Looking for a sentimental story? Then check out my review of  The Art of Hearing Heartbeats over at City Book Review. You won’t be sorry!

                Throughout history, countless women have made tremendous contributions to advance our nation, making a lasting impression of the power, grace and intelligence of women. Yet, these strong and courageous role models usually play the role of unsung hero, the behind-the-scenes motivator promoting significant causes.

                Some of their stories are well-known; others remain to be discovered.

                As I flipped through shows on the History Channel– many about women and their work – I wondered about the origin of Women’s History Month.

                 In 1980, President Carter announced the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the celebration of National Women’s History Week. In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month, honoring exceptional achievements of American women.

                I wondered who would be considered the most influential Nebraska woman, past or present. Six names came to mind. Would other Nebraskans agree with my selections?

                I turned to friends, family, colleagues and students, along with my Facebook and Twitter feeds, and posed the question.

                Interesting results. I’ve included the top three.

                The overwhelming consensus listed Willa Cather as the state’s most significant woman. I’ll admit, she was the first name that came to my mind, too.

                There’s something magical about Cather’s depiction of Nebraska, almost like the land becomes a supporting – or maybe even leading – character. Former student Stefanie Ickes mentions Cather because “she portrayed Nebraska in a way no one else could.”

                Fellow teacher Michelle Mosel gives an excellent example of Cather’s influence. “I had a former foreign exchange student come and visit a couple of years ago and she shared then when she returned to Nebraska, she knew how Cather felt. She was ‘home’.”

                That powerful sense of place Cather captures in her writing doesn’t go unnoticed. My speech coaching pal Gregg Moeller says that even though other authors from her era have faded in influence, Cather remains “a titan of her time – and all time.”

                Agreed. As a grad student at Northwestern, many professors shared sections of Cather’s works as prime examples of establishing setting and devising a connection between place and character.

                The historic 1986 race for governor featured Kay Orr and Helen Boosalis. Campaigning for office in a state that hadn’t elected a woman governor, Orr ended up winning the race, becoming America’s first Republican female governor.

                Moeller writes that Orr motivated a whole generation of Nebraska women into interests in politics. “The Orr/Boosalis election was a lightning rod that our state will never see again.”

                Fellow speech coach Candace Cain believes Evelyn Sharp of Ord, one of the first female pilots in America, deserves consideration.  Sharp received a private and commercial transport license and started flying mail routes between Central Nebraska towns.

                Other vote-getters include Virginia Smith (politics), Mari Sandoz, Maud Edgerton Nuquist (educator/politics), Marg Helgenberger (actress), Louise Pound (educator), Grace Abbott (social worker), and Susette LaFlesche Tibbles (Native American writer, lecturer and artist).

                Undoubtedly, some names resonate with you, trendsetters in their respective fields.

Others may be unheard of, treasures worth discovering in our state’s and women’s history.

Who do you think is Nebraska’s most influential woman? Share your thoughts at http://luannschindler.com.  THANK YOU to my Facebook and Twitter friends and everyone who contributed ideas.

From my notebook…

Say what you want about the upcoming U.S. Senate race, but former Nebraska Governor and Senator Bob Kerry’s entry in the race has caused a stir.

Maybe that’s not all bad.

Two days after Kerry flip-flopped his decision to run for office, Republican candidate Jon Bruning’s campaign circulated its first attack ad.

The spot paints Kerry as an out-of-state liberal who has no business in Nebraska.

Shouldn’t Bruning be more concerned about the upcoming Republican primary since he faces two other candidates?

And, what’s to guarantee Kerry will win the Democratic nomination? After all, Chuck Hassebrook tossed his hat into the ring.

Looks like it’s shaping up for an interesting election season in Nebraska.

*  *  *

Four games in four days for the Huskers women’s basketball team at the Big 10 tourney. Two overtimes on Sunday against a scrappy Purdue team left Nebraska four points short in a 74-70 loss.

It’s the second time these two have battled to overtime. When the Huskers played in West Lafayette during the regular season, they beat the Boilermakers 93-89. Triple overtime.

It’s an exciting season for Connie Yori’s group, and hopefully they receive encouraging news next Monday when the NCAA tourney bids are handed out.

Go Nebrasketball!

*  *  *

Twenty years after Nebraska became the 37th State in the Union, the Nebraska Senate adopted a resolution to form the Grand Island Veteran’s Home. It opened on March 4, 1887, making it the first and oldest veteran’s home in Nebraska.

The city raised funds for the original Soldiers and Sailors Home.

The Grand Island facility was constructed to serve wounded Civil War veterans, but consider how its scope has grown since then. I’ve had a family member receive care at the facility and appreciate the efforts made by the staff.

Here’s to another 125 years of service to those who serve us.

* * *

Last week on Facebook, the National Weather Service posted an interesting photo of their radar screen, showing a large mass of something in the air between Beatrice and Lincoln. Sure, it was windy, but the sun was shining; no storms were detected on the radar.

‘What could it be?’ questioned the NWS.

According to area residents, an extremely large gaggle of snow geese passed over that very day, making it the most obvious choice.

The Weather Service agreed.

I’d believe it, too. Last Tuesday on my way home from school, a humongous gaggle of geese were in the midst of our cornfield. I stopped to photograph the group, which seemed to stretch from fence line to fence line. When they lifted into the air, I’d estimate nearly a thousand birds flocked north of our house.

