CST Security Breach....

Well it finally has happened. 442 images of the California State Standardized Test (The infamous CST, a high stakes test) were posted on Facebook and other social media. This will delay the CST results while an investigation as to who did what is completed. 11 districts were involved.  In California, most districts follow the guideline that it is ok to have cell phone on campus, but it must be out of sight and turned off. Trouble with this is who is going to check all of the students? Also it is hard to enforce a behavior when the administrators and teachers use their cell phones all the time during the school day, in classrooms, walking on campus, while students are doing "seat work." One of the first things taught in teacher ed classes is that you model the behavior you want to see in students. It was inevitable that a security breach would occur.  This makes me wonder about the viability of online education. Given the power of modern computers, you can have two windows open at the same time and then its a simple matter of "cut and paste" and that makes passing a class rather simple. Could it be that it is time to re-examine the works of John Dewey and see where America's educational system went wrong.... at least from a pedagogical standpoint.   

Conservative San Diego county appears not to want their children to learn about accounting, web design, or child development. What does this say about them? But then they gave us Pete Wilson, deregulated the electric industry and then were the first to cry when the rates went through the roof.  Read on.

The Huffington Post (7/18) reports that despite improvements in CTE education in recent decades, educators can still face trouble trying to "sell the concept of having all students take courses in CTE," citing parental protests in La Jolla, California, when the San Diego Unified School District "proposed new high school graduation requirements mandating two years of career and technical education courses-or two to four courses. The district would have been the first in the nation to have such a mandate, experts believe." The Post reports that near-universal parental opposition to the plan, even after "school officials spent hours in a meeting to assure hundreds of parents that courses like computerized accounting, child development and website design" could benefit all students-caught district officials flat-footed. The piece notes parenthetically that advocates for more CTE cite ED support for such programs. 

Another glorious morning in Redlands.  Been thinking about peoples use of language lately. In listening with a critical ear, I am amazed at how people communicate with each other. I usually hang out at an "alternative" coffee house. This one roasts its own coffee, and offers in-house baked goods with a smattering of stuff baked in San Marcos. (Down San Diego way) The customers range from retired professionals, to Loma Linda medical students. Middle aged weekend bicyclists (in full armor) to 20 somethings with children. Needless to say this place is filled with many characters. One of the groups that meets on a daily basis is from the local AA chapter. Talk about interesting conversation. They talk about fishing, TV shows, interpersonal relationships, not smoking, but they never mention anything about why they are in their group. Its like they just don't discuss their issues... I guess its about being in a group, knowing that each one has a problem with alcohol, and the mere fact of being together is helpful.

Does a good leader grasp Umwelt? I this it is imperative that they do.

Just read an article in the Economist about America's economy is on the mend. That's good news, but they mention that America's public schools are bogged down by heavy handed unions. The author must not be informed as the reason unions appear to be powerful. Just look at the history of abuse workers have had to endure in the past because of greedy and selfish management. Our country does not value teachers like Finland or Singapore does. These countries see educators as the builders of their countries and they treat them well. Those countries also just happen to have the highest test scores. We draw most of our teachers from the bottom 30% of the university graduates, the aforementioned countries draw from the top 20%.  Do you think there is a correlation between good working conditions, respect and good pay and job performance? Finland, Singapore and Canada would agree to that. Wake up America!

So I am sitting at my fav coffee shop, Stells. This patron is on POF (which I am told is a dating site) and he is constantly putting his hand up to cover the screen. I finally get it. He does not want anyone to see the photos that pop up. How weird is that? People are strange.... good observation Mr. Morrison.

Finally. Redlands has a hot dog cart. Its called Stray Dogs and can be found in the downtown area. I wonder if this will breed more food carts and possibly food trucks in our area.

Our changing language...

I have been watching Cooking Channel TV since it started several years ago. It is part of the Scripps Howard family of media outlets which include the DIY, HGTV, and Food Networks. After viewing many programs, trailers, and clips it has become clear to me how much the English language is changing. We as a country are getting lazy with our usage. One individual identified as a pizza cook, talks about a "pseudo theory" in which one judges each pizza eaten with the first pizza you ate. Really? A pseudo theory? I guess the individual really does not know what a theory is suppose to do. How about this one. "I want to help share out what I know." or "Vegetables that I grew out of my garden." I know these are little things, but they are played over and over making them acceptable usage for many.  Sigh. And people wonder why our culture is changing in a negative way.

Its been a while since I have posted here. Been doing lost of reading... more to come.