tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106881852024-03-07T03:35:37.247-05:00Life on the Spiralobservations on life and faithSue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-72494988821303849982011-06-30T10:35:00.000-04:002011-06-30T10:35:06.349-04:00Things we take for granted.A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine was the guest speaker in church. He serves in a very closed country, and has had many adventures as a result. Most of those adventures involved situations in which his life was under some kind of threat if he didn't handle it correctly.<br />
<br />
There are no churches in that country, and for most of the few Christians, fellowship involves a coded conversation with one other person.<br />
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As I listened, I found myself struck by how much I take for granted, and the small things by which I am sometimes irritated. I've got to admit, I really have it pretty good.Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-14079801424437560962011-06-19T19:07:00.001-04:002011-06-19T19:07:32.576-04:00Trying out blogpressI have acquired an iPad, and it is fast becoming my "go-to" tool. This is the second time I have tried to post from Blogpress, an app I downloaded, and I am hoping that this post will actually publish.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-36841672609493696152011-02-27T17:21:00.001-05:002011-02-27T17:21:46.783-05:00HopeI have hope.<p>Not hope like "I hope I win the lottery" or "I hope I can find a parking space close to the entrance of Target."<p>Hope like I know that I know that in the end it all works out for Good. That no mistake I've ever made is too big. That Someone else really does have everything in hand, that there is nothing new under the sun, that my life serves an eternal purpose.<p>I wonder how anyone lives without this hope. And I imagine that living without this hope is at least part of the cause of the general sense of anger so many people seem to have.<p>God will see to it that everything is put right in the end. As an old song says, it might look like Friday night, but Sunday's on the way.<p>That's why I have hope.<p>Do you?Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-62553865118834416942011-02-04T10:59:00.000-05:002011-02-04T10:59:57.466-05:00Enjoying God, Enjoying Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkp9T2VrMuLNuJfJhgyqpKtmBmeW62K9RsKzFNfognVPWoWpOK3raKhNvvbUP56QeV6cTBuXnF4mLGud3OiRfgJmY1wXbFmoKCmQ6gSGVRPyKZIHHpQZK5oYBxI8wffQDt2MQ/s1600/snowbanks+at+trs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkp9T2VrMuLNuJfJhgyqpKtmBmeW62K9RsKzFNfognVPWoWpOK3raKhNvvbUP56QeV6cTBuXnF4mLGud3OiRfgJmY1wXbFmoKCmQ6gSGVRPyKZIHHpQZK5oYBxI8wffQDt2MQ/s320/snowbanks+at+trs.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>You've just got to laugh.<br />
<br />
I mean, yeah, there's a ton of snow, with more on the way. We have had five snow days in the last three weeks. And there are one or two other storms that the meteorologists are tracking for next week.<br />
<br />
The kids at school are all worried about losing February or April vacation days or coming to school on weekends. We aren't there yet - actually, we are out on June 22 right now, which is when I remember getting out normally back in the day. Three or four years ago, I mean.<br />
<br />
So, you can whine and complain, talk about how much you hate it, and curse the weather. You can tell yourself how terrible it is, how it isn't fair. You can rail against the long winter with short days and no end of shoveling. <br />
<br />
And you'll believe you, and then it really will be terrible. And joy-less.<br />
<br />
Or you can find some humor. Watching a tiny dog struggle to hop around in it. Seeing kids making a sledding hill out of the mound of snow that was once a trailer. You can notice that it really is pretty on the trees.<br />
<br />
Romans tells us we should be "transformed by the renewing of our minds." Well, if it works for our lives - living by flesh or living by faith - can't it work for getting through a long, snowy winter of endless shovelling?<br />
<br />
Maybe the secret to enjoying life and enjoying God is just finding some joy in the simple things.Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-4842399156728938242010-09-20T14:36:00.001-04:002010-09-20T14:36:21.907-04:00God Sings<div class=WordSection1> <p class=MsoNormal>God sings. Did you know that?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>This past Sunday I went to church and was not in charge of anything – didn’t play on the worship team, wasn’t preaching, didn’t have the new friends and members class to teach. I just went to church. My friend Erik was leading worship this week, and it was a fairly small team. He chose songs that communicated the immense majesty of God, as well as the fact that He calls His people close to Himself. It was so cool!