A New York State Ed Way of Life

You have to wonder who exactly is running the NYS Education Department & what they are thinking or if they are thinking at all? 

Recently they have enacted, with the help of the State's own "Boss Tweed"  aka Gov. Cuomo  the state's new APPRs to evaluate the state's teachers.  Sounds good on paper but the problem is it will involve so much paper that you wonder how teachers and administrators will have the time to do what is necessary to teach.  Teachers used to have the freedom, within guidelines called the state curriculum, to explore and give kids creative oportunities to learn and expand ther minds.  Afterall, the human brain is a wonderful gift given the opportunity to be used to it's full potential.  However the restraints imposed by the state and it's emphasis on testing and test preparation and on evaluating teachers will severely hamper any attempts by the teachers of the state to allow students to really "Use Their Heads".  We will be pigeon holing them instead of allowing maximum growth and allowing students to follow the paths which best fit their needs and interests by making them all follow the same paths.

Speaking of testing, recent information regarding this year's 4th grade State Mandated Math Test, shows that their are two questions on the test with "questions."  One apparently has NO correct response among its 4 choices while another has two possible correct answers among the 4 choices.  Add to that, the student's aren't to be informed of this unless they ask specifiacally about either question. 

Imagine that!  How can a state education department, which is putting all this pressure on schools, teachers, administrators, and students to perform with perfection dare to present an assessment with faults????   Don't they check it over and over and over and over before putting it to print?  If I create a question, it must have an answer and shouldn't I include such answer in the multiple choice responses?  And why would I include two correct responses to a multiple choice question?  How can we expect an honest, professional, and #4 type of effort from my schools, teachers, administrators, and students when I don't deliver one myself?  Or is a 2 or 3 good enough?  What message is our State Education Department really sending here?  A.) We must be perfect; B.) We must settle;
C.) Mediocrety is OK or D.) Only perfection is acceptable.    Is there a Right answer or are there No correct responses?   Guess in the state's eyes it really doesn't matter.   JUST PRINT IT

Making a Difference...The Story of Two Giants

Today we got news regarding two people who I see as Giants who have Made a Difference.  First Pat Head Summitt  stepped down as Head Coach of the Tennessee Women's Basketball program after 38 years and 1098 victories including 8 National Championships.  Then I just heard that Dick Clark who greets us every New Years  has passed at 82 of a heart attack.  Dick had recovered from a stroke to return to his spot only a few years ago.

Pat Summitt is a mentor among coaches.  She not only raised Tenneseee to the top but raised the bar so more colleges would give women the same opportunities men have gotten over the years.   She has written books regarding motivation & inspiration.  When she was diagnosed with Dementia & Alzheimers she immediately developed a foundation to help educate & raise money for research.  She will leave a legasy of compassion, knowledge, & understanding. 

Dick Clark of American Bandstand Fame introduced us babyboomers to Rock N Roll.  It's got a beat & I like to dance to it. Give it an 8.  Then he hosted Rock N New Year's Eve for Years ringing in the New Year.  Even after his stroke, he battled back to get back to his spot.  He Showed courage & determination and was an inspiration for us all.  I am really sad to hear of his passing but he will be remembered for years to come.  Dick Clark & Rock N Roll go hand in hand.

Two Giants....Who Made a Difference.  Have You?

What is the Truth?

Lately we've been hearing a lot about the amount of taxes our presidential candidates are paying.  You hear the President Obama earned $800,000 in 2011 & donated $200,000 of it to charities & paid 20% in taxes.  Meanwhile Mit Rowney made $21 Million in 2011 & is paying only 14% in taxes.  Of course the way our tax laws are written much of what Mr Rowney earned was in capital gains which I guess can't be taxed any higher then 15%.  Add to that the amount he may donate & who knows what the truth is.  Election years bring out so many half truths & out right lies.  Then you have our illustrious governor who is running New York the way Boss Tweed ran NYC.  Talk about a Bully.  Oh yes, he is keeping his promises by arm twisting & screwing our kids.  At the top of his attack list are our schools & teachers.  His tax cap sounded oh so nice but when you don't provide enough state aid to support the programs you mandate and then don't allow the schools to raise enough in taxes to keep programs & staff, who suffers....Our Future.....The Kids.   He is touting his bi-partisinship when instead he has forced their hands at the cost of hurting the poor, the sick, the old, & the young.  wow...So What is the truth.  The truth is that as long as political gain is more important then to do what is right for the common Good, lieing & half-truths will continue to fill our papers & drive the car called our Country and that gap between the haves & have nots will continue to grow eliminating the real drive in this country, The Middle Class.

How Long After High School is Enough?

One of the questions out there since Kentucky's NCAA Championship run is:  How long should these Future Pros stay in College? Itr's a good one.  Baseball allows kids to sign right outa high school . however if they chose to enter college, they must stay 3 years.  Football maintains your high school class must be out three years. Basketball says one year after their high school class graduates, eliminating the Lebron James & Kobe Bryant straight outa high school.  Hockey is different because most of these "kids" enter & play in semi-pro leagues while still in high school.  Other pro sports take em whenever.  Aka the 13 year old pro soccer player.

Like anything in education, it's a matter of readiness.  Not necessarily a readiness to play the pro game but a readiness for the Pro Life?  Jim Boeheim said, when asked about Carmelo Anthony's One & Done,  heck  college is where you go to find a career /job.  He found a job in one year.

