My Druthers

If you could change the world, what would you do? I'd have my druthers. Druther is English slang for I'd rather. If everyone would think about how they would rather have the world be, and work towards those ends, the world would be a better place. Read my druthers, then start your own.

If you could change the world what would you do? On the occasion of my 55th birthday, I resolved to write my druthers. I’ve always been a “change the world” kind of guy. At 55, I’m finally ready to stop beating my head against the wall, or at least do it with far less regularity. Instead I have decided to work on the perfect plan, from my perspective of course. But then who else’s perspective could I write from? If America worked the way it is supposed to work, then my plan, my opinion, should count just as much as anybody else’s. The fact is that if I had gazillions of dollars, then my opinion would count for something significant. It should be enough that I am a citizen, resident of the county Burleigh, the state North Dakota, of these United. Although we have the right to free speech, it takes a lot of the joy out of it, when no one’s listening. Hence, the druthers. I remember it as a phrase my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Conroy used to say, “If I had my druthers. . . .” Well I do. Read my druthers, then start your own. The world will be a better place if you do.

Art Rude was an Associate Professor of Mathematics and Physics at Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND for nine years. He left teaching in 2012. He taught secondary education for 22 years before making the jump to post-secondary. All the while he taught high school, he farmed the family farm, wrote and performed music, and worked at reform politics. In 1978 he accepted a job with the North Dakota Democratic Party as Public Relations officer and fund raiser. After crushing defeats in the ’78 election, he worked in the legislative session with the minority leaders in the state house and senate. In 1980 and again in 1992, he attempted to resurrect North Dakota’s Non-Partisan League. In 1983 he was married to Grace Ely Bush from northern Minnesota, they have 4 children, Ben, Brandon, Hannah, and Nicole. As a Math Teacher, his Master’s Thesis “Algebra Anxiety” was the first mention of algebra anxiety in the Mathematical literature. He has started work on a consumer oriented book relating to the topic that in 2012 may be morphing into a video education project. He taught Beginning, Intermediate, and College Algebra which allowed him to help students with Algebra and Math anxiety to succeed in those courses. He is a past president of NDMATYC, (North Dakota Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges, the state affiliate of AMATYC the American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges) and is a past chairman of the North Dakota Community College Consortium (NDCCC). Art has been writing and recording original music for 39 years. Past President of the now defunct North Dakota Songwriters Association, he continues to write, record, and perform. His CD, “Rude Beginnings” is available on I Tunes, and his CD is available in physical form at CD Baby. He sang lead in several area bands over the years, and has performed as a solo act for 20 years.