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>It was so great to be worshiping with the Grace family. We were singing our hearts out to God.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>And then suddenly, I heard Him singing back. It was through Pete’s guitar on a song called Here in Your Presence, and it was awesome.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class=MsoNormal>There is a verse in the Bible that tells us that God rejoices over us with singing. I know it’s true. I heard it Sunday morning.<o:p></o:p></p> </div> Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-52077177606057013022010-09-03T11:05:00.000-04:002010-09-03T11:05:20.551-04:00LostMy next sermon topic - for 9/12 - is "Lost." It's on the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin parables in Luke 15. <br />
<br />
I've been thinking about seeking. How hard we seek depends on how much we care about finding whatever it is we're looking for. And sometimes, there's that sense we're seeking something we didn't even know we were missing.<br />
<br />
Ever feel like that?<br />
<br />
There's something in us that is constantly on the lookout for that next thing. Or person. Or job.<br />
<br />
Or maybe, there's something that, once we find it, we'll be so content that our hearts will stop seeking the unknown missing piece.Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-3358462135532600612010-09-01T20:39:00.002-04:002010-09-03T11:06:02.278-04:00An Occasion<div class="posterous_autopost"><a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/suedensmore/Wv1JNWPFi9k6cTvsB1zLL2lSke2jWUcV5368apkBm4JE1PBTi9zzEpGgOdf1/SU1283385440518.jpg"><img height="375" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/suedensmore/JXUnkIKaBEziChvMagV1OpcH52rGBsgIwhFkPl641Se4DMzHgIBrFGiAcd86/SU1283385440518.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
This evening, at our final band camp session, a funny thing happened. <br />
My Assistant Band Director, pictured, if this all works like it should, had his very first Starburst Fruit Chew ever. <br />
"It's like taffy, with a very tangy taste. Here we go, diabetes." <br />
He retired two years ago from a full career teaching elementary school instrumental music for 34 years. <br />
How did he avoid Starburst for so long? "I'm more of a chocolate person. You offer me an Almond Joy or a Starburst, I'm taking the Almond Joy, you know with the chocolate. And coconut's one of my favorite flavors." <br />
Me? I like Starburst. But add Mounds to the mix, and I take that. Because I like the chocolate and the coconut, but I'm not so big on the almonds added in there. <br />
Strange rehearsal conversation. <br />
But it sounds like the makings of a great end of season gift, to me. </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-80772797456999488592010-08-27T18:07:00.001-04:002010-08-27T18:07:55.854-04:00Now this is truly encouraging!<div class='posterous_autopost'><p><a href="http://teachingquality.typepad.com/building_the_profession/2010/08/the-school-reform-policy-gap.html">http://teachingquality.typepad.com/building_the_profession/2010/08/the-school-reform-policy-gap.html</a>#</p> <p>This article breaks down a poll, the results of which show that the American public is NOT on the same page as the Obama administration when it comes to school reform.</p> <p>It seems the public has more confidence in public school teachers than all the recent media and speeching and such would lead us to believe. The public would rather see teachers improved rather than see mass firings and school closings. Read the article for more.</p> <p>That is a truly encouraging fact.</p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.net/now-this-is-truly-encouraging">suedensmore.net</a> </p> </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-21678393052396731162010-08-26T10:01:00.001-04:002010-08-26T10:01:09.085-04:00And they're off!<div class='posterous_autopost'><p><em>(This article has been cross posted at tritonarts.wordpress.com.)</em></p> <p>We have just finished our first week of band camp, and we are off and running with a very good start.</p> <p>I can hardly believe another year is upon us. The summer, for me, has been one of reading blogs, conversing with teachers around the country and the world, and checking out all sorts of new resources. Through Twitter, I have built a valuable and challenging Professional Learning Network, comprised of teachers, principals, educational consultants, and higher education professionals. These people all have one thing in common - a passion for educating children to the very best of our abilities.