(M)orning represents the beginning of the day, the beginning of the year, and the beginning of a life. It is our childhood. It is our fresh start. It is our new hope. It is the empty canvas of our minds and the beginning of our story.
[January - April] This is the season to focus on youth and help instill appreciation for music and the arts. Music is the world's language. It has the ability to bridge nations and to connect people. We have been changed by the power of music. That is a gift we want to share. Art goes hand in hand with music as a powerful voice of expression. Art shows us the world from the people's point of view. Art is the vessel of the human experience and it is a powerful weapon in the hands of truth. This is also the time to focus on education. Learning is what opens the doors to a better future. What aspects of the education system need our help? How do we educate ourselves to face the world's problems as they become ours to solve? These are the issues of Morning:
(M)usic
(A)rt
(E)ducation
We have asked you to write the story. Here is how you do that. We are giving ALL of the profits from the sale of our digital downloads to projects that we choose together with you. Think about the specific things you feel passionate about changing in the world. Since the first part of the year is dedicated to music, art and education, we are asking you to think about how we can work together to fix things that are broken. We do not just want to throw money at something. We want to create a door for involvement. Lets talk. What can we do together to make education better? What do you like and dislike about your education? What about school music and art programs? Do you know any amazing teachers that are trying things that live outside of the box? Tell this community about them and lets make sure that we shine a light on the people that are doing it right.
We are thinking about working with an organization called Destination Imagination. Have any of you ever worked with them before? What was that experience like? Check out the link and lets get our hands dirty.
http://www.idodi.org/
Full Version: Overview
I think this is a great orgainization to help! They seem it seems like a really good idea!
QUOTE (maeband @ Dec 13 2008, 09:54 PM) 
We have asked you to write the story. Here is how you do that. We are giving ALL of the profits from the sale of our digital downloads to projects that we choose together with you. Think about the specific things you feel passionate about changing in the world. Since the first part of the year is dedicated to music, art and education, we are asking you to think about how we can work together to fix things that are broken. We do not just want to throw money at something. We want to create a door for involvement. Lets talk. What can we do together to make education better? What do you like and dislike about your education? What about school music and art programs? Do you know any amazing teachers that are trying things that live outside of the box? Tell this community about them and lets make sure that we shine a light on the people that are doing it right.[/url]
I've spent my first year and a half here at Umass Dartmouth studying Computer/Electrical engineering, and being one of those people that was good with numbers in high school, I felt like it was a good position for me to be in at college. However, I also gained a great passion for music in high school When my sister "forced" me to do the school musical my freshman year (It was "Guys and Dolls", I was an extra and a Blind man, lol). Every year up to my senior year, I truly believe that, that one action of auditioning for that musical changed my life. I was a typically shy and closed-mouthed person when I was young and usually kept to myself, and then I had my first experience singing because of the decisions me and my sister made (despite how bad it probably sounded then), plus i made so many new friends (which I honestly never had too many before). I joined the choir next year, joined Show Choir, and whatever else I could get my hands on for music at my high school, and every year, my shell started to break a little more because of it. By my senior year, I was a completely different person and broke free of my silence. Right now, singing is the most important thing to me. It's such a wonderful feeling to feel the air flowing through you and the resonance of your body creating something with such beautiful intentions. It almost seems the body is made for singing more so than actual talking sometimes. I really have to thank my sister, and my old vocal director for all these changes and experience though. My sister has always been there for me and she knew from the start that music was what I needed to get me going. My vocal director pushed me n the right direction to develop myself in ways and push myself in directions in ways I never thought I would go. I look up to them both as the select few people who actually made a difference in my entire life, and because of it, I've sang in district choirs, won awards for my singing, and gained so much bravery and confidence from it that I could never imagine.
However, I still began college as an Engineering major for the sake of having a job and being able to survive in life and I must say... I hated it... My GPA has gone down drastically than what it was before I entered college. It all felt so cold to me and I couldn't stand being in the building where all my calculus and engineering classes were, And only a select few of the teachers were actually helpful at times, some even reprimanded me sometimes for asking a a simple question on the subject. Dealing with the level of difficulty, the impatience, and rushing of some courses swayed me this semester to switch my major to Music Ed. So far, the music classes I've taken these past three semesters have kept me somewhat sane and at ease. I just feel right in the music building, it's more like a home.
Nonetheless, I'm still scared for what I've chosen. My dreams revolve around a life in music for me, but now making a means will be more difficult than ever, and that frightens me to no end. I need to do this though, I won't have it any other way.
Sorry, If this isn't what you guys were looking for, I just felt that I needed to say something about my recent decisions and felt this was a good place to say them. Also it gave me a chance to reflect on what I've done, and I feel good about it
QUOTE (maeband @ Dec 13 2008, 09:54 PM)
We are thinking about working with an organization called Destination Imagination. Have any of you ever worked with them before? What was that experience like? Check out the link and lets get our hands dirty.
http://www.idodi.org/
http://www.idodi.org/
I have been participating in Destination Imagination since I was in fourth grade. I love it, it's such a huge part of my life! My mom is the coordinator of all the teams in my town, and up until high school I would compete at the regional competition and then volunteer at the state level. However, once I reached high school, my team started winning at regionals and moving on to states. Last year, we won at both regionals and states and had the amazing opportunity to perform our work at the global competition in Knoxville, Tennessee. Globals were the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. Kids from this country and others got together to show just how creative they could be. Competing is only a very small portion of Destination Imagination; so much more of it is about learning and growing, becoming skilled at teamwork, and seeing the world as a more creative place!
