http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahAz4c2H3Sw
it's so cool watching how the news travels like the wave at a baseball game.All together chanting in celebration and pride. ....the only clueless ones were the ones who actually had something else to do...some form of fitness in the low-jacked world. examples are everywhere.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Bloggers vs Journalist
I think that the big difference between writing for a blog and writing for a paper..is feeling and perspective. In a blog you have the chance to put your own spin on what you see and hear. I can spit out anything here to help you to read your way into my mind. The more descriptive the paragraph the more apart of the story my reader becomes. It doesn't matter if the story is entirely based in reality or truth for that matter, it's all about how I see the world.
In a newspaper, its nothing but the facts. A newspaper allows for very little personal expression as the owners of the paper don't want to have any bias. In this type of story it is more important for the population to make it's own mind of the story...the paper just gives them the evidence to work with.
In a newspaper, its nothing but the facts. A newspaper allows for very little personal expression as the owners of the paper don't want to have any bias. In this type of story it is more important for the population to make it's own mind of the story...the paper just gives them the evidence to work with.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Technology..??
I think that technology is both good and bad for us as a society. If anyone got the chance to watch last night's south park...which is so fitting.....makes you wonder just because we can should we? I am going to save you all the whole "when I was a kid I had to walk 9 miles uphill to the library to check out a book" because that is getting old. I think that all these advances are making life easier yet annoying. This computer, to me is for homework...email and games. The generation after mine...it would do everything for them but wipe their bottoms. It is amazing that these kids know how to tie a shoe... it is making them dumb this fancy technology business. One example is that they are constantly multi-tasking....they never accomplish one full thing...its a bunch of little things that get half done if that. If you were to cut and paste it all together, perhaps they would have a full education on one damn thing. At best they are learning how to run a computer rather than learn how to wash a dish by hand. What is soap? Perhaps I am too old fashioned but I think a cellphone shouldn't be in the hands of a 9 year old. I think that kids shouldn't feel like they are unworthy of friends because they don't own a ipad. I believe that the greatest feeling a kid should have is an endorphin boost from crossing the finish line after a race rather than how many songs they can download before the get out of wifi range. Technology, as far as social media (iphones, facebook, and youtube), have only given us a faster way to process more stuff at once. It is not for the better! It will ruin us one day. As for the rest of technology, we need it to maintain the advanced society that we are....the horse to the car, the airplane, space shuttle etc. These are things of beauty, but they are meant to be tools. Not an addictive toy we must have in order to get out of bed in the morning. Generally when we see someone who has a hard time getting out of the bed in the morning without their addiction , we give them an intervention and send their butt to rehab. Hey you know they have a show about that? Too bad I am grounded from that picture box thing because I wouldn't stop playing my xbox.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Role of Education...you said I could rant...right?
It is much easier to start out thinking about how the society would look like without any role of education in that society. Any other way would not only shine a light on the benefits of the current system but it's flaws, and leave us occupied with those. Sometimes we really don't appreciate what we have until it's gone.
So if you think about it.....The thousands of buildings that are dedicated to school education are gone. That includes all the current schools, the ones that are shut down (because we can't afford to run them), those newer schools for troubled students that are on every corner and the ones that are set to open next week. I know this sounds stupid but think about it thousand of buildings....all over the country either aren't there or just vacant.
All those classrooms with their happy little drawings on the wall are now empty, 30+ kids per room...now sitting at home with at least one parent. That parent's primary job is now completely all about their kids. Like it used to be in the good old days.. Now mom/ dad is no longer in the work force...it's a one income home if he/she is lucky enough to have spouse to help carry the weight. That one income goes straight to housing, food, and health. No shopping trips to the mall, to a fancy sit down dinner, or to a football game. Who could afford it? Let's be safe and say each family has one child. Still it's not enough money for anything outside basic needs.
Don't you think this no education system would only last one generation? The world marketplace gets no money, the children get a simple education from a stay at home parent, and we have empty buildings everywhere taking up space.
We need education. We need to have people spending the money that they earn from their big time pay jobs.
We need people to be educated enough to create our cellphones , ipods and all the other crap we can't live without. That's how we became the bigger badder world we are.
The best solution.... In Colorado and Wyoming (when I was a kid) it didn't matter what "side" of the tracks you came from...there were two or three schools per town. If you lived on the east side you went to EAST high school, same West High school, or Central high. Three buildings full of eager to learn kids. They all had the same budget, they were equal. There was no need for extra schools sitting around sucking up money, or space. If the kid was a "troubled" youth..they were "tried out" at the other schools. If you didn't fit, you don't graduate. Simple. Its a backwards step solution, but it works. San Jose's extra schools could be used for other things, housing for homeless, shelters, day cares..on and on with the useful stuff.
The classroom sizes are already to big: right. because we are already condensing schools, the problem is that we are opening new schools in the place of the ones we just shut down. For example: School A elementary and School B middle school, they have worked sitting next to each other for decades. One day They have to combine to the middle school building because we can't afford to run them both. Now School A building is empty, every one is at school B. What to do with the closed school? ....expand both schools to take up both buildings ( increasing the amount of kid's it could hold????) NO! we make it into School C a brand new alternative high school and daycare.. now we are stretching our money for four schools instead of two. Of course we can't afford anything.
