Life-Long Learning & My Hero!

I want to wish everyone a Happy & Safe 4th of July!

I also want to take this opportunity to thank, and give a pat on the back, to a dear friend!

You, my loyal reader, may have noticed that my site disappeared temporarily, then reappeared, then disappeared again.

To say I am not technically-savvy would be an understatement! But I have a good friend who is not only technically-savvy, he’s a genuinely good guy, as well as talented.

David Cooley, AKA CyberCoder, not only straightened-out my site, he upgraded it to the latest platform and cleaned-up all the behind the scenes mess I had. I now have a new hosting site, scads of room for expansion, and the most modern tools at my fingertips. Now, if I can just stay healthy enough to utilize them.

Since I have the latest and greatest hosting upgrade, I have to continue with my Life-Long Learning, and figure-out how to do stats and all that stuff again. But it’s good to keep challenging the brain, no matter how young or old we are.

But more about Cybercoder:

I absolutely adore David! (With the complete understanding of my husband - after all, David’s just a kid compared to us old-timers.) Over the past few months, I’ve had an opportunity to appreciate his humor and his viewpoints.

David is multi-talented and BIG into music, so I thought I’d take an opportunity to thank him for his gracious help and tell you about his sites.

If you want an eclectic blend of tech info and tunes, check out his sites:

Go enjoy the holiday and David’s sites, and I’ll be back after the weekend.

Happy Holiday!
Brennan

The Kingsland Plan

Save Our Schools

Summertime Fun!

Time to utilize a little creativity and find fun projects for them that they don’t suspect are learning activities. Today, we’re going to learn how to make ice cream and pizza. How can that be a learning activity you ask? Well, how about teaching priorities for a start?

Should we start making ice cream first, or pizza? Let’s see, hum. . .

Ice cream takes longer to make ’cause it has to freeze firm. We’ll make the ice cream first, then we can make the pizza while the ice cream is setting-up. See, simple day-to-day activities can be teaching time - in a fun way!

These simple little actions can teach children so many important lessons without having to stand over them with a ruler. Yes, we can learn to use critical thinking skills to prioritize what comes first. But there are other important lessons that can be learned, such as:

It can be fun to have an activity at home with the family (especially if Mom is not too rigid or critical).

Ice cream (especially really yummy ice cream) doesn’t have to be $6 a gallon.

Homemade pizza costs less (and tastes better) than store-bought pizza. And it’s EASY!

It’s easier to stay home in hot weather than get into the sweltering car to go somewhere.

There are, of course, extra lifelong lessons that children can learn from the above project, like:

1) The science of how salt helps the ice cream get colder faster.

2) Why pizza dough needs to be spread-out evenly to cook best.

3) How cleaning-up while the pizza is baking means less work when everybody’s full.

These are such simple things that we adults take for granted, yet, so many children don’t have parents who will take the time to share these important skills and explain the reasoning behind them. Someway, somehow, we are going to have to find ways to teach ALL young people as many skills as possible.

And just because I put some pretty pink images in the picture for this post, doesn’t mean that boys and young men can’t enjoy these learning activities just as much.

Before I get back up on my soapbox, let me just add one lesson we’re going to put into effect here today: playing in the hose can be almost as much fun as getting into the swimming pool.

Grammy Brennan

The Kingsland Plan

Save Our Schools

Summertime Learning!

Before I got so ill, I ran a survey on the site to find out what you, my readers, wanted to know more about.

#1 ANSWER:
How to help kid’s succeed in school!

Well, now that I’m “back with bells on”, I want to help you make the most of summer vacation to help your young-un’s have a fun time while you help them get smarter and smarter.

Most children are extremely resistant to ‘formal learning’ during vacation time. How many kids do you know that absolutely LUV summer school?

So the trick is to get them involved in learning experiences that help them learn new things and keep their minds sharp. This is much mo’ better than the slow brain leak that usually occurs during the lazy, hazy days of summer.

And it prevents that old problem “I’m bored!” So it’s really WIN-WIN!

School news generally slows down during the summer, so we’ll have plenty of time to try some neat learning tricks, to keep kids alert, and, especially NOT BORED!

Because this is an election year, there will probably be lots of education issues for me to share with you during the summer months, but at least two or three times a week, I plan to spell-out fun and learning activity suggestions.

I hope you’ll join me! And please share what works at your house, to keep kids active, learning and involved during vacation time.

Brennan

The Kingsland Plan

Save Our Schools

Congratulations on Your Teen Pregnancy?

Here’s a story that will, hopefully, make parents sit up and pay attention.

The New York Times asks the question, “Is There A Teen Pregnancy Pact in Gloucester, Massachusetts?”

Columnist Katy Zezima shares the story of a huge surge in teen pregnancies in the town, with 17 teens now pregnant and many more requesting pregnancy tests.