DI and Mae teaming up would be phenomenal. If you guys want to know more about DI from someone who's seen it at every level, I could talk for hours :-). I love everything about it, and I'm so excited for this year's challenges!
<3<3<3
One thing I can always remember being with me through out growing up was listening to music and drawing. I was home schooled and I think a big part of my education and learning was through music and art. When I finally went to high school most of my classes were art classes. I didn't just learn about art but I learned about myself and the things that I want to do with my life. I am now in college and going into a placement at a art gallery. I want to spread the same kind of things I learned and got to enjoy doing art with others.
I think that just buy learning about music and art it expands and helps with everyday life knowing how to express yourself. One thing I did not like about education was how you got graded just on what you can remember for a test and not a collaboration of everything. It may not be for everything but it worked for me and will be something I will always remember as part of shaping my life.
I think that just buy learning about music and art it expands and helps with everyday life knowing how to express yourself. One thing I did not like about education was how you got graded just on what you can remember for a test and not a collaboration of everything. It may not be for everything but it worked for me and will be something I will always remember as part of shaping my life.
I wanted to add what my teachers did that helped. My mom when I was home schooled basically just let us listen to all the classical music we wanted too and sing or whatever. For art we'd sit as she read to us drawing pictures of anything and everything. It was just free for us to do kind of what we wanted. In high school my art teacher was awesome I think she expanded what most high schools that I know of do for their art class. She wouldn't let her students fail she would push them in a positive way to succeed and do better. Without doing things for them. She wasn't just there for us as a teacher but she also was there as a friend . When we had problems or a bad day she always seemed to care and want to make sure that we were okay. She went above and beyond most other teachers and she is how I think all teachers should be. Not just to teach science or history or math but to help people to grow and be who they are . For students to discover who they are.
This is a great start, thanks for these thoughts! Please tell us a story about the moment that impacted you the most in school. It could be a good moment that opened up the world for you, or it could be a negative moment that you had to overcome.
When I was in the first grade, my teacher divided the class into two groups. The red group and the green group. Even at that age I understood that the red group was for kids who were not as talented or smart. I will never forget the feeling of being defined by a label. It seems so small now in the rearview mirror of my memory and yet, I still remember it. As we grow up, we are all walking the line between reaction and pro-action. I don't want to spend my life reacting to something that happened to me but I do want to learn from those experiences and build a future that I am proud of.
What do you think is the best way to grade students without discouraging innovation? Or is this even possible? Do we need grades and classifications to keep us on track?
-Jacob
When I was in the first grade, my teacher divided the class into two groups. The red group and the green group. Even at that age I understood that the red group was for kids who were not as talented or smart. I will never forget the feeling of being defined by a label. It seems so small now in the rearview mirror of my memory and yet, I still remember it. As we grow up, we are all walking the line between reaction and pro-action. I don't want to spend my life reacting to something that happened to me but I do want to learn from those experiences and build a future that I am proud of.
What do you think is the best way to grade students without discouraging innovation? Or is this even possible? Do we need grades and classifications to keep us on track?
-Jacob
One thing that impacted me the most was when I realised that my grades will rely on a 1 or 2 hour exam in the summer and take no consideration of what I've learned over the whole year or how else I've performed. Say I'm having a bad day and don't do as well as I could have done in the exam, I'm stuck with those grades and they're going to guide my future. My jobs and university will hinge upon that 1 or 2 hour session and that was/is pretty scary when I first fully realised it.
A bit of a downer but that really scared me and it's definitely something that motivates me even though it's for the wrong reasons :/
In response to discouraging innovation, that's another complaint I have with the UK school system (I'm not sure how it works else where in the world) in that for 2 school years, from aged 14-16, you're made to jump through hoops and memorise facts and figures to regurgitate for an A which completely removes any room for creativity. After that you do another 2 years, 16-18, where you're led to believe that there is slightly more scope for personal input but the core structures of teaching and testing are still the same.
I guess within my ramblings I'm trying to say that innovation and creativity needs to come from outside education where a lot of valuable life skills are learned, practiced and tested.
A bit of a downer but that really scared me and it's definitely something that motivates me even though it's for the wrong reasons :/
In response to discouraging innovation, that's another complaint I have with the UK school system (I'm not sure how it works else where in the world) in that for 2 school years, from aged 14-16, you're made to jump through hoops and memorise facts and figures to regurgitate for an A which completely removes any room for creativity. After that you do another 2 years, 16-18, where you're led to believe that there is slightly more scope for personal input but the core structures of teaching and testing are still the same.
I guess within my ramblings I'm trying to say that innovation and creativity needs to come from outside education where a lot of valuable life skills are learned, practiced and tested.
I was home schooled therefore never got labeled as any thing by teachers.When I went into high school for grade 10 I never got classified or labeled by the teachers. I think a person should be graded on a number of different things not just based on a written answer. It might take longer but some people respond better to verbal tests or a practical test. There is no best way to grade students everyone is different and sometimes kids/teenagers/adults just don't even study so the bad grade is their fault. We do need grades and some people do need classifications because they might need particular help in a area doesn't mean they are stupid. Everyone has talents and abilities in different areas. Just because one is bad at english doesn't mean that they aren't a genius in math. Being graded and getting a grade shows a measure . Some people can take it as a negative thing or you can look at it with a positive note such as knowing where they need to work harder to improve. People like to make classifications and put people into groups.Peers like to do it because those who get good grades like to feel superior to those who didn't. I think that is what needs to be worked is people not labeling everyone based on a grade or a ones abilities at a young age.