</p> <p>To do this, we recognize that there are some things about our system that must change. However, we are of the opinion that it should be educators leading the way, because we know what's really going on. Good as the President's intentions are, he has not been a public school educator. Secretary Duncan is working to repeat strategies that he implemented in Chicago and which failed. And our favorite billionaire drop-out, Bill Gates, and the group of "philanthropists" he has put together, simply think we can privatize it all and run schools like businesses.</p> <p>We can't. We don't make widgets. We teach young people.</p> <p>I have spent some time thinking about what I would like to do professionally this year - thinking about little ways I can begin to, as Ghandi said, "Be the change I want to see." </p> <p>I want to find new ways to help my students take responsibility for their own learning. I would like to teach them how to use the Web 2.0 resources I've found - be it blogging, using online recording tools, or learning new methods - besides PowerPoint - for making presentations. It will be a challenge to find ways this will all fit into my discipline of music, but if I want to give my best to my students I will do it.</p> <p>As for our department, we have another busy and event filled year in store, and TMPO is bringing the Polar Express to the area. We're going to be working long hours together - but that's the best part. Through these events, through our work together, we connect and build community.</p> <p>What's better than that?</p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.net/and-theyre-off">suedensmore.net</a> </p> </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-15369295929420783972010-08-06T17:48:00.002-04:002010-09-03T11:07:02.525-04:00Why Teacher Tenure is Important<div class="posterous_autopost">It is fashionable right now to attack education and teachers - at least, it's politically fashionable. These attacks are being led by President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. And they are being pushed along by the billionaire boys club, led by Bill Gates, that seems hell-bent on taking over and privatizing education in the US. <br />
Oh, they pay lip service to how much they respect teachers. But the rest of what they say flies in the face of the reality of the respect they claim to hold. <br />
There's a lot to be concerned about, and I applaud those who are attempting to put their concern into action. <br />
The problem is, they haven't bothered to really find out what they're talking about, and they conveniently ignore pertinent research that does not support their ideas and strategies. <br />
There's a lot wrong with the "initiatives" being touted by this happy band. To keep this post focused, and short, I would like to remind readers about why teacher tenure exists. <br />
I think we can agree that children are best served by teachers who are established, confident educators. And our schools need experienced teacher leaders. So the point is not jobs - it is serving the needs of children and the school communities of which they are part. <br />
But, because we work in the public sector, we are not part of for-profit companies that can raise prices or sell more widgets when times get tough. We are in the business of people, and it is a different world. And, as in most every occupation, personnel is the most expensive part of the budget. <br />
As a result, without tenure, come budget crunch time, school boards and superintendents might be inclined to simply fire the experienced, self-assured, established teacher-leaders in favor of hiring inexperienced, raw teachers right out of college. <br />
I am not knocking young teachers. Indeed, the best faculty teams are comprised of a balanced roster of seasoned veterans and enthusiastic younger folks. <br />
But, absent teacher tenure, I believe - no, actually, I'm sadly confident - that we would face the wholesale loss of all of the "expensive" people - our veteran educators. <br />
The argument I most often hear against tenure is that it stops administrators from "getting rid of" the older, lazy, ineffective place-holders who are resistant to the changes being tried in schools. This argument is, quite frankly, bunk. <br />
Administrators with some guts who are willing to follow the contractual process would find themselves able to take care of those issues. Unfortunately, it seems we have few administrators willing to do the job. <br />
