Back in the saddle again

Hey, it's me again. I got my new bike at the beginning of the month and have been ridign pretty hard in that time. I am trying to train for Tour de Cure which raises money for diabetes -- with which I was diagnosed about a year ago. Help me with a donation to the effort at:

Public Education

It's the greatest democratizing tool in the world. It is responsible for the country's wealth and prosperity and for the amazing development of America's creative output. However, the insititution has been in trouble for years. What is the source of all these problems? The answer is both simple and complex.



First, as a society we have to make a commitment to responsibility. Our mesages that we send are all wrong. What kids see on TV or the internet or in magazines, is that work is not necessary or enjoyable. Kids see images of sports or entertainment figures living the sweet life with minimal attention given to the rarity of this success. What we see is a life of ease and success. Life is not easy. And learning should not be easy. Anything of true worth we accomplish is usually a bit of work. What this means is that children must be prepared to struggle a bit. I don't mean that success is unattainable, but success should take some stretching of a student's ability. And students are unique individuals; so, each struggle is a personal struggle that must come from an inner well-spring.



Secondly, we must recognize that failure is inevitable and not undesirable. Everyone fails. It is only those who do not try in the first place that will know no failure. Failure is the stuff of greatness. The Wright brothers tried and failed several times, but they persevered and reflected until success came. Many of our students do not understand the satisfaction of perseverence. Somehow, and ideally it comes from parents, students have to embrace the opportunity to fail and achieve.

Which brings me to my final-- and some might say flawed -- solution to fix our failing students. Student who have ignored their educational opportunities must fail. Our current system gives so many chances that few of our weakest students take it seriously. There's always another chance for redemption and the effect is chronic disaffection with school. These students don't care and more chances make this worse.

More on this topic later...

Evolution

Why do tigers have stripes? Why are herding animals able to rise, wobble around, and ultimately move within an hour of their birth? Why has an opposable thumb and a bigger brain made it possible for a primate to dominate their world?

I don't understand. People accept the premise of natural selection in plant and animal life, but will not acknowledge that humans are also animals. Why would you reject the fossil record, but more directly, the evidence around you? I accept evolution as a scientific fact. However, I also can see the impact of better nutrition and more food on humans. I know this isn't evolution in the sense of change over eons, but it is evidence of humans' ability to change over time. Why does this upset people?

Our New President

Welcome, America to a new image for our nation. Really. It's okay, McCain supporters. The world is anxious to have an America they can relate to, and now, they can. Obama represents a new, diverse, and open America. That alone makes us more secure. Of course, we still need a kick ass military...