I wish they would really stop it….. (with the half story telling)

 

Perhaps there were some “management missteps”; but a system that creates and encourages a crazy and destructive school culture, should share some of the sword.

 

“Stuyvesant Principal, Now Retired, Mishandled Cheating Case, Report Says” 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/31/nyregion/stuyvesant-principal-now-retired-mishandled-cheating-case-report-says.html?ref=education&_r=0

  

               The truth is that Stuyvesant (and Bronx Science) parents exert a great deal of unnecessary pressure, power and intimidation on the NYC Board (and now dept.) of Education. Parents of majority Black and Latino schools don’t enjoy the same level of attention, concern and commitment to their children’s success. A teacher from one of those schools once told me that a teacher better be prepared to vigorously “defend” any grade lower than an “A”. I remember when the knowledge of  a Science Skills Center H.S.  advance robotics lab became known, (our robotics team became legendary and was recognized by Dean Kamen Founder of the FIRST Robotics Competition (http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/founder)  both Stuyvesant and Bronx Science parents (and staff) insisted that they also get  a state of the art robotics labs. There is a great deal of “unnatural” pressure on these students to gain entrance to Ivy League and “top tier” universities. This pressure bleeds over,  and distorts the cultures of these two schools. Our primary objective as educators should be to grow ethical human beings, with strong academic skills that will allow them to put that ethical outlook into practice. I like academic intensity, and I admired their Science competition prep program. I also definitely like strong “parent push”(unlike great Black and Latino high schools); these two schools will never be “downgraded”; they were strong academically when I was going to high school in the 60’s and they remain academically strong to this day; but these two schools can benefit from an educational philosophy/cultural makeover; that would push the meaning of school beyond, only scoring high on standardized exams.

 

One Good Reason to Invest Time and Money in Closing the “Informal” Learning Gap.

 

Five Reasons Not to Love D.C.’s Olympic Bid……….. http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2013/08/27/five-reasons-not-to-love-d-c-s-olympic-bid/

     “….The nonprofit behind the current effort is called DC 2024, and it has at least one prominent D.C.-area supporter: Washington Pigskins owner Dan Snyder, who said in a statement, “We look forward to assisting the Washington Olympic Committee in presenting the nation’s capital and fabulous surrounding region to the Olympic sporting world. We are fortunate to have most of the venues needed in an internationally recognized city that is accustomed to staging high-profile events….”

 

     What I have learned over the last 5 years: This is a classical DC (Disconnected Consciousness) unreality move. Is there any appreciation of the scope of responsibility connected with serving as a host site for an Olympics? Have these folks ever attended an Olympics? Is there any thought to the idea that the leadership role of the racially insensitive and boldly dismissive owner of Washington’s NFL team; makes this Olympic hosting bid, at the very least, controversially flawed? There seems, in this town, to be a “numbness”, a resigned acceptance to corrupt, inadequate and inappropriate leadership qualities. I suggest that this committee invest their time and money into a project that would have a real positive impact on the future of the city; and, it could actually be pulled off! Invest in creating a first (class) place “informal learning” educational system in a city that houses the highest national concentration of wonderful and exciting informal learning institutions (a small sample: http://www.museumlink.com/washindc.htm). So many children in this city live in the shadow of a giant-wonderful “informal” classroom; so close that their hungry minds are sadly pressed against the glass partition; they live daily in a separate and unequal sea of educational opportunity. Simply offering “Free Admission” to these venues, or a once a year “Zoo day” type of activity is not enough. There must be a comprehensive, official, organized and formal effort, independent of “parental push”; to get young Washingtonians of color and poverty into these “informal” learning centers on a consistent and long term basis. The need to invest in greater resources for the expansion of the outreach activities for the educational departments of these cultural institutions. And the committed idea that children of color really have a future place in this city; and represent a positive addition to the future development of this city. When I first began to organized educational trips for students at Phelps High School; I  found it hard to believe students who informed me that they lived in DC all of their lives, and had never taken advantage of the many museums and learning/cultural intuitions in the city.  It was not just a case of not visiting all of the Smithsonian’s buildings; in many cases they had not been to one! Sadly, I came to understand that indeed, these young people were telling the truth. I have learned that every city has a culture; in this case it is unfortunately, the terrible belief that the children of color in this city don’t deserve serious efforts that would lift and enrich their lives. If a committee, in partnership with the city government took on this small, important and very achievable project; that I believe, would be a first-class performance worthy of a gold medal! And the best news is that the massive Olympic infrastructure, and its associated cost, need not be built; as the venues are ready, and waiting for a very deserving young audience.

       

 

How does this thing called work, work?

How does this thing called work, work?
is it separate from your life,
such that you leave yourself, and go to it,
or,
like a name it is always with you?
and,
do you leave it and go back to yourself?
what is the work that is not,
overrated,
not underappreciated,
as a stand-in,
working its way through life?
what is the meaning of work?
can you really ever leave it?
will it ever leave you,
alone,
to gather its lessons?
is it ever done,
or,
undone,
overdone,
or,
linger too long for its own good?
can it be completed,
in,
a complete lifetime,
is it a work in progress?
do we progress at work?
do we work out its meaning?
does it mean what we work it out to be?
will it out-last us?
at last be us?
is it inside of our purpose?
the purpose out-side of our purpose?
in the way of a life?
a necessary way to live life?
given the same pay to not go,
would you go to work?
no,
then what would you do?
are we in the work,
or,
is the real work in,
beside,
is,
us.

 

“Study of Studies September 2013” ….“Is There Really Such a Thing as a ‘Workaholic’?”………  http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/09/the-work-addiction/309437/

 There’s still no medical definition, but psychologists try their best to separate dedicated employees from true addicts.

 The Studies:

[1] Spence and Robbins, “Workaholism: Definition, Measurement, and Preliminary Results” (Journal of Personality Assessment, Feb. 1992)

[2] Griffiths and Karanika-Murray, “Contextualising Over-Engagement in Work” (Journal of Behavioral Addiction, 2012)

[3] Sussman, “Workaholism: A Review” (Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy, 2012)

[4] Robinson et al., “The Relationship Between Workaholism and Marital Disaffection” (The Family Journal, July 2006)

[5] Carroll and Robinson, “Depression and Parentification Among Adults as Related to Parental Workaholism and Alcoholism” (The Family Journal, Oct. 2000)

[6] Sussman et al., “Prevalence of the Addictions” (Evaluation & The Health Professions, 2011)

[7] Doerfler and Kammer, “Workaholism, Sex, and Sex Role Stereotyping Among Female Professionals” (Sex Roles, 1986)

[8] Kemeny, “Driven to Excel: A Portrait of Canada’s Workaholics” (Canadian Social Trends, Spring 2002)

[9] Hamermesh and Slemrod, “The Economics of Workaholism” (The B. E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 2008)

[10] Araki and Iwasaki, “Death Due to Overwork (Karoshi)” (Journal of the Japan Medical Association, Feb. 2005)