At any rate, tenure is an important factor for educators, and it is my hope that this little reminder of why it exists in the first place will help people understand why we must not lose it. </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-42669503923006169092010-07-29T15:54:00.001-04:002010-07-29T15:54:59.137-04:00What the President "forgot" to mention...<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>The President gave a big speech about education reform yesterday. He touted his pet project - Race to the Top - and refused to budge.</p> <p>And he told the great story of a successful charter school.</p> <p>Larry Ferlazzo, an educator and blogger I follow, reminded us about what the President failed to share about that charter school. Sadly typical of politicians. Here's the link to Larry's post.</p> <p><a href="http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2010/07/29/one-very-disappointing-part-of-president-obamas-speech-today/">http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2010/07/29/one-very-disappointing-part-of-president-obamas-speech-today/</a></p> <p>This charter school raised its students math and English proficiency levels. At the same time they experienced a 42% student attrition rate. Need me to explain that?</p> <p>They kicked out the kids that couldn't hack it. This is the untold story of most charter schools.</p> <p>And Bill Gates, and the President, and Secretary Duncan think they're great.</p> <p>What if your kid is the one who can't hack it?</p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.net/what-the-president-forgot-to-mention">suedensmore's posterous</a> </p> </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-41506629673798969252010-07-26T10:07:00.001-04:002010-07-26T10:07:42.379-04:00Weblogg-ed » We Need a Test for That<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_medium_quote">Lately, I’ve been finding myself wondering if maybe the best strategy for changing education is to join ‘em, not fight ‘em. I mean, if the only material that we think is important is the stuff that our kids are going to get tested on, well, then let’s have MORE tests! (Play along!)</blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://weblogg-ed.com/2010/we-need-a-test-for-that/">weblogg-ed.com</a></div> <p>Here's a cynical post on testing. Imagine me sharing something like that...</p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.net/weblogg-ed-we-need-a-test-for-that">suedensmore's posterous</a> </p> </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-86505312311996478352010-07-26T09:21:00.001-04:002010-07-26T09:21:38.187-04:00"We've mined their minds like we've strip-mined the earth."<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>This is a talk by Sir Ken Robinson, delivered at TED in 2006. With all the recent articles and discussion about the decline of creativity in our kids I found it really interesting.</p> <p>He talks about our current system of public education as being a protracted entrance process for college and university, and noted that all public ed systems have the same hierarchy of subjects, where we end up educating kids from the waist up, and then only from the neck up. In the end, we educate the creativity out of our kids.</p> <p>We have to rethink how we educate our children.</p> <p><object height="326" width="334"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" /></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /></param><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff" /></param> <param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/SirKenRobinson_2006-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/SirKenRobinson-2006.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=320&vh=240&ap=0&ti=66&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity;year=2006;theme=how_we_learn;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=top_10_tedtalks;theme=bold_predictions_stern_warnings;theme=how_the_mind_works;theme=master_storytellers;event=TED2006;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="326" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/SirKenRobinson_2006-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/SirKenRobinson-2006.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=320&vh=240&ap=0&ti=66&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity;year=2006;theme=how_we_learn;theme=the_creative_spark;theme=top_10_tedtalks;theme=bold_predictions_stern_warnings;theme=how_the_mind_works;theme=master_storytellers;event=TED2006;" width="334"></embed></object></p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.net/weve-mined-their-minds-like-weve-strip-mined">suedensmore's posterous</a> </p> </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-9863593011328043082010-07-19T12:35:00.001-04:002010-07-19T12:35:20.310-04:00Water<div class='posterous_autopost'><p>Being near water is good for the soul, I think. I spent the weekend at a lake house with some friends, and I am headed to another lake house tomorrow for the rest of the week. There's something relaxing about hanging out near water.</p> <p>Maybe that's why Eden was at the crossroads of rivers.