tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48111453440678345412024-03-19T05:07:11.172-05:00TEXASEDUCATION IDEASUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-48489252128555008412008-11-27T06:46:00.006-06:002009-04-02T06:45:39.620-05:00David Lee Hall<div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="mailto:DHall.TEXAS@gmail.com">DHall.TEXAS@gmail.com</a></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">'</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.texas-ideas-progress.blogspot.com/">TEXAS-IDEAS-PROGRESS</a></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">'</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><a href="http://dhall-planoisd.blogspot.com/2008/04/answers-to-questions.html">Answers To Questions</a></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/opinion/stories/DN-north_dropout_21edi.ART.North.Edition1.b3251a.html">Dallas Morning News June 19, 2008</a></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.texasinsider.org/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=4119">Texas Insider - Preventing Dropouts</a></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.mycrescent.com/opinion/hot-topic/stake-in-childrens-education.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">www.mycrescent.com/opinion/hot-topic/stake-in-childrens-education.html</span></a></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/04/04012008.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2008/04/04012008.html</span></a></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.texasinsider.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4442">Texas Insider - Teacher Health Insurance</a><a href="http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/04/09/32nclb.h27.html?tmp=2133314293"></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Married 36 years, 3 Children, & 7 Grandchildren</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Member McDermott Road Church of Christ</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.ccmcdermott.org/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.ccmcdermott.org/</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div><div align="center"><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Abilene Christian University 1972</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">BS Mathematics w/minors in Physics & Business</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.acu.edu/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.acu.edu/</span></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><br /><strong>CAREER</strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">Marine Corps Officer</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">Petroleum Industry</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">Price Waterhouse Consultant</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">Systems Consulting Business / International Entrepreneur</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;">Adjunct Professor Cisco / Public School Teacher Responsive Education Solutions</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.cisco.cc.tx.us/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.cisco.cc.tx.us/</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div><div align="center"><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Public School Administrator / Auditor for</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Responsive Education Solutions</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.responsiveed.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.responsiveed.com/</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">32 Campuses Across Texas – 10 New Campuses 2008</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.tea.state.tx.us/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.tea.state.tx.us/</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges & Schools</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.sacs.org/"><span style="font-size:85%;">http://www.sacs.org/</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div><div align="center"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-61616833825359709212008-10-25T06:22:00.000-05:002008-10-26T06:27:29.404-05:00Texas Independence From Pearson PublishingPearson (British company with US Headquarters in New Jersey) has entirely too much influence in Texas, and it is not apparent why this is case, but this injustice needs to be remedied. The TAKS Tests and Text Books that Pearson (and its related entities) produce would have been great when it was established in 1724 <a href="http://www.pearson.com/index.cfm?pageid=14" target="_blank">www.pearson.com</a>. However, now Texas needs to move into the 21st Century cutting inappropriate ties to the old world, starting with Pearson, just like our ancestors did in 1776 after they realized how they were being treated badly with no recourse.<br /><br />Text books, and paper-based non-interactive standardized tests, including the TAKS tests are antiquated, counter-productive, and quite harmful. They should be replaced with computer based systems similar to the CPA, GMAT, and ACT tests. These can be taken on demand with multiple iterations as needed, since the questions are selected at random from a database of questions, which are dynamically modified to assure proper evaluations.<br /><br />Additionally, these types of automated online input testing systems can customize later questions based on which earlier questions have been answered correctly. This provides a better view of the true capabilities of the person being tested. Also, this approach can provide immediate, focused, and custom feedback which allows the tests to be a learning experience in addition to an evaluation.<br /><br />Some persons (including text book company representatives) have asked if technology companies are providing me campaign contributions because of these views. My Answer is that, as yet, I have not accepted any campaign contributions, and will move forward without any as long as possible. However, if I later accept campaign contributions, it will not be with the intent of voting for programs intended to benefit special interests like Pearson, similar vendors, or other entities that are impeding progress.<br /><br />There is a place for printed books (I own many myself) but not printed textbooks, work books are helpful in many situations, and various other printed materials can accomodate certain learning styles. However, standardized tests, text books, and most other instructional aides should be delivered via computer systems. We should use the Texas Text Book Fund for those instead of printed text books.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-18102587513200782362008-08-26T08:24:00.000-05:002008-08-27T08:30:10.376-05:00Teacher Health CarePremiums in Dallas and other districts across the state start with a $225 monthly payment per employee – including $150 in local money and $75 from the state. The state kicks in extra money for districts unable to come up with the $150 payment on their own and local districts may add more.<br /> <br />In Dallas, teachers and other full-time employees are charged an additional $24 a month for the basic coverage option – TRS-ActiveCare 1 – and $106 a month for the enhanced coverage of TRS-ActiveCare 2. The third and most expensive option – TRS-ActiveCare 3 – is purchased by few employees because of its monthly cost to them of $221.<br /><br />Family coverage adds $398 more a month for the basic plan and $603 for the level-two plan, the most popular option among employees.<br /><br />Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas handles claims and payments in the PPO plan under a contract with the state that was agreed to in 2002 and has been extended. The state also gives many members an option to enroll in one of five HMOs that offer coverage in certain parts of Texas – but more than 90 percent of school employees are in the PPO plan operated by Blue Cross.<br /><br />SOURCE: <strong>Dallas Morning News research</strong><br /><br /><em>Educators should be provided the option for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) described below:</em><br /> <br /><strong>Using your HSA for Covered Qualified Expenses</strong><br />You can choose to use your HSA funds to pay for qualified medical expenses (for example, office visits, lab work and prescription drugs) before you have met your annual deductible. These covered expenses will still count toward your annual deductible.<br /><br /><strong>Using Your HSA for Uncovered Qualified Expenses</strong><br />You may also choose to use your HSA funds for qualified services not covered by the health plan, such as dental care, weight loss programs and eyeglasses. These expenses, however, do not count toward your annual deductible.<br /><br /><strong>Your Annual Deductible</strong><br />If you prefer, you can save any or all of your HSA funds and pay for your medical expenses out of pocket until you meet your annual deductible. Once you've met this, additional health care expenses are covered by your medical plan, but you can still use your HSA funds to pay for fixed expenses such as co-payments.