Kaylyn
I went to a charter school for middle school, and it's probably the single thing that had the most impact on my life. I got to meet kids from all different towns, which makes me feel more connected to the world around me. I feel like high school for most people is a little box, but because of Murdoch (that's the name of the school), I can see past those walls and out into the real world. The teachers there were the best I've ever had; they were young and enthusiastic about their jobs, they loved the students and were passionate about teaching. It's so much easier to learn from someone who really seems to think what they're teaching you is exciting and important...not what they're being paid to do.
That school was my home, and now I'm in high school with people who are apathetic and half-alive...it's so sad to be in such a different world, but I try to spread the enthusiasm I know how to use whenever possilble...:-)
That school was my home, and now I'm in high school with people who are apathetic and half-alive...it's so sad to be in such a different world, but I try to spread the enthusiasm I know how to use whenever possilble...:-)
Being a high school student in the United States, we bow to the almighty standardized test. Our school has bombed the tests for the last three years and nobody's doing anything about it until right now. Literally, if we do not pass this time 'round, the state is going to come in and likely fire the majority of the administration and a few of the teachers. So, of course, they're cramming in every bit of "corrective action" they possibly can.
As a result, our school's music program and the rest of the arts, as well as anything else that's not on the standardized test, has taken a massive hit. They tell us that the standardized test prep classes aren't our punishment, and for some they aren't. But, for me, they are. I opted to take the prep class after school so that I wouldn't have to get excused from Chorus three times a week, but some still decided to take them during the day like everyone else. As a result, our chorus (and band, and all other enrichment period classes) are decimated in terms of attendance; our entire Chorus hasn't been in the same place at the same time the entire year so far, and won't be until May.
I feel like I'm being shortchanged. My school, which I am trusting with providing my education, is denying me the right to learn, in my opinion. I've been censored, even; dragged into the principal's office where they attempted to intimidate me into ceasing my public disagreement with the way the school is handling things. My school has never had much focus on the arts, being a small school in rural Pennsylvania with probably no more than 500 kids in the entire high school, and a sports-centered school besides. Now, there's even less, and I feel like they're taking the one thing from me that's kept me sane.
As a result, our school's music program and the rest of the arts, as well as anything else that's not on the standardized test, has taken a massive hit. They tell us that the standardized test prep classes aren't our punishment, and for some they aren't. But, for me, they are. I opted to take the prep class after school so that I wouldn't have to get excused from Chorus three times a week, but some still decided to take them during the day like everyone else. As a result, our chorus (and band, and all other enrichment period classes) are decimated in terms of attendance; our entire Chorus hasn't been in the same place at the same time the entire year so far, and won't be until May.
I feel like I'm being shortchanged. My school, which I am trusting with providing my education, is denying me the right to learn, in my opinion. I've been censored, even; dragged into the principal's office where they attempted to intimidate me into ceasing my public disagreement with the way the school is handling things. My school has never had much focus on the arts, being a small school in rural Pennsylvania with probably no more than 500 kids in the entire high school, and a sports-centered school besides. Now, there's even less, and I feel like they're taking the one thing from me that's kept me sane.
Yes, the arts do seem to be a sadly neglected part of a lot of schools, taking a back seat to sports (my ex-school included).
I heard about something and I thought I would pass it along to you and the band. I'm not sure if there is anything we can do in this area, but maybe we could raise awareness?
From the research I have done, I have found out about what is being called 'Katrina's Hidden Race War."
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090105/thompson
Not only were African Americans in New Orleans considered looters after the disaster, they were targeted and shot by other residents for no reason. The violence is only just being discovered, and it seems as though justice will not be served and that the men who shot and killed innocent people will not face any legal consequences. I was shocked when I read about this and thought I would pass it along to you guys since we are trying to make a difference. What do you think? Thank you for listening
From the research I have done, I have found out about what is being called 'Katrina's Hidden Race War."
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090105/thompson
Not only were African Americans in New Orleans considered looters after the disaster, they were targeted and shot by other residents for no reason. The violence is only just being discovered, and it seems as though justice will not be served and that the men who shot and killed innocent people will not face any legal consequences. I was shocked when I read about this and thought I would pass it along to you guys since we are trying to make a difference. What do you think? Thank you for listening
I'm sure many of the people out in the world will not believe my story and my opinion, but frankly, i don't care. It is the truth and nothing less.
My senior year in high school was fantastic in the beginning of the year, i started both ways in football, i actually never left the field, and then i got bigger, faster, and stronger for track season in the winter time. I was doing pretty well in track, i was winning most of my hurdle races, and getting the best times i've ever had. I had qualified for districts during our own invitational after winning the 110 meter hurdles, and was excited for the rest of the season. Until one day, my world was turned upside down and beat to a pulp.
I was in our auditorium watching a play that was being put on for our english class. It was Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream." Halfway through, i was pulled out of the audience, and told to go out of the auditorium where the principal awaited me. She then asked me to follow her, and asked me if there was anything in my car that shouldn't be there. I thought maybe i had left my hunting knife in my car (i live in an extremely rural part of Pennsylvania; not a single stop light in the entire county. yes, we hunt.) Then as we got closer to the car, she told me that drug dogs had hit on my car. Our school does random drug searches once a year, and they bring dogs in and let them sniff around and stuff. It's a good way to catch the stoners in the school. Anyway, i was sure that the dog's had a false hit, because i do NOT partake in anything dealing with illegal drugs, i absolutely despise smoking, and i would not consider anyone who does any illegal substance a close friend... so i assumed that the dogs must have gotten a weird smell from my car (i have some pretty nasty stuff in there... late night taco bell runs and such.)