“At least 17 girls at the public high school in the seaside town of Gloucester, Mass., are expecting babies, and a Time magazine report says nearly half became pregnant after making a pact to do so and raise the children together.”

“Local officials . . . acknowledged that many of the 17 pregnancies — a total four times as many as last school year at the 1,200-student school — had been intentional.”

The story goes on to explain that the social and financial climate in Gloucester has been severely impacted by economic downturns. While I don’t want to get into the pros and cons of sex education and handing out contraceptives to teens in this post, the article does emphasize that those programs had been eliminated due to budget cuts.

Teen Pregnancy Mindset?

Far more important, in my estimation, is the mind set of those girls.

Mayor Carolyn Kirk is quoted as saying:

“It’s the social environment these girls are coming from,” she added. “They think that a baby can give them love or give them status or fill an empty space in their life, and these girls are very, very young. And I think if you talk to any teenage mother who is caring for an infant, the road is not easy.”

Even more frightening is that the article reports many more teenagers coming to the local clinic requesting pregnancy tests.

Teen Pregnancy Not A New Issue

Why should we be concerned about teen pregnancies in one little town? Teen pregnancy is NOT a new issue.

Time Cover December 1985

Over the last several years, there has been a steady decline in the rate of teen pregnancies, but 34% of teen girls still become pregnant annually, with variations among ethnicities.

There are powerful reasons to be concerned about “pregnancy pacts”.

• The emotional neediness of teens who want to deliberately become pregnant is not unique to Gloucester.
• Economic and social upheavals are more and more widespread throughout the country.
• Teens are notorious for copying peer behavior.
• Teenage mothers have many financial and social disadvantages that they do not anticipate
• The children of those teenage mothers suffer from those same disadvantages, including lagging behind in early development.

I don’t want to be an alarmist but, after years of a steadily declining teenage birth rate, this alleged “pregnancy pact” could signal an upsurge in teen pregnancy, and the accompanying negative financial and emotional lifestyles that it leads to.

What Works?

Is this 1999 poster funny?

It is overly-simplistic to say that only growing older (past the teen years) will stop teen pregnancy.

I know that I don’t have all the answers, but we MUST take these social, emotional and financial considerations into account as we work to straighten-out our public schools.

As Don says in The Kingsland Plan we all need to become informed, and aware, and take positive action, to combat these social issues, as well as curriculum problems.

Until next time,

Brennan

The Kingsland Plan

Save Our Schools

Rising From the Ashes for Education Reform

The first thing I would like to do is thank my readers who stuck by me during my recent brush with illness/death. Your kind wishes and financial support for our animal sanctuary rescues meant so much to me at a time when I didn’t know how many days I had left. In fact, my medicine (which has since been changed) was damaging my kidneys and I am now recovering. Each day I am stronger and stronger and I’m more determined than ever.

Over the last year, I concentrated on bringing you the latest news and statistics regarding the plight of students in our public schools.

• Drop-out rates on the rise
• Students graduating from high school barely able to read and write
• Violence increasing in our schools
• Teen suicides increasing
• Drugs permeating our culture
• Testing, testing, testing with no time for teaching
• Vouchers PROVEN not to be effective for learning
• And many other problems

While I was so ill, on the days I was able to read, I continued my research and found even more disturbing news.

• Many people don’t believe there is a problem in our schools.
• Those who are aware of the problems don’t know how to fix them.
• The group who wants to abolish public schools is becoming larger and more vocal.
• The average parent has NO IDEA how to make things better for their students.
• Teachers know how bad things are but haven’t been able to unite to fix things.

After my most recent scare, I have been reborn with new determination.

Instead of just bringing you the latest news and statistics, from now on, I’ll be helping to unite parents and teachers to SAVE OUR SCHOOLS!

I will continue to bring you the latest news and information on the education front. (Along with my opinions, of course.) But, in addition:

I’ll bring you information about the steps you can take to:

Join the nationwide movement

Actions to make a difference in your local schools

Methods and information for contacting your local politicians to FORCE improvement in education

Other easy, step-by-step actions you can take to help your students and schools locally and nationally

This problem seems overwhelming, but it can be fixed. You can do it! I can do it! Together, WE can do it!

Stay tuned! And again, Thank you, Friends!
Brennan

The Kingsland Plan

Save Our Schools

Disagreement Over Drop-Out Rates Among Educators

In an article in Education News, Martin B. Solomon, PhD has written an article saying that graduation rates aren’t as low as being claimed by EdWeek.org, and others. He claims their testing criteria are inaccurate and don’t account for students moving out of any particular school and so forth.

I wish I had more energy, to really counteract his claims one by one. Perhaps when I feel a little better.

In the meantime, just let me say that he concludes by saying that New York’s graduation rates are much higher than claimed. He also actually claims that USA graduation rates are closer to 92% for whites, when you disallow the statistics for poor children, children with family or financial problems, etc.