<br /><br /><strong>Carrying an Account Balance</strong><br />If you don't use all of your HSA dollars, the remaining amount will carry over into the next year.<br /><br /><em>Providing the HSA option will give our Educators more control, flexibility, and transparency for the health insurance. If there is any question about the desire for this option by Educators then a poll should be conducted explaining possible options.</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-84759731236667426432008-08-11T21:20:00.001-05:002009-03-29T22:56:24.030-05:00Character Education ImplementationBelow are some examples of Character for the USA, Texas, Plano, an individual, and a proposed list of character traits that are the basis for one character curriculum. My proposal is for Plano to adopt a character curriculum to be taught at home or if no one is available at home then community service organizations will certainly fill that gap when necessary. The curriculum should be presented in English as well as some other language that is either spoken at home, desired to be learned, or if only English is desired then standard English and English for the Deaf.<br /><br />Each page of the home text book would be mirrored throughout with English on the right and the other language on the left. Then a component of each course at school would be the demonstration of Character traits from the curriculum, a character trait would be mentioned each day just after the pledge, posters with the character traits would be on walls that are now blank, passing a standardized test on character would be required to move to the next grade, and any commendation or reprimand of students or staff would include references to these character traits.<br /><br />This approach is similar to earlier days in America except that now the Bible of course cannot be the basis for the character curriculum. Also, some prominently successful schools like KIPP Academy Charter School in Houston employ a similar approach.<br /><br /><em>"The idea that character is more important than knowledge is readily understood by most parents. It is character that parents are inculcating when they remind their child, 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.' A child with strong character will find the way to whatever knowledge he or she desires or needs. He will be much more easy to teach and able and willing to learn, no matter what the grade or subject. The reverse is equally true: knowledge without character is impotent or, worse, malevolent. Weak or conflicted character becomes its own worst enemy, both in school and in life."</em><br /><br />Robert Freeman - Economics & History Teacher - Los Altos High School, California.<br /><br /><br />Character is seen in the consequences of personal and group actions in various circumstances, the ideals that are professed, and the choices made when there seem to be conflicting requirements to fulfill the ideal. For example the signers of the Declaration of Independence acted to continue slavery as well as other practices that conflict with the ideal Character of the USA that they all signed onto, and each of those people and that group had what they considered to be valid reasons for their actions. However, by professing the character statement for the ideal approach, they set the USA on the path to eventually free the slaves as well as continue reforms that are in progress to this day.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Character Basis for United States of America</strong><br /><br /><em>We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are <strong>created</strong> equal, that they are endowed by their <strong>Creator</strong> with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.</em><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm">www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm</a><br /><br /><br />The American Natives living in east Texas when the Spanish arrived were found to have friendliness as a Character trait. This trait was evidently part of their name as a group of tribes Tejas that the Spanish used as the name of the Territory that is now (although much smaller) Texas. To this day the motto of Texas is "Friendship", most people coming for the first time to Texas (or returning after a too long abscence) notice the friendliness of the current natives, and most people soon adopt a friendly approach as they adopt Texas as their home.<br /><br /><strong>Texas State Motto - Friendship</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/TT/pft4.html">www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/TT/pft4.html</a><br /><br />Part of the Character of Plano is encouraging people from many different backgrounds to become an intergral part of the community. This has made Plano like a fine tapestry with many different strands to compose a beautiful, durable, and valuable community of people. An example of this Character trait is the Plano Multicultural Outreach Roundtable - MCOR - Mission:<br /><br /><strong>"Encourage amity, understanding, a sense of unity, and collaboration among citizens of Plano."</strong><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.planomcor.org/mission.htm">www.planomcor.org/mission.htm</a><br /><br />One of the cochairs of MCOR is an example of the Character Trait of Humility: <em>"MCOR ... is an effort of many more people than myself. Indeed, it is so unexpectedly successful that it is spawning similar efforts in neighboring communities. That can only be to the good of all."</em><br /><br />Dr. Christopher A. Parr - Cochair of MCOR<br /><br /><br /><strong>Possible Curriculum - 49 Character Traits</strong><br /><br /><strong>Alertness</strong> vs. <em>Carelessness</em> Being aware of what is taking place around me so I can have the right responses<br /><br /><strong>Attentiveness</strong> vs. <em>Distraction</em> Showing the worth of a person or task by giving my undivided concentration<br /><br /><strong>Availability</strong> vs. <em>Self-Centeredness</em> Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I serve<br /><br /><strong>Benevolence</strong> vs. <em>Selfishness</em> Giving to others’ basic needs without having as my motive personal reward<br /><br /><strong>Boldness</strong> vs. <em>Fearfulness</em> Confidence that what I have to say or do is true, right, and just<br /><br /><strong>Cautiousness</strong> vs. <em>Rashness</em> Knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions<br /><br /><strong>Compassion</strong> vs. <em>Indifference</em> Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others<br /><br /><strong>Contentment</strong> vs. <em>Covetousness</em> Realizing that true happiness does not depend on material conditions<br /><br /><strong>Creativity</strong> vs. <em>Underachievement</em> Approaching a need, a task, or an idea from a new perspective<br /><br /><strong>Decisiveness</strong> vs. <em>Procrastination</em> The ability to recognize key factors and finalize difficult decisions<br /><br /><strong>Deference</strong> vs. <em>Rudeness</em> Limiting my freedom so I do not offend the tastes of those around me<br /><br /><strong>Dependability</strong> vs. <em>Inconsistency</em> Fulfilling what I consented to do, even if it means unexpected sacrifice<br /><br /><strong>Determination</strong> vs. <em>Faintheartedness</em> Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition<br /><br /><strong>Diligence</strong> vs. <em>Slothfulness</em> Investing my time and energy to complete each task assigned to me<br /><br /><strong>Discernment</strong> vs. <em>Shortsightedness</em> Understanding the deeper reasons why things happen<br /><br /><strong>Discretion</strong> vs. <em>Simplemindedness</em> Recognizing and avoiding words, actions, and attitudes that could bring undesirable consequences<br /><br /><strong>Endurance</strong> vs. <em>Discouragement</em> The inward strength to withstand stress and do my best<br /><br /><strong>Enthusiasm</strong> vs. <em>Apathy</em> Expressing joy in each task as I give it my best effort<br /><br /><strong>Faith</strong> vs. <em>Presumption</em> Confidence that actions rooted in good character will yield the best outcome, even when I cannot see how<br /><br /><strong>Flexibility</strong> vs. <em>Resistance</em> Willingness to change plans or ideas without getting upset<br /><br /><strong>Forgiveness</strong> vs. <em>Rejection</em> Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and not holding a grudge<br /><br /><strong>Generosity</strong> vs. <em>Stinginess</em> Carefully managing my resources so I can freely give to those in need<br /><br /><strong>Gentleness</strong> vs. <em>Harshness</em> Showing consideration and personal concern for others<br /><br /><strong>Gratefulness</strong> vs. <em>Unthankfulness</em> Letting others know by my words and actions how they have benefited my life<br /><br /><strong>Honor</strong> vs. <em>Disrespect</em> Respecting others because of the higher authorities they represent<br /><br /><strong>Hospitality</strong> vs. <em>Loneliness</em> Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, or conversation to benefit others<br /><br /><strong>Humility</strong> vs. <em>Arrogance</em> Acknowledging that achievement results from the investment of others in my life<br /><br /><strong>Initiative</strong> vs. <em>Idleness</em> Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it<br /><br /><strong>Joyfulness</strong> vs. <em>Self-Pity</em> Maintaining a good attitude, even when faced with unpleasant conditions<br /><br /><strong>Justice</strong> vs. <em>Corruption</em> Taking personal responsibility to uphold what is pure, right, and true<br /><br /><strong>Loyalty</strong> vs. <em>Unfaithfulness</em> Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to those I serve<br /><br /><strong>Meekness</strong> vs. <em>Anger</em> Yielding my personal rights and expectations with a desire to serve<br /><br /><strong>Obedience</strong> vs. <em>Willfulness</em> Quickly and cheerfully carrying out the direction of those who are responsible for me<br /><br /><strong>Orderliness</strong> vs. <em>Confusion</em> Arranging myself and my surroundings to achieve greater efficiency<br /><br /><strong>Patience</strong> vs. <em>Restlessness</em> Accepting a difficult situation without giving a deadline to remove it<br /><br /><strong>Persuasiveness</strong> vs. <em>Contentiousness</em> Guiding vital truths around another’s mental roadblocks<br /><br /><strong>Punctuality</strong> vs. <em>Tardiness</em> Showing esteem for others by doing the right thing at the right time<br /><br /><strong>Resourcefulness</strong> vs. <em>Wastefulness</em> Finding practical uses for that which others would overlook or discard<br /><br /><strong>Responsibility</strong> vs. <em>Unreliability</em> Knowing and doing what is expected of me<br /><br /><strong>Security</strong> vs. <em>Anxiety</em> Structuring my life around that which cannot be destroyed or taken away<br /><br /><strong>Self-Control</strong> vs. <em>Self-Indulgence</em> Rejecting wrong desires and doing what is right<br /><br /><strong>Sensitivity</strong> vs. <em>Callousness</em> Perceiving the true attitudes and emotions of those around me<br /><br /><strong>Sincerity</strong> vs. <em>Hypocrisy</em> Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives<br /><br /><strong>Thoroughness</strong> vs. <em>Incompleteness</em> Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected<br /><br /><strong>Thriftiness</strong> vs. <em>Extravagance</em> Allowing myself and others to spend only what is necessary<br /><br /><strong>Tolerance</strong> vs. <em>Prejudice</em> Realizing that everyone is at varying levels of character development<br /><br /><strong>Truthfulness</strong> vs. <em>Deception</em> Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts<br /><br /><strong>Virtue</strong> vs. <em>Impurity</em> The moral excellence evident in my life as I consistently do what is right<br /><br /><strong>Wisdom</strong> vs. <em>Foolishness</em> Seeing and responding to life situations from a perspective that transcends my current circumstances<br /><br />© 2007 Copyright Character Training Institute. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce in entirety for informational use only. Not for resale.<br />For more information, contact the Character Training Institute • 520 West Main St., Oklahoma City, OK 73102 • Phone 405.815.0001 • www.characterfirst.com<br />CHARACTER FIRST!®<br />49 Character Qualities in alphabetical orderUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-54565882371633985782008-08-09T11:44:00.000-05:002008-08-09T11:44:28.512-05:00Focus On EnglishOne of the questions the League of Women Voters asked during the most recent Plano ISD School Board Election was:<br /><br /><strong>As more students from non-English-speaking backgrounds enroll, what should Plano ISD do to facilitate their success at school?</strong><br /><br />It is common sense that:<br /><br /><em>English skills are necessary for success EVERYWHERE in the world (including Plano, Texas USA). ALL of our students need to FIRST become fluent in English – listening, speaking, reading, writing, and composition. This is necessary for their success, will reduce overall costs, and will help Plano stay competitive in the world market. Students should become fluent in English prior to mainstreaming. If this requires a student to spend an additional year or even two in school then that should be done to provide the highest probability of success. Individualized approaches integrated with traditional campuses will allow simultaneous socialization.</em><br /><br />The reasons I made that statement begin with a very wise statement by Dwight D. Eisenhower:<br /><br /><em>"Urgent matters are seldom important and important matters are seldom urgent"</em><br /><br />The current approach for English Language Learner (ELL), Limited English Proficiency (LEP), and English as a Second Language (ESL) students, all of whom may or may not lack English capabilities equal to their peers for various reasons, is to ATTEMPT to have them progress in ALL subjects as if they knew English as well as their peers. There is a wide range of English skills among these students including some that are much above their grade level in English. However, all of these students are coddled as if they were not able to learn English.<br /><br />Therefore, the IMPORTANT matter of learning English is made to APPEAR to students to not be URGENT. However, the reality is that fully functional English is BOTH IMPORTANT and URGENT. Students with lower English language capabilities are doomed to be less successful than they would be with good English communications skills.<br /><br />Our Higher Education, Employers, and the rest of the World reward good communicators in English and often exclude those without excellent English. The necessity of good English skills is obvious but ignored. The result is that many otherwise very capable people become part of a permanent underclass.<br /><br />We need to stop this wasteful approach. However, the Plano "Independent" School District is not able to do this with the current laws in effect. Bureaucrats in Austin and Washington make many education decisions for all of us, which is sometimes necessary, but this is so important that it needs to be placed back into local control.<br /><br />Taking our money is bad enough but then using that money to take away our freedom to do the right things for our students is even worse.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-62288614104602960402008-06-14T22:28:00.001-05:002008-07-12T00:58:40.259-05:00Darwinism Compared To Creationism<div align="left"><a href="http://www.baumbach.org/b2evolution/blogs/index.php?title=a_letter_from_david_hall">To See Public Comments Go To Collin County Observer</a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Creationism</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="color:#000099;"></span></em></span></div><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="color:#000099;">Government – USA</span></em></span><br />We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">created</span></strong> equal, that they are endowed by their <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Creator</span></strong> with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>Science Theories</em></span></span><br />– Big Bang<br />– Catastrophe </div><div align="left">– Laws of Nature including <a href="http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/therm/entrop.html">Entropy</a> as illustrated below:</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><br /><em>Religions</em></span> – Judaism, Christianity, Muslim<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210680720019748306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUOABJqCh0NfyuMN-ps4GvJDZvcrb1w0WU3oDJ5W60H-qndoMX3YmyO5ACCKhpjGzUJRBmUmM8QZ-D36NmCtzdp_JU6v_2oDcsYvka_4I60e0d6Uq-vyC5RozGLGKjLv4L0hJNLol36uw1/s400/Entropy.gif" border="0" /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Darwinism<br /></span></strong><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><em>Government</em></span> – Nazi Germany<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Science Theories</span></em><br />– Requires that a Law of Nature (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entropy">Entropy</a> as illustrated below) be violated.<br />– Gradualism<br />– Evolution<br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Religion</span></em> – Atheism</div><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210682201401997554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8k6sd-XGXSaJWRg6284rHua6epGSYbpJAXYFAsX38puK9XCIG9bt6zYnMHeNaHqbl_qk3hKeb52LYXbdxdkYAFsAm-T-Gzhlobs3iGmPMdwlleOSloiLzvdtijGuvOYSmoIEbfGvsFA3/s400/Entropy.gif" border="0" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-52112636847970585122008-06-12T23:22:00.000-05:002008-06-13T22:55:31.861-05:00Campaign SpeechVote For David Hall - Plano I.S.D. Trustee<br />请投David Hall 一票 – Plano 学区委员<br /><br />I have been blessed by a life of challenges that have prepared me to serve the Plano community. 我为一生中有机会受过种种的挑战而感到祝福, 这正准备好我为Plano社区服务。<br /><br />As a Marine Corps Officer I learned leadership lessons, timeliness, and the value of serving our Nation. 作为一名海军陆战队官员, 我学会了领导的功课,适时的能力和为国家服务的价值。<br /><br />As a Price Waterhouse Consultant I learned the importance of regulatory compliance, exactness, and meeting budgets. 作为一名普华永道会计师事务所的顾问, 我学会了遵守法则、精确性和达到预算的重要性。<br /><br />When I operated an international business I learned consensus-building across cultural and language barriers and how to do this under the financial, time, and personnel pressures required to compete. 