Once i approached my car, the officers went straight to my ash tray (which i have never opened before because i don't need to use it) and they pulled out something and put it in a bag, and asked me what it was. and i had no idea, and told them that i didn't have a clue... then they said it's a cigarette laced with marijuana.
Even just typing that makes my heart drop, let alone when i heard that, my heart sunk down to hell and back, and i was shocked beyond belief. Then the principal asked me to go to the office and wait for her.
She came in, and told me that she had to suspend me for 5 days, as part of policy, and as part of the athletic policy, she had to suspend me from the team for 30 days (which is waaaay past the end of the season) so she basically kicked me off. The day before a big invitational as well. At that point, i lost it, and got crazy crazy emotional... and after i calmed down, i left, broken hearted, and started to plan my defense at a meeting that they scheduled with me as part of "policy". The meeting was in four days. So in that time, i called my intelligent friend Ben, and asked him to get a few kids to sign something or something of the sort to say "this kid does not do anything like this... there is not possible way this is his" instead of a few kids, Ben got over 100 kids (out of the 400 kids in the school) to sign this petition, and he even got the whole school involved in a "Free Plebe Day" (Plebe is my nickname from football). They were going to have a sit-in during school to protest for me, and try and change what had happened. Then at the school board meeting (not my personal meeting) there wasn't enough room for everyone that wanted to attend... the whole community was outraged by my story, and all of the board members said they were following "policy". 3 of my good, highly intelligent (one was salutatorian) spoke on my behalf, and tried to implement some sort of change.
Then came my meeting. and my speech. after giving my speech, the superintendent and principal both said, paraphrased "we know you didn't do this. we know you don't do this. but we have to follow policy." which is that they caught me with possession of marijuana. Not a soul would stretch their neck out for me to keep my track career alive...
They granted me a special attendance thing that allowed me to go to prom, and a week before this craziness, we voted for king/queen. and sure enough, i got king, which was a nice way to rub something in the administration's faces.... but that little incident was alot better than what i had expected... i learned how much my friends care for me, and that they would stand up for me when i couldn't... i love all of them. At one point, i had newspaper's contacting me, tv stations calling my house, and people coming to my house saying how much they support me. At school, kids made "free plebe" posters, shirts, and headbands, and i actually received some of the shirts/signs. It was truly amazing.
The point of this story was to point out that there is a form of... corruption,i suppose, in some schools. Where people aren't looking for what's right, but for how they can keep their jobs, regardless of consequence. There is one thing that would be nice to fix.... Administrators' consciences.
Thanks for reading... believe what you will.
My senior year in high school was fantastic in the beginning of the year, i started both ways in football, i actually never left the field, and then i got bigger, faster, and stronger for track season in the winter time. I was doing pretty well in track, i was winning most of my hurdle races, and getting the best times i've ever had. I had qualified for districts during our own invitational after winning the 110 meter hurdles, and was excited for the rest of the season. Until one day, my world was turned upside down and beat to a pulp.
I was in our auditorium watching a play that was being put on for our english class. It was Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream." Halfway through, i was pulled out of the audience, and told to go out of the auditorium where the principal awaited me. She then asked me to follow her, and asked me if there was anything in my car that shouldn't be there. I thought maybe i had left my hunting knife in my car (i live in an extremely rural part of Pennsylvania; not a single stop light in the entire county. yes, we hunt.) Then as we got closer to the car, she told me that drug dogs had hit on my car. Our school does random drug searches once a year, and they bring dogs in and let them sniff around and stuff. It's a good way to catch the stoners in the school. Anyway, i was sure that the dog's had a false hit, because i do NOT partake in anything dealing with illegal drugs, i absolutely despise smoking, and i would not consider anyone who does any illegal substance a close friend... so i assumed that the dogs must have gotten a weird smell from my car (i have some pretty nasty stuff in there... late night taco bell runs and such.)
Once i approached my car, the officers went straight to my ash tray (which i have never opened before because i don't need to use it) and they pulled out something and put it in a bag, and asked me what it was. and i had no idea, and told them that i didn't have a clue... then they said it's a cigarette laced with marijuana.
Even just typing that makes my heart drop, let alone when i heard that, my heart sunk down to hell and back, and i was shocked beyond belief. Then the principal asked me to go to the office and wait for her.
She came in, and told me that she had to suspend me for 5 days, as part of policy, and as part of the athletic policy, she had to suspend me from the team for 30 days (which is waaaay past the end of the season) so she basically kicked me off. The day before a big invitational as well. At that point, i lost it, and got crazy crazy emotional... and after i calmed down, i left, broken hearted, and started to plan my defense at a meeting that they scheduled with me as part of "policy". The meeting was in four days. So in that time, i called my intelligent friend Ben, and asked him to get a few kids to sign something or something of the sort to say "this kid does not do anything like this... there is not possible way this is his" instead of a few kids, Ben got over 100 kids (out of the 400 kids in the school) to sign this petition, and he even got the whole school involved in a "Free Plebe Day" (Plebe is my nickname from football). They were going to have a sit-in during school to protest for me, and try and change what had happened. Then at the school board meeting (not my personal meeting) there wasn't enough room for everyone that wanted to attend... the whole community was outraged by my story, and all of the board members said they were following "policy". 3 of my good, highly intelligent (one was salutatorian) spoke on my behalf, and tried to implement some sort of change.
