Advocates of religious schooling have frequently had to answer the charge that what they supported was un-American. In a book that is more than just a history, Jones tries to make sense of that charge by tracing the development of religious schooling over the last 125 years. He explores the rationale for religious schooling, not just on the part of those who choose it for their children, but also in terms of its impact on the community as a whole, and he considers the arguments of those who criticize such schools for undermining efforts to promote national unity. Near the end of the 19th century, publicly financed, publicly administered schooling emerged as the default educational arrangement for American children. But this supremacy has not gone unchallenged. The sectarian schools that, in fact, predate public education in America have survived, even thrived, over the past century. Multiple religious communities, including those that opposed sectarian schooling in earlier generations, have now embraced it for their children. The author charts the growth of this educational strategy--and the debate surrounding it--through the 20th century by focusing on the gradual embrace of sectarian schooling by different religious communities in America, particularly Catholics, Jews, and later, conservative Protestants (mainly in the form of homeschooling). He also considers Muslim schools, not currently a force in private schooling or the subject of much debate, but perhaps next in line to make their case for a place in America's educational landscape.

In this collection of short stories, six women's tales of despair illuminate the horror and sadness of domestic abuse, rape, teenage pregnancy, childhood neglect, and addictions. Set in the small fictitious community of Maitland Valley near Wingham, Ontario, "The Daughters of Maitland Valley" provides insights into the many issues women deal with in today's society-issues that are not particular about age, race, religion, or financial status.

In the story "What Fruit May Fall," Jessica, who is seven months pregnant, recalls the day she lost her virginity during a rape eighteen years ago. "Dirty Water" tells of a thirty-year-old woman whose mother abandoned the family when she was twelve. She still feels the loss keenly and wishfully imagines that she sees her mother as she goes about her daily life.

Including a variety of poems as well, "The Daughters of Maitland Valley" provides insight into the tragic situations women often face. It seeks to empower women to seek help and guidance to deal with the problems they endure.

Lizzy Dawson, a tall, dark and beautiful woman with chestnut hair and hazel eyes, might, at first glance, seem like a typical Greenwich housewife. In a place like Greenwich, Connecticut, nothing is typical or ordinary and Lizzy is no exception to that rule. Through an innocent enough hobby of internet blogging, she managed to stumble onto a story, a story about murder among the rich and powerful. This community of the nation's leading finance and banking magnates has its share of back alley secrets and back room deals. But this story was one which reached to the top levels of the elite classes and to the bedrooms of multi-million dollar mansions. Lizzy dug deep into the boardrooms and boudoirs to find out the truth about the murder of William Pierce, a man caught up in the glamour, secrets and sex of this tony town. Little did she know that this story would lead to a criminal investigation and change her life forever.

When the name Dracula is spoken, what image comes into your mind? Do you think of a bloodthirsty monster made up by an Irish story-teller who never stepped foot on Romanian soil? Or, do you think of a legendary fifteenth century hero of Romania who risked his life and fought courageously to take on the Ottoman empire to protect his land, his people, all of Europe, and all of Christianity? Since the age of 13, Amelia Justine Kari had a quest. Her quest was to one day take a trip to the beautiful lands of Romania, in search of the truth behind the mystery's of the real Prince Dracula. Once on Romanian soil, Amelia would find other forces already at work in search of her. Because of her career choice as a medical technician and her overwhelming fascination with the green eyed, black haired man called Prince Vladislaus Dracula, Amelia was always misunderstood. But, what if Vlad Dracula was also misunderstood? What if the pamphlets and documents written about him, were only made up to control him, use his power, and condemn him to prison? Amelia was determined to find the truth, but she'd have to search deep in her soul to find all the answers.

There were four individuals with a plan, two men released from a Sanitarium, two others farthest from wealth, all in need of a Christmas miracle. Their plan was to change the future of one man, Ebenezer Scrooge. Some may have had their reasons, but none as good as the brother in law of Ebenezer Scrooge, Charles. After Charles' wife dies giving birth to their son, he becomes lost in a world without her. Charles' sisters think him insane, release him to a sanitarium and take his son, Fred, to raise until Charles is well again. At Williams Sanitarium, Charles falls into a deep delirium and wakes seventeen years later to the cries of a child. Charles feels the guilt of a father who longs for his son, along with his body's addiction to the drug laudanum and the fear of possibly falling into that same delirium again. Charles befriends the largest man he's ever seen, named John. A man who has his own demons to deal with. Charles is given back his past, by reading letters his sisters had sent him spanning the last seventeen years he had lost. Both men become mesmerized by the letters as the sisters tell of Fred's childhood to adulthood and Ebenezer's wrath on humankind. Because of overcrowding, both men are released from Williams Sanitarium. Charles returns to the home he once knew, which brings him memories of his wife's death and the whispers of her ghost. Charles feels such hostility toward Ebenezer for his hatefulness towards his son Fred. Charles concocts a plan, and enlists the help of Peter Cratchit and the child of Ebenezer's old love. All help in the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge. Not everything would go according to plan, but the evening's spectacular events branded the hearts and souls of more than just Ebenezer.

