Blog

July 24 , 2015 /

BACKWARDS and WRONG

  The “Education Equation” has it wrong and change comes slowly.  A study conducted by the U. S. Department of Education in collaboration with Germany. perhaps Japan as well, concluded that we have it all wrong.  If you look at the education equation, we tend to hold time constant and make education the variable.  If

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July 8 , 2015 /

SPEAKING (in 55 words)

 Be sure your brain is engaged before putting mouth in gear. Once the words are out, you cannot take them back. You have power to threaten or comfort, to express anger or love. Choose carefully when you speak. The words are yours and you own them. Use words not to hurt but help and heal.

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July 4 , 2015 /

TOP TEN AFFLICTIONS AFFECTING EDUCATORS

I wrote this originally a few years ago and people seemed to enjoy it.  It’s good for a laugh at the end of another academic year so herewith a reprise.  10. MABS – Myopic, Apathetic, Blame Syndrome – This disease is characterized by lack of vision, indifference and the attempt to shift responsibility to other

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June 9 , 2015 /

The Seven C’s (and more) of Competent Leadershp *

1. Communication that is clear, concise, compelling and timely.  Stay in touch with customers’  information that keeps them connected 2. Collaboration that is supportive and encouraging.  It takes time, effort and energy,  but the results are compelling. 3. Confidence that inspires mutual trust, mutual respect and the open sharing of information, otherwise known as transparency

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May 14 , 2015 /

“IT’S ABOUT TIME”

This phrase, “taking time off” is interesting because time is never off.  Like it says in the old ad for Timex, it just keeps on ticking and one day, we will run out of time, or walk out, or lie down and check out.  Think of some amusing ways people speak about time.  “I didn’t

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May 9 , 2015 /

YOUR BEST WORK

Andrew approached me with his paper in hand, presented it to me and said, “Here, is this what you want?”   I was teaching an elective in “creative writing” for juniors and seniors in high school and Andrew was one of those edgy students who often seemed unhappy with an assignment but worked hard to fulfill

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May 5 , 2015 /

THE IMPACT OF ONE TEACHER

When we were starting a new school, in 1994, one of my first tasks was to hire the teachers who would join us in this adventure of a lifetime.  We projected how many students we would have, the subject areas we would focus on and then worried later about where it would be.  I put

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May 4 , 2015 /

APPRECIATING & CELEBRATING THE ELEMENTS

  These elements we accept without thinking, without a deep sense of appreciation and yet they sustain life as we know it. Fire – It keeps us warm and we can’t live without it whether body temperature or the proverbial fire in the belly; the furnace that both digests what we consume and drives us

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April 30 , 2015 /

SCHOOLS AND THE “REAL” WORLD

It has been confirmed that schools, K-16 and beyond, are part of the real world.  They are not isolated in a bubble of protection, separated from the rest of society while these young ones grow in an environment sheltered from the world’s harsh realities.  The internet of instant news has only exacerbated the downside of

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