Say What you Mean.

I think we need to define the terms that we are using so that a common language is shared between us. War is a state or period of armed hostility between two or more separate entities, aimed at reorganizing a subjectively designed, geo-politically desired result. Terrorism is the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. When we consider the acts of extremist, "acts of war," we legitimize and give credibility to them and their cause. Saying that you are at war with a terrorist is like comparing a boxing match to a street fight. One has a measured outcome and "rules" the other, no sense of purpose or measurable outcome. Who is the true winner in a street fight? The one with the most punches landed or the one that causes the greatest damage? We have killed 100,000+ terrorist and insurgents over the past 9 years. We have even removed a head of state (Sadam Hussein) from his position. People and countries have been bombed, attacked and held under siege. September 11, 2001 still remains vivid in our minds and continues to challenge all we hold sacred and dear to our heart. How did someone reach across the oceans and cause such grave damage to our homeland? The aim of a terrorist is simple..terror. Whether someone claims to have political gains in mind, their only goal is terror. On September 11, 2001, I watched the second plane hit the tower live. I returned to my classroom and watched it with my students. Those feelings reminded me of the day Ronald Reagan was shot. If someone could shoot the president, how safe am I. If a terrorist could penetrate our defenses and complete such a coordinated and devastating attack, what's next? That's the goal of terror! I have no fear of war, terrorism...that's a different story.

It's a new day

Every day presents us with the opportunity for change. Every channel, every reporter and every person seems ready and poised for wonder of a new year. Whats so important or powerful about January 1st. Just changing the calendar change the Earth's rotation of affect the seasons?

No!

We become so captured by gimmicks that we don't see the everyday opportunities. Everyday you lay your head on the pillow, there's a chance for change. If things are going terribly wrong, should you wait for New Years Eve to plan a fresh start?

No!

Take charge of you life and realize that no gimmicks or magic potions are necessary. Motivation and discipline are the only things that matter. True change starts within not with the change of the calendar. No change in the date is gonna help me lose weight. I need to eat better and exercise. But, if you need some motivation and New Years provides that spark, don't let me rain on your parade.

Personally, I am excited about the New Year. There are some great things that I need to accomplish and leave a mark on my profession. Michelle Obama has created the holiday theme in the White House of Reflect, Rejoice and Renew.

I reflect on the choice Tanya and I made to begin attending Flamingo Road Church. It was truly one of the most important and powerful decisions we have made. I was formerly under the impression that my personal relationship with Christ meant that I didn't need to attend church. Was I ever wrong. For the first time in my life, I look forward to attending church every weekend. I can't begin to the you how that one action has redirected me and returned me to the life that I already knew. Being good all by yourself really serves none. Tanya and I were baptized together this year and soon we will renew our vows in a church in the presence of God and not a justice of the peace.

Ok...I'm done for now. I wish everyone the best the year has to offer. Everyone has a open invitation to join Tanya and I at church.

Do I Know You?

Ever wondered who all those people in your dreams are? I do. Are they one of the millions of faces that we pass on the street, in the mall or at the stores? Are they people from a past life or a future encounter? I'm not sure. But one thing I now is that they didn't appear out of the blue. Those faces had to have come from somewhere.

There are those dreams that take the most recent thought or face and weaves them into your dreams. Sometimes, the heaviest thing one your mind continues to burden you as you sleep. However, the majority of faces are just random people who you will never meet, know or see again. Maybe deja vu is actually a face that appeared in a dream.

I don't spend much time trying to figure out what a dream means. More importantly I wonder, who are these people and have I seen them before?

Is it merely a coincidence when your alarm rings and a car in your dream honks the horn. So many sounds in our surroundings just melt seamlessly into our dreams. It's amazing the number of times the sound of the garbage truck has provided the ambient sound track for the gridlock in my slumber (that sentence just sounds like something out of a best selling novel).

Best of all, I love the dreams where I spend time with my mother. Since her passing, that's the only time we ever spend together... until we meet again :)

Private-eyes

I would like to talk about the systematic destruction and coordinated efforts of many politicians to "Privatize" the nation's public schools. The main thrust is afoot in Texas and Florida. The common thread, BUSHES, Jeb and George.

In order to support my theory, I will relate education to the automotive industry. Stay with me and read the entire blog and I promise No Reader Will Be Left Behind.

Whenever education is mentioned, the first thing one hears are the numbers. Statistics are showing that the education system is not producing the number of graduates as it did 30 years ago. The overall graduation rate has dropped significantly over the past 10 years. Presently, only 60% of students who enter the ninth grade can expect to graduate from high school in 4 years. Since that number was much higher 30 years ago, one can only assume that the public school system is failing terribly.

In the 1970's, car manufactures were required to test their cars in a 35 mph frontal crash test. Cars are rated by the amount of damage that is sustained by the car and the "passengers". Modern cars are designed to crumble and absorb the impact of the accident.

