It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it. Jacob Bronowski
In September 2010, I did a blog post on the DoD Computers for Learning Program and Executive Order 12999 and the article about former RCSS Superintendent, Dr. Bedden warning of a tech crisis in RCSS in 2008. As I transitioned back to Augusta, GA and assessed the situation I was returning to from family to community along with the upcoming elections I was curious as to how many people knew about the DoD Computers for Learning Program and why weren't all of our schools registered.
Along with a blog post, I emailed our 10 Richmond County School Board Members, those running for school board positions, some media contacts, and a couple of the PTA/PTSA newsgroups I am still connected with to see if there would be any response. I received one response...from one school board member and here it is:
I referred your email to our Instructional Technology Dept. They got back to me about this. Although we have gotten computers donated from this program, we do incur expenses in upgrading them as well as the time of our technology specialists to do this. Also, the State Dept of Education has changed standards and requirements in order to have all computers on a modern basis. The part of the SPLOST funds which can be used for technology is helping get all schools' computers on a modern basis. This would help with parts, software, and the time of our technology specialists which we are short on. (Personal communication, October 31, 2010)
I thanked this board member for their response and stated as a recipient of $16.6 million of the Race to the Top funds that the GA Department of Education has dedicated to the Richmond County School System, the least that I can expect is that our schools are registered in this program. Because I have been in the schools as a substitute teacher, volunteer, parent, taxpayer, and an involved community member I know the disconnects between what the board believes is going on technology wise in our schools to classrooms that lack technology or educators who have the technology but do not use it for whatever reason...and of course the ban of cell phones and social media.
Additional links:
Richmond County schools to get $16.6 million in Race To Top funds Federal Race to the Top grant money will go to Richmond County over 4 years (Augusta Chronicle, October 4 2010)
Georgia Wins Race to the Top (GA Department of Education, August 24, 2010)
New school code restricts social media options Effort aims to address bullying problems (Augusta Chronicle, July 17, 2010)
Richmond County School Systems eBoard Solutions
I thought there would be more progress while I was away from Augusta, GA for two years...but it appears that passive acceptance is still the accepted norm.
It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it. Jacob Bronowski
Comments and checks in the Reaction Boxes are always welcome!
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
What are you really teaching? learning? sharing?
If you are lucky enough to work, volunteer, raise, and/or influence others...do you take the time to really listen to what they are saying? Can you hear what they are saying by their words, actions, or inactions?
When is the last time you conducted a self assessment on your progress? Are you the cobbler whose children have no shoes? Take some time and listen to your replacements. Listen to them as they ask for assistance, provide suggestions, and feel defeated when they watch the adults participate in the Blame Game.
What is your role in the Blame Game? Participant? Bystander? Blamer? Oxygen Thief? Mover? Shaker? Solution provider? Lead by example? Virtual Suggestion Box provider?
Parents, teachers, students, administrators, taxpayers, politicians, community apathy, oxygen thieves, self serving interest groups....you can add labels to the list but what is your role? At one point in time, from the womb to the tomb, you became a student in some type of learning system in life, either as an autodidact or a participant of a learning system whether it was a public / private / home / charter / magnet / virtual school system. Many people continue to learn long beyond the classroom and throughout life. You may own one or more labels, by choice or by association, but you started somewhere. You can continue as is or you can change.
The cycle continues until we break the cycle even if it is one person at a time. What are you doing to break the cycle of passive acceptance? How do you empower others who want to change? Regardless of your role by profession or self labeling by choice, your actions or inactions are being observed and modeled whether you realize or not.
Do your words, actions, digital or F2F match your actions?
Some quotes about change, listening, learning that have been brought to my attention by some of the young adults I volunteer with:
Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable. William Pollard
Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life. Henry L. Doherty
A good listener tries to understand what the other person is saying. In the end s/he may disagree sharply, but because s/he disagrees, s/he wants to know exactly what it is s/he is disagreeing with. Kenneth A. Wells
When is the last time you conducted a self assessment on your progress? Are you the cobbler whose children have no shoes? Take some time and listen to your replacements. Listen to them as they ask for assistance, provide suggestions, and feel defeated when they watch the adults participate in the Blame Game.
What is your role in the Blame Game? Participant? Bystander? Blamer? Oxygen Thief? Mover? Shaker? Solution provider? Lead by example? Virtual Suggestion Box provider?
Parents, teachers, students, administrators, taxpayers, politicians, community apathy, oxygen thieves, self serving interest groups....you can add labels to the list but what is your role? At one point in time, from the womb to the tomb, you became a student in some type of learning system in life, either as an autodidact or a participant of a learning system whether it was a public / private / home / charter / magnet / virtual school system. Many people continue to learn long beyond the classroom and throughout life. You may own one or more labels, by choice or by association, but you started somewhere. You can continue as is or you can change.
The cycle continues until we break the cycle even if it is one person at a time. What are you doing to break the cycle of passive acceptance? How do you empower others who want to change? Regardless of your role by profession or self labeling by choice, your actions or inactions are being observed and modeled whether you realize or not.
Do your words, actions, digital or F2F match your actions?
