Opening Day

You get two posts today.
Happy Opening Day for Major League Baseball!

Tiny Sized

Today's post has a rather fun and unusual topic: tiny Giraffes.  These are adorable little creatures, and I wish I could have one.  However, I question the legitimacy of this website.  But, even if they're not real, I still think this is something cute to enjoy for the end of the week!

Risky Punishment

Spanking.  It is a form of punishment that has been decreasing in popularity though the years.  I can personally only recall one time when I might have been spanked for something.  Instead, it was more common for me lose to privileges.  However, some schools still allow their teachers to spank misbehaving children.

This form of punishment in schools seems problematic to me.  Teachers could take it too far, not have legitimate reasons, etc.  Not to mention, this is not an effective way to punish kids, while it might cause physical pain and some humiliation, the punishment is generally not long lasting and does not reinforce the correct behavior.

So, I think that corporal punishment should be removed from schools, and other forms of punishment or reinforcement should be looked into.  What's your opinion?

Social Ills

Social Media is constantly hyped as this great tool that connects people, and is bringing about a change in the distribution of information.  And, all of this is true.  But, there can also be side effects to social media, especially in young kids.  Kids might be exposed to more explicit material, become victims of cyberbullying or even feel a depression associated with the use of social media.

While I don't condone any of the above side effects, I feel like these effects could also come from the Internet in general, and some of them existed in other forms even before the internet.  So, while social media may not be perfect, and it may bring negative effects, I don't believe all of the issues are emerging solely from this Internet phenomenon.

The real problem: How do we solve the social issues kids face in the face of social media that make bullying and inappropriate content much more pervasive and powerful?

Eat Smart

Michelle Obama has increasingly been promoting her Let's Move campaign, which promotes a healthier generation of kids.  Schools are responding well to this initiative by the First Lady.  Most school districts had already been adjusting their food offerings in light of childhood obesity trends, but now they are getting more support from the Government to pursue these changes.  Furthermore, schools are also targeting what kids are eating when they are not at school because healthy eating at school is not enough.  Eating healthy and being healthy is a lifestyle.

I think this is a great campaign.  Kids who learn to eat healthy in school, and eat healthy, delicious meals at school are more likely to change their habits at home.  I applaud those districts who are trying to educate and excite children about being healthier in their food and lifestyle choices.

Fat Religion

Generally, participating religion is seen as a positive life influence, it makes people happier and healthier.  However, a new study shows that it also might make people heavier.  The article mentions several theories, but I think it left out an important religious message that could correlate: God loves you for you.  People who are religious generally believe in a God who accepts them as they are.  God doesn't want people to change themselves dramatically as long as they are being faithful to him.  So, it just might be the religious people don't see their weight as a problem because they don't think God sees it as a problem either.

Riding Ads

With the fall of economy, schools and education have seen enormous budget cuts.  To supplement these cuts, some states are beginning to allow ads on the sides of their school buses.  Normally, I would think that advertising businesses on the side of a public school bus is wrong.  But, considering the circumstances, I think it is a creative way for schools to get some more money, so that they can continue to run some of their programs.

What are some creative ways you've seen businesses or institutions using to earn money in these tough times?

Dance Dance

Pole dancing for Jesus just may be the newest trend in the world of religion.  The question is, how religious are these pole dancing classes really?  I know there has been an explosion in new, cutting edge  forms of worship and praise recently, but I think this may be going too far.

What do you think about pole dancing for Jesus?  Does this count as spiritual worship to you?

Terry Jones At It Again

Terry Jones, who sparked the fury of the residents of many nations around the world earlier this year, is back in the news.  This time instead of just a message on Twitter claiming September 11 as International Burn a Quran Day, his church has actually burned a Quran.  The holy book was found "guilty" during a "trial" at his church.

I have no doubt that the fact Jones actually burned a Quran will spark more outcries of anger from Muslim countries, just as it did the first time when it was a mere threat on Facebook.  The problem with this story to begin with, is that it really is not news.  The only reason Jones and his 50 member church ever became news is due to a combination of new media technology and a reporter who decided to cover Jones' tweet.  In the scheme of things however, similar events have occured on a smaller and larger scale, but they were not covered, and they did not cause international backlash.