Then came my meeting. and my speech. after giving my speech, the superintendent and principal both said, paraphrased "we know you didn't do this. we know you don't do this. but we have to follow policy." which is that they caught me with possession of marijuana. Not a soul would stretch their neck out for me to keep my track career alive...
They granted me a special attendance thing that allowed me to go to prom, and a week before this craziness, we voted for king/queen. and sure enough, i got king, which was a nice way to rub something in the administration's faces.... but that little incident was alot better than what i had expected... i learned how much my friends care for me, and that they would stand up for me when i couldn't... i love all of them. At one point, i had newspaper's contacting me, tv stations calling my house, and people coming to my house saying how much they support me. At school, kids made "free plebe" posters, shirts, and headbands, and i actually received some of the shirts/signs. It was truly amazing.
The point of this story was to point out that there is a form of... corruption,i suppose, in some schools. Where people aren't looking for what's right, but for how they can keep their jobs, regardless of consequence. There is one thing that would be nice to fix.... Administrators' consciences.
Thanks for reading... believe what you will.
Recently, with the plane crash in Buffalo... I have gotten the urge to be more passionate about my faith around others. I am starting to pray more for those around me and what I do to be a light to them.
But what sparked it was being at work and hearing all those names of the people, what they were doing, where they were going, etc. It all is gone. God is so powerful in that and it's an effect of the sin in the world. So we gotta bring the remedy...
I would also like you all to check this out:
Passion is a movement about uniting college students to pursue God. Their mission verse is Isiah 26:8 to sum it up, it is about making our fame for His renown. Mae is doing that with 2009. They are asking us to donate to a cause in order to help someone else. That's what it's about.
Passion hold conferences. I went to one in 2007. God blew me away. They are having one again January 2010. Yes it may seem like a long way away from now, but it's so soon. Tomorrow night is a live webcast and opening of registration. The 2007 event sold out; so be prepared.
268generation.com
Passion 2010
But what sparked it was being at work and hearing all those names of the people, what they were doing, where they were going, etc. It all is gone. God is so powerful in that and it's an effect of the sin in the world. So we gotta bring the remedy...
I would also like you all to check this out:
Passion is a movement about uniting college students to pursue God. Their mission verse is Isiah 26:8 to sum it up, it is about making our fame for His renown. Mae is doing that with 2009. They are asking us to donate to a cause in order to help someone else. That's what it's about.
Passion hold conferences. I went to one in 2007. God blew me away. They are having one again January 2010. Yes it may seem like a long way away from now, but it's so soon. Tomorrow night is a live webcast and opening of registration. The 2007 event sold out; so be prepared.
268generation.com
Passion 2010
Going on the Arts thing. I will say that my middle school and high school have impacted my life alot. I live in a not so great city but my middle and high schools were trade schools for the Arts. They were schools that you couldnt just go to you have to audition for, and so we were seperated from the people that didnt care about learning and things like that because in order to participate in your area for after school activies you had to have over a 2.0 average.
Now that I am in high school the rules are the same with grades but its a release and much more rewarding when you know that you dont have just all academics all day. And I have never been to a school that has sports. We might be the butt of all the other high schools jokes, but we arnt put into cliques with jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, etc. I realized this my freshman year. Everyone is friends with the other becuase without one area you dont have the whole picture. I used to not even care that I went to an Arts school because it didnt mean anything to me at the time, but when I hear about other schools in the county have drug, gang, and fighting issues, I realized that we dont have that at my school, because in the Arts we are all equal. Im not sure if you get what Im saying but its like you cant have Main Stage preformance with out a set, costumes, sound, and light so theatre needs technical workers, and if a band is missing one member the balance is thrown off. When I realized this I was so happy that we were an Arts school and not focused on sports or anything becuase that just causes segregation.
Just a few weeks ago the county was deciding to change the schools to 7 periods a day, instead of our A/B schedual, so we would be losing one of our Arts classes and would be unable to get our Arts Seal. Not to mention that most area would lose a teacher. Our principal foght them all the way becuase she stood up for the Arts because they didnt care about us at all they were trying to get up the other schools grade average. After a long process the county decided that our school will be the only one still on A/B schedual. This is when I realized the sacrifices our teachers and staff were willing to make for the Arts, for us to stay in the Arts.
I know I just went on a bit of a ramble about how great the Arts are but this is my final statement:
Going to two Arts schools was that changing moment in my life that made the biggest impact. And I will NEVER forget the things that I have learned in books and in the hallways at my school.
-Patron
Now that I am in high school the rules are the same with grades but its a release and much more rewarding when you know that you dont have just all academics all day. And I have never been to a school that has sports. We might be the butt of all the other high schools jokes, but we arnt put into cliques with jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, etc. I realized this my freshman year. Everyone is friends with the other becuase without one area you dont have the whole picture. I used to not even care that I went to an Arts school because it didnt mean anything to me at the time, but when I hear about other schools in the county have drug, gang, and fighting issues, I realized that we dont have that at my school, because in the Arts we are all equal. Im not sure if you get what Im saying but its like you cant have Main Stage preformance with out a set, costumes, sound, and light so theatre needs technical workers, and if a band is missing one member the balance is thrown off. When I realized this I was so happy that we were an Arts school and not focused on sports or anything becuase that just causes segregation.
Just a few weeks ago the county was deciding to change the schools to 7 periods a day, instead of our A/B schedual, so we would be losing one of our Arts classes and would be unable to get our Arts Seal. Not to mention that most area would lose a teacher. Our principal foght them all the way becuase she stood up for the Arts because they didnt care about us at all they were trying to get up the other schools grade average. After a long process the county decided that our school will be the only one still on A/B schedual. This is when I realized the sacrifices our teachers and staff were willing to make for the Arts, for us to stay in the Arts.