当我在操作一个国际企业时, 我学会了如何建立超越文化和语言障隘的妥协,并且怎么知道在财务, 时间和人际压力下去完成它。<br /><br />When I began teaching I learned how demanding that profession is, along with the joy of seeing young people succeed. 当我开始教书时我明白了这个行业非常吃力,但我看见青年人成功时, 我也感到喜悦。<br /><br />When I was asked to analyze information for a public school district with 22 campuses across Texas I learned the cost-effectiveness of using technology to supplement teachers' skills and also learned to evaluate the results of the education process using trend-analysis. 当我被要求为22个横跨德州在不同学区里的公立学校分析信息时,我学到了如何使用技术的成本效益来补充老师的技能, 并且学会如何使用趋向分析去评估教育过程所得的结果。<br /><br />As an administrator for a public school district that meets the educational needs of some of our society's less fortunate, I have learned how fundamentally important character education is in providing the tools that a young person needs to participate and succeed in school and for a school to succeed. 当我作一名公立学区特别为社区中一些比较不幸的孩子教育需要的管理员时,我体会到品德教育的重要性, 它提供青年人所需要的适当工具在学校里参于和得成功, 也导至一个学校的成功。<br /><br />As a husband for 36 years, father of 3, and grandfather of 7, I KNOW the importance of parental involvement, choice, and support in education. 作了36年的丈夫,3个儿女的父亲和7个小孩的祖父,我知道父母亲的参于、选择和支持孩子的教育是如何的重要。<br /><br />God willing, if given the opportunity, I will use the capabilities that I have gained through a life of challenges to serve the Plano community as a school board member.<br />如果上帝许可, 给予我这个机会, 成为校务委员会一名成员的话,我会将我一生中所受过种种的挑战所得来的经验和能力尽为Plano社区服务 。Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-2498532823832366642008-06-12T22:55:00.000-05:002008-06-13T22:56:42.270-05:00My two oldest grandchildren help me to 3rd place on ballot<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhya9LO12HkHvDvjFUHoKlnnOu7bhWM7fcjH_AMd-EOV7YxUs99mwnaMZ0epNh8rCFHENevHAI7PXmQceaW2v5qcZfaewJjQH2gPk3quZwxnZhQYmbcz_n7zVcv6-s-y-Ttm-5oXRLOudhE/s1600-h/DSC00267.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179081090578785330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhya9LO12HkHvDvjFUHoKlnnOu7bhWM7fcjH_AMd-EOV7YxUs99mwnaMZ0epNh8rCFHENevHAI7PXmQceaW2v5qcZfaewJjQH2gPk3quZwxnZhQYmbcz_n7zVcv6-s-y-Ttm-5oXRLOudhE/s400/DSC00267.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlTNcPU519JyWwikcbIPSg-a_tHArVt9K9IwYSCxvo_aKyw0DpCKwE3twRk4FMxw6druDU_6v225ooLo_nIQjYrCMX_Lael-3s589D9bFZhaAAS_TZ_QTrV6JqGwsRIaKhoDV8MKzA_oh/s1600-h/DSC00268.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179080970319701026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlTNcPU519JyWwikcbIPSg-a_tHArVt9K9IwYSCxvo_aKyw0DpCKwE3twRk4FMxw6druDU_6v225ooLo_nIQjYrCMX_Lael-3s589D9bFZhaAAS_TZ_QTrV6JqGwsRIaKhoDV8MKzA_oh/s400/DSC00268.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0J91rb07Z41CB90nULWJt6yTf1ixv6-_UOjttRAkveAM92lWGOSEuvTk1rIVRS9eAOidRBlg4iGe3SQ_xSkXlt_F8-riruOxRur_1nB439fF_5wSzdfo6XjXvnI0m6N0RCG1SiuRtLeJt/s1600-h/DSC00269.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179080837175714834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0J91rb07Z41CB90nULWJt6yTf1ixv6-_UOjttRAkveAM92lWGOSEuvTk1rIVRS9eAOidRBlg4iGe3SQ_xSkXlt_F8-riruOxRur_1nB439fF_5wSzdfo6XjXvnI0m6N0RCG1SiuRtLeJt/s400/DSC00269.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSVEORhKR_rTj1Z4003Ro6X8T-gSPsmPp5ZCVjVTpf4Xp9M3zwzhVm9OTx2OEWjjZEMAwo4x-q3iWeIAXlkGUgFgXQn7p3PBacumtqANizo8ss86pbMrRL0GhMvoKzFDBx_MlEKJNYGbo/s1600-h/DSC00270.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179080686851859458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSVEORhKR_rTj1Z4003Ro6X8T-gSPsmPp5ZCVjVTpf4Xp9M3zwzhVm9OTx2OEWjjZEMAwo4x-q3iWeIAXlkGUgFgXQn7p3PBacumtqANizo8ss86pbMrRL0GhMvoKzFDBx_MlEKJNYGbo/s400/DSC00270.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-11800004603506367132008-06-12T20:44:00.000-05:002008-06-13T23:00:48.264-05:00Character Education ExampleThis is a news report about a Houston Educator that has left a legacy by forming a "Gents Club" that teaches Character. The report makes it appear that the club is about money and success but like most news reports it is only an tiny sample of what actually transpires each Friday morning before school begins. He really is teaching Students to re-calibrate their Character for success in all aspects of their lives.<br /><br /><a href="http://realtime.vmsinfo.com/guest?key=u8N2DiT7I9SDdxFmMH88gA%3D%3D%0A&permissions=rpmODMcPEak%3D%0A">Houston Local 2 News At 4</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-65110134415065192192008-06-12T19:36:00.000-05:002008-06-13T23:02:48.936-05:00Answers To Questions<strong>1. What role should statewide standardized testing play in Plano ISD? Is there too much emphasis on standardized testing, as some teacher and parent organizations have reported?<br /></strong><br />Schools-teachers are judged almost completely by TAKS results, so they are forced to “Teach to the TAKS”, to the detriment of covering subjects thoroughly. National entrance exams for students are available in University testing centers almost any day of the week because the questions are selected at random. This should be provided for Texas students at no cost since it would cost less than the current or planned approaches. If End-Of-Course Exams are required then they should be online when the student is prepared to test on the course materials, not a one-day, high-stakes test.<br /><br /><strong>2. What is the best way to reward good teachers? Do you think that the state’s merit pay plan for teachers with matching local fund requirements is an effective use of the Plano ISD funds?<br /></strong><br />The first goal should be to identify good teachers; however, TAKS tests do NOT accomplish this goal; AND Teachers-Parents-Students should be consulted on how to identify good teachers. Parents should be allowed to select campuses-teachers when possible and parents should have the option to rate a teacher including providing confirmed-anonymous feedback on teacher performance.<br /><br />A good teacher should be rewarded with praise, honor, and money.<br /><br />Texas merit pay plan is not effective for Plano: no future funding guarantee, not fair to all teachers, and significant administrative costs.<br /><br /><strong>3. How should Plano ISD prepare students for success whether they are college-bound or not?<br /></strong><br /><strong>Character:</strong> Character is essential to appropriate learning, application of knowledge in life, and service to society. Parents should teach USA, Texas, Plano, Family, and ideal individual Character Traits at Home. Plano ISD should provide a Character Curriculum for each student, require students to demonstrate Character at School, and have a yearly standardized test on Character for every grade level.<br /><br /><strong>Project Based Learning:</strong> Have a significant portion of course work be completing a somewhat freeform project with real life application, mentors from the community, and this approach also teaches character.<br /><br /><strong>Life Skills:</strong> We should teach character, USA legal system, personality testing, personal finance, job search, office politics, computer applications, home ownership, nutrition, health, hygiene, and interpersonal skills.<br /><br /><strong>4. How do current procedures in textbook selection affect Plano ISD? How can Plano ISD ensure that appropriate textbooks are available?<br /></strong><br />Textbooks are extremely overpriced and outdated by the time they come off the press. There is a place for workbooks. However, in Science and Social Studies, most educational materials should be delivered via computer. Online textbooks are the preferred educational tool. They can be updated real time, affording our children current information, and reducing costs. The same holds true for standardized testing: Online testing would also reduce costs while SIGNIFICANTLY improving the pedagogical value of the testing.<br /><br /><strong>5. Is the current property tax rate, plus state financing, adequate to support the needs of Plano ISD?</strong><br /><br />There are Federal and private grants already in place. If we get good results for our students then money will not be an issue. Also our successful alumni will contribute and businesses that need more great employees will donate possibly by matching employee contributions.<br /><br /><strong>6. As more students from non-English-speaking backgrounds enroll, what should Plano ISD do to facilitate their success at school?<br /></strong><br />English skills are necessary for success EVERYWHERE in the world (including Plano, Texas USA). ALL of our students need to FIRST become fluent in English – listening, speaking, reading, writing, and composition. This is necessary for their success, will reduce overall costs, and will help Plano stay competitive in the world market. Students should become fluent in English prior to mainstreaming. If this requires a student to spend an additional year or even two in school then that should be done to provide the highest probability of success. Individualized approaches integrated with traditional campuses will allow simultaneous socialization.<br /><br /><strong>7. What are the most important issues you think will come before Plano ISD in the next three years? What are your views on these issues?