Tag Archives: Education

Monday, March 26, 2018 – March for Our Lives – When Did You Lose It?

Monday, March 26, 2018 – March for Our Lives – When Did You Lose It?

Saturday, March 24, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across the world to make their voices heard regarding gun control. In the history of revolutions this is referred to as “when the barricades go up.”

When did you lose it and begin to cry on Saturday ? You know you did.

Was it when you saw the huge numbers of marchers worldwide?

Was it when you saw Emma Gonzalez stand for six minutes and twenty seconds in silence? Six minutes and twenty seconds is the amount of time it took for one mentally ill person to change the lives of millions. Sit for that amount of time and imagine what the sounds they heard.

For me it was during the reading of names. It began like this:

We are not here today to take away guns. We only want common sense legislation regarding them.

Today, we remember every person who lost their lives in school shootings. We call the names and ages of those who lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

My throat tightened as the seventeen names and ages of promising individuals were read from Stoneman Douglas High School were read. Their futures were just beginning.

Here is where I lost it. The names from Sandy Hook and the ages were repeated again and again: “Age six; age six; age six, age seven, age seven, age six… Twenty little children who never got a future. Six educators who will never make a difference in the lives of children.

Then we prayed.

Because of these and all the others we must carry on to create safe learning places for all.

 

Wednesday, August 9, 2017 – Back to the Future Again

Wednesday, August 9, 2017 – Back to the Future Again or History the Way it Should be Taught

I received a great compliment the other day. A dear friend said, “I would love to have taken a history class from you.” Yes, you probably would. Ask all those fabulous J. L McCullough High School students in the late 70’s and early 80’s. They had the best and brightest history and government teachers Conroe ISD had to offer. Take that CHS!

Here is what I am thinking my history class might hear today.

Good Morning,

Is Stephanie on her way to class? Or will she be virtual presence? Good, here she is.

You need your device. I hope they are charged but if not, move to one of the charging stations in the back. Remember to charge! An uncharged device is like The Charge of the Light Brigade and you know what happened to them.

Open your folder and click on the link I sent you just now.

Screen One

Listed below are three historical events. Your assignment is to relate each of these three past events to the current events today in as many ways as you can think of. You may work alone or form a group not to exceed four.

Your assessment will be a presentation of how you chose to relate the events and how many relationships you can make. Alabama is going to be tough but it is there. No, I do not think it is the football team, but if you can find a relationship, then go for it.

You may choose any presentation method, including but not limited to: essay, charts/graphs, poetry, artwork, music, movie, theatre (a play), or a combination of methods.

Upload your presentation to your folder on Electronic Homework. Your final presentation is due at 11:59 PM, August 9, 2017.

Screen Two

  1. Seventy-two (72) years ago, August 9, 1945, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.
  2. Forty-three (43) years ago, August 9, 1974, the following letter was sent to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. It read:

“I hereby resign the office of President of the United States.

Sincerely, Richard M. Nixon.”

  1. “Who’s Next?” By Tom Leher That Was the Year That Was Album 1965

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRLON3ddZIw

Let me know if you have questions.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017 – The Breakfast Club and J. L. McCullough High School -1976-1980

Wednesday, January 18, 2017 – The Breakfast Club and J. L. McCullough High School -1976-1980

Let’s get in the Way Back Machine and get our plaid on and go back to the REALLY bright and colorful halls of J. L. McCullough High School during the 1970’s. Stay calm, there will not be photographs.

I usually do not like movies about public schools because they tend to be unrealistic. Of course with Bad Teacher being an exception. I love the movie The Breakfast Club directed by the great John Hughes. It reminds me of every student who attended McC. It also reminds me of the first time I saw the movie with so many McC teachers who screamed “Karl” when the AP appears in his leisure suit – except it was not lime green.

Actually the movie reminds me of every student then and now and how many are forgotten for so many reasons.

Dear Mr. Vernon, We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it is we did wrong, but we think you’re crazy for making us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us, in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out, is that each one of us is a

brain, and an athlete, and a basket case, a princess, and a criminal. Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, The Breakfast Club

Bonus Question: Who sang Don’t You Forget About Me?

Answer: Simple Minds.

Speaking of simple minds, I wonder if the proposed Secretary of Education has ever seen The Breakfast Club?

Tuesday, May 3, 2016 – Happy Teachers’ Day – Who Do You Think You Are?

Tuesday, May 3, 2016 – Happy Teachers’ Day – Who Do You Think You Are?

“Write a 1000 word paper telling me ‘Who Do You Think You Are’” Can you name the movie in which that was the assignment? Hint: a movie from the 1980’s.

# 2 Pencils (800x554)

While you are thinking, here are some remembered education quotes from teachers, friends and colleagues from years past. I am only attributing one quote to one teacher – my major advisor, dissertation advisor Dr. Frances E. Clark, who went to the Big Classroom in the Sky last week. For you, Dr. C. – Here!

From the Department of Redundancy Department – Dr. Frank Clark.

You can guess at the contributors for the rest.

The children are not negotiable.

You can lead a student to water, but you can’t make him think. But you can make him awfully thirsty.

You can take a good teacher and make them great, but you cannot take a bad teacher and make them a good one.

I am from the Texas Education Agency and I do not have anything to do with assessment or PEIMS or curriculum. (1989 – Present day)

From Conroe High (Conroe ISD) from the 1970’s – “Teachers, pardon this interruption. Will the following pupils report to the Vocational Building for the FFA yearbook picture…? The pupils participating in UIL events tomorrow will meet at 8:30 in the cafeteria.”

From J. L. McCullough High School (McC) (Conroe ISD) from the 1980’s – “Teachers, pardon this second interruption for the morning announcements … please review the Do Not Admit List and do not admit these students to your class until they have an excuse from their counselor. And don’t forget to keep looking for the pony.”

From Magnolia High School (Magnolia ISD) May 2, 2016 – “Teachers, pardon this interruption, the testing period has ended. You may now return your students’ cell phones.”

I bet you can add so many other quotes. Happy Teachers’ Day to all of us! Thank or think of one of your teachers. You can read this, can’t you? Then do it. It is because of us that you can!

And the assignment question?

“Saturday, March 24, 1984 Brian Johnson [although unknown at this point] Shermer High School Shermer, Illinois 60062

“Dear Mr. Vernon:

We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong, but we think you’re crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us… In the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain… …and an athlete… …and a basket case… …a princess… …and a criminal. Does that answer your question?

Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club.