So, while new social media can be a great tool, it can also be dangerous when the information gets into the wrong hands.

Promiscuous Girl

An article in The Wall Street Journal today talks about the fashion trends of today's teenagers, and why they are allowed to dress in the manner they do.  The article has several very plausible hypothesis that I find interesting, and thought I should share the story with you.

I wanna know what your thoughts on this subject are.

Let Freedom Ring

Today, Atlanta  celebrates a piece of Civil Rights history.  Think of how far America has come since its early days, and be proud of the freedom we have.  Some countries aren't quite so lucky, although hopefully they one day will all be free as well.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

According to new research, letting your pet sleep in bed with you could actually be bad for your health.  But, a majority of pet owners have been letting their precious pooch sleep with them, and many find comfort in their companionship.

What do you think?  Will you still let your four legged friend sleep with you tonight?

All Aboard

Study abroad programs have been rising in popularity in colleges and universities around the country.  and why not?  Study abroad allows students to take classes and explore other cultures for as little as one week to a whole year.  This is an amazing opportunity to enrich and enhance the education of young college students.  Even more, the best time for people to travel is when they're young, full of energy and not tied down to many commitments.  I personally wish I could afford to study abroad because everyone that I know that has done a program absolutely loved it and I think it would be a great experience.

However, in light of the recent events around the globe, many universities are starting to rethink their study abroad programs.  Safety has become an issue in countries such as Egypt and Japan, and many parents worry about their children who are there.

I personally think these programs need to continue, natural disasters and political overthrows are part of life.  Yes, they may not be as big a part of life in the United States, but these things do exist and can occur anywhere.  Students are only expanding their horizons and education even more by witnessing these events first hand.  I understand that safety is an issue, and certainly I don't say we should risk lives or force students to stay, but I think they should be given the option to continue with their programs if possible.  And, colleges should not just cut these programs because of what is happening in these countries because if they do, students will be missing out on amazing opportunities to expand their horizon.

EduPlay

When people think of museums, they often think of history, and often times they are also associated with the adjective boring.  However, some museums are trying to liven things up by creating kids museums.  These museums are designed for kids, they educate and entertain in a way that children understand and love.

I think this is a great idea.  I know I went to a couple of kids museums with my grandparents when I was younger, and I loved them.  At these museums, kids get to explore, create, play and so much more and they are learning without realizing they are.  This type of hands-on, engaging entertainment is definitely worth the price.  Kids don't want to go to boring history museums for the most part, and parents don't want to pay for something their kids won't enjoy, especially in this economy.

So next time you need some entertainment for your children or the children you babysit, think of finding a local kids museum.  Chances are, there is one nearby, and if not, an educational road trip can be fun too.

Vatican Gone Social

It seems that the Vatican and the Pope have gone social, social media that is.  I'm glad they are finally jumping on the bandwagon.  Facebook, Twitter and other social media don't have to be creepy.  You don't have to post what you're doing every second of the day.  In fact, it's probably better and safer if you don't.  However, these tools can be used to communicate and build community.  Companies can use them as customer service outlets or for promos and giveaways.  Likewise, the Vatican can use it to spread the message to different audiences who may or may not generally watch the news or follow the Pope religiously (no pun intended), but will still like his fan page and see all of the updates.  Social media connects people, and there is no shame in being more connected in a globalized society.

Is No Child Left Behind?

According to our President and the number of "failing" schools in America, children are being left behind.  In light of my recent blog post about NCLB, I thought an article in today's New York Times education section was appropriate.  The article talks about President Obama's hopes for a NCLB overhaul, which I believe is much needed.  I hope this plan would include reevaluating the way in which we evaluate public schools as failing, and changing the policies regarding budgets/federal money for failing schools. Hopefully our Congressmen and women feel the same way, and can put into place a more effective plan, so that we can educate the workers of tomorrow.

