In Florida and other states there is a rating system which designates certain schools to be worthy of special recognition. These schools end up with special grants and typically exhibit a banner over the entrance with the award clearly flaunted. This appears to be a good way of rewarding exceptional schools.
In the county where I live a charge has been levied against a school which had such a designation. This school was awarded top marks and was called the best school in this neck of the woods for the past four or five years. This fall a number of parents accused the school principal with unethical practises to receive this award.
These parents had children who were not quite as sharp as the administration wished and pressured the parents to find another school which would better serve their needs. One parent might be a crank or two might be a little problem but many posed a problem for the administration.
It was discovered that many children not presently attending this school were advised to move to another area school. Here in this county a parent has the right to send their children to any school of their choice as long as they can be accommodated. This leaves the system in a rather chaotic situation when schools are labeled as to their performance.
In the school I am referring to there was a shift of many children leaving and coming over the past few years. Those leaving had some special needs and lower grades and those coming were generally above average. This in itself pushed the academic reports to show exceptional improvement.
I don't know what the outcome will be in this case but it points out a great error in our thinking when we award gifts in the form of grants to schools who score high on those state tests.It would appear to be a mistake to make the good better on the backs of the needy. The analysis of a school will show that if you are serving the needs of needy and poor academic scholars that the scores are going to reflect this situation.
Everyone respects and admires a winner and we should reward good schools but we should put our resources in the places where the most need requires fixing. Rewarding individual teachers who take a class of students and bring them ahead during a year in spite of low academic levels might reflect greater growth than a teacher with all brilliant students merely covering the curriculum.
Some of the best teachers I have observed over many years inspire even the poorest learner to do his best and might never meet the states standard. These teachers are rewarded by knowing that they are helping students to maximize their potential and might even get a golden apple. This should not impede that school from being recognized as a school of merit but should enhance the schools standard.
If there is one way to judge a school surely it is the manner in which it reaches its goals by meeting the needs of all students regardless of ability by meeting the needs of the individual student.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Arctic Craft Day
The Inuit are known for their ability to sew and carve. Every year the hamlets throughout Nunavut Territory hold a craft day on the last Saturday of November. This day permits the artists and crafty people to display and sell their wares.
Women were judged in past years by her ability to sew. Inuit women guarded their needles as precious objects and were able to provide her family with everything they wore. Outer clothing made out of caribou hides, polar bear pants for the hunters, sealskin boots which were waterproof and mitts which were made of wolf pelts. Their skill was not limited to clothes as they sewed the sealskin hides so tightly that they were used for the skin of the kayaks.
With the need for this skill being lessened with store bought clothes the women turned to making luxury and decorative items. Wolf mitts now cost up to $500 and Mukluk's over that amount.
The young girls make hand made needle work for decorations on the amouts and other clothes. The men not to be outdone carve beautiful pieces of art out of soap stone and bone of the caribou and whale. Ulu's are made from old saw blades. In any case the show is a wonderful place to be on the last Saturday of the month.
In addition to the goods , food is supplied in the traditional way and various sausages and burgers are produced from Muskoxen and caribou. Mipkou (dried meat from Muskoxen and Caribou) and biffy ( dried fish ) are sold.
The doors open at 9am and everything is sold by 10 am. Money exchanges hands and there is no bartering about the price. The value of the items presented are judged by how quickly they are sold so the prices are attractive. Immediately after the last item is sold and it will be the music and people share in the showing of their prized purchases. By the end of the sale some people are very happy but others are disappointed because their offerings were purchased by family to save face.
I purchased many Xmas gifts at these fairs and loved the interaction of the people. Elders with no money roamed around the area and were given items freely in a show of respect. Inuit really believe that that they personally own very little as they feel they are Stewart's of monetary and physical things and should be shared with the ones who are less fortunate.
Years ago it was an honour to have more than you needed so you could share. This practise gave status to the hunters and women who could make more clothing than they needed.