I know I just went on a bit of a ramble about how great the Arts are but this is my final statement:
Going to two Arts schools was that changing moment in my life that made the biggest impact. And I will NEVER forget the things that I have learned in books and in the hallways at my school.
-Patron
I've always been very academically motivated. I enjoy school and learning and giving the unexpected extra effort. I was so focused on core classes in high school that all of my elective classes were extra foreign languages except two semesters of journalism. I always wanted to be in the band, but I had chosen soccer and cheerleading the first few years all my friends were learning their instruments. I never felt like I could join after that point because I'd be so behind, so I stuck with cheerleading so I could at least dance and joined the robotics team which was made up mostly of our marching band. They were the coolest people. My point is, when we're in 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade, we have actual music classes. We play triangles and pat our knees to keep a steady beat. Then we never have to worry with it again. Music and art are offered in our latter grade school years, but they aren't promoted or "forced" in any way. I wish I had that one little push to make me attempt to play. I've never picked up an instrument without feeling awkward holding it, much less playing. It's really heartbreaking for me to think about because I love music more than 95% of the people I know, but then it feels weird to make that claim when I can't even read music. I plan to squeeze piano lessons into my summer somewhere.
I knew a lot of kids who were really smart, but they weren't motivated to try in class. We had one guy who AP tested out of 14 hours of college courses in English, German, calculus, and physics. Yet, somehow he only graduated with a 2.87 GPA. He could get more out of one read-through of a book than I could after we discussed it for weeks in class, but i was in the top ten and he was who knows where in rankings. He didn't get the recognition and scholarships he deserved because he didn't feel like spending four years jumping through hoops, and I knew I didn't deserve what I received because so many students like him were off doing their own thing.
I always wished we had a photography club and/or class in high school. I'm not interested in drawing or painting really, but I love photography. The same goes for poetry. My thoughts change too frequently for me to ever write any lengthy piece of work, but poetry is another hobby of mine that I had little time to explore. Granted, I did go to the biggest FFA school in the state of Tennessee. The high school isn't exactly known for anything much, especially not art or music. But those clubs would be so simple to form as long as they could get a teacher sponsor. Drama departments are always looking for things to showcase or events to host.
Accelerated Reader --> Reading Renaissance. Death. I had the same reading level range from 5th grade to 9th grade: 5.7-12.2. First of all, that's ridiculous. No fifth grader from Fayetteville, TN can read and understand a senior level book. Secondly, I finished every Patricia Cornwell and Mary Higgins Clark book in our library by 7th grade, including a case-study of Jack the Ripper. That's not exactly 7th grade reading material. Nevertheless, they gave me a huge range and never changed it. I guess the goal was to make us read for comprehension so we'd do well on tests, but we all quickly learned that halfway reading two books in a few days and making 70s on the tests got you ten points a lot easier and faster than laboring over a huge book for days and hoping you made a 100 on the test. We were in it for the points and prizes because we were in middle school. I hated reading for years until Harry Potter came along. I got about a quarter of the way through the fourth book when Reading Renaissance ended for me. I never finished it or read another Harry Potter book. I think we should always read books as a class and discuss them, no matter what age. I love discussion classes, and most people do prefer them over countless tests or papers. Seriously, how insightful is a 7th grader going to be when they write a paper? They just summarize. Then the teacher is disappointed with the class and her teaching as a whole, curves the bad grades, and no one learns anything. Yay...
I remember never finding interesting books, too. We were usually required to read fiction, and my mind is very number and fact oriented. Maybe if their were books/shows written to/made for a younger audience that challenged them as far as vocabulary, problem-solving, etc. If you place in a fifth grade reading level, you shouldn't be allowed to read fifth grade level books. You obviously already understand all that stuff. Appeal to their sense of "I'm awesome" with the story-lines. You always think you're older than you are in grade school, and adults always treat you as though you're younger than you are. There's like a five year age gap between how old you feel and how old you're treated. I'm not really sure where I'm going with this. You can't treat kids like adults, but it's okay to expect things from them. It's too easy to fall into the "Oh, they're in 5th grade. They should be expected to know this but not expected to know that." Why and why not? It's too regulated and not individualized enough. It's hard to figure out what you like when you don't really have the chance to explore.
No one throughout my academic career up through high school ever asked students how things could be improved. Kids may not care about reading, but they could sure tell you why. We just need to talk to them. When a teacher was making a topic a lot more difficult than it had to be, I always did it the way I understood it. I remember always thinking that they were adults and their minds worked differently than ours did as kids. I would always show my friends how I did it and promise myself that I would remember how to think like a kid if I were ever a teacher. So talk to the students and listen instead of going by facts and figures and implementing/taking away programs that they believe are useful/a waste of money. I really do feel like it's that easy. And with that, I'll end my rant.
I knew a lot of kids who were really smart, but they weren't motivated to try in class. We had one guy who AP tested out of 14 hours of college courses in English, German, calculus, and physics. Yet, somehow he only graduated with a 2.87 GPA. He could get more out of one read-through of a book than I could after we discussed it for weeks in class, but i was in the top ten and he was who knows where in rankings. He didn't get the recognition and scholarships he deserved because he didn't feel like spending four years jumping through hoops, and I knew I didn't deserve what I received because so many students like him were off doing their own thing.