</p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.posterous.com/water-0">suedensmore's posterous</a> </p> </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-4528110494572883482010-07-13T10:15:00.001-04:002010-07-13T10:15:32.587-04:00How to Build a School System That Nurtures Creativity<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote><div> Categories: <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/category/learning/assessment" title="View all posts in Assessment" rel="category tag">Assessment</a>, <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/category/learning/equity" title="View all posts in Equity" rel="category tag">Equity</a>, <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/category/learning" title="View all posts in Learning" rel="category tag">Learning</a>, <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/category/learning/teacherquality" title="View all posts in Teacher Quality" rel="category tag">Teacher Quality</a><p>Tags: <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/tag/creativity" rel="tag">creativity</a>, <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/tag/curriculum" rel="tag">curriculum</a>, <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/tag/finland" rel="tag">finland</a>, <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/tag/inquiry" rel="tag">inquiry</a>, <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/tag/newsweek" rel="tag">newsweek</a>, <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/tag/sir-ken-robinson" rel="tag">sir ken robinson</a>, <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/tag/ted" rel="tag">TED</a></p>Bookmark the <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/how-to-build-a-school-system-that-nurtures-creativity" title="Permalink to How to Build a School System That Nurtures Creativity" rel="bookmark">permalink</a>. <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/how-to-build-a-school-system-that-nurtures-creativity#respond" title="Post a comment">Post a comment</a> or leave a trackback: <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/how-to-build-a-school-system-that-nurtures-creativity/trackback" title="Trackback URL for your post" rel="trackback">Trackback URL</a>. </div></blockquote><div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.samchaltain.com/how-to-build-a-school-system-that-nurtures-creativity">samchaltain.com</a></div> <p>One person's answer to the Newsweek article on our "declining creativity."</p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.posterous.com/how-to-build-a-school-system-that-nurtures-cr">suedensmore's posterous</a> </p> </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-2050075093679407892010-07-12T21:34:00.001-04:002010-07-12T21:34:43.923-04:00Benjamin Zander on music and passion<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <object height="326" width="446"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff" /> <param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/BenjaminZander_2008-high.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/BenjaminZander-2008.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=286" /><embed allowfullscreen="true" src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="326" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/BenjaminZander_2008-high.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/BenjaminZander-2008.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=286" width="446"></embed></object> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html">ted.com</a></div> <p>20:46 of brilliance by a leading interpreter of Mahler and Beethoven. Here, he plays Chopin. </p><p>This is really worth the watch.</p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.posterous.com/benjamin-zander-on-music-and-passion-19">suedensmore's posterous</a> </p> </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-35211099567284684282010-07-12T19:17:00.001-04:002010-07-12T19:17:18.711-04:00Freedom of Information: How a Wisconsin School District Ditched Internet Filters | Edutopia<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote><div> <h3><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/freedom-of-information-wisconsin#">Freedom of Information: How a Wisconsin School District Ditched Internet Filters</a></h3> <h4>By <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/freedom-of-information-wisconsin#" title="View user profile.">Edutopia</a></h4> <span>7/5/10</span> <div> <img src="http://www.edutopia.org/images/icons/share_icn.gif" height="13" width="18" /><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" target="_blank">Share</a> <img src="http://www.edutopia.org/images/icons/email_icn.gif" height="13" width="16" /><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/freedom-of-information-wisconsin#">Forward</a> <img src="http://www.edutopia.org/images/icons/comment_icn.gif" height="13" width="14" /><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/freedom-of-information-wisconsin#comments">Comments(23)</a> <img src="http://www.edutopia.org/images/icons/grey_rss_icn.gif" height="13" width="13" /><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/freedom-of-information-wisconsin#">Comment