This blog will keep you informed regarding issues such as education, politics, current events, faith and news.School shootings are an issue that goes way beyond the walls of school. It is an issue of mental health, parental involvement, home intervention and teaching children appropriate social interaction skills. Children are bombarded by so many inappropriate multimedia images and unrealistic ways to interact or react to situations. They seldom play outside gaining the social skills to navigate through life, but play inside and interact with violent electronic games and view unrealistic television shows that often lack any moral theme. School shootings are a manifestation of many underlying issue that must be addressed or the carnage will continue. The question must be answered; Are we ready to commit, make the change and invest in our children? The answer to that seems bleak as we continue to spend less on education and cut social programs that address the needs of the American people. Knowledge IS Power!
Posts Tagged ‘politics’
School Shootings Continue In Spite Of Safety Emphasis
Posted: February 3, 2014 in education, Health, reform, school, school reform, teaching, UncategorizedTags: achievement, education, Health, politics, School Reform, teaching, Welfare
English Teacher: Why I Had to Leave a Profession I Loved
Posted: January 5, 2014 in education, reform, school, school reform, UncategorizedTags: education, politics, School Reform, teaching
Change in the realm of education is constant but the current reform movement is different. It is another phase that will come, be revised, refined and eventually replaced by the next big theoretical idea. Time will tell! ….Knowledge IS Power!
In this post, a veteran teacher with 30 years of experience explains why she had to retire. She didn’t want to. But the obsession with data-based decision-making finally broke her spirit.
She recounts incidents where she was able to help students, where students gave her their trust, where classes learned to love literature as she did. She remembers staff meetings devoted to lessons and students, not to data analysis. As all the rewarding parts of her work were eliminated, she realized that the reforms made it I possible to do what she loved est: to teach.
She writes:
“I remember a time when department meetings, faculty meetings, and in-service days revolved around reading, sharing ideas, learning about our subjects—and not around the only topics that seem to matter today: lesson plan format, testing, rubrics, teacher evaluations and technological gimmicks. Watch your back! If you don’t conform it will be…
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Courts Repeatedly Uphold the Right to a Quality Education: by Wendy Lecker
Posted: June 16, 2013 in African American, Christian, education, motivation, politics, poverty, reform, religion, school, school reform, teaching, UncategorizedTags: achievement, achievement gap, African American, attitude, early childhood, education, faith, life, politics, poverty, school, School Reform, teaching, Welfare
Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of the historic United States Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Twenty years after Brown, the Supreme Court essentially abandoned its commitment to school desegregation by limiting its review to intentional cases of segregation. Thus, states were under no obligation to fight segregation; but rather only ensure they did not set out to segregate schools. As a result of this lax oversight, schools today are more segregated than they were 30 years ago.
Wendy Lecker wrote this article that appears in the Stamford Advocate, to read the full story check it out right here: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/default/article/Wendy-Lecker-out her-repeatedly-uphold-the-right-4601396.php
Connecticut School Districts thrown under the bus as Commissioner Pryor ends successful technical services program.
Posted: June 3, 2013 in African American, education, politics, poverty, reform, school, school reform, teaching, UncategorizedTags: achievement, achievement gap, African American, early childhood, education, politics, poverty, school, School Reform, teaching
Connecticut Education Information
May 28, 2013 By Jonathan Pelto
Last Friday, Governor Malloy’s Commissioner of Education quietly ended what has widely been recognized as one of the State Department of Education’s most important and successful programs.
For years, a variety of Connecticut school districts have been receiving vital technical assistance from a group of retired superintendents and senior school administrators through a program housed at the State Department of Education.
The program has functioned thanks to a grant through EASTCONN, the Regional Education Service Center. The program has funded four State Department “Leaders in Residence,” along with three retired school superintendents. Together these people have been giving school districts across the state with critically important help on a wide variety of projects.
Together, former superintendents Mike Wasta (Bristol), Patrick Proctor (Windham), Jim Mitchel (Groton) and Leaders in Residence, Rosanne Daigneault, Warren Logee, Robert Pitocco and Salvatore Randazzo have more than 250 years of combined expertise on the cutting edge of making schools succeed. Their expertise ranges from Special Education, to improving teaching to financial management. Some have Ph.Ds. while others have Education Doctorates. All have spent their lives here in Connecticut helping improve our schools.
And now, as a result of Pryor’s most recent decision, towns will be losing the very help and expertise they so desperately need.
