Reality based food shows.... seriously????

The cooking channel, that Scripps-Howard cable TV network property, must be running out of things to broadcast. Extra Virgin, a show about the ups and downs of an Italian farm boy who marries an actress from New Jersey. Vapid is the only word I can use describe this program. Who cares if she is learning how to pluck a chicken or milk a goat while having perfect makeup, and dressed to the nines? One more reason not to watch too much TV. If I must... I use the DVR and edit what I subject myself to.

Algebra 1 for 8th graders gone....

Well the California state board of education finally did something positive. They removed the requirement that all 8th graders take algebra 1. This was done to align  the state standards with the common core curriculum that will be implemented soon.   Methinks many 8th graders will be very happy....

Its been a while... so many things have happened since I last posted here. New Years resolution is to be a bit more regular in keeping up this blog. Topics this year will include Food, Public education, and general observations of the human condition.

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.