If education is required for K-12, it should be open to everyone. College.. if you don't want to go, don't. Parents should not force their children to go to college. Yes, you need a college education to be successful and we all want that. But if the child, by college age, hasn't figured this out and dedicated themselves really to themselves. Then don't force them to take up space somewhere else because you want them to be something they don't want to be or do. Those who should be in college are those who want to be there. This cuts out a lot of students who are too busy facebooking, texting and etc to pay attention. Those spaces could be used on people who want to achieve better for themselves. This saves the financial aid wasted on people who aren't using it for what it is supposed to be for. The schools would have money in a savings column.
I know it's rather preachy for someone who is above the normal age of a college student by at least 10 years. I look at like this, I made a choice to parent early. I chose well. Now it's time for me to aim to be successful outside my house. I set a great example for my kids, for their future paths, Love, support and quality time. If college wasn't open to people like me, I couldn't have made the choice I did and put it off until I felt they were ready on their own. I wouldn't be able to give back to my society with my ideas, and funds. As appealing as spending the rest of my life with nothing to do after they leave the nest is........I am too young for a rocking chair and would be bored out of my mind with nothing to do. (Bonus: the house would be super clean) To think if schools weren't open access, that's what I would have to look forward to. WHAT FUN!!!
So if you think about it.....The thousands of buildings that are dedicated to school education are gone. That includes all the current schools, the ones that are shut down (because we can't afford to run them), those newer schools for troubled students that are on every corner and the ones that are set to open next week. I know this sounds stupid but think about it thousand of buildings....all over the country either aren't there or just vacant.
All those classrooms with their happy little drawings on the wall are now empty, 30+ kids per room...now sitting at home with at least one parent. That parent's primary job is now completely all about their kids. Like it used to be in the good old days.. Now mom/ dad is no longer in the work force...it's a one income home if he/she is lucky enough to have spouse to help carry the weight. That one income goes straight to housing, food, and health. No shopping trips to the mall, to a fancy sit down dinner, or to a football game. Who could afford it? Let's be safe and say each family has one child. Still it's not enough money for anything outside basic needs.
Don't you think this no education system would only last one generation? The world marketplace gets no money, the children get a simple education from a stay at home parent, and we have empty buildings everywhere taking up space.
We need education. We need to have people spending the money that they earn from their big time pay jobs.
We need people to be educated enough to create our cellphones , ipods and all the other crap we can't live without. That's how we became the bigger badder world we are.
The best solution.... In Colorado and Wyoming (when I was a kid) it didn't matter what "side" of the tracks you came from...there were two or three schools per town. If you lived on the east side you went to EAST high school, same West High school, or Central high. Three buildings full of eager to learn kids. They all had the same budget, they were equal. There was no need for extra schools sitting around sucking up money, or space. If the kid was a "troubled" youth..they were "tried out" at the other schools. If you didn't fit, you don't graduate. Simple. Its a backwards step solution, but it works. San Jose's extra schools could be used for other things, housing for homeless, shelters, day cares..on and on with the useful stuff.
The classroom sizes are already to big: right. because we are already condensing schools, the problem is that we are opening new schools in the place of the ones we just shut down. For example: School A elementary and School B middle school, they have worked sitting next to each other for decades. One day They have to combine to the middle school building because we can't afford to run them both. Now School A building is empty, every one is at school B. What to do with the closed school? ....expand both schools to take up both buildings ( increasing the amount of kid's it could hold????) NO! we make it into School C a brand new alternative high school and daycare.. now we are stretching our money for four schools instead of two. Of course we can't afford anything.
If education is required for K-12, it should be open to everyone. College.. if you don't want to go, don't. Parents should not force their children to go to college. Yes, you need a college education to be successful and we all want that. But if the child, by college age, hasn't figured this out and dedicated themselves really to themselves. Then don't force them to take up space somewhere else because you want them to be something they don't want to be or do. Those who should be in college are those who want to be there. This cuts out a lot of students who are too busy facebooking, texting and etc to pay attention. Those spaces could be used on people who want to achieve better for themselves. This saves the financial aid wasted on people who aren't using it for what it is supposed to be for. The schools would have money in a savings column.
I know it's rather preachy for someone who is above the normal age of a college student by at least 10 years. I look at like this, I made a choice to parent early. I chose well. Now it's time for me to aim to be successful outside my house. I set a great example for my kids, for their future paths, Love, support and quality time. If college wasn't open to people like me, I couldn't have made the choice I did and put it off until I felt they were ready on their own. I wouldn't be able to give back to my society with my ideas, and funds. As appealing as spending the rest of my life with nothing to do after they leave the nest is........I am too young for a rocking chair and would be bored out of my mind with nothing to do. (Bonus: the house would be super clean) To think if schools weren't open access, that's what I would have to look forward to. WHAT FUN!!!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Dear Mr. Governor Brown Sir
I know you understand the situation our schools are in from your days founding charter schools in Oakland. In fact it was a major selling tool in your bid for re-election. A shining commercial advertisment of how in the trenches you are on this topic. Even better that you had success in an Oakland district. What I don't understand is that now that you've been rewarded with a new fancy seat as governor that you're not trying to fix every district the same. I know, I know these things take time. So, why the budget cuts? How do you fix the " challenges the educators have, " "improve local control and flexibility", and "increase cal grant funding by 50%" by taking more money from the schools? All at the same time? Is this 50% increase on top of the funds we had before the cuts or what we have now?