</strong><br /><br /><strong>Character:</strong> Character is essential to appropriate learning, application of knowledge in life, and service to society. Parents should teach USA, Texas, Plano, Family, and ideal individual Character Traits at Home. Plano ISD should provide a Character Curriculum for each student, require students to demonstrate Character at School, and have a yearly standardized test on Character for every grade level.<br /><br /><strong>Project Based Learning:</strong> Have a significant portion of course work be completing a somewhat freeform project with real life application, mentors from the community, and this approach also teaches character.<br /><br /><strong>Life Skills:</strong> We should teach character, USA legal system, personality testing, personal finance, job search, office politics, computer applications, home ownership, nutrition, health, hygiene, and interpersonal skills.<br /><br /><strong>Parental Choice of campus, teacher, and curricula</strong> – Parents should be allowed to select campuses-teachers when possible and parents should have the option to rate a teacher including providing confirmed-anonymous feedback on teacher performance.<br /><br /><strong>Individualized Approaches based on student needs</strong> – Schools should provide at least one hour of computer lab time per day (a computer for each student would be even better) – curricula could include remediation, foreign language, standard courses, research, and computer technology.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-72026179033555495942008-06-12T06:10:00.000-05:002008-06-13T23:04:44.816-05:00Character First Materials<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lmCUc-H_1swMGAGJ3Q6uExXk0bg0H320f2HNm43VjtDh-1SQYkdhbQMeBbcO452etmPenYLieFOhINNl88jkfAPV_t9WA8fmJJyWcJ9l7Rm3NNPNEUBovylyJwMM7vAkfNj5RpMdZjys/s1600-h/Achieving+True+Success.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211579565319798482" style="DISPLAY: block; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRMSZ0Ge0w-ZMBLkKutIskdY55iKHI19L4tNeJBWhhlhsAVls0_H-9oPyWfheQjyPtOQQm50puiDUXBchUai3o9DmPnjcDN1A510z8DzAR5yRC4KKXrqnTb-duDXO85e9qLVaPYEFmckU/s400/Character+List.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1g_WOgkZB9mjsrRwUyM7gw8GM-OgNKaq3_YRuj5_3QUW4_s89iS4ePksQamXtBzp87MNvtLnFWhi7-Xw7rvpSPOSincsan1rfUDlnjO_qWfLwf_u-HLNPYkBkK_kHm1M56JGnKhurD4M/s1600-h/Attentiveness.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211578751546347874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1g_WOgkZB9mjsrRwUyM7gw8GM-OgNKaq3_YRuj5_3QUW4_s89iS4ePksQamXtBzp87MNvtLnFWhi7-Xw7rvpSPOSincsan1rfUDlnjO_qWfLwf_u-HLNPYkBkK_kHm1M56JGnKhurD4M/s400/Attentiveness.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vqrC7XBEbwMCNlnQ67az5-aNfn6IsVo-CY3OgIocrMRP6DlJVc39wszhenEOEeFNUo26iWcfY3zKFrwkcM8t3xMf35emOIZaxdSo6V5Q5B0XbWtkqu6ze8FwVzvtrHRSZLQZFq1g68kP/s1600-h/Self+Control.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211578459481947570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vqrC7XBEbwMCNlnQ67az5-aNfn6IsVo-CY3OgIocrMRP6DlJVc39wszhenEOEeFNUo26iWcfY3zKFrwkcM8t3xMf35emOIZaxdSo6V5Q5B0XbWtkqu6ze8FwVzvtrHRSZLQZFq1g68kP/s400/Self+Control.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LUtbPhSkH7nS2RZ6_587EgrmX-Vbif5vuQrguhpMGxjnVVUT6H20whYJqtDU3HdQY03jkzhOatUgVIe9OeL__xB1Tam5-D8JfaMyuSePJoPHV6GpqDYD-hDBDe0bQHp6HpglVnDOApLv/s1600-h/Truthfulness.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211578131542186386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6LUtbPhSkH7nS2RZ6_587EgrmX-Vbif5vuQrguhpMGxjnVVUT6H20whYJqtDU3HdQY03jkzhOatUgVIe9OeL__xB1Tam5-D8JfaMyuSePJoPHV6GpqDYD-hDBDe0bQHp6HpglVnDOApLv/s400/Truthfulness.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRP2dkbKlr_fMeoyEmaXd1ZS2SfF85dx5NMsjUBEAa1QkEicbeJ6JKBaUtweU4D1ba7i6khnsXK8nGAjadcNybbAaMC2Fuseudc3azxHSTx5XSqSOp62XBQERf4kN3Efplf96yDKgZT1o/s1600-h/49+Character+English.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182458603195325826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPRP2dkbKlr_fMeoyEmaXd1ZS2SfF85dx5NMsjUBEAa1QkEicbeJ6JKBaUtweU4D1ba7i6khnsXK8nGAjadcNybbAaMC2Fuseudc3azxHSTx5XSqSOp62XBQERf4kN3Efplf96yDKgZT1o/s400/49+Character+English.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nLakkOzbcam1nYKxrcu92vxplBILS4w72Gpkjq-_mirLfU4fhNd7-692aMA3eunGWDeME-rdUeV2F5OrUMS84_yzXMdz36w49-52ftQlqQ49yjY16mEp-cPfhwaRkoOymbNmeplgcFp6/s1600-h/49+Character+Chinese+2+.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182458457166437746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nLakkOzbcam1nYKxrcu92vxplBILS4w72Gpkjq-_mirLfU4fhNd7-692aMA3eunGWDeME-rdUeV2F5OrUMS84_yzXMdz36w49-52ftQlqQ49yjY16mEp-cPfhwaRkoOymbNmeplgcFp6/s400/49+Character+Chinese+2+.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PM0Wt31Ud72-cSc0s_s7YESHOlvBQlzoNcdtC7RPOZADTH2LsBwsjhHh0fTz9qh2enwUbb4albpCLFG-oRsYI_UYn2M2I7chCsGVDX9aEQJBIE3Or9qjxH0ppS4EQJ7ZKNOhOxtAmNua/s1600-h/49+Character+Chinese.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182456142179065186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PM0Wt31Ud72-cSc0s_s7YESHOlvBQlzoNcdtC7RPOZADTH2LsBwsjhHh0fTz9qh2enwUbb4albpCLFG-oRsYI_UYn2M2I7chCsGVDX9aEQJBIE3Or9qjxH0ppS4EQJ7ZKNOhOxtAmNua/s400/49+Character+Chinese.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK82qAllg6cqXzho2fS1cDHxmNBCN0-KFYGPPg0wui23Dvu34Zob1GX5HEcTtWEytkNyJbUqsE1Qyp1YuntYAXBryWZtuMUTkRYfATda1DOjYVZqRhd0-nXZmNVjn6CZeM8OWp0lgZ-ORW/s1600-h/49+Character+French.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182454999717764434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK82qAllg6cqXzho2fS1cDHxmNBCN0-KFYGPPg0wui23Dvu34Zob1GX5HEcTtWEytkNyJbUqsE1Qyp1YuntYAXBryWZtuMUTkRYfATda1DOjYVZqRhd0-nXZmNVjn6CZeM8OWp0lgZ-ORW/s400/49+Character+French.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-42513524696615945092008-06-10T06:18:00.000-05:002008-06-13T23:07:47.985-05:00Part of the reason I am OPTOMISTIC about our youth but realize we MUST educate ALL of our Young People.<strong>Alexander the Great - Born 325 BC - 2,332 years ago</strong><br /><br /><em>"During the reign of Alexander the Great, the <strong>GREEK</strong> people conquered the POWERFUL Persian Empire, established libraries / learning centers, and advanced civilization."</em><br /><br /><br /><strong>Hesiod – concerned GREEK citizen – 700 BC – 2,700 years ago & almost 400 years before Alexander the Great wrote:</strong><br /><br /><em>"I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words. When I was a boy, we were taught to be discrete and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise and impatient of restraint."</em><br /><br /><br /><strong>Homer - famous GREEK poet - presumed author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, 9th-8th century BC - 2,900 years ago & almost 600 years before Alexander the Great wrote:</strong><br /><br /><em>"In youth and beauty, wisdom is but rare!" </em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-88587650603488693322008-06-09T21:12:00.000-05:002008-06-13T23:09:20.659-05:00Parent Protecting Young<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxjxyZPEpzm-7mGpxgHkjGHBnOBfX6PfBT1xYM8aQKqim9AniAMu6l_fZNkKoI5fgJd2Cu6seEG5PNAgGk2qw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-33171436262411486222008-06-08T23:47:00.000-05:002008-06-13T23:10:55.784-05:004-8 Year Old Views of LoveWhat Love means to a 4-8 year old . . .<br /><br />'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'<br />Rebecca- age 8<br /><br />'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'<br />Billy - age 4<br /><br />'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'<br />Karl - age 5<br /><br />'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'<br />Chrissy - age 6<br /><br />'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'<br />Terri - age 4<br /><br />'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'<br />Danny - age 7<br /><br />'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'<br />Emily - age 8<br /><br />'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'<br />Bobby - age 7<br /><br />'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'<br />Nikka - age 6<br /><br />'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'<br />Noelle - age 7<br /><br />'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'<br />Tommy - age 6<br /><br />'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'<br />Cindy - age 8<br /><br />'My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'<br />Clare - age 6<br /><br />'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'<br />Elaine-age 5<br /><br />'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'<br />Chris - age 7<br /><br />'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'<br />Mary Ann - age 4<br /><br />'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'<br />Lauren - age 4<br /><br />'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.'<br />Karen - age 7<br /><br />'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'<br />Mark - age 6<br /><br />'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'<br />Jessica - age 8<br /><br />And the final one -- a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry'Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-83674561123704204602008-06-07T21:50:00.000-05:002008-06-13T23:11:56.330-05:00Perspective<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlPsPcJ8j-FnVpkcY9EoAw3KNrL-gibd4NYGbLuQXT9oL9zT0rIZDThjDeWop7gSm7q8VTMnOzUsLb8zWJw6Ez39mIrI813faF02RflAELYZYOSRP_mqJU9YoYbytILt21NIRbNj8-8xC/s1600-h/Perspective+1.