For the full story click on the link below:
http://jonathanpelto.com/2013/05/28/news-flash-school-districts-thrown-under-the-bus-as-commissioner-pryor-ends-successful-technical-services-program/
Motivating Students for Reading Success
Posted: May 2, 2013 in African American, Christian, education, faith, Health, motivation, reform, school, school reform, teaching, UncategorizedTags: achievement, achievement gap, African American, attitude, education, faith, life, motivation, politics, religion, School Reform, teaching
Ansonia reading challenge worth a pie in the face- The New Haven Register – Serving New Haven, Connecticut
By Patricia Villers pvillers@nhregister.com / Twitter: @nhrvalley
The students threw whipped cream pies at Goldson, who donned a hat, sunglasses, a towel and a sheet for the event. And that was a good idea, since Goldson was covered with whipped cream in a matter of seconds. The gym erupted in squeals of laughter and applause as he tried to wipe the whipped cream from his face.
Click here to read the full story: Ansonia reading challenge worth a pie in the face- The New Haven Register – Serving New Haven, Connecticut.
Are you a…. “Game Changer?”
Posted: April 9, 2013 in African American, Christian, education, faith, Health, motivation, politics, poverty, quotes, reform, religion, school, sports, teaching, UncategorizedTags: achievement, achievement gap, African American, attitude, Christ, Christian, church, education, faith, Health, life, Love, motivation, politics, poverty, religion, School Reform, Sports, teaching
Many of us watch or have participated in sports; they are entertaining, fun, exhilarating, competitive and challenging. If you have ever experienced coaching, there is nothing more exciting than seeing your team execute a play in a game situation, exactly as you have diagramed it or practiced over and over again. As a member of a team, there is nothing like working together to win a hard fought competition. Sports are analogous to life; all of us have experienced the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. But lack of persistence and the decision to give up after a defeat, is what separates winners and losers in life. In our day to day struggles we can’t win everything, but we sure can try. Orison Marden tells us that there are the wills, won’ts, and the can’ts. The first accomplish everything, the second oppose everything; the third fail everything. Which one are you….are you a “Game Changer?”
There are moments in competitive sports when the game is tight, seconds are ticking away and the final outcome depends on a decision that can change the course of the game. It could be a specially designed play, an extraordinary performance or a poor decision. Regardless of who or what it is, it’s considered a game changing situation.
God has given us extraordinary talents with the ability to achieve miraculous and unbelievable accomplishments. He is an example and the embodiment of the ultimate game changer and has left us, within His lessons, the blueprint for success. In our daily lives we can change our circumstances and influence others. Author Dennis Kimbro tells us that the world waits and takes notice of exceptional people who can separate themselves from the crowd and do things in a creative and exciting way. The world is searching for and craves aggressive and progressive leaders that identify with success and can show others how to attain it. Those successful leaders that I speak of are “Game Changers.”
To be a game changer there are a number of qualities you must possess but one of them is persistence. Calvin Coolidge once said;
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unregarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
Are you a……”Game Changer?”
You are a…….”Game Changer!”
Terri D. Goldson, Sr.
Just a touch….one moment, can make a difference.
Posted: March 4, 2013 in African American, Christian, education, faith, Health, motivation, politics, poverty, quotes, reform, religion, school, sports, teaching, UncategorizedTags: African American, attitude, Christ, Christian, church, education, faith, Health, life, Love, motivation, politics, poverty, teaching, Welfare
My mother and grandmother told me that just a touch of a particular spice or flavoring can change the taste and texture of a food. They reminded me that good food can change the atmosphere, your attitude, and it can create a feeling of joy. They encouraged me to light up the world.
At a wedding they ran out of wine, Jesus touched the water and it changed to wine…. the party continued.
At a time in need, Jesus shared a meal, fed the multitudes, changed the atmosphere and changed lives.
My chiropractor was explaining how he could make a simple adjustment or manipulation and touch the spine to alleviate pain. He stated that it is amazing how it can help a person walk or move better in a matter of minutes. He helped me believe that any man can have the ability to heal a person in many different ways.
Jesus healed the sick, blind, lepers and the broken; all it took was a touch.
My father and coach told me that all it takes is a positive attitude and a touch of determination to help change the momentum of a game from seemingly insurmountable odds. Just believe in yourself and trust in your ability. They told me to apply it to all situations with consistency.
Against all odds, David slew the giant Goliath and all it took was faith and one stone to change the destiny of a nation.
We all have the ability to change a situation with a touch of kindness and a sprinkle of love. A simple smile can light up a room, a hug and kiss can warm the soul, or a kind word can change a mood and heal a broken heart. Words of encouragement and prayers of hope and faith have the ability to create miracles. It doesn’t take much to change things, just faith the size of a mustard seed and the willingness to reach out.
We all can make a difference!
Elder Terri D. Goldson, Sr.