Good Dog

As a dog lover, when I come across stories about heroic or extra-ordinary dogs, it touches my heart.  I think all dogs are special, they provide us humans with so much joy and compassion, and ask for very little in return.  They make great companions for anyone and everyone.  In Athens, where I go to school, we have a Guide Dog Foundation nearby, so at least once a day I see a college student and their guide dog in training around campus.  I wish I had done the program, but I wasn't sure if I would become too attached to the dog, and not want to give it up.  I know now that I could, knowing that the dog would go on to do something great like this video talks about.  This partially blind man has not only one, but two, guide dogs. He acquired the second after his first went blind, and needed a guide dog of its own.  This story is short, but touching, and I think it demonstrates the true power of love.

Simple Life

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a man living in tiny houses.  This time I'm writing about a man living in more tiny houses in the desert of Texas.  Part of me has always been fascinated by interior design, architecture and the like, so I find these stories slightly interesting and amusing.  I don't have much to say about this man and his lifestyle, other than read the article, and think about the simplicity of life.

Cheater Cheater

Ever since it's conception, No Child Left Behind has been causing issues.  Lately these issues are becoming more and more apparent as more and more teachers are caught in the act of helping their students on standardized tests.  NCLB makes it so that schools must reach certain standards in order to remain in good standing and receive federal funding.  Additionally, some teachers' jobs rely on how well their students perform.  This is a lot of pressure.  Not all students are good test takers, no matter how good their teacher is.  Not all students learn at the same pace or should be expected to perform on the same level because no two students are exactly alike.  Students' success should not simply be measured by tests written by people who aren't even in the school system.  Not to mention that schools that are failing are the ones who need the federal funding the most because they are the schools that have less local funding and less resources to help their students achieve.  Teachers are not at fault for every child that fails. There are too many factors at play to simply blame teachers, but yet, that is what happens.  And, that is why so many teachers are cheating.  It is not that they didn't teach the material or weren't good educators all year, it's all those other variables they can't control that could cost them their jobs.

Vote Your Voice

An article in The Washington Post this week talks about several states looking to ban college students from voting in the towns where their colleges are located.  Arguments include that students are naive and foolish, and that they are diluting the votes of taxpayers within those cities.  However, students would be allowed to vote in local elections of their home towns.

This argument seems a bit off to me.  If college students are so foolish and naive, shouldn't they not be allowed to vote anywhere.  No matter where they vote, they would still be diluting taxpayers votes.  Not to mention the fact that not all college students aren't the same.  Some students are coming back to college and most have to work in addition to attending school, which would make them taxpayers as well.  Additionally, just because students are going to college doesn't mean they are automatically as liberal as proponents of these reforms claim.  The fact that these students are in college also makes them a lot less clueless than a portion of the population, who are not college educated.

I agree that, yes, not all college students are the brightest, and yes we can be a bit foolish at times.  But, we are just young adults and we are going through the learning process of growing up.

This doesn't mean however, that we should be excluded from voting in our college towns or any town for that matter.  The law and federal policy have given us the right to vote at age 18, and this right should be upheld, just as it would be for any voting adult.

Kill them with Kindness

In honor of Ash Wednesday, you should read these 5 lessons about how to treat others.  You don't have to be perfect all the time, but especially during this period of Lent, everyone could stand to be a little more conscious of their actions and WWJD.  Even if you're of a different faith or no faith at all, kindness never hurt anyone, and it really isn't that hard to pass on.

Fat Tuesday

As an Episcopalian, Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras has always been an important day for me.  It's a day to revel in gluttony before the celebration of Ash Wednesday and Lent.  Growing up in the South, the Bible Belt, makes celebrating Lent a less common phenomenon among my friends, but my churches have still managed to make the holiday important.

Tonight I will enjoy the annual pancake supper filled with good food and fun.  Tomorrow I will prepare myself for Easter, by participating in the Ash Wednesday service, where ashes will be imposed on my forehead as an outward sign of my faith. 

Fat Tuesday celebrations vary around the world, and some cities celebrate this phenomenon in more extravagent ways than others.  The important point is to live and enjoy these last days before the solemn period of Lent.

During Lent many people take on or give up something, to bring them closer to Jesus and God.  I'm not sure what I'm doing this year, other than just focusing on my relationship with Jesus in general, and being more aware of my actions.  While this is not something definite I can tell people, I think it's enough of an answer for me, and that is what matters.