I received a good feeling about the craft fairs and the pride shown for realized skills. This does not occur when you go to a big box store and stare at numerous items all turned out by people from third world countries who are being exploited by our companies.
Women were judged in past years by her ability to sew. Inuit women guarded their needles as precious objects and were able to provide her family with everything they wore. Outer clothing made out of caribou hides, polar bear pants for the hunters, sealskin boots which were waterproof and mitts which were made of wolf pelts. Their skill was not limited to clothes as they sewed the sealskin hides so tightly that they were used for the skin of the kayaks.
With the need for this skill being lessened with store bought clothes the women turned to making luxury and decorative items. Wolf mitts now cost up to $500 and Mukluk's over that amount.
The young girls make hand made needle work for decorations on the amouts and other clothes. The men not to be outdone carve beautiful pieces of art out of soap stone and bone of the caribou and whale. Ulu's are made from old saw blades. In any case the show is a wonderful place to be on the last Saturday of the month.
In addition to the goods , food is supplied in the traditional way and various sausages and burgers are produced from Muskoxen and caribou. Mipkou (dried meat from Muskoxen and Caribou) and biffy ( dried fish ) are sold.
The doors open at 9am and everything is sold by 10 am. Money exchanges hands and there is no bartering about the price. The value of the items presented are judged by how quickly they are sold so the prices are attractive. Immediately after the last item is sold and it will be the music and people share in the showing of their prized purchases. By the end of the sale some people are very happy but others are disappointed because their offerings were purchased by family to save face.
I purchased many Xmas gifts at these fairs and loved the interaction of the people. Elders with no money roamed around the area and were given items freely in a show of respect. Inuit really believe that that they personally own very little as they feel they are Stewart's of monetary and physical things and should be shared with the ones who are less fortunate.
Years ago it was an honour to have more than you needed so you could share. This practise gave status to the hunters and women who could make more clothing than they needed.
I received a good feeling about the craft fairs and the pride shown for realized skills. This does not occur when you go to a big box store and stare at numerous items all turned out by people from third world countries who are being exploited by our companies.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Black Friday
The biggest shopping day of the year in the USA is black Friday.This day falls on the day after thanksgiving and traditionally stores give the best sales for the occasion. About 20% of the years shopping dollars are realized at this time.
Stores open as early as midnight and every hour after that. This year I was shopping for a external hard drive to back up our computers. The choice was attractive but the store opening for my choice of store was six am. I quickly dragged myself out of bed and arrived just at opening time. There was a long lineup and I had to patiently wait for my turn to get in the store.
It was a mad rush to the display case where hard drives were displayed. There was not one that was advertised at the sale price. A mob of people were giving the sales clerk a hard time as he explained that they had a limited supply at that price but there were hundreds at a higher price. Unhappy customers grumbled but there was no violence.
I had a backup plan to go to Target which was also in the mall area and get the item I wished. This parking lot was jammed and the store likewise. I managed to get to the display counter and again I was disappointed as none of the sale items were available.I searched the area and finally found the hard drive I came for. It was $10 more but still a great price.
I arrived home just before 7am with my prize. Every year I say I will not get involved in Black Friday shopping but the lure of a bargain gets me motivated.Usually my partner comes with me as she is the greatest bargain hunter but this year she decided to stay in bed. She did her early shopping during the week and decided to pass on this outing.
My wish this year is for the merchants to do well so they can stay in business and stimulate the economy. By the looks of our malls and the activity there it will occur.
Stores open as early as midnight and every hour after that. This year I was shopping for a external hard drive to back up our computers. The choice was attractive but the store opening for my choice of store was six am. I quickly dragged myself out of bed and arrived just at opening time. There was a long lineup and I had to patiently wait for my turn to get in the store.
It was a mad rush to the display case where hard drives were displayed. There was not one that was advertised at the sale price. A mob of people were giving the sales clerk a hard time as he explained that they had a limited supply at that price but there were hundreds at a higher price. Unhappy customers grumbled but there was no violence.