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171784183127348018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlPsPcJ8j-FnVpkcY9EoAw3KNrL-gibd4NYGbLuQXT9oL9zT0rIZDThjDeWop7gSm7q8VTMnOzUsLb8zWJw6Ez39mIrI813faF02RflAELYZYOSRP_mqJU9YoYbytILt21NIRbNj8-8xC/s400/Perspective+1.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9TtEc5-2su5C0ouORr4swzyjEXpMrD-9K7Kd9ZtHXK5g1rwa3AFjo64ffGIoTBQIe1QrE4Y-biLY95E4gXIjWwdEia3MQ4t-9PU6PBwlYdItnJ0XO-BzkeoesruuYe4TinAw6fc549lC/s1600-h/Perspective+2.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171784187422315330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9TtEc5-2su5C0ouORr4swzyjEXpMrD-9K7Kd9ZtHXK5g1rwa3AFjo64ffGIoTBQIe1QrE4Y-biLY95E4gXIjWwdEia3MQ4t-9PU6PBwlYdItnJ0XO-BzkeoesruuYe4TinAw6fc549lC/s400/Perspective+2.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0omj2i-DKAi6ln71hHQ0Vf8z7belHuswIzP7oJhGH4bqYzeSCqSEnC1jcHK5LkjpBiD8GP5a7E43WUQe985lCwqu2mGa2PQsOE0jkeXm52cfB4C3od7LyzlVeRmAc8zUfZ30oX8wEwF0/s1600-h/Perspective+3.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171784191717282642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0omj2i-DKAi6ln71hHQ0Vf8z7belHuswIzP7oJhGH4bqYzeSCqSEnC1jcHK5LkjpBiD8GP5a7E43WUQe985lCwqu2mGa2PQsOE0jkeXm52cfB4C3od7LyzlVeRmAc8zUfZ30oX8wEwF0/s400/Perspective+3.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ycELwl1v4LmWOCYpH6GdQke_r-0tkVmeqFeb-Tkn0Tv9jAy2GsYGISGakbCZWY4nHogO2Ls6TB9UFltfUMmP9SXgCSNysycClOH7IMYHrh_B1KDcgqAVEMcXUXb48slsm-K3KLVhcJFN/s1600-h/Perspective+4.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171784196012249954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ycELwl1v4LmWOCYpH6GdQke_r-0tkVmeqFeb-Tkn0Tv9jAy2GsYGISGakbCZWY4nHogO2Ls6TB9UFltfUMmP9SXgCSNysycClOH7IMYHrh_B1KDcgqAVEMcXUXb48slsm-K3KLVhcJFN/s400/Perspective+4.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8QWBM_bFGI9e6VS-eGD5FfWR957229K4t5PDy9P_zAn3hfLosRMJLhz8b-EZ9VvSB7Ep5E2aKb-99E1aAFUE-dMI3VnaIk2iHOYGb05CJanGZ6oMKBs0oizuIqpEwyRUlZxGTbTAhhU-/s1600-h/Perspective+5.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171784200307217266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8QWBM_bFGI9e6VS-eGD5FfWR957229K4t5PDy9P_zAn3hfLosRMJLhz8b-EZ9VvSB7Ep5E2aKb-99E1aAFUE-dMI3VnaIk2iHOYGb05CJanGZ6oMKBs0oizuIqpEwyRUlZxGTbTAhhU-/s400/Perspective+5.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br />HUBBLE TELESCOPE INFRARED VIEW OF SOME GALAXIES<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfx7zy0OJwEV1fHePidDew4EEnnxLHrW_OiKhjNekVNawKdIrwRycRw94PCF5Wh5fiQHiOez7HReeitNvWWWCYta_0B9yD4H4LvVCucV_KK-WEvzPxvHoH7qlI5QmpBxe2u0BeRC5Yd6hO/s1600-h/Perspective+6.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171785222509433762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfx7zy0OJwEV1fHePidDew4EEnnxLHrW_OiKhjNekVNawKdIrwRycRw94PCF5Wh5fiQHiOez7HReeitNvWWWCYta_0B9yD4H4LvVCucV_KK-WEvzPxvHoH7qlI5QmpBxe2u0BeRC5Yd6hO/s400/Perspective+6.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br />CLOSE-UP OF ONE OF THE DARKEST REGIONS OF THE PHOTO ABOVE<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUg6GX5g4SLG0HE13ofhMvWjChKHrfBIDyulE7BVpAOGJU0bVeNIp1gD11RGgL2-SbjPmv667A5gKAbpSA5cKYHqeG8HzKoIVzBGiJAFl1he8igdHda_5etN5Of1lSHmtKUR2KZkLMToCP/s1600-h/Perspective+7.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171785226804401074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUg6GX5g4SLG0HE13ofhMvWjChKHrfBIDyulE7BVpAOGJU0bVeNIp1gD11RGgL2-SbjPmv667A5gKAbpSA5cKYHqeG8HzKoIVzBGiJAFl1he8igdHda_5etN5Of1lSHmtKUR2KZkLMToCP/s400/Perspective+7.bmp" border="0" /></a> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-80592265817597373972008-06-07T20:37:00.000-05:002008-06-13T23:13:09.929-05:00Texas Road Side AssistanceSomething all Texans should know, especially since this has received very little publicity.<br /><br />Your Texas driver's license has a phone number on the back, just above the bar code on the lower left side:<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">1-800-525-5555</span></strong> (It's VERY SMALL PRINT,but it IS there.)<br />This number can be called for emergency assistance on the highway or wherever you might have trouble while in your car.<br /><br />A service truck will be sent to you. This service is state operated, paid for with your tax dollars except you are required to pay for any required service, repair, or tow.<br /><br />If you are ever stranded, just call the number on your driver's<br />license..help is on the way.<br /><br />A state trooper will be sent to make sure all is well.<br /><br />I have family members who have used this service which is good especially with heavy traffic when trying to change a tire, or at night, or in a lonely area; however, there is a charge for any services provided like a tire change, tow, or repair.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-90697312023687390662008-06-05T21:03:00.000-05:002008-06-13T23:14:19.997-05:00Does 2 = 1?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYigZaqG-DFxPteAdCvJqNJ2BNBzHlGd3WW5gEfTN865RVD-qdbMK5cQNQ_x-epH9PVkzzBsey9691Q9f71Dovo7exNsF-vBuQWem7ZZ3y6zpyxyJXKgmcLNlJfivk2gPl5rsM9q480nWy/s1600-h/New+Picture.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172061307302188002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYigZaqG-DFxPteAdCvJqNJ2BNBzHlGd3WW5gEfTN865RVD-qdbMK5cQNQ_x-epH9PVkzzBsey9691Q9f71Dovo7exNsF-vBuQWem7ZZ3y6zpyxyJXKgmcLNlJfivk2gPl5rsM9q480nWy/s400/New+Picture.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Contact dhall.planoisd@gmail.com for an explanation of the logic error which results in 2 = 1.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEonuCTFWa8RJpBKyKnPxoMTxNdf4Ifk_VAW7LlhKy7eJOq-hl6LgCWvDe0u7V1iA8xrCSlQ5chpGUQoHJrjSOowmguTZcbqMcdNHL8B_p_eBBp1hO0rVWzYje8s32r5xG9UCesbehMYwn/s1600-h/Given.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiutZu9PxSoakn94dnX8aZJm59mZAlIagEvJ23ErQuPZpCjHSxPfnOAI7zVMqVx_9rbhWQzdz-HfFUIv666m1KDbt6fDH5QIvpJ-0mayAYzxWbn5rgVBGUTlN1EfajSNQRx-TA8-WnXAafl/s1600-h/Given.jpg"></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-26799965224936766972008-06-04T21:44:00.000-05:002008-06-13T23:15:29.506-05:00Success Requires Character by Robert Freeman<div align="left"><strong>A Teacher’s Suggestion for How to Improve Our Schools<br />By Robert Freeman</strong><br /><br />Mark Twain once famously wrote, “Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.” He may just as well have been talking about education.<br /><br />We’ve tried smaller class sizes, standardized curriculum, more testing, better teacher training, longer school years, charters, technology, and, of course, that perennial elixir, more money. Nothing seems to work.<br /><br />The reason is that all of these “fixes” assume that the student is a “product,” something to be built, tested, and packaged for use. They overlook the two most critical things that matter in education: that character is more important than content; and that it is the student—much more than the teacher or school—who ultimately determines success.<br /><br />Until our reform efforts reflect those two realities, all of our efforts will only deliver more frustration and failure.<br /><br />The idea that character is more important than knowledge is readily understood by most parents. It is character that parents are inculcating when they remind their child, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."<br /><br />A child with strong character will find the way to whatever knowledge he or she desires or needs. He will be much more easy to teach and able and willing to learn, no matter what the grade or subject.<br /><br />The reverse is equally true: knowledge without character is impotent or, worse, malevolent. Weak or conflicted character becomes its own worst enemy, both in school and in life. We’ve all seen the wreckage of “brilliant failures.”<br /><br />What does this say about how we should reform our schools?<br /><br />First, we need to cultivate high standards of character at least as much as we do high standards of content. Honesty, discipline, compassion, patience, perseverance, self-respect and regard for others will not only help the student excel in school, they will serve the student for her entire life.<br /><br />Academic content should be used as a vehicle for cultivating character. How many of us remember our trigonometry, our chemistry, or our French verb conjugations? Virtually none of us.<br /><br />What we remember is how to stay with a problem, how to meet deadlines, how to present our work with pride, how to ask for help if we need it, and how to help others when they need it. With these skills, any discipline can be mastered. Without them, none can.<br /><br />Second, teachers need to model the primacy of character over content and cultivate this knowledge in their students. It is not what I say that speaks to the child, it is what I do. This is the same as in parenting, isn't it?<br /><br />If I am an engaged teacher, interested in each student's welfare, curious about the world, passionate about my subject, and embodying integrity and dignity in all of my acts, the children will see it. They will know it and they will esteem it. It is not so much what I teach that they learn, it is what I am.