I always wished we had a photography club and/or class in high school. I'm not interested in drawing or painting really, but I love photography. The same goes for poetry. My thoughts change too frequently for me to ever write any lengthy piece of work, but poetry is another hobby of mine that I had little time to explore. Granted, I did go to the biggest FFA school in the state of Tennessee. The high school isn't exactly known for anything much, especially not art or music. But those clubs would be so simple to form as long as they could get a teacher sponsor. Drama departments are always looking for things to showcase or events to host.
Accelerated Reader --> Reading Renaissance. Death. I had the same reading level range from 5th grade to 9th grade: 5.7-12.2. First of all, that's ridiculous. No fifth grader from Fayetteville, TN can read and understand a senior level book. Secondly, I finished every Patricia Cornwell and Mary Higgins Clark book in our library by 7th grade, including a case-study of Jack the Ripper. That's not exactly 7th grade reading material. Nevertheless, they gave me a huge range and never changed it. I guess the goal was to make us read for comprehension so we'd do well on tests, but we all quickly learned that halfway reading two books in a few days and making 70s on the tests got you ten points a lot easier and faster than laboring over a huge book for days and hoping you made a 100 on the test. We were in it for the points and prizes because we were in middle school. I hated reading for years until Harry Potter came along. I got about a quarter of the way through the fourth book when Reading Renaissance ended for me. I never finished it or read another Harry Potter book. I think we should always read books as a class and discuss them, no matter what age. I love discussion classes, and most people do prefer them over countless tests or papers. Seriously, how insightful is a 7th grader going to be when they write a paper? They just summarize. Then the teacher is disappointed with the class and her teaching as a whole, curves the bad grades, and no one learns anything. Yay...
I remember never finding interesting books, too. We were usually required to read fiction, and my mind is very number and fact oriented. Maybe if their were books/shows written to/made for a younger audience that challenged them as far as vocabulary, problem-solving, etc. If you place in a fifth grade reading level, you shouldn't be allowed to read fifth grade level books. You obviously already understand all that stuff. Appeal to their sense of "I'm awesome" with the story-lines. You always think you're older than you are in grade school, and adults always treat you as though you're younger than you are. There's like a five year age gap between how old you feel and how old you're treated. I'm not really sure where I'm going with this. You can't treat kids like adults, but it's okay to expect things from them. It's too easy to fall into the "Oh, they're in 5th grade. They should be expected to know this but not expected to know that." Why and why not? It's too regulated and not individualized enough. It's hard to figure out what you like when you don't really have the chance to explore.
No one throughout my academic career up through high school ever asked students how things could be improved. Kids may not care about reading, but they could sure tell you why. We just need to talk to them. When a teacher was making a topic a lot more difficult than it had to be, I always did it the way I understood it. I remember always thinking that they were adults and their minds worked differently than ours did as kids. I would always show my friends how I did it and promise myself that I would remember how to think like a kid if I were ever a teacher. So talk to the students and listen instead of going by facts and figures and implementing/taking away programs that they believe are useful/a waste of money. I really do feel like it's that easy. And with that, I'll end my rant.
I don't think there's been much conversation about this (though I might just be looking in all the wrong threads) but I wanted to say congratulations to all the band members and other-members of mae for winning the ideablog competition thing! You deserve it for all your hard work, so congrats!
QUOTE (maeband @ Dec 28 2008, 04:30 PM)
This is a great start, thanks for these thoughts! Please tell us a story about the moment that impacted you the most in school. It could be a good moment that opened up the world for you, or it could be a negative moment that you had to overcome.
When I was in the first grade, my teacher divided the class into two groups. The red group and the green group. Even at that age I understood that the red group was for kids who were not as talented or smart. I will never forget the feeling of being defined by a label. It seems so small now in the rearview mirror of my memory and yet, I still remember it. As we grow up, we are all walking the line between reaction and pro-action. I don't want to spend my life reacting to something that happened to me but I do want to learn from those experiences and build a future that I am proud of.
What do you think is the best way to grade students without discouraging innovation? Or is this even possible? Do we need grades and classifications to keep us on track?
-Jacob
When I was in the first grade, my teacher divided the class into two groups. The red group and the green group. Even at that age I understood that the red group was for kids who were not as talented or smart. I will never forget the feeling of being defined by a label. It seems so small now in the rearview mirror of my memory and yet, I still remember it. As we grow up, we are all walking the line between reaction and pro-action. I don't want to spend my life reacting to something that happened to me but I do want to learn from those experiences and build a future that I am proud of.
What do you think is the best way to grade students without discouraging innovation? Or is this even possible? Do we need grades and classifications to keep us on track?
-Jacob
Jacob,
Grading students is necessary. If teachers don't monitor student progress, then nobody is held accountable for student learning. There are such different ability levels in one classroom that to teach everyone the same material would be a waste for each student who doesn't fit near the middle of the "bell curve". If the goal of the teacher is to promote lifelong learning and to help all students reach their maximum potential, then it makes sense to group students by ability level for the purpose of individualizing instruction. This way, progress monitoring becomes easier, as students can be dealt with in smaller groups and taught more effectively. Once we get rid of the idea that all students need to learn the same material the same way, we can teach students in the way that is most effective for him or her. There are also lots of ways to differentiate instruction, which changes what is learned, how it is learned, and what the end result is.