RSS</a> <img src="http://www.edutopia.org/images/icons/print_icn.gif" height="13" width="11" /><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/freedom-of-information-wisconsin#">Print</a> </div><span></span><p> Among the more memorable people I met at last week's <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/freedom-of-information-wisconsin#">ISTE conference in Denver</a> is a renegade technology director from Racine, Wisconsin. Just a few months after his promotion from network manager to director of information systems of the Racine Unified School District last summer, Tim Peltz made a revolutionary move: he removed the firewalls that had blocked students from many parts of the Internet. He didn't just remove a brick here and there. He tore those walls completely down. </p> ... <i /><p>-- <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/freedom-of-information-wisconsin#">Grace Rubenstein</a>, is a senior producer at Edutopia</p> <div> <ul><li><a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/freedom-of-information-wisconsin#" title="Read Edutopia's latest blog entries">Edutopia's Blog</a></li> </ul> </div> </div><i></i></blockquote><i /><div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/freedom-of-information-wisconsin">edutopia.org</a></div> <p>Brave tech director? Forward-thinking, at least.</p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.posterous.com/freedom-of-information-how-a-wisconsin-school">suedensmore's posterous</a> </p> </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-39493232394941240422010-07-11T13:09:00.001-04:002010-07-11T13:09:05.163-04:00Leonie Haimson: The most dangerous man in America<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <blockquote class="posterous_long_quote"><p>All this, despite the fact that an expert panel from <a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12780" target="_hplink">the National Academy of Sciences</a> pointed out that there was no research backing for this agenda, and urged caution before the federal government essentially bribed cash-strapped states to enact its provisions. </p> <p>Since the panel's findings had to go through a lengthy peer review process, as does all good science, it did not make the short deadline that the US DOE set for public feedback on the "Race to the Top" proposals, leaving them free to ignore it.</p> <p>When George W. Bush adopted environmental policies that ignored the scientific consensus from expert bodies like the National Academy of Sciences, he rightfully got blasted by advocates and the mainstream media. Where was the outrage when the NAS experts on testing and evaluation were ignored by the Obama administration? Instead, there was ....silence. The NAS warning was pretty much ignored, as educators and politicians were steamrolled by an undemocratic oligopoly of the deep-pocketed Gates Foundation and elected officials (some authoritarian types like NYC's Bloomberg, others merely weak-kneed and cowed by the inside-the-beltway group think.).</p> <p>But the Gates Foundation has been quite clever in ignoring or suppressing evidence that contradicts its corporate mindset.</p></blockquote> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leonie-haimson/the-most-dangerous-man-in_b_641832.html">huffingtonpost.com</a></div> <p>This is just a sample of the larger article, worth a read if you care in the least about what's good for the proper education of our nation's children.</p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.posterous.com/leonie-haimson-the-most-dangerous-man-in-amer">suedensmore's posterous</a> </p> </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-79870352882317872272010-07-10T14:54:00.003-04:002010-09-03T11:08:41.959-04:00Teacher Magazine: Moving Students By Ability, Not Grade<div class="posterous_autopost"><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"><blockquote><div>Published: July 6, 2010<br />
<h3>Moving Students By Ability, Not Grade<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/click;h=v8/39d3/0/0/%2a/e;219723305;0-0;0;43208260;6-120/60;34254768/34272646/1;;~sscs=%3f%3Ca%20href="></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="comments"></a></h3></div></blockquote><br />
<div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2010/07/06/movingstudentsbyability_ap.html?tkn=XLWFFMc6XbbpPAkBOvOuJjDTof59PGro%2BeZm&cmp=clp-edweek">edweek.org</a></div>Now this is an interesting idea that could work really well. But it would require most of the community getting on board with it to really make it work. <br />
Still, aren't these kinds of things more worthy of a try than simply firing staff and closing schools?</div><div style="font-size: 10px;"><a href="http://posterous.com/">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.posterous.com/teacher-magazine-moving-students-by-ability-n">suedensmore's posterous</a> </div></div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-68776671632352330392010-07-09T10:37:00.002-04:002010-09-03T11:09:16.585-04:00Oh, yes!<div class="posterous_autopost">Nice article. <br />
