Another submission for the Wayback Machine, from October 2003 where Steve Worob was concerned that a sham feasibility study was being used by the administration to build the new school. Wow. Now it's a sham study for renovation and squandering $2.4 million in administrative fees to defease the bond. Some things never change. (Thanks to the anonymous submitter.)
Defense of Testing Series: The Forgotten Middle: Improving Readiness for High School
The percentage of eighth graders on target to be ready for college-level work by the time they graduate from high school is so small that it raises questions not just about the prospect that these students can eventually be ready for college, but also about whether they are even ready for high school. But when students' skills are improved during middle school, the results by the end of high school can be astounding.
Who Shall Govern Our Schools?
The question of how best to "inform their discretion" while retaining control by "the people" is the task facing democratic-minded school reformers. If democracy be our ends, noted another famed educator, John Dewey, then it must also be our means.
Control school budgets; give the voters final say
7 comments:
Unfortunately, there's a difference between Democracy and Mob-Rules that many people fail to grasp. Regarding the first item, beware anyone who seems overly concerned with the perfidy of others, as it is often their own guilty conscience that drives this.
Oh, and here's another one for Peter:
There is unrest in the forest,
There is trouble with the trees,
For the maples want more sunlight
And the oaks ignore their pleas.
The trouble with the maples,
(And they're quite convinced they're right)
They say the oaks are just too lofty
And they grab up all the light.
But the oaks can't help their feelings
If they like the way they're made.
And they wonder why the maples
Can't be happy in their shade.
There is trouble in the forest,
And the creatures all have fled,
As the maples scream "Oppression!"
And the oaks just shake their heads
So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
"The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light."
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw.
Wow, that article is like deja vu all over again, especially the line, "You should wait until December so that the new board can decide how our bond dollars are spent."
OK, one more song...
Waiting for the winds of change
to sweep the clouds away
Waiting for the rainbows end
To cast it's gold your way
Countless ways, You pass the days
You can't get something for nothing
You can't get freedom for free
You won't get wise with the sleep still in your eyes
No matter what your dream might be.
Waiting for someone to call
and turn your world around
Looking for an answer
to the questions you have found
Looking for, an open door.
What you own is your own kingdom
What you do is your own glory
What you love is your own power
What you live is your own story.
In your head is the answer
Let it guide you along
Let your heart be the anchor
and the beat of you song.
You don't get something for nothing
You don't get freedom for free
You won't get wise with the sleep still in your eyes
No matter what your dream might be.
Let's not forget By-Tor and the Snow Dog!
Tobes of Hades, lit by flickering torchlight
The netherworld is gathered in the glare
Prince By-Tor takes the cavern to the north light
The sign of Eth is rising in the air
By-Tor, knight of darkness
Centurion of evil, devil's prince
Across the River Styx, out of the lamplight
His nemesis is waiting at the gate
The Snow Dog, ermine glowing in the damp night
Coal-black eyes shimmering with hate
By-Tor and the Snow Dog
Square for battle, let the fray begin
The battle's over and the dust is clearing
Disciples of the Snow Dog sound the knell
Rejoicing echoes as the dawn is nearing
By-Tor, in defeat, retreats to Hell
Snow Dog is victorious
The land of the Overworld is saved again
Who knew there were so many Rush heads in Morrisville? The theme of free-will is strong in their music, and so I'll offer up the lyrics to the song of that name to keep the theme going:
There are those who think that life
Has nothing left to chance
With a host of holy horrors
To direct our aimless dance
A planet of playthings
We dance on the strings
Of powers we cannot perceive
The stars arent aligned ---
Or the gods are malign
Blame is better to give than receive
You can choose a ready guide
In some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide
You still have made a choice
You can choose from phantom fears
And kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose free will
There are those who think that they've been dealt a losing hand
The cards were stacked against them ---
They werent born in lotus-land
All preordained
A prisoner in chains
A victim of venomous fate
Kicked in the face
You cant pray for a place
In heavens unearthly estate
Each of us
A cell of awareness
Imperfect and incomplete
Genetic blends
With uncertain ends
On a fortune hunt
Thats far too fleet...
"...and the meek shall inherit the Earth." .....We've taken care of everything, the words you read the songs you sing, the pictures that give pleasure to your eye. Oh! What a nice contented world, let the banners be unfurled, hold the red star proudly high in hand.
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