Feel free to ask me more questions about this, and question my ideas/beliefs. Take care everybody,
~Noah
like i have always said... grading in schools is definitely not a proper way to gauge how and if a student understands the subject simply because a majority of a students grade is based off of homework and participation in class. I for one would sleep during class back in the day haha and almost never did homework and i would get c's due to the fact that i would not do homework. YET! tests, quizzes, random questions from teachers were always responded to correctly if not with more substance than they were expecting to hear. I think they should honestly take more time in schools to talk with students and see where they are more than just "write this paper" and "read this chapter." I may not have finished college but i can honestly say that i have a successful life and i am very happy where i am in it. I wish that teachers would take more time letting students get more hands on than just paper, pencil and text books. i dont know...i could just be a slacker looking for reasoning, but you never know
Hi, MAE!
I'm Barb Besal, one of the Regional Directors for Destination ImagiNation in the Tidewater area. I was a DI team member from 7th-11th grades, and our team also got the amazing opportunity to participate at the Globals level in Knoxville, TN. I've been such a fan of the organization that I returned to it during my freshman year of college -- this time as a volunteer appraiser -- and I've been taking on bigger tasks ever since. Now, I've got my Regional Director title, I'm on the Board of Directors for our state organization, and I'm getting ready to go back to Tennessee for my second year of appraising at Globals! The amount of enthusiasm I have for this program can't really be put into text... it's something you have to see in the smiles and hear in the inflection of the voices talking about it.
We had a very successful regional tournament in Virginia Beach in February, and our state tournament went very well last weekend! I'm sorry you all couldn't come be a part of it this year, but we would REALLY love to have you next year or any year you can! I have been a huge fan of MAE since my freshman year in college (~2003), so to have these two worlds collide is simply incredible for me! When Laurie Abeel, our state director, copied me on her initial response to Zach, I think fell out of my chair in excitement! Thank you so much for considering us among your beneficiaries for your 2009 mission. WE R DI, and WE R truly blessed to have you alongside us!
I wish you all the best of luck with your upcoming tour! I always try to get to see the show, but this year, the NorVa show is on May 30th, and I will be in Baltimore for my cousin's wedding. My heart broke when I found out I couldn't come!
But I know it will be fantastic! I've even tried to figure out the logistics of visiting a friend in Illinois to go see the show there, but it's right when Globals starts, so I'll have to be in TN. I hope I can find some way to see a show in this tour!
If you ever want to hear the experiences of a team member/appraiser/challenge master/director for DI, just let me know. I will be so happy to talk to you about it! Any kid who participates in DI would be willing to do the same! Our websites (regional and state) are going to be undergoing some major revisions over the summer, and we'll be getting a new photo gallery up with pictures from this year's tournaments. I hope you'll check it out when we've got it ready!
Thanks again, so much.
Sincerely,
-Barb
I'm Barb Besal, one of the Regional Directors for Destination ImagiNation in the Tidewater area. I was a DI team member from 7th-11th grades, and our team also got the amazing opportunity to participate at the Globals level in Knoxville, TN. I've been such a fan of the organization that I returned to it during my freshman year of college -- this time as a volunteer appraiser -- and I've been taking on bigger tasks ever since. Now, I've got my Regional Director title, I'm on the Board of Directors for our state organization, and I'm getting ready to go back to Tennessee for my second year of appraising at Globals! The amount of enthusiasm I have for this program can't really be put into text... it's something you have to see in the smiles and hear in the inflection of the voices talking about it.
We had a very successful regional tournament in Virginia Beach in February, and our state tournament went very well last weekend! I'm sorry you all couldn't come be a part of it this year, but we would REALLY love to have you next year or any year you can! I have been a huge fan of MAE since my freshman year in college (~2003), so to have these two worlds collide is simply incredible for me! When Laurie Abeel, our state director, copied me on her initial response to Zach, I think fell out of my chair in excitement! Thank you so much for considering us among your beneficiaries for your 2009 mission. WE R DI, and WE R truly blessed to have you alongside us!
I wish you all the best of luck with your upcoming tour! I always try to get to see the show, but this year, the NorVa show is on May 30th, and I will be in Baltimore for my cousin's wedding. My heart broke when I found out I couldn't come!
But I know it will be fantastic! I've even tried to figure out the logistics of visiting a friend in Illinois to go see the show there, but it's right when Globals starts, so I'll have to be in TN. I hope I can find some way to see a show in this tour!If you ever want to hear the experiences of a team member/appraiser/challenge master/director for DI, just let me know. I will be so happy to talk to you about it! Any kid who participates in DI would be willing to do the same! Our websites (regional and state) are going to be undergoing some major revisions over the summer, and we'll be getting a new photo gallery up with pictures from this year's tournaments. I hope you'll check it out when we've got it ready!
Thanks again, so much.
Sincerely,
-Barb
As a high school senior I gained many academic honors. I was a finalist for the Gates Millenium Scholarship, an Academic Scholar in my state, and barely missed National Merit Scholar. I loved to learn, and I still do. I realized, though, that grades don't really foster a learning lifestyle. They foster competition. There are times when a grade is all I work for, in those times I hate what I'm doing. There are other times though when I see what my learning can accomplish and what it could one day change. When that happens I can sit and learn for hours. Grades are a systemized way of doing things, something that may never be changed. They are the easy way of teaching students. If true education were valued more than a score on a standardized test then creative ways of learning would be pushed our classrooms. I am not saying that my teachers were not creative, I am saying that they were never given the opportunity to try to teach us creatively. The school system would have preferred my botany class to have sat inside taking notes rather than go outside and experience real life. Creative teaching can't be done unless the administrators allow it. Administrators won't allow it because they don't know if it will work. They don't know if it will work because they have never tried it, and they won't try it because they won't take a chance on students performing inadequately on standardized exams. The grade turns out to be the enemy of creativity. The grade is why many students, teachers, and administrators are miserable.
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