Class discussion

The other day in one of my economics classes we had an interesting conversation about gender, and racial prejudice.  In many cases students believed that these issues were things that went on in my generation (60's generation) but have since disappeared due to a more educated society.

Here are a couple of statistics that I took from an article written by Paul Thomas.

Drawing on the report Closing the Race Gap by the nonprofit advocacy group Young Invincibles, Forbes’ Susan Adams explains: “African-Americans college students are about as likely to get hired as whites who have dropped out of high school.” Therefore, inequities of opportunity based on race, like class, trump effort.
 

Via Demos, Bruenig also notes: “Black families with college degrees have a mean wealth of $162.8k, which is effectively the same as the mean wealth of white families with less than a high school education.”

Just to add to this in our class we looked at the top 500 companies in the world and they have 25 women.  Which makes you wonder why women are not better represented.  You look at leadership positions in high school and women are at least equally represented.  When you exam GPA's women do at least as good as men, so why the difference when it comes to running the top companies in the world?

If the playing field is level, as people claim it is,  how do these inequities happen?  If the playing field is not level, why are we made to believe that they are?  I am very curious to hear what people have to say about this issue.  Should this be a topic that we discuss in our classrooms?

Monday, Monday

I just received a clip from a fellow teacher that really hit home with me.  It made me remember how important it is to keep a positive attitude.  The combination of watching this clip and reading the suggestions that students have made to make our (notice the use of our) class better has made me so productive today.  Take three minutes to watch this clip  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8liVjJTMw80#t=13

I am really looking forward to Monday, for the chance to start to implement some great ideas from students that day and during the course of the next few weeks.  What I also am looking forward to is being a much more positive leader in our building.  Yes, do we have problems (see BCPS One) but are we still lucky to have the ability each and everyday to help each other grow as students, teachers and most importantly people.

There is a lot of research that talks about that successful places have three positive comments for every negative comment.  That having a good mental frame of mind is as important to our personal success as it is to  our success in our careers.  So with that in mind I want to challenge all of us to think of ways to make our school are more positive place for all of us.

The truth is that we all decide to come to school on Mondays.  So please take the time to comment on some ideas that you would have to make this a more positive place

election day

It is election day, and we see ads that remind us to do our civic duty.  I have heard numerous people state that if you do not vote you do not deserve to complain.  I am sure people are taking selfies of themselves voting today.  What all this enthusiasm has triggered in my mind is why are we not encouraged to act with great civic pride each and everyday.

Many students are not of the age to vote, yet they can make a huge difference in the world.  It can be a simple smile to cheer someone up, volunteering to teach a young child how to read, coaching a rec. team, or just picking up some garbage off the street.  All these kind acts are ways to make the world better each and everyday.

Sometimes we need these big days to remind us of our civic pride, so I will cast my vote today.  What I really need to focus on however, is how each day until the next election day I can contribute in some way to make it a better day for someone else.

What always encourages me is that I work with such great role models.  Teachers who work so hard to make a difference in students lives, and students who make such a great contribution not only to our school but to our community.

So know selfies, for me today.  Instead I will take the time to reflect on how I can model great civic pride in our school community.  Any suggestions?

Willie Mays

When I was a young boy my favorite baseball player was Willie Mays.  I clearly remember when he went from 1st to third on a single, his hat flying off as he rounded second.  He played the game with the passion and love of a young child which made it so much fun to watch.  He tracked fly balls with such grace and ease.

I then remember Willie at the end of his career.  The graceful stride that allowed him to take the extra base was now replaced by him stumbling around the base paths.  The fear he put into opponents pitchers were no longer there.  Did he not realize that he was no longer the player he once was?  Was it the love of the game that kept him playing even though the game had passed him by.

In no way have I ever been a teacher as good as Willie Mays was a player.  I try to bring the same passion to my job each day as he did to the field but I have never come close to accomplishing what he did on the field.  So where am I going with this blog.

In the past few weeks I have been made to feel the same way Willie must have felt when he stumbled rounding the bases.  In listening to what my bosses want me to do I am wondering has the game truly passed me by.  Do students want to discuss points in class via edmodo?  Do they want to use their electronic devices to discuss issues instead of words?  Do they want to use groups to do their work instead of having the accomplishment of doing it themselves?  Do all these fancy activities really help kids to learn more?

I continue to leave my school feeling sad, torn about has the game passed me by.  Can all these people possibly be wrong.  Do I need to leave before students are talking about me the way I talked about Willie?  Who would come up to me and tell me the truth that I needed to hear?

It should not be like this, somehow you should know when you are done.  However, if Willie was faked out, as was Johnny U, I am sure it can happen to me.