Next, be on the lookout for the Sandhill Cranes. Nebraska Game and Parks estimates about 650,000 cranes will make the trek from Mexico to Alaska, Canada, and Siberia. 

You know, bird watching means big business for our state. Between $25 to $50 million infiltrates Nebraska’s economy during this time of year.

 That’s a lot of cash to quack about.

                And this year’s Oscar goes to . . .

                The 84th Academy Awards ceremony aired Sunday night, and while many viewers tuned in simply to see which starlet wore a certain designer’s dress and was draped in diamonds worth the national debt, others watched with great anticipation, celebrating the year’s best offerings from the cinema.

                Then, there are those who don’t watch the Awards. At all. (More than likely, these are the same individuals who refuse to fork over a Hamilton – and I’m not talking George – for a movie ticket or another twelve bucks for the buttery tub o’ popcorn and diet Coke.)

                As I watched snippets of Sunday’s broadcast, I wondered how many Oscar statuettes have been awarded to actors, directors, writers, editors, and musicians with Nebraska ties. Off the top of my head, a few winners came to mind. I was surprised to discover 22 individuals from our state have been nominated by their peers since the awards began in 1927.

                In all, Nebraska natives or residents have been nominated 55 times for their talents on stage or behind the scenes. Of those nominations, 21 have been named the best of the best.

                Five honorary awards have been given to Nebraskans.

                Count the two movies that won Best Picture– “Boy’s Town” in 1938 and “Terms of Endearment” in 1984 – associated with Nebraska, the total of statutes with Nebraska implications equals 28.

                Henry Fonda, born in Grand Island, was nominated for and won three Oscars. In 1941, he won Best Actor for his performance in “The Grapes of Wrath.” He was part of the cast comprising 1958’s Best Picture, “12 Angry Men.” In 1981, Fonda struck gold again in “On Golden Pond.”

                Lincoln-born Hilary Swank earned two Best Actress Oscars. Her portrayal of Teena Brandon in 2000’s “Boys Don’t Cry” told the story of the brutal rape and murder of a cross-dressing teen in Falls City, Nebraska. In 2005, her depiction of a struggling-waitress-turns-boxer in “Million Dollar Baby” was golden.

                Omaha’s Marlon Brando was nominated eight times and won twice, for “The Godfather” and “On the Waterfront.”

                What about the behind-the-scenes folk?  

                A short story by author Bess Streeter Aldrich of Elmwood won the 1942 Oscar for Best Scoring of a Dramatic Picture.

                A short documentary, “Quicker ‘N a Wink,” explained stroboscopic photography, a slow motion technique developed by Harold E. Edgerton of Aurora and won Best Short Film in 1940.

                Mike Hill of Omaha is one of Hollywood’s top film editors. He has four nominations and won Best Film Editing for Apollo 13.

                Even a Northeast Nebraska native has brought home Oscar. In 1938, the song “Sweet Leilani” from the movie “Waikiki Wedding” won Best Music, Original Song. The writer: Harry Owens of O’Neill.

                Don’t forget Alexander Payne, who has won two Best Adapted Screenplay Oscars in the past seven years.

                Plus, Johnny Carson hosted a handful of Oscar ceremonies.

                While everyone may not enjoy watching yet another award ceremony, we Nebraskans can be proud of the cinematic contributions made by our state’s award winners.

            Once upon a time, I taught a teen –Student A – who missed a lot of school. On average, this teen missed my class once a week. By the end of that school year, said student had accumulated 40 absences. I was lucky. Student A had been absent for nearly half the year in other classes.

            The student always made up assignments, turned them in the next day, and scored high on tests and quizzes. Student A’s final grade was above average, but I questioned how this teenager could receive a passing grade based on lack of classroom interaction.

            Should Student A have been considered truant?

            Twenty-some years ago when this situation happened, the school I taught in had a policy that students could have no more than 10 absences per semester. If a student accumulated over that amount, he/she was required to take semester exams.

            If Student A were in my classroom today, his/her case would be reported to the County Attorney who would have to enforce our state’s truancy law.

            Current Nebraska law, put into effect two years ago, requires schools to report the names of students who miss more than 20 school days per year regardless of whether or not the absences are excused. Once reported, the law does not require county attorneys to act, but in many cases, parents are notified, must appear before a judge and offer an explanation for their child’s absenteeism.

            Nebraska Department of Education numbers show that two years ago, close to 22,000 students hit the over-20 mark. Last year, the number dropped to 18,000.

            This law is causing turmoil across the state. It’s problematic. Should individual circumstances be taken into consideration? For instance, should a student suffering from illness be exempt? Should a child have to stay home from school because of bullying, making school an unsafe haven for learning, thus making the student truant?

            The Legislature is looking at ways to fine-tune the law. Last Wednesday, the judiciary committee advanced the proposed measures.

            The committee suggested that it will not change the present requirement that children who miss more than 20 days of school must be reported to the county attorney; however, schools will have to offer assistance to the county attorney. For example, if a student misses class due to a lengthy illness, the school will be required to report the absence as the result of illness.

            Schools can ask for additional time to work with students to make sure they are in class before the court intervenes.

            Bottom line: parents need to be responsible and make sure their children are in school. By all means, keep your child home if he/she feels ill, but don’t schedule family vacations during instruction time. That’s just common sense.

             Students need to be responsible and realize the importance of being in class and of getting an education. Consider school your job. What would happen if you missed that many days of work?

            And schools need to work with struggling families, helping students find success.

            Shouldn’t that be one of the ultimate goals of education?