I want to concentrate on the issue of a readiness for the Pro Life. Do these kids know what to expect.....really?  All the MONEY.....FAME........& what comes with it?  The Reality & Rigger of the daily schedule?  The Temptations that go with the Pro Life?  Is it a wonder of the stories of a woman in every city, children by a multitude of mothers, drug problems, gun problems, & in some cases money problems.  Read the papers or internet.  The stories of their behaviors.  The things they say?  What would you say if you had a camera or microphone stuck in your face 24/7?    The news is filled daily with stories about some pro athlete doing or saying something wrong.  Is it a wonder?

Have they had time to really grow up?  Have they been taught how to deal & manage a pro life?  The successes? The failures?  I hear that some counseling is available when they sign their pro deal.  But wouldn't it be better if they were allowed to GROW UP.  I suggest a minumum of 3 years removed from high school before they can sign a pro contract.  Let them grow up.  Whether it be three years in college or in a developmental league of some sort .  Where there is some teaching going on.   There is so much to be learned in college. Many of us grew up while going to college.  We learned how to manage & budget & live.   Let these kids do the same.  The pros & colleges need to get together to make this work.  More of these pro athletes will have more normal & successful lives, not just careers.  In the end....Everybody Wins. 

When "Mind Your Own Business" changed it's meaning

Is anything anymore Only your own business? In a day of High Tech Communications, you have a split second to decide what is & what isn't your business. Why?  Because somebody somewhere has it on film or has read a blog or a police report or heard a scanner & within seconds Your Business has just become EVERYONE'S Business.  And the Ramifications can be disastrous.  You no longer have time to try & explain.  Everyone now has their version of what happened & has made their own opinion on what you did.  Case in point.

The 51 year old married football coach at Arkansas was riding his motorcycle with a 28 year old female college worker.  He slid his cycle off the road which necessitated help from the local police.  Oh, the 28 year old was not his wife.  Within minutes, his story was all over the internet with all kinds of twists & inuendos.  Before he had a chance to tell his wife or explain what happened, millions of opinions were formed & it looks like his life is in a big turmoil, which might included the loss of his job & of course problems with his marriage.

You may say, He should have known better & he was wrong with what he was "doing". But does OUR right to know , supercede a person's right to their privacy or private life of any kind?  Is ANYTHING fair game for the Media? 

The current Bountygate situation in New Orleans took on a new meaning with the release of audio/video of a coach using pretty damning language asking his players to hurt the opponents.  Now, anyone who has played football knows that coaches & players sometimes use that kind of language as motivation.  Do they realy want players to hurt other players?   

It used to be it was the " Need to Know" that we used when  giving out info.  According to today's world... EVERYTHING is Needed to know.  I think that's sad.  I think this hurts people more then it helps.  It makes us ALL "Nosey"    So next time someone says to you, "Mind your own business"...You can say..."I Am."

Who needs a Flack Jacket & Combat Pay?

I worked for 34 years in education.  The first 7 in a blue collar neighborhood, a year in a rural neighborhood, & the final 26 years in a suburban/rural/urban neighborhood.   The stories you'd here about what it must be like teaching in the cities of Troy, Albany, & Schenectady.  How you'd need combat pay & flack jackets if you taught there.  Then I retired & have done most of my subbing primarily in the city of Schenectady & have had student teachers in the city of Albany.  I can only say how impressed I have been in the quality of their programs, the staff I have worked with, and the kids.  If anything these kids come from so much less and are appreciative of whatever you can give them.  The other day I witnessed a 7th gradeboy who had borrowed a pencil return to class to return the pencil.  Sounds small but he could easily have kept it or just thrown it away.  Today I had a 6th grade boy remind my class of third graders that they needed to help me pronounce their names rather then ridicule me for my efforts. He didn't have to say anything. You should have seen their reaction. I had a great day with them.  I can honestly say, that I have enjoyed every day that I have subbed & have walked away impressed with the efforts of the staffs and children.  KUDOS to all those involved in educating the kids in these schools.  No Flack Jacket or Combat Pay needed.  I'll be back.

College Hoop at it's "Best" & "Worst"

Let's take a closer look at College Hoops.  Jim Boeheim, when asked about Carmelo Anthony's One & Done approach to attending Syracuse University, responded that since kids go to college to find a career , what's wrong with Melo leaving after one year for his career?   John Calapari has profected the "One & Done"  at the University of Kentucky.  A few years back with Johnny Wall, his whole starting five spent just one year in college before leaving for the NBA draft.  This year, he starts 3 freshmen & 2 sophomores with the likelyhood that all five will leave for the draft.  Calapari also has the distinction, along with other NCAA finalist Rick Pitino, of having a Final Four Season stripped after recruiting violations were found.  Then you have BYU's Jimmer Fredette who spent four years in college, had a stellar career culmninating in his being named College Basketball Player of the year, and got his degree before entering in the NBA draft.  He's earning more splinters then playing time in his first year, but earning millions of dollars.  But not to fear Jimmer, there's the case of the Knick's Jeremy Lin, who graduated from Harvard and was never drafted .  He was cut by a few teams before the Knicks gave him a shot.  The rest is Linsanity.

So, What is the Right Way?  Is Boeheim correct?  Will the NBA revisit their at least one year between high school & pros?  I remember when freshman couldn't play varsity in college.  Remember Lou Alcinder?  I'm not sure what the answer is but I do know that College Hoop is still the best Hoop game in town.  A game where coaches & strategies still make a difference & where the players still play hard every night.  March Madness & the Final Four are still a highlight of most people's sport's year.  With my Bracket Busted, I'm rooting for a Great Final Game.......How Bout You?