There also is a general misunderstanding about the reasons for dropouts.It is questionable as to how high graduation rates can possibly be as long as so much poverty exists.When the causes of dropouts are examined, the vast majority are likely caused by societal factors, outside the control of the schools and closely correlated with poverty.These include family financial problems requiring a kid to drop out and work full time, pregnancy, incarceration, drugs, gangs, unwillingness to exert the necessary effort and, in spite of heroic efforts by teachers, some students get so far behind in schoolwork that they have no hope of catching up and drop out.Some dropouts are surely caused by poor teaching and boring classes.But preliminary research seems to show that this is not a major factor.Therefore, one must ask the question, how high can the graduation rates ever become?

Dr. Solomon seems to think that everyone bemoaning the failures of our schools is unaware of societal issues impacting on education. Nothing could be further from the truth. In “Set Our Teachers FREE! A Plan to Save Public Education”, Don Kingsland points out how much those same social problems listed by Dr. Solomon are having such an effect on our schools. BUT, Don (a Master Teacher) offers a WORKABLE SOLUTION, not just a condemnation of other’s claims.

I guess feeling poorly has made me somewhat less patient with idiocy. A 92% graduation rate claim is so over-the-top that I was sputtering. Of course, in Dr. Solomon’s defense, that statistic is allegedly among white students who have no social, economic, or emotional issues to contend with. And I suspect that an overwhelming preponderance of the school-age population is NOT blessed with that particular cocoon.

I also take issue with the claims that New York’s graduation rates are higher than claimed. Malarcky!

I’ve already posted numerous articles about the INCREDIBLY LOW requirements for graduation in NY. Students are being graduated just for attending class, whether they take tests, or do assignments, or not. In fact, those standards have been published in national newspapers and across the internet numerous times.

What good is a 92% graduation rate, when that only includes such a TINY minority of the population? And what good is a diploma when there are NO requirements for getting it?

Finally, even if our graduation rates weren’t so dismal nationally, what good is that diploma when so many of those graduates still can’t read or perform basic math?

We need to stop wasting time and energy making elitist claims and START FIXING THE PROBLEMS!

Brennan

The Kingsland Plan

Save Our Schools

Brennan

The Kingsland Plan

Save Our Schools

All is STILL not well in Georgia education

Now, the new folks in Clayton County, and throughout the great state of Georgia, have found a way to make failing scores acceptable to the state, the federal NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, and, apparently, even the parents.

THEY THREW OUT THE BAD GRADES!

Yep! Quite a solution, dontcha think? Let me explain:

The public school system throughout Georgia has been so tumultuous over the last year that the State Superintendent knew the results on tests would be abysmal. He released a statement to parents warning them to be prepared for poor results. With an 80% failure rate in Social Studies, the results were simply thrown out! Because Social Studies is not part of the mandatory rating system of NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, the system justified eliminating the grades.

Math is another story entirely. With an overall 40% failure rate, Georgia reports that summer classes are swollen to the max. Students will be able to re-test after summer to see whether they advance.

The school system has many justifications/excuses for all the failures, including increased standards and curriculum, but there are many more reasons for the continuous poor showings.

For one thing, social promotion has been in effect for years. Students are being promoted to the next grade level even when they have not satisfactorily mastered previous or current grade-level studies. When these students don’t have a complete foundation, they simply slip further behind each year.

Georgia is also suffering a teacher shortage. Many really excellent teachers are taking their skills to the private sector, for more money and much less criticism and harrassment.

You may remember that in my April 4th post, I shared the news story about the third-grade special needs students who were discovered planning and plotting to kill their teacher. In addition, stories of uncontrolled classrooms, and rape or violence threats against teachers are widespread throughout the entire nation, as well as in Georgia.

There are severe education problems in Georgia, as elsewhere. How much longer are parents and taxpayers going to tolerate it?

Why won’t anyone implement a PROVEN, WORKABLE Plan?

Join us today!

Brennan

The Kingsland Plan

Save Our Schools

Teen’s Suicide Note

As I conclude this series on Teen Suicide, I want to recap a few things and give you some resources and helplines for getting help if you suspect a problem.

Remember, the key to preventing teen suicide is to:

• RECOGNIZE the danger signs, and
• DO SOMETHING!
• In other words, DON’T IGNORE! INTERVENE!

Talking to a troubled teenager can be a very difficult thing for a parent, for several reasons. Many times, parents are afraid if they say anything, they might make matters worse, or give the teen ideas that aren’t already there. Or, the communication between parent and teen has already deteriorated into a constant fight.

FIRST, you must be aware that, no matter how much teens may rebuff us, they really need and crave our guidance and attention. Keep trying!

SECOND, if you are suspicious that your teen may be unhappy, then you need to talk to them. You won’t be giving them ideas that they have not already considered.

