Monday, August 19, 2013

Breakfast in the Classroom comes to DISD students!

I was so happy to see this video show up in my YouTube feed!


Remember all those studies you hear about around this time of year that talk about why breakfast is the most important meal of the day?  This program takes the science seriously, and puts our money where our mouth is.  ;)

Teachers and school staff are naturally wary of any program that brings a potential mess into the classroom, and takes time away from instruction.  But most teachers in other districts who do this say that the trade off of time is worth it because the students can concentrate better and fidget less.

Quick side note:  Ms. Dora Rivas, who is the DISD Director of food services, managed one of the first (and maybe THE first) Breakfast in the Classroom programs when she was the food services director in Brownsville, Texas.  Read more about that here.  I am very glad we have her launching and expanding the program here in Dallas!

Big thanks, too, to Trustee Dan Micciche who has been lobbying for this program to be expanded in DISD since 2012.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

It's not just a problem Congress has...

It's Sunday, so here is a Sunday School lesson for us.

"Whatever you do in the little things, you're going to do in the big things."  (paraphrase of Luke 16:10.)

It's interesting to contemplate this in light of our recent national troubles.  If the national savings rate of the average American was negative 1% before the recession, why does it surprise us when we learn the recession was caused by our banks being bad with money?

If friends on Facebook block each other because of statements like "I can't see how anyone can be a Christian and be a [Republican/Democrat]", they why are we surprised when Congress can't agree on anything?

If we don't want to spend the extra money to buy American - whether it's a gadget or a new roof or the clothes we wear - then why are we surprised when our manufacturing jobs go away?

I can't even count the number of times I heard in the last election cycle the idea that the average voter doesn't have any power.  Super PAC's, big business, and banks - they have all the power.

No way.  We "little people" can't let ourselves off the hook that easy.  No super PAC casts your vote for you.  We endorse all kinds of businesses and what they stand for every time we spend our money.  We can't negotiate any changes at all on a credit card agreement - including the option for the bank to change terms anytime on a whim - but we sign up for it anyway.  What does that say to banks?

Each one of us is just one anonymous person... but what we do matters.

Stop looking for Superman to save you.  Stop looking for the guys on the top to change the world for you.  It starts with you.  You change first.

Be the type of person you want your elected officials to be.

APPLICATION FOR EDUCATION

You consider yourself a Ed Reformer?