Children are our future, if we do not educate them then who will? I think if anything we should be trying to come up with more ideas on how to raise money for these important things. Instead we pay people to sit and try to figure out the best way to budget what we have left after their salaries. With the same gusto we use to sell a product or ourselves in an election, we should be out there seeking and creating ways to earn more money. Any good profitable idea will do as long as it works. Isn't that a piece of America's backbone, invention and sales? For what is it worth take a second look at Prop.19...I'm sure there is a benefit in that. Cut it and mold it until it suits everyone...cash flows in, people who don't wish to see it don't have to look in that store, and the possible entire state of California admitting it's use. Aren't taxes on a full access cards and it's sales enough to get us by just a little?
If you are not particularly fond of that proposition, it's alright, there are many more. Everyone has an idea or a way of doing things a little bit different but no one ever tries to compromise. It's an all or nothing society with no gray area. Bill Gates, himself, knows that it wasn't just his ideas alone that made him who he is, it was a collaboration. If you take away money from giving my generation and the next an education, who's tired ideas will you seek? If those ideas didn't work the first go around what says they will the second or the third time? I hope you see the areas where I could be confused and maybe clear them for me. As well I hope you consider a few of these ideas, it doesn't hurt to look.
Children are our future, if we do not educate them then who will? I think if anything we should be trying to come up with more ideas on how to raise money for these important things. Instead we pay people to sit and try to figure out the best way to budget what we have left after their salaries. With the same gusto we use to sell a product or ourselves in an election, we should be out there seeking and creating ways to earn more money. Any good profitable idea will do as long as it works. Isn't that a piece of America's backbone, invention and sales? For what is it worth take a second look at Prop.19...I'm sure there is a benefit in that. Cut it and mold it until it suits everyone...cash flows in, people who don't wish to see it don't have to look in that store, and the possible entire state of California admitting it's use. Aren't taxes on a full access cards and it's sales enough to get us by just a little?
If you are not particularly fond of that proposition, it's alright, there are many more. Everyone has an idea or a way of doing things a little bit different but no one ever tries to compromise. It's an all or nothing society with no gray area. Bill Gates, himself, knows that it wasn't just his ideas alone that made him who he is, it was a collaboration. If you take away money from giving my generation and the next an education, who's tired ideas will you seek? If those ideas didn't work the first go around what says they will the second or the third time? I hope you see the areas where I could be confused and maybe clear them for me. As well I hope you consider a few of these ideas, it doesn't hurt to look.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
today's joy
I thought I totally messed up the first on the spot essay! At least made the teacher cry at the sad way I presented my case. ....Tada I guess I did better than I thought..maybe?
Saturday, April 16, 2011
I am confused?
I just finished the weekend’s dose of reading. A few things began rolling around in my head about the topics we have covered, my upcoming essay and my college experience thus far. The only thing that keeps coming up is “Personal responsibility.” Whatever are you talking about Sara? Well me, if I am understanding this correctly.. We give the children tests to ensure that the school and teachers are correctly doing their job. Then based on the test results, we reward them. The government will then send a little cash their way to buy more books, and more teachers. I don’t know it seems like a pretty weird system where the kids are not only responsible for the teacher but for themselves throughout their schooling. Even being taught to the test, you hope the child fills in the right box you told them….leaving it in the child’s hands.
What if they spent the entire second grade year ignoring their teacher until CST’s come around. They score high after being given the answers. Third grade rolls around, they are now smashed with more information that their second grade brain is not ready for. That child is now two years mentally/educationally behind his friends, all because he was daydreaming. His or her troubles being missed due to a high CST score. What else would you expect a 10 year old to do with this situation? This is truly where we are grouped…if a child can teach themselves throughout elementary school they have taken responsibility for their education. If they don’t then they will never actively take a part and will settle where they fall. Are they a team player or a drone who follows the game plan without saying a word? Seems a little messed up…Makes a person hope that all teachers are really dedicated to their students and not to the politics of their school. I know the parent is involved in making sure their child is learning well. Right?
What if they spent the entire second grade year ignoring their teacher until CST’s come around. They score high after being given the answers. Third grade rolls around, they are now smashed with more information that their second grade brain is not ready for. That child is now two years mentally/educationally behind his friends, all because he was daydreaming. His or her troubles being missed due to a high CST score. What else would you expect a 10 year old to do with this situation? This is truly where we are grouped…if a child can teach themselves throughout elementary school they have taken responsibility for their education. If they don’t then they will never actively take a part and will settle where they fall. Are they a team player or a drone who follows the game plan without saying a word? Seems a little messed up…Makes a person hope that all teachers are really dedicated to their students and not to the politics of their school. I know the parent is involved in making sure their child is learning well. Right?
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