<br /><br />Finally, we need to enlist the students as active participants in the development of their own characters. They’re not products on an assembly line, receiving bolted-on, prepackaged knowledge components, though too often our schools work as if that were the case.<br /><br />Students need to understand that character is both the means and the end of a good education and that it is they who are most responsible for it. With that in hand, and with a supportive teacher, content comes easily, no matter what field the student chooses to pursue. It is who they choose to become that will define their success in life, much more so than what they choose to be.<br /><br />Focusing on character enables students to transcend the limitations of race which is too often an excuse for student underacheivement. Race is a trap, for students can never change theirs. But they can build stronger characters every day and with them, be effective in any circumstance and in any society.<br /><br />Information? Knowledge? Intellect? These, of course, are critical in today's hyper-competitive world. But they are actually the easiest things to teach and measure. It is the deeper elements of character that are more elusive, harder to cultivate and so much more valuable: How do you discern good Information from bad? What Knowledge is it you aspire to? How do you use Intellect wisely?<br /><br />It is these gifts that will stand the test of time, that will bear fruits of self-respect, confidence, and ease with oneself in the world. These are the true ends and the true measures of education and it to these that we need to direct our impulses for reform.<br /><br />###<br /><br />Robert Freeman teaches economics and history at Los Altos High School. He is the founder of One Dollar For Life, a non-profit that asks American high school students to give one dollar and uses those funds to build schools in the developing world. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /><br /><strong>Competing Models for Public EducationWhich Model is Best?<br />by Robert Freeman</strong><br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Cultures live by their models. They die by them as well. Ulysses spawned ancient Greece. Horatio Alger defined rags-to-riches America. Rambo epitomized the 1980's. When it comes to education, our models are not people but, rather, ideas.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Our seeming schizophrenia about education can be understood as the struggle between two different models, two competing sets of ideas. One model views schools as a process of cultural birth, of bringing forth a new generation of children who will carry on - replicate - the culture. The other model views schools as a machine, an industrial process not unlike an assembly line. Its purpose is to mass produce "factors of production," well trained, obedient inputs that can be used in the manufacture of wealth.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Not surprisingly, these competing models produce radically different prescriptions for how to improve our schools. The differences show up in everything from how to pay and retain good teachers to curriculum design, teaching methods, and discipline. In order to improve our schools, getting the model right will prove not nearly so important as getting the right model.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Mass public education in America was conceived and designed as a production process. In the late 1800's, millions of farmers and immigrants were arriving in American cities in search of their mythic riches. The challenge for the country's leaders was how to at once assimilate these teeming masses to both American culture and industrial society.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The answer was simple: students would be moved from station to station, hour by hour, year by year, and fitted with various types of "knowledge." It was not unlike moving a car through a factory while bolting on engines, axles, and wheels, only, the "parts" were literacy, vocational skills, and citizenship.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">In addition to its physical process, the factory model has an economic side as well: capitalism. Adam Smith, capitalism's patron saint, was in awe of Isaac Newton's model of the universe as a big machine. He determined to apply Newton's idea to social life and so, in 1776, wrote The Wealth of Nations, the book that ultimately became the Bible of capitalism. Where Newton's world was made up of planets in motion, Smith's was composed of consumers in motion.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">In each world, fundamental forces-gravity in one, greed in the other-held things together in a balanced, harmonious whole. But where Newton had centrifugal force to balance gravity, Smith had to invent a theological agency to moderate the destructive excesses of greed: The Invisible Hand.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">It is not an accident that calls to "reform" schools, to make them more "efficient," almost always come from business interests. They not only have long experience with the factory model but an abiding need for cost effective "inputs" as well. They also see education as a business opportunity in itself, a chance to cash in on the half trillion dollars a year spent on public education in America. They wouldn't be good capitalists if they didn't at least make a try for it.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The other model of education - call it the cultural womb - we can trace back to Plato's Academy and up through the universities of medieval Europe. It views the student not as a factor of production to be assembled and put to work, but as a human being to be nurtured and set to thinking. Its primary goal is not mass production of vocational competence but rather individual cultivation of human maturity.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">In the cultural womb model, society replicates itself by creating thoughtful human beings who will carry its "cultural DNA" into succeeding generations. It is those thoughtful human beings who embody and therefore model society's values for those who come after them. This concept of education as cultural womb could not be more different from that of the school as a factory.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Clearly, American education today is more factory than womb. But it is a towering irony that it was saved from becoming a completely de-humanizing process by the "factory workers" themselves: the teachers. In the beginning, they were overwhelmingly women. They were natural nurturers, instinctively able to shelter their students from the cold, harsh depersonalization of the machine process. It was the teachers, both women and men, who, through their simple humanity, bridged the seemingly unbridgeable gulf between factory and womb. It was the teachers who birthed generation after generation of productive workers AND thoughtful human beings. It was they who may have saved society itself from destruction at the hands of its own ideational schizophrenia.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">All of us know the difference between organisms and machines. We would think it insane to put dirt into our engines or motor oil onto our plants. Yet we've become so captivated with the machine model we no longer know when it is appropriate or not. We can no longer understand that in some settings it is simply destructive. Most of the calls for "educational reform" today would have us do what we intuitively recoil from: make our schools even more machine-like, even more relentlessly mechanical.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The "reformers" want to make schools into businesses, profit-making educational factories stripped of the very humanizing sheltering that saved such factories from themselves in the first place. In the emerging industrial model of education, standardization is everything. No matter that all children are different, that all learn in different ways and at different rates. Learning is not about thinking but memorization. Imagination is replaced by regurgitation. Tests become totems to be taught to. Efficiency becomes the iconic measure of performance where out-of-spec. "products" are discarded. Questioning is replaced by obedience. Freedom succumbs to fealty.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Worst of all, the teachers are expected to become industrial robots, dutifully bolting on prefab knowledge components while remaining subservient and docile. No more guiding the strongest, succoring the weakest, while inspiring the rest. The compassion, empathy, and love of human growth that led teachers to education in the first place, that humanized an otherwise dispiriting process, is winnowed out and replaced with regimentation, routine, and reverence for return on investment. And it is not enough to hope that its greed-driven mechanism might be moderated by an "Invisible Hand," no matter how Providentially inspired. If it is not mitigated, balanced by an intentional, palpable Visible Hand of nurturing, encouragement, and compassion, the school-as-factory will simply chew up its inputs, making cogs, parts, and Frankenstein-like assemblies of human beings.