Now I Get It

Yesterday my youngest daughter, Makenzie, taught our 9th grade FACS class the art of cake decorating. Makenzie is a student at a culinary school with her prime focus on pastry. Our FACS teacher was one day discussing they were going to start on baking and would like to do cake decorating, but had little expertise in the area. I gave her Makenzie's email, they made connections and Makenzie had some time off before she starts her internship, so things worked out well.

I, of course, had to go down to the class to observe as Makenzie had expressed her nervousness the night before over teaching the class. She also remembered what 9th grade girls are like and how attentive they can/cannot be. When I was a high school principal I used to joke with the freshmen that I wouldn't talk with them much during their freshman year, I would wait until the next year when they became real people.

I was shocked to see how attentive those eight girls were on what Makenzie was showing them and how comfortable Makenzie got in her role as teacher. Mrs. Howard sat at the back of the room running the video and taking notes on Makenzie's instruction. When Makenzie would demonstrate then ask for someone to try the technique, the girls jumped at the chance, never once was it come one someone give it a shot, their enthusiasm to try something new, and in some cases difficult, amazed me.

They will now have a cake decorating competition in which they will skype with Makenzie for tips and she will judge the final products, and this will be tough on her as she will really connected with those girls.

Okay now I get it:

I understand passion-saw it first hand in the instruction and the students

What we do in school goes way beyond core curriculum

The use of technology to aid in instruction

Connections with students is the most vital thing we do in school

The last thing Makenzie made her old man proud.

I Don't Know Why

I received some distressing news last Friday, a classmate of my youngest daughter committed suicide. He was in the service and got married not to long ago. This really got to me more than I ever imagined it would. I was his High School Principal, and always felt that I had a good relationship with him and his family.

Our oldest daughter tutored this young man's little sister when she was in elementary school. His mother was very active in our school's Booster Club. His father served as our golf coach for a couple of years. They are good people and he was a good kid, in fact as happy go lucky as he was he would have about the last person I would figure to do this.

I just can't imagine what a 21 year old would figure is so hopeless that suicide would be the answer. It just proves what so many are saying on twitter to connect and build relationships with the kids we are in charge of educating. If one of us can have an impact on a student where they will talk to us prior to taking such a desperate act then we have accomplished our mission and its so much more important than test scores, technology, or any other thing we deem important in the education world.

He will be missed, I am so sorry for his family and I hope by writing about it will help me get over this tragedy. It is not meant for me to know why, I only hope any further actions like this can be avoided by us.

Random Thoughts

I have finally had some more Random Thoughts while watching the local new coverage of the Blizzard of 2011. I don't take weather issues lightly but come on we do have some sense about us and some of things we are advised to do made me laugh.

We were informed when the little bit of ice we had started that it could cause power outages and thankfully that hasn't happened yet, at least to us. The Kansas City station we were watching reminded us that if a power line is down not to touch it. Really? Is this something you have to tell us? I can imagine the conversation as driving in a blizzard, oh wait dear there is a downed power line let me get out and move it so we can drive on, sure would hate to drive over it.

We were also informed by one station not to call in if we encounter slick or snow packed roads. We are in a blizzard, my guess is all roads are slick and snow packed, but thanks for the advice.

As the Oak Park Mall was closing at around noon a car drives up to the reporter and tell her they thought it would be a good day for shopping. Well you definitely beat the crowds but if you have to get out to shop in a blizzard your problems are bigger than crowd beating.

I hope everyone is safe during this crisis and maybe we will get to have school again sometime. As many days as we have missed we will probably have to go past Memorial Day, which is taboo for many. I also can't wait for the words of wisdom that awaits us, since the storm has moved out of our area.

Is Suitable Good Enough

In these days of economic hardship, at least in the state of Kansas, school funding is really taking a hit from the state legislature. I suppose this is normal and we should take a cut if the money is not there. However, the buzz out of Topeka is what is a suitable education and what does it cost? The term suitable is what really bothers me.

Does our governor want to be a suitable governor? Does our representative and senator want to be suitable? Does anyone tell their child we want them to aspire to be suitable? I think not. What ever happened to good and/or great?

If you have a parent that moves into an area and is deciding between two school districts, district A says we will provide the best education we possibly can and district B says we will provide a suitable education which would you choose? I know which district I want my child in.

I do not believe that money is the only measure of a quality education, I think quality classroom teachers are, but the term "suitable education" really goes up my backside. I can assure you this we will do whatever we can for the kids in our district, and suitable will not be good enough for me.

Is This Why We Test?

We have had a good couple of years at Pleasanton on our state assessments, in fact we have had the highest scores we have ever had. We all have walked around with our chests out and being very proud of our accomplishments, including myself. Now for the reality.

Our 4th grade teachers have started their classes blogging and it has been fun and reflective plus they love doing it. Whenever possible I respond to each student. One of our teachers asked the question of how the students felt about the upcoming state assessments. Their responses nearly floored me.

I never read so much fear, anxiety, and apprehension in kids. I made a group response and told them that they would be adequately prepared, and to just do the best they can and who cares anyway. They are our kids, we love them and their success or failure has nothing to do with test scores. I just couldn't believe that the two words "state assessment" would strike such a response in 4th graders. By the way the teacher puts no pressure on these kids, and echoed my sentiments in a group response.

Is our goal to strike fear in these kids, I don't think so. It almost broke my heart when I read their answers, and made me question "is this why we test?" No kid should feel that type of pressure, especially in the 4th grade. So you can chalk me up as one who is now opposed to this ridiculous practice in name of educational excellence.

Random Thoughts

Well it seems there hasn't been much to write about, but thought I'd better get back in the habit or I would keep putting it off until I would eventually quit and I don't want to do that. If you noticed I have changed the look of my blog, actually my youngest daughter did it. She said my previous one looked boring, I said good reason for that it reflected my personality.

The bowl games are over, maybe thats the reason for my writing funk, I'm depressed. Some great games, some not so great, and some average. When you have two 6-6 teams how can you expect anything but average? Are there to many bowls, yes, do schools mind taking the money, no, so I guess we're saddled with the 30 some we have.

The 3 year players have been declaring for the NFL or returning to school. Cam Newton is going NFL so he and his father can now take money legally. Look out Auburn the NCAA is fixin' to invade you. Some of the athletes returning to school really surprised me, but I loved college I know it was all I could do to cram 4 years of college into 6.

Cover up the politicians are back to work, and I'm sure that will make our lives better since they care for us so much.

Pray for the people in Arizona.

The real reason I'm writing is to see if I remember my bitly address or if I have to look it up before I post on twitter.

It Shouldn't be Like This

I am like many administrators, in that blogging is new for me and I do enjoy having a chance to share, vent, and evaluate some of my thoughts in regard to education. I have tried to write twice a week, once covering an educational topic and once writing Random Thoughts, which is my stab at satirical humor.

While being out on Christmas break I kept thinking what am I going write in my educational blog when we come back, and I was drawing a blank. I found myself growing anxious on what I was going to write, as if many read it anyway (there I go with satire again). It shouldn't be that way, and its not going to be for me anymore.

When topics come up then I will write about them, I definitely am not going to pressure myself into writing something just for the sake of writing. Perhaps I'm not as creative as the next blogger, but I didn't start doing this for the next blogger, I did for me and when I have something to share, for you. I know this I'm not going to spend another second on becoming anxious on what to blog about.

When I finally realized this I relaxed I may write once, twice, or however many times the urge strikes and I feel I have something to add. I will continue Random Thoughts weekly and really enjoy writing it, and now I will enjoy writing the other blogs equally as much. I think I'll have to name that column, as soon as I can come up with one.