If you celebrate Lent in your faith, what are you doing?

Mix-Up Monday

Whoopie Pies may be delicious, but the question is, where is their rightful home?  Maine & Pennsylvania both want to claim this tasty treat as their own.  Hopefully, these two states can settle this food fight and move onto more pressing issues soon.

Neptune, which was originally spotted as a planet in 1846, is finally nearing its first recorded lap around the sun.  165 years later, on July 12 of this year, Neptune will finally begin its second lap.

The Art of Photography

Cell phone picture of a baby turtle moments after birth

Cell phones and smart phones are quickly becoming one of today's hottest tech tools.  Phones today can instant message, email, text, play games, surf the internet and even double as a camera.  Colleges are now starting to take advantage of the opportunities today's technology provides by teaching college courses on cell phone photography.  These courses teach students how to take the best photos with their phones and about the legal issues related to reproducing or sharing these photos.  Classes also teach how to use cell phone image software, just like you can learn on the computer.  I applaud the ingenuity behind courses such as these because this type of class is highly practical in a world where almost everyone has a cell phone and almost everyone uses their phone for a multitude of purposes besides calling someone.

Write It Out!

While cursive may be going the way of the dinosaurs, handwriting is still alive and kicking.  With the increasing ubiquity of technology, writing has started to diminish.  But, a recent study shows that writing by hand actually makes kids smarter.  Kids who write by hand have more neural activity, actually increase their productivity and seem smarter.  Thankfully technology is keeping up.  Some applications on Apple products allow you to  write on the touch screen, and the computer then generates the corresponding digital letters.  So, while it may not be necessary to write in a flowing, elegant script, writing things out may just be a smart move.

Advanced Placement Causes Advanced Problems

AP testing has become a norm in schools across the nation.  More and more college-bound students are being pushed to take these college-level classes, so that they can go to college with credit to their name or get into a better school in the first place.  But, there is a high price to pay with these classes because they come with college-like amounts of work and college-level work.  Especially difficult are the Calculus, Science and History courses which cram loads of material, all of it testable.  The tests can include anything in the book, and these books can range upwards of 300 pages.  That's a lot to ask of teachers and students, especially those in high school.  Often times, this leads to students just memorizing and cramming, not actually learning or applying.  I took 6 AP classes in high school plus 2 additional courses from a local college.  I can hardly remember anything I learned in most of those classes.  So, while students may get the benefit or credit (if they manage to remember enough to pass the test), they don't get the knowledge.  Thankfully College Board is attempting to revamp the curriculum and tests to better promote student learning, and not just students freaking out about the 5millionfactstheyneedtoknowtopassthetestsotheycangotocollegeandgetajobthatpayswell.

Tweet Tweet

Twitter has become increasingly popular over the past few years, with a huge explosion within the last year or so.  People may think it's creepy (I personally thought it was for a long time), but it actually is a convenient tool.  You don't just have to tweet about where you are and what you're doing every single second of the day.  You could use it to tweet cool facts or random quotes, or follow companies that will give you discounts or a cool link.  In the classroom, Twitter could be used to brainstorm or for students to communicate with each other about schoolwork when they're at home.  Twitter doesn't have to be all about the creeper factor, but it certainly can be, as this article about Charlie Sheen's newest world record related to Twitter reveals.

  Today's question is: How do you tweet?

Save the Arts

Who doesn't like free things?  In today's world, however, there really is no such thing as a free lunch.  But, a warehouse in New York is making art a little bit more affordable, for the low low price of: free.  The warehouse offers new and gently used art supplies for educators & others.  With the budget cut crises in America's education system, this just may be a saving grace to help save the arts in one part of the country.

Lenten Sacrifice

Lent is fast approaching, and with it comes the dreaded question of: what are you giving up?  But, Lent doesn't always have to be about giving up something.  It can also be about taking on something.  You could take on traditional things such as reading the Bible or actually going to church every week or spread your wings and take on giving back more to the community.  Giving up something can also be spiced up, in the past few years more and more people are giving up Facebook for Lent.  This USA Today article provides insight into other ideas about different things people are doing for this season of Lent.  The question is: what are you doing?