<a href="http://mobile.boston.com/sports/columnists/massarotti/2010/07/the_king_is_a_clown">http://mobile.boston.com/sports/columnists/massarotti/2010/07/the_king_is_a_clown</a> </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-15104657328611810412010-07-07T22:36:00.002-04:002010-09-03T11:09:48.340-04:00First night at Plymouth<div class="posterous_autopost">Kids these days... <br />
OK, I know it's not nice to start a post that way, but I am in a dorm at Plymouth State University, and it has air conditioning and a private bath. <br />
So what I was going to say was, kids these days who go to college don't know how good they have it. <br />
When I went to college, and stayed in one of the nicest dorms on campus, I had to share two bathrooms with 6 other people! <br />
I know, I know. Someone out there had it even worse than that. <br />
You know, they don't even put hard line phones in the rooms anymore. I remember at UVM in 19somethingsomething, having to wait for a pay phone. And if someone called me, anyone on my floor might answer it, and maybe get a message right or maybe not. I remember when all the rooms got their own phones - that was a huge deal. Now everybody comes with cell phones. <br />
About the only thing cramping my style right now is that I am posting this from my BlackBerry - which you will see, because all my emails from this device have an automatic signature, and since I cannot get online yet with my computer, I can't fix it. <br />
Apparently, I was supposed to get a packet when I checked in which would have explained the procedure and given me a password to get online. Guess I'll get that tomorrow when I check in to the actual conference. <br />
Also, no TV, though there's a cable drop in the room. In my day we went to the common area to watch TV with rabbit ears, and hoped we wanted to watch the same thing as other people. Or, we brought a little TV to our rooms. Still - rabbit ear reception wasn't all that great. <br />
My folks got cable TV after I went away to college. Before that, they had deemed it unnecessary, much like the microwave they decided to get at some point during my junior or senior years. <br />
Times change. Technology improves, becomes more prevalent, and even changes to the point where sometimes things go away all over again. <br />
Like rabbit ears, and phones in all the rooms on a big campus switchboard system. <br />
And now we're back to one campus phone in the hallway for emergencies. <br />
Kids these days. They don't know how good they have it! <br />
It's an adventure. </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-22497762898119719492010-07-07T11:08:00.001-04:002010-07-07T11:08:08.564-04:00Achievement Gap Mystery Partly Solved - It's Murder - Living in Dialogue - Education Week Teacher<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/suedensmore/bnuqIAEJjrfuiFIIvfAqGbmHsCmvajwbCogivavcEJehgcHmGohzvDGpwFcr/media_httpblogsedweek_JFrvx.jpg.scaled1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/suedensmore/bnuqIAEJjrfuiFIIvfAqGbmHsCmvajwbCogivavcEJehgcHmGohzvDGpwFcr/media_httpblogsedweek_JFrvx.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" height="129"/></a> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/living-in-dialogue/2010/07/achievement_gap_mystery_partly.html">blogs.edweek.org</a></div> <p>There's a lot of talk about the "achievement gap" on standardized tests. It's even been referred to as a "civil rights issue." </p><p>But "the powers that be," led by Secretary Arne Duncan and President Obama, don't seem to understand the underlying causes of the achievement gap, and are hell bent on extorting states to enact their pet strategies and plans, in spite of the fact that they've already been tried and found to fail. </p><p>I will also say once again how asinine it is that education policy is made without educators. Duncan has never been a teacher, and neither has Obama. Politicians do NOT belong making decisions about education policy - teachers should be making the decisions.