THIRD, if the communication between you and your teen is hopelessly combative, GET HELP! Usually a trained third party can guide you and your suicidal teen into productive conversations that can lead to hope, and PREVENTING suicide attempts.

Because getting help is so important, I’ve included several links here for further information and helplines for you and your entire family, especially your teenager. This list can’t possibly include every resource, but it can get you started taking action in the right direction.

• Common Ground 24-hour Crisis Line (suicide hotline) 1-800-231-1127
• Infoline
  1-800-203-1234
• Suicide Prevention Resources
  1-212-459-2611
• Suicide Awareness/Voices of Education
  www.save.org
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
  www.afsp.org
• American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
  1-202-966-7300
  www.aacap.org
• Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention
  www.yellowribbon.org
• Drug Treatment centers and Therapy Directory
  www.drugrehab101.com

And the following links are excellent resources:

• www.samhsa.gov
• www.aap.org
• www.nmha.org
• www.nih.gov

An additional site that has great articles for teens and parents, offers articles on Teen Suicide and Teen Depression. There’s lots of good information to share here. www.teenhelp.com

There are many other resources available, whether it is your local church or your family doctor, etc. Remember, the important thing is to take notice of what is going on in your teen’s life. Whether it is drug or alcohol abuse, a recent breakup, a possible pregnancy, being bullied or ostracized at school, or any number of other issues, please DON’T IGNORE the issues. Hoping they’ll “get over it” is not sufficient. Get Help and Take Action!

I wish you all the best!

Brennan

The Kingsland Plan

Save Our Schools

Just in case you haven’t heard the phrase before, let me explain that cyberbullies are people who use the internet and online chat rooms to stalk, threaten and abuse people. In my opinion, cyberbullies are even more cowardly than traditional schoolyard bullies, because they hide behind their monitors to avoid identification.

The NYTimes story, entitled “When the Bullies Turned Faceless”, was written by Christopher Maag. He begins by telling the story of a 13 year old girl who was tormented and bullied on MySpace, and eventually committed suicide. The story goes on to tell about accusations of a deliberate attempt by a classmate and her mother to harass the girl, which led to her depression and suicide.While the story is tragic, it only touches the tip of the iceberg of the abuses that are going on daily on the internet.

With an emphasis on childhood and teen bullying, the author reports:

“Cellphone cameras and text messages, as well as social networking Web sites, e-mail and instant messaging, all give teenagers a wider range of ways to play tricks on one another, to tease and to intimidate their peers.

“And unlike traditional bullying, which usually is an intimate, if highly unpleasant, experience, high-tech bullying can happen anywhere, anytime, among lots of different children who may never actually meet in person. It is inescapable and often anonymous, said sociologists and educators who have studied cyberbullying.

“Other children are afraid of becoming the next victim.”

While the incidents that led to the suicide of this young girl occurred on MySpace, cyberbullying is spread across the internet and not limited to just a few sites. In fact, even popular business networking social sites have their share of anonymous hate-mongerers.

Since this story was published, the teen’s mother who utilized MySpace to humiliate and terrorize the 13 year old classmate of her daughter, has been to trial and found guilty. But the teen she tormented is still dead. Cyberbullying is malicious!

When I was very new to social networking, I posted an article (not written by me) about this subject and the efforts of law enforcement to track down offenders. The article pointed out that cyberbullies and cyberstalkers were not as anonymous as they thought. It then went on to share just a few of the tactics that are effective for finding out who is doing what.

You would think that angry and/or creepy people on the internet would have been grateful for the warnings about how they could be caught. But, instead, I got blasted so badly that I was banned from the site. And what is alarming about it is, while I got hundreds of obscenities directed at me, I never used any vulgarities or rude comments myself. Yet I was the one who was banned from the site (which shall remain nameless).

Just recently, I posed the question (on an opinion social networking site), “Should profanity and obscene language be allowed on the internet?” The answers I received, most of them foul, were highly in favor of an “anything goes on the internet” mentality. Once again, I was told to accept it or get off the internet if I couldn’t take it, as if an aversion to verbal filth was a weakness. And once again, I also had my parentage called into question.

It seems, according to statistics, that teenage boys and girls, and young men, are the most vicious verbally. But the trickle-down effect has elementary students mimicking those behaviors.

In “Set Our Teachers FREE! A Plan to Save Public Education”, Don Kingsland spells out The Kingsland Plan, which offers solutions to bullying and cyberbullying. The old techniques are no longer effective. And the problem has grown so much that it can no longer be ignored.

The Times article concludes with a quote from a 12 year old 7th-grade boy that shows how other-directed and vulnerable children are to peer criticism and how pervasive the problem is.

“It’s like I can’t even do anything because everybody is sitting there with a cellphone just waiting for me to mess up.”

SO SAD!
Brennan

The Kingsland Plan

Save Our Schools