What if we changed the parameters of the test and insisted that car manufactures must use a 55 mph frontal test and sustain less damage than the 35 mph test. I'm sure all of you think this is ridiculous, but this is the plight of public school education. Its not that teachers are not teaching and schools are failing. The bar is being pushed so high, that it's nearly impossible to jump over it.

By the way, if your school is private, you won't have to complete any of the frontal crash test. Since they receive no federal funding, they are exempt from the litany of tests and mandates. We will simply judge you by graduation rate and post-secondary enrollment. One problem; private schools have entrance exams, unless you're a superstar athlete, but that's another blog entry.

Back to the message.....

The Florida senate has recently passed a measure that requires all present 6th graders to pass Algebra II and Physics as graduation requirements. How many of you even took Physics in high school? Florida students are required to fail the FCAT test 3-times before they can use the ACT or SAT as an alternate assessment. A student in the 60's who took all vocational courses and under-water basket weaving, wouldn't have a chance of graduating from the present high school system.

So...are we a system of failing schools or a system of ever-increasing mandates and testing programs? Who writes, scores and prints the test booklets for the standardized state tests? They sure make great money doing it. Your children are being psychologically abused and no one is doing a thing about it. Third graders are being bribed and pressured by teachers and administrators everyday. When the weight of the school rests on such young shoulders, could you take that much pressure? The average school spends more time test and prepping, than they do instructing.

So...could you graduate from high school in 4 years if you were presently in the 6th grade?

Saint Peter

When did we become judge, jury and holier than though. Michael Vick went to jail and did his time. Now that he has signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, the whole world is protesting. At what point are you forgiven and absolved of your crime? At what point have you suffered enough? At what point are you allowed to support your family financially?

We all bow our heads, bend our knees every night and ask for forgiveness. Yet, we fail to give the same grace to others. Michael Vick hung on the proverbial cross for the sins of his many friends. The same friends that participated in the crime took deals and sold their friend down the river. Why didn't they also go to jail? I guess only the millionaires and high profile ones have to serve time. Ever heard of a woman named Martha Stewart? Why did she go to jail?

So many of us call ourselves Christians and our brother's keeper. We need to "stand" by each other and not "step" on each other. We all fall down, but it's how you get up that matters.

For all those who are without sin...disregard everything above.

Something for Nothing

Do you know the difference between a Public and Private school education? Well, $20,000 a year and $80,000 over four years.

That is the simple difference. Parents who have to pay that type of money will insist on some non-negotiables. They will check the homework everyday after school. They will get their child out of bed and ensure that they arrive to school early. Report card will be placed on the kitchen counter for review. When they are not pleased with something the school is or isn't doing, their voice will be heard, without exception.

Those are the differences between private and public school. What do you value more, the free electricity at your job, or the electric bill at your house. When was the last time you turned off the light when you walked out of a room at work? What do you care, you're not paying the bills. Kinda like using cash or credit. That cash sure hurts when it leaves your hand, unlike the ease of swiping the old credit card.

I will challenge every parent I speak to this year. I will challenge them to get involved and become a partner in education and excellence(P.I.E). What I would like to call, "PIECE OF THE PIE". Challenge them to "get their money's worth". Challenge them to hold their child's feet to the fire, because money doesn't grow on trees. Pretend that you are paying private school tuition and insist on greatness.

By the way, PARTNER AND PARENT have the same letters. Partner has an extra "r".

Tired and Sick...Sick and Tired

I'm tired of people who have never taught a child or spent 5 minutes in a school(other than attending school) going on about the state of education. I'm tired of people quoting numbers and stating studies about education, in an attempt to bolster their argument.

Anyone can read a research paper and profess to know all there is to know about learning and education. If I can spend a few moments discussing nature vs. nurture, we can skip through all the BS and get down to the cold hard truths. While a student in high school and college, I was lead to believe that hard work heals all. Genetics only determine the color of your skin and size of your nose. If you want to be a doctor or lawyer, study hard. If you want to fly to the moon, study hard. Anything you want to do is possible, because everyone can achieve.

I'm here to tell you that there's nothing farther from the truth. I agree that the majority of students fall far below expectations. I agree that the majority of those who under achieve would have done much better under different circumstances. But to assume that all students are equally mentally equipped is simply untrue. This is the harsh, but true, reality.

Have you ever seen a kid make the same mistake constantly? They know what they are doing is wrong, but they lack the ability to say no prior to the action. Afterwards, they are truly remorseful and aware of the consequences of their actions. In effect, they are drunk. They go through life drunk, in a manner of speaking.

Have you ever seen a kid study and try their heart out, but come up short. When your limitations exceed your aspirations it leads to frustration. Many of those who drop-out are beyond their frustration level. And I repeat, with a strong foundation in early education, circumstances and outcomes may be different.

The olympics feature so many events, because all of us, even the elite athletes, have our own strengths and weaknesses.

Just had to get that off my chest. Well, that's not everything, but I'll save everyone the rambling.