I had a backup plan to go to Target which was also in the mall area and get the item I wished. This parking lot was jammed and the store likewise. I managed to get to the display counter and again I was disappointed as none of the sale items were available.I searched the area and finally found the hard drive I came for. It was $10 more but still a great price.
I arrived home just before 7am with my prize. Every year I say I will not get involved in Black Friday shopping but the lure of a bargain gets me motivated.Usually my partner comes with me as she is the greatest bargain hunter but this year she decided to stay in bed. She did her early shopping during the week and decided to pass on this outing.
My wish this year is for the merchants to do well so they can stay in business and stimulate the economy. By the looks of our malls and the activity there it will occur.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
American Thanksgiving
We are so fortunate to have not one but two thanksgivings. For most Americans this is the most important holiday in the year. This year we were asked to join a family to be with friends and to have good reason to be thankful.
I was asked to bring the dressing and under ordinary circumstances it would be no problem. However I watched several cooking shows and this day I was impressed with Mr. Food and his idea for perfect dressing. My traditional dressing is very good and has had good reports over fifty years but I wanted to impress so I mixed the old with the new and an hour before leaving I opened the oven to see what looked like oat meal porage. I really went into a mode of controlled damage.
I took out the mess and scooped the contents around and shoved it back in the oven uncovered and hoped it would dry out quickly and I could escape with something edible. In the meantime I showered and shaved , dressed in the appropriate manner and rushed to the kitchen to see the mess in the pan.
I pulled it out and again turned it over and exposed the wet contents and shoved it back in the oven. I don't believe in praying for something like dressing but I hoped for a miraculous conversion of this culinary disaster. Fifteen minutes later I surveyed the contents of the roast pan and what was once a full pan was now a quarter full mess. I dried it out for sure and the result meant I had to transfer it to a smaller dish. I did and now it looked too small for the 21 person, hungry , turkey eating people who would comment on my effort.
I made one more attempt to make this dressing presentable and covered it with tin foil and hoped for the best. I kept well away from the lineup when everyone filled their plates and prepared to sit for this special meal.I ate second to last and when I got to the dressing there was little left. Maybe I escaped that horrible fate of not making a good dressing.
I crept to my place at the table and my long time friend Doreen said, Henry this dressing is wonderful.. I was relieved and Theresa says I worry too much about food preparation. I do as I always wish to make everything good for company and this time I escaped the bullet. From now on I will do everything in my traditional way and be safe rather than sorry.
I was asked to bring the dressing and under ordinary circumstances it would be no problem. However I watched several cooking shows and this day I was impressed with Mr. Food and his idea for perfect dressing. My traditional dressing is very good and has had good reports over fifty years but I wanted to impress so I mixed the old with the new and an hour before leaving I opened the oven to see what looked like oat meal porage. I really went into a mode of controlled damage.
I took out the mess and scooped the contents around and shoved it back in the oven uncovered and hoped it would dry out quickly and I could escape with something edible. In the meantime I showered and shaved , dressed in the appropriate manner and rushed to the kitchen to see the mess in the pan.
I pulled it out and again turned it over and exposed the wet contents and shoved it back in the oven. I don't believe in praying for something like dressing but I hoped for a miraculous conversion of this culinary disaster. Fifteen minutes later I surveyed the contents of the roast pan and what was once a full pan was now a quarter full mess. I dried it out for sure and the result meant I had to transfer it to a smaller dish. I did and now it looked too small for the 21 person, hungry , turkey eating people who would comment on my effort.
I made one more attempt to make this dressing presentable and covered it with tin foil and hoped for the best. I kept well away from the lineup when everyone filled their plates and prepared to sit for this special meal.I ate second to last and when I got to the dressing there was little left. Maybe I escaped that horrible fate of not making a good dressing.