Clock Striker, now in graphic novel format, follows Shonen manga's first Black female lead hero, Cast, in her quest to become a member of the SMITHS, the legendary warrior engineers. Cast dreams of being a SMITH, and though she's rather handy with her tools, no one in her small town ever realizes their dreams. Besides, these legendary warrior engineers haven't been seen in years and were never known for having female members. Fortunately, Cast meets one surviving member named Ms. Philomena Clock, who agrees to take her on as her apprentice, or striker. Now Cast is thrust into one deadly adventure after another! From cybernetic desperadoes to technology thieves and more, Cast has to use her mind and her remodeled robotics-lab prosthetic hand, which offers unfathomable offensive power in the form of scientific experiments. Need lightning? Cast can generate it from her hand! Cast's mentor seeks to uncover an ominous mystery that explains what happened to the SMITHS and shines a light on a hidden power that may be within Cast herself. Can Cast become a new member of the SMITHS? More importantly, can Cast survive the process to become a SMITH? Clock Striker is rated T for Teen, recommended for ages 13 and up. Saturday AM, the world's most diverse manga-inspired comics, are now presented in a new format! Introducing Saturday AM TANKS, the new graphic novel format similar to Japanese Tankobons where we collect the global heroes and artists of Saturday AM. These handsome volumes have select color pages, revised artwork, and innovative post-credit scenes that help bring new life to our popular BIPOC, LGBTQ, and/or culturally diverse characters. Join in even more adventures with the other action-packed Saturday AM TANKS series:Apple Black, Gunhild, Hammer, Henshin!, The Massively Multiplayer World of Ghosts, Oblivion Rouge, Saigami, Soul Beat, Titan King, Underground, and Yellow Stringer.

There are so many ideas in this book that choosing a few to highlight here is as difficult as tasting only three items from a smorgasborg after a fast. . . . [Jones and Maloy's] comments will prompt knowing nods of the head from most who have experience with partnerships, and they provide starting points for novices' serious consideration. For example, the book raises critical questions about different approaches to partnerships. Should partnerships be primarily grass-roots efforts with little top-down control? If so, what issues are off limits to governance bodies? If partnerships can bring about improvements suggested, should they become a way of life for university-school relations? If so, how can long-term partnerships maintain the insider-outsider perspectives Jones and Maloy argue for so persuasively? . . . Partnerships for Improving Schools addresses these and many other questions. Most importantly, perhaps, it forcefull and directly reminds us that equity is the central criterion agains which to measure educational progress. Teachers College Record In this volume Jones and Maloy present a comprehensive framework for viewing, understanding, and participating in school improvement partnerships. Based on their fifteen years of experiences with various collaborative projects, the authors demonstrate ways to sustain agreements over time through mutually beneficial activities between teachers and members of outside organizations. Interactive partnerships generate formal and informal learning for participants that lead to evolving understandings about personal behaviors and organizational climates, and the new purposes yield strategies and structures for educational reform.

"Divine Intervention II: A Guide To Twin Flames, Soul Mates, and Kindred Spirits" is a Non-fiction book which examines the concept of love as it relates to time and space. In a conversational manner which is easily understood, the terms Twin Flame, Soul Mate, and Kindred Spirit are discussed in great detail in a way which allows the Reader to apply these terms in his/her life. If you have ever been in love, you should read this book. If you are currently in a relationship, you should read this book. If you are looking for love, you should read this book. Divine Intervention II also offers prayers, meditations, affirmations, quotes, and exercises intended to help the Reader prioritize the things he/she wants and needs in a fulfulled, loving relationship.

I am not a celebrity or any other house hold name you could have heard about on the radio or TV. This is my first book. I have no other writing experience. One day as I was sitting in one of my sister's TV room wasting more of my time it dawn on me to write a book about my short hard life I had lived. For some reason I had the faith that this book would be in stores next to celebrities books. I guess it was because I really had a lot of faith that my book on my real life problems maybe would help someone to get some real help with similar issues before it would be too late. I am just a small town girl that has encountered a lifetime of problems by the age of 43, by my own doing mostly and some the devil helped me with, since I have been on God's Mysterious, challenging, unexpected and surprising earth. I will talk about the pain I endured when I was molested at the age of eleven by a close family friend. I lived through depression, anxiety and panic attacks that almost caused me to end my life on many occasions. I've battled mental and physical abuse by the hands of my ex-husband. I have been dealing with the unexpected death of my last man that had almost caused me to lose my mine. I battled the demon of drugs that could have ended my life with one puffing on crack cocaine along with a lot of health problems that could have caused me to have a stroke or heart attack. I hope and pray that my book will help someone; somehow to deal with their problems better than I did. I thank you for purchasing my first book with all my heart. There will be more books to come. ENJOY GOD BLESS