Some quotes about change, listening, learning that have been brought to my attention by some of the young adults I volunteer with:
Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable. William Pollard
Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life. Henry L. Doherty
A good listener tries to understand what the other person is saying. In the end s/he may disagree sharply, but because s/he disagrees, s/he wants to know exactly what it is s/he is disagreeing with. Kenneth A. Wells
Change is not made without inconvenience, even from worse to better. Richard Hooker
From Robert M. Hutchins:
The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.
It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts…it is to teach them to think.
Education is a kind of continuing dialogue, and a dialogue assumes different points of view.
My idea of education is to unsettle the minds of the young and inflame their intellects.
Do you step in to be one part of the solution for those who will eventually replace you? What are you really teaching, learning, and/or sharing?
From Robert M. Hutchins:
The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.
It must be remembered that the purpose of education is not to fill the minds of students with facts…it is to teach them to think.
Education is a kind of continuing dialogue, and a dialogue assumes different points of view.
My idea of education is to unsettle the minds of the young and inflame their intellects.
Do you step in to be one part of the solution for those who will eventually replace you? What are you really teaching, learning, and/or sharing?
Comments or reaction box checks are always appreciated.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Reflection with some HS grads and how do we...
What have you done to break the cycle of passive acceptance?
When I returned to Augusta for a visit, some of my daughter's friends stopped by to check on G Mama Flo who was injured in a car accident and catch up on what we all have been doing.
I miss working with the students who I have so much hope for because they are our replacements and we relate on so many issues. Many of them were home for the holidays and stopped in to visit their former high schools and noticed many changes, from educators who have moved on to their personal diverse perspectives as alumni.
It was great to hear about those who have moved on to successful college experiences, military, or internships and to hear their hopes and dreams and those who have remained in Augusta and have fallen into what I call the "Disgusta Depression." Some of them had so many hopes and dreams during high school...plans for college, travel, fulfilling jobs and they seem to have petered out. It hurts my heart...because I left Augusta...for many reasons from focusing on my own educational endeavors and the dissertation process, career progression, experience life as an empty nester, and to fulfill a need to move every few years that became ingrained during my military career.
So how do we help them to break the cycle of passive acceptance? How do we empower these former students who seem to have lost their zest for life challenges, hopes, and dreams?
When I returned to Augusta for a visit, some of my daughter's friends stopped by to check on G Mama Flo who was injured in a car accident and catch up on what we all have been doing.
I miss working with the students who I have so much hope for because they are our replacements and we relate on so many issues. Many of them were home for the holidays and stopped in to visit their former high schools and noticed many changes, from educators who have moved on to their personal diverse perspectives as alumni.
It was great to hear about those who have moved on to successful college experiences, military, or internships and to hear their hopes and dreams and those who have remained in Augusta and have fallen into what I call the "Disgusta Depression." Some of them had so many hopes and dreams during high school...plans for college, travel, fulfilling jobs and they seem to have petered out. It hurts my heart...because I left Augusta...for many reasons from focusing on my own educational endeavors and the dissertation process, career progression, experience life as an empty nester, and to fulfill a need to move every few years that became ingrained during my military career.
So how do we help them to break the cycle of passive acceptance? How do we empower these former students who seem to have lost their zest for life challenges, hopes, and dreams?
Sunday, November 9, 2008
David Warlick's Big Ideas - Bring Education back into Focus
David Warlick is collecting your ideas...so gather your thoughts, whittle the characters down to 140, and submit your action statements.
From the site: Big Ideas - Bring Education Back into Focus
From the site: Big Ideas - Bring Education Back into Focus
The project features four phases.Phase 1 (Starts 11/9/08)
Instructions - Think about the basic priority actions that might be taken by a new Department of Education that would promote shifts in education that are relevant to today´s students and their future.
Scroll down the page to see statements already posted.
Compose a statement that succinctly describes that action using no more than 140 characters. Be clear and to the point.
Type or paste your statement in the textbox to the left, no more than 140 characters. Type your name and click [Submit]
Spend about two-and-a-half days composing and posting clear and succinct (140 character limit) priority actions for a U.S. Ed Department aimed at promoting and empowering a system that better prepares today’s children for their future.
Phase 2
The Big Ideas web site will change, consisting of a list of the items that were posted. We, will collectively match up similar items into the basic foundation topics. Nothing will be deleted, only linked.
Phase 3
The basic topics that emerge will be listed, with associated items linked in, with a request that education bloggers and micro-bloggers post their insights about specific topics of interest.
Phase 4
Finally, the main topics will be listed, with links to an aggregation of associated blogs and micro-blogs. Educators will then be asked to visit the list and prioritize the list by order of importance and logical sequence.
Visit David Warlick's blog to pick up the badge and post it on your site. Spread the word.
Phase 2
The Big Ideas web site will change, consisting of a list of the items that were posted. We, will collectively match up similar items into the basic foundation topics. Nothing will be deleted, only linked.
Phase 3
The basic topics that emerge will be listed, with associated items linked in, with a request that education bloggers and micro-bloggers post their insights about specific topics of interest.
Phase 4
Finally, the main topics will be listed, with links to an aggregation of associated blogs and micro-blogs. Educators will then be asked to visit the list and prioritize the list by order of importance and logical sequence.
Visit David Warlick's blog to pick up the badge and post it on your site. Spread the word.
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