I crept to my place at the table and my long time friend Doreen said, Henry this dressing is wonderful.. I was relieved and Theresa says I worry too much about food preparation. I do as I always wish to make everything good for company and this time I escaped the bullet. From now on I will do everything in my traditional way and be safe rather than sorry.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Rain
We talk about it, complain about it,pray for it but we cannot do without it. It is rain and today we are having a great rainfall which is well needed and appreciated. Florida has its rainy season in the summer when it rains nearly every day.The rainy season lasts to about the end of September and after that time we are lucky to have any significant amount. Our yearly average is around the 55 inch level but this can change with the big events like a hurricane or tropical storm which can dump up yo 10 inches in a big event.
We have not had a drop for 5 weeks and everything turns a brownish colour and begs for even a heavy dew. I have a well system and a sprinkler system working off of the well. The water is smelly before it goes through the reverse osmosis and water softener. The garden flourishes with any water but when it rains it almost exploded into a growth frenzy.
Water is everywhere in Florida but we have a problem with providing enough potable water for all our needs. Most of the surface water is polluted or unsuitable for human needs. Here the water resources people control all the water in the state. We are controlled by regulation even for our private well uses. Strict rules as to when you are able to water your lawns and breaking the rules results in stiff penalties.
My well is 180 feet deep and taps into a underground water reserve which is closely monitored. Over use will cause salt water from the gulf to penetrate the coral rock and cause problems with its use. With all the water around us it is interesting that desalination facilities dot the state since much of the under ground water is salty.
The Florida Keys is a 125 mile line of coral keys or islands stretching out into the gulf and has no fresh water. One above ground water pipeline provides the only source of fresh water. Water is collected from rooftops for some uses but with the exploding population it is insignificant.
The Florida everglades is one of the worlds most interesting examples of a water course that originated in the central part of Florida and slowly moves southward to water the grasslands and provide home to numerous plant and animal life. The everglades is actually a slow moving river. The whole state is covered with a system of canals and pumping stations to make sure the flow is not interrupted. Statewide highways and farming projects have really put pressure on the water resources people to monitor and aid the natural flow.
All this is possible because of the ample rainfall in the summer. No matter how we look at our natural resources the greatest of all is clean water. Canada has a strangle hold on much of the worlds fresh water and as we speak it sells for about the same price as gasoline.
So we should be careful in how we use our water. We can be good stewards of our great resource by learning about our impact on the water we use and sometimes abuse. So let it rain, rain and rain some more to provide natures great gift...water.
We have not had a drop for 5 weeks and everything turns a brownish colour and begs for even a heavy dew. I have a well system and a sprinkler system working off of the well. The water is smelly before it goes through the reverse osmosis and water softener. The garden flourishes with any water but when it rains it almost exploded into a growth frenzy.
Water is everywhere in Florida but we have a problem with providing enough potable water for all our needs. Most of the surface water is polluted or unsuitable for human needs. Here the water resources people control all the water in the state. We are controlled by regulation even for our private well uses. Strict rules as to when you are able to water your lawns and breaking the rules results in stiff penalties.
My well is 180 feet deep and taps into a underground water reserve which is closely monitored. Over use will cause salt water from the gulf to penetrate the coral rock and cause problems with its use. With all the water around us it is interesting that desalination facilities dot the state since much of the under ground water is salty.
The Florida Keys is a 125 mile line of coral keys or islands stretching out into the gulf and has no fresh water. One above ground water pipeline provides the only source of fresh water. Water is collected from rooftops for some uses but with the exploding population it is insignificant.
The Florida everglades is one of the worlds most interesting examples of a water course that originated in the central part of Florida and slowly moves southward to water the grasslands and provide home to numerous plant and animal life. The everglades is actually a slow moving river. The whole state is covered with a system of canals and pumping stations to make sure the flow is not interrupted. Statewide highways and farming projects have really put pressure on the water resources people to monitor and aid the natural flow.
All this is possible because of the ample rainfall in the summer. No matter how we look at our natural resources the greatest of all is clean water. Canada has a strangle hold on much of the worlds fresh water and as we speak it sells for about the same price as gasoline.
