All tagged education
The Boston Globe has a story this morning about how the state of Massachusetts is looking into whether or not they should test Kindergartners. I think it's ridiculous and loudly say, hell no.
My oldest daugher loves school. She comes home every day very excited to share what she's learned that day. No matter the subject, she's very "in to" school. Over the past few months, I've been telling her about a project I've been working on with a client of mine called TruGreen, a leader in the lawncare business.
TruGreen is based in Memphis, TN and they have a relationship with a non-profit called Memphis Botanic Garden, which serves more than 43,000 school-aged children annually through organized education programs, offering them the opportunity to get outdoors and learn through hands-on activities and nature play.
Over the years, Memphis Botanic Garden has developed a curriculum that teaches kids about botany. They even created a couple of characters that bring the curriculum to life.
With the help of my client TruGreen, today the two organizations launched a very cool site called My Botanic Planet:
One panel from the #140conf that I was very interested in was the one on how the real-time web can impact education.
In true 140 fashion, the panel was too short for a subject that I am very passionate and know a lot about (considering I've spent nearly seven years of my life working in education and another three or so representing education-focused clients).
You see, the education space is always behind the eight ball. It is always in need -- need of tools, technology, good teachers, content, students, active parents, etc. For such an important part of all of our lives, education (for the most part IMHO), doesn't get the attention it deserves in terms of the issues -- from the political end of things, technology issues, parental involvement, etc.
Education simple gets the shaft in my book.
My kids walk to the front door of school. The youngest (left), missed her big sister terribly.Last year at this time, my oldest daughter was headed to Kindergarten. It was a scary thing. Here she was, an innocent, shy, caring girl that was going to be throw in the wolf den that is the public school system. I only call it the wolf den because it's the unknown. You're dealing with kids from all types of backgrounds, demeanors, education level, mannerisms, etc. Public schools are one big ass bowl of jambalaya.
My wife and I went through all the emotions of being a first time "big school" parent (pre-school was a sort of a cake-walk compared to a school where she was on the bottom of the food chain -- her school is k-8).
My daughter started first grade today and in her class around about four boys that she had in her previous kindergarten class. One of them, who my daughter calls her boyfriend, said to his mom today, “I can’t sit next to her because she’s too pretty.” And, in the same sentence, said, “I can’t go over there because her daddy is there.”
Yea, that’s what I thought you little punk! (kidding Max, you’re a good kid).
Seriously though, I realize that this is innocent but there is going to come a time where she is going to have a boyfriend and I’m going to be a mad man.