</p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.posterous.com/achievement-gap-mystery-partly-solved-its-mur">suedensmore's posterous</a> </p> </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-50675809547827049112010-06-25T11:18:00.001-04:002010-06-25T11:18:51.580-04:00The Answer Sheet - Principal: How to REALLY turn around a school<div class='posterous_autopost'><div class="posterous_bookmarklet_entry"> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/suedensmore/nviIDcuIFreuejabCkuDxlgdezrvbAjAjlfgbGkenfCsCaDecxogDCCrqlwB/media_httpmediawashin_nttfu.gif.scaled1000.gif'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/suedensmore/nviIDcuIFreuejabCkuDxlgdezrvbAjAjlfgbGkenfCsCaDecxogDCCrqlwB/media_httpmediawashin_nttfu.gif.scaled500.gif" width="500" height="86"/></a> <div class="posterous_quote_citation">via <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/teachers/principal-how-to-really-turn-a.html">voices.washingtonpost.com</a></div> <p>This guest article, by George Wood, states cogently and compellingly the issues with the current pattern of "reform" being touted by President Obama and Secretary Duncan. With respect to the office of the POTUS and the Secretary, they are resorting to something only just shy of extortion to push an agenda of failed tactics to "reform" our public schools. </p><p>Sort of like trying all the same techniques to deal with the oil spill that DIDN'T work in 1979.</p></div> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.posterous.com/the-answer-sheet-principal-how-to-really-turn">suedensmore's posterous</a> </p> </div>Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-78126117481060718652010-03-20T09:03:00.001-04:002010-03-20T09:03:25.000-04:00New Pond
<div class='posterous_autopost'> <div> <p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Arial;">With all the rain we’ve had, we’ve got a new pond across the street. And it does not appear it will be going away. It has slowly been getting bigger with each new storm.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Arial;">You could say I am not in waterfront property, but there are trees in the pond if you get far enough into it. Not sure if we should try slalom-water-skiing. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Arial;">These shots don’t exactly do it justice.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></p> </div> <p><a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/suedensmore/zAnDJnZr02EcYBfF75qdVntQ6Pad5YzjmeizXHmAgj4CSFHq9OObfS6BneeR/new_pond_1.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/suedensmore/4HeZo2Wopf7vIXRvx4tt7dHiTysaUICJv7DVbceSKz2dA6k3lDU8KsDZiQUl/new_pond_1.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> <a href='http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/suedensmore/EkV0pO0RayPKohWAr9jbe0LKogwpjZQjtnoqgUfmKonqta0BOHl5C8Ta4D2C/new_pond_2.jpg.scaled.1000.jpg'><img src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/suedensmore/aRrXU3dEgMmCUCGKPhfqnN0KaechtxQTgQTaQ8GxDdu7kDsZ3anvukW0ObK7/new_pond_2.jpg.scaled.500.jpg" width="500" height="375"/></a> <div><a href='http://suedensmore.posterous.com/new-pond'>See and download the full gallery on posterous</a></div></p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.posterous.com/new-pond">suedensmore's posterous</a> </p> </div> Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10688185.post-81678001565955150112010-03-19T08:35:00.001-04:002010-03-19T08:35:39.188-04:00Something really cool
<div class='posterous_autopost'> <p>Yesterday (March 18, 2010) through a set of circumstances, I ended up with a drama class in my band room. A couple of them had asked if they could come to my room instead of sit in the cafeteria with 5 or 6 other classes, and so I said yes. I figured they’d come and do some work, chat, maybe even turn on some music on my classroom stereo.</p> <p> </p> <p>I was sitting in my office slowly working through the pile on my desk, and I began to realize that I was hearing them read a script. After they finished, they engaged in a sensitive, thoughtful, and thorough critique about what they’d read, and where it could go. No voices got raised, nobody’s feelings got hurt. They just talked about the script.</p> <p> </p> <p>Which, it turns out, one of them had written.</p> <p> </p> <p>It takes guts to put yourself out there, but with this group it is obviously safe to do that. They showed independence, self-motivation, creativity, and kindness. They talked through issues in the story, and found their way through them, solving little plot problems here and there. They worked as a team.</p> <p> </p> <p>This is not just about drama. The skills employed by these students are the kinds of skills being sought by business leaders, college admissions officers, and society at large, which seems to be losing the civility these young people showed one another. This arts thing is no frill – this is central to everything we are trying to do.</p> <p> </p> <p>I was so impressed I emailed Sha Riordan, the teacher who was out sick, and copied the principal and assistant principals. What a great group of students!</p> <p> </p> <p>And what a way to be reminded why I went into this business in the first place.</p> <p style="font-size: 10px;"> <a href="http://posterous.com">Posted via email</a> from <a href="http://suedensmore.posterous.com/something-really-cool">suedensmore's posterous</a> </p> </div> Sue Densmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00682551595454364410noreply@blogger.com0