So we should be careful in how we use our water. We can be good stewards of our great resource by learning about our impact on the water we use and sometimes abuse. So let it rain, rain and rain some more to provide natures great gift...water.
Monday, November 23, 2009
AGolfing Friend
Gerry is a special kind of friend.I only see him on Tuesdays when we play golf with the old masters of Oakville.Jerry is creeping up on eighty but you would never know it as he has the smoothest swing of all our group.
It is not the golf that sets him apart from the gang but his rock solid personality.His wife was having some health issues like most of us and when I inquire about her it is the manner in which he describes her that is significant. His voice and words carry a very caring feeling and although I have never met his wife I feel like I know her.
When you relate with Jerry over the time it takes to pay a game of golf and communicate ideas and concerns you always feel that you are better when you leave him than before. He has that friendly confidence which comes from a life well lived and all of us who know him respect him for his ability to be calm and objective.
With my golfing buddies here in Florida I have fun and enjoy the socialization but I miss that special old fellow in Oak ville. I hope all is well with him and I shall get in touch at Xmas just to keep that connection alive and well.
It is not the golf that sets him apart from the gang but his rock solid personality.His wife was having some health issues like most of us and when I inquire about her it is the manner in which he describes her that is significant. His voice and words carry a very caring feeling and although I have never met his wife I feel like I know her.
When you relate with Jerry over the time it takes to pay a game of golf and communicate ideas and concerns you always feel that you are better when you leave him than before. He has that friendly confidence which comes from a life well lived and all of us who know him respect him for his ability to be calm and objective.
With my golfing buddies here in Florida I have fun and enjoy the socialization but I miss that special old fellow in Oak ville. I hope all is well with him and I shall get in touch at Xmas just to keep that connection alive and well.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
No Dance
Theresa and I planned to go dancing last night.We made our preparations and had an early supper so we could get there on time. Dances here are from 6.30 -9.30. Seniors you know. Years ago we would just be going at the time our dances end. At any rate we arrived to find the dance was a no show.
We decided to go to the Cape Coral Marina and community park on the river. It was a beautiful eve with a new moon and temp around 78. We walked out on the 1000 foot fishing pier and saw some good fish being caught. Many fishermen were enjoying the fresh air and warm temperatures.
After our walk we decided to go to another beautiful area called Coral Harbour. We did not realize it but an event was taking place here and there were thousands of families with children and dogs lining up to see Santa. We walked and sat for a while people watching and enjoying the live country music. I was not impressed with the bar room choice of songs which offended or should have, the young in the crowd.
There was a holiday atmosphere as a group called Hands Up were raising money to restore the hearing of a 1 year old child. Food, drinks ,raffles and just socializing was evident. We got in the mood and actually stayed until after ten to feel the good mood of the people. The children were the main attraction all dressed to have their picture taken with Santa. They also danced to the music and the boys chased each other through the crowd playing tag.
What turned out to be a failed evening turned out to be a fun night. You never know what you will find when you keep your eyes and ears open to the world.
We decided to go to the Cape Coral Marina and community park on the river. It was a beautiful eve with a new moon and temp around 78. We walked out on the 1000 foot fishing pier and saw some good fish being caught. Many fishermen were enjoying the fresh air and warm temperatures.
After our walk we decided to go to another beautiful area called Coral Harbour. We did not realize it but an event was taking place here and there were thousands of families with children and dogs lining up to see Santa. We walked and sat for a while people watching and enjoying the live country music. I was not impressed with the bar room choice of songs which offended or should have, the young in the crowd.
There was a holiday atmosphere as a group called Hands Up were raising money to restore the hearing of a 1 year old child. Food, drinks ,raffles and just socializing was evident. We got in the mood and actually stayed until after ten to feel the good mood of the people. The children were the main attraction all dressed to have their picture taken with Santa. They also danced to the music and the boys chased each other through the crowd playing tag.
What turned out to be a failed evening turned out to be a fun night. You never know what you will find when you keep your eyes and ears open to the world.
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