c6e&share=true:
The Republican-led state board voted in September to support a framework for social studies that will replace the traditional social studies schedule — including fourth- and seventh-grade Texas history. The new framework will reduce instruction on world history and culture while expanding time spent on state history, which will be taught across six grades and become the focus of a new eighth-grade standardized exam.
Another discussable excerpt is an opinion that the proposed plan could
"...fall short in nurturing critical thinking skills for students."
All are welcome to join the Thoreau Second Friday discussion group at 11 am THIS Friday, February 13, on the shady patio at Beck’s Prime, 1822 Hwy 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478.
Reoccurring monthly on the Second Friday.
Interested in joining this discussion? Get in Touch!