Status Update

I'm behind! It's the story of my life and I'm too old to change. Don't try to tell me that you are never too old because I'm pretty happy with my life just the way it is. This doesn't mean I am planning to give up on my writing challenge, I'm just not going to beat myself up over something I'm not that bothered by.

What I have found since I took on this challenge is that during the day I am thinking about what I want to write about! That is good. What is bad is that I'm not taking the time to write down those thoughts so when I sit down to write at the end of a busy day I have something to reference to remember what I was thinking about! As I age I really need to make lists and keep them where I can find them.

Earlier today I saw a Meme (idea/thought/picture with words that spreads within a culture) with a picture of Temple Grandin and the quote, "We're focusing so much on academics that we've TAKEN OUT things like art, sewing, cooking, woodworking, music, and othe rthings that INTRODUCE kids to careers." I was thrilled since it goes with an earlier blog post on my pet peeve that "content" is the be all and end all. If you can't process all this "content" because you have no reference points because you've never done anything except learn "content" it's a waste of time. Experiences is what the children need in order to make sense of all this "content." Whew!

This is coming the same week that I'm spending my time in Durham, NC working on assessment items for the yearly "how are we doing as educators" test! Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with taking the pulse of education through assessment but there has to be more than one measure to prove something is working. There has been too much emphasis for too many years that a once a year test can determine a "good" school and a "bad" school.

As an educator I see a side of society that I'm afraid not everyone sees. I certainly didn't know there was so much dysfunction in the world until I started teaching. Maybe my family protected me or perhaps people tend to flock toward people with similar beliefs and structures and my flock was seemingly functional. I was shocked when I first started teaching (a long time ago) how much neglect there was. It has only gotten worse. Our current political gridlock is a very good indicator of just how low our society has come. I don't generally write about politics but I just learned Trump won the NH primary for the Republican party -- REALLY? I am appalled that a majority of voters believe his hatred and arrogance are what we need to run the country. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since the fascination with families like the Kardashians should explain it all. What happened to looking up to people who made a difference in the world in a positive, helping humanity type of way?

I'll end with a nice conclusion that returns to the introduction which reminds me not to beat myself up over some things that I may not control or that I may not want to change. I will just try to stay positive and find the good in others so that I don't allow myself to become hateful and a part of the disease. I've read that optimists live longer and are healthier. Good-night, sleep tight, have a wonderful day tomorrow.