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">What kind of society, what kind of humanity, could such people-as-products reproduce? For, let's not forget: society still needs to replicate itself. But factories cannot do that. Only wombs can. As a society, we've become besotted with the language of costs and benefits, as if everybody was a commodity whose highest purpose in life was to be put to work. In our thrall to mechanism, we have already destroyed a formerly vibrant public health system so that businesses could earn more profits by letting accountants make "cost-effective" medical decisions.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">And we stand now in danger of destroying the most powerful democratizing institution in the world-public education-and for the same reason as well: so that private interests can make a profit off of it. It will be a fateful, perhaps irreversible decision. Remember: cultures live by their models but they die by them as well. In the debate over how to improve public education we would be wise to listen not to the "educational entrepreneurs", the accountants, the politicians, or the ideologues.<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">We would be wise to listen to the teachers. It is the teachers who already saved public education once from the worst depredations of its inner machine. Not only is it the teachers who know education best, it is they who care about it most. For it is one thing to commit your investors' money to an enterprise. It is another thing altogether to commit your own life. Which commitment-which model-would you rather trust your children to?<br /><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Robert Freeman writes about economics and education. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:robertfreeman10@yahoo.com">robertfreeman10@yahoo.com</a>. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4811145344067834541.post-10634340966949288522008-06-01T19:52:00.000-05:002008-06-13T23:16:27.852-05:00Possible Character Curriculum<strong>Alertness</strong> vs.<strong> </strong><em>Carelessness</em><strong> </strong>Being aware of what is taking place around me so I can have the right responses<br /><br /><strong>Attentiveness</strong> vs.<strong> </strong><em>Distraction</em><strong> </strong>Showing the worth of a person or task by giving my undivided concentration<br /><br /><strong>Availability</strong> vs. <em>Self-Centeredness</em><strong> </strong>Making my own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those I serve<br /><br /><strong>Benevolence</strong> vs.<strong> </strong><em>Selfishness</em><strong> </strong>Giving to others’ basic needs without having as my motive personal reward<br /><br /><strong>Boldness</strong> vs.<strong> </strong><em>Fearfulness</em><strong> </strong>Confidence that what I have to say or do is true, right, and just<br /><br /><strong>Cautiousness</strong> vs. <em>Rashness </em>Knowing how important right timing is in accomplishing right actions<br /><br /><strong>Compassion</strong> vs. <em>Indifference </em>Investing whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others<br /><br /><strong>Contentment</strong> vs. <em>Covetousness </em>Realizing that true happiness does not depend on material conditions<br /><br /><strong>Creativity</strong> vs. <em>Underachievement </em>Approaching a need, a task, or an idea from a new perspective<br /><br /><strong>Decisiveness</strong> vs. <em>Procrastination </em>The ability to recognize key factors and finalize difficult decisions<br /><br /><strong>Deference</strong> vs. <em>Rudeness </em>Limiting my freedom so I do not offend the tastes of those around me<br /><br /><strong>Dependability</strong> vs. <em>Inconsistency </em>Fulfilling what I consented to do, even if it means unexpected sacrifice<br /><br /><strong>Determination</strong> vs. <em>Faintheartedness </em>Purposing to accomplish right goals at the right time, regardless of the opposition<br /><br /><strong>Diligence</strong> vs. <em>Slothfulness </em>Investing my time and energy to complete each task assigned to me<br /><br /><strong>Discernment</strong> vs. <em>Shortsightedness </em>Understanding the deeper reasons why things happen<br /><br /><strong>Discretion</strong> vs. <em>Simplemindedness </em>Recognizing and avoiding words, actions, and attitudes that could bring undesirable consequences<br /><br /><strong>Endurance</strong> vs. <em>Discouragement </em>The inward strength to withstand stress and do my best<br /><br /><strong>Enthusiasm</strong> vs. <em>Apathy </em>Expressing joy in each task as I give it my best effort<br /><br /><strong>Faith</strong> vs. <em>Presumption </em>Confidence that actions rooted in good character will yield the best outcome, even when I cannot see how<br /><br /><strong>Flexibility</strong> vs. <em>Resistance </em>Willingness to change plans or ideas without getting upset<br /><br /><strong>Forgiveness</strong> vs. <em>Rejection </em>Clearing the record of those who have wronged me and not holding a grudge<br /><br /><strong>Generosity</strong> vs. <em>Stinginess </em>Carefully managing my resources so I can freely give to those in need<br /><br /><strong>Gentleness</strong> vs. <em>Harshness </em>Showing consideration and personal concern for others<br /><br /><strong>Gratefulness</strong> vs. <em>Unthankfulness </em>Letting others know by my words and actions how they have benefited my life<br /><br /><strong>Honor</strong> vs. <em>Disrespect </em>Respecting others because of the higher authorities they represent<br /><br /><strong>Hospitality</strong> vs. <em>Loneliness </em>Cheerfully sharing food, shelter, or conversation to benefit others<br /><br /><strong>Humility</strong> vs. <em>Arrogance </em>Acknowledging that achievement results from the investment of others in my life<br /><br /><strong>Initiative</strong> vs. <em>Idleness </em>Recognizing and doing what needs to be done before I am asked to do it<br /><br /><strong>Joyfulness</strong> vs. <em>Self-Pity </em>Maintaining a good attitude, even when faced with unpleasant conditions<br /><br /><strong>Justice</strong> vs. <em>Corruption </em>Taking personal responsibility to uphold what is pure, right, and true<br /><br /><strong>Loyalty</strong> vs. <em>Unfaithfulness </em>Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to those I serve<br /><br /><strong>Meekness</strong> vs. <em>Anger </em>Yielding my personal rights and expectations with a desire to serve<br /><br /><strong>Obedience</strong> vs. <em>Willfulness </em>Quickly and cheerfully carrying out the direction of those who are responsible for me<br /><br /><strong>Orderliness</strong> vs. <em>Confusion </em>Arranging myself and my surroundings to achieve greater efficiency<br /><br /><strong>Patience</strong> vs. <em>Restlessness </em>Accepting a difficult situation without giving a deadline to remove it<br /><br /><strong>Persuasiveness</strong> vs. <em>Contentiousness </em>Guiding vital truths around another’s mental roadblocks<br /><br /><strong>Punctuality</strong> vs. <em>Tardiness </em>Showing esteem for others by doing the right thing at the right time<br /><br /><strong>Resourcefulness</strong> vs. <em>Wastefulness </em>Finding practical uses for that which others would overlook or discard<br /><br /><strong>Responsibility</strong> vs. <em>Unreliability </em>Knowing and doing what is expected of me<br /><br /><strong>Security</strong> vs. <em>Anxiety </em>Structuring my life around that which cannot be destroyed or taken away<br /><br /><strong>Self-Control</strong> vs. <em>Self-Indulgence </em>Rejecting wrong desires and doing what is right<br /><br /><strong>Sensitivity</strong> vs. <em>Callousness </em>Perceiving the true attitudes and emotions of those around me<br /><br /><strong>Sincerity</strong> vs. <em>Hypocrisy </em>Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives<br /><br /><strong>Thoroughness</strong> vs. <em>Incompleteness </em>Knowing what factors will diminish the effectiveness of my work or words if neglected<br /><br /><strong>Thriftiness</strong> vs. <em>Extravagance</em> Allowing myself and others to spend only what is necessary<br /><br /><strong>Tolerance</strong> vs. <em>Prejudice</em> Realizing that everyone is at varying levels of character development<br /><br /><strong>Truthfulness</strong> vs. <em>Deception </em>Earning future trust by accurately reporting past facts<br /><br /><strong>Virtue</strong> vs. <em>Impurity </em>The moral excellence evident in my life as I consistently do what is right<br /><br /><strong>Wisdom</strong> vs. <em>Foolishness</em> Seeing and responding to life situations from a perspective that transcends my current circumstances<br /><br />© 2007 Copyright Character Training Institute. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce in entirety for informational use only. Not for resale.<br />For more information, contact the Character Training Institute • 520 West Main St., Oklahoma City, OK 73102 • Phone 405.815.0001 • www.characterfirst.com<br />CHARACTER FIRST!®<br />49 Character Qualities in alphabetical orderUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1