Our Stories

Karyn Parsons, the actress who played "Hilary" on the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, has founded a company that creates videos for kids highlighting achievement in black history.

Check out her story and the stories she's creating below.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/798791271/the-janet-collins-story-presented-by-sweet-blackbe

The Power of Our Passport

I've noticed there are many places that I've traveled where it is relatively easy entering the country, where I didn't need a visa, or could get it when I landed.  Not so for many others holding passports from other countries.  The map below sheds light on this phenomena.

http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/GOOD_Passports.png

Lovely Idea

This is a clip of a do-it-yourself coffee shop that doesn't have employees and uses the honor system for paying.  It proves that given the opportunity, most people will do the right thing.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/the-vault-coffee-shop-honor-system_n_5543914.html

School's Out

The last day of school here was Thursday, June 26th, but the students stopped coming several weeks ago.  The kids at the kinder and elementary schools tend to follow their older siblings at the high schools.  When the big kids take their final exams, they stop going to school and their younger siblings follow suit.

This is a common practice state wide.  I'm not sure why the school calendar isn't adjusted to accommodate this.  Unlike the US, our funding is not tied to attendance.

The positive side of this phenomena is the teachers get several weeks to close up their classrooms and reflect on the year.

The down side is not having a distinct closer for the year.  There are no goodbyes, unless you start in May while the students are still all there, but that seems a bit hollow.

The turnover rate for the ex-pats is high, so they are especially left adrift without the traditional year end goodbye rituals.  They're not complaining, per se, just observing (and living) the difference.

Truthfully, their minds are turned towards home now.  Our official last day of school is July 10th.  The airports will be packed with folks leaving the country from that point on.

The fasting month of Ramadan begins this Sunday, so our school day will be from 9:00 - 1:00.  Folks fasting (most adults) eat a large meal before sunrise and go without food and water all day, until breaking their fast just after sunset with another large meal.  The days are especially long this time of year, so this time can be hard for those fasting.  This is a time of intense prayer, which is evident all around.

We ex-pats are expected to be respectful of this time, making sure we don't eat or drink publicly.

We reminded our teachers that they can not pop popcorn or warm their food in the microwave during this time, so there is no aroma of food.  If they must eat, it has to be behind closed doors.

All food shops in the malls are closed during the day.  There is to be no smell of food that might be tempting to those who are fasting.

Learning about other cultures has been one of the real treats and benefits of living abroad.  In my 2.5 years here, my learning curve has been steep.  In fact, I'd venture to say I've learned more during this time, than at any other time in my life.  It's one thing to visit a place, but it's a whole other ball game to live there and be immersed in the culture.

So, as much as we've been charged with sharing our teaching practices, whether we admit it or not, we're the ones getting educated.

Now though . . .

School's out soon and we're headed home for summer break.

MJ's Covers

Rolling Stone Magazine list the ten best covers of Michael Jackson's songs.  I definitely don't agree with all of their choices, but what is amazing in this list, is the wide-ranging genres.  There's R & B, country, reggae, jazz and everything in between.

Check it out below.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/the-10-best-covers-of-michael-jacksons-songs-20140627/mariah-carey-ill-be-there-0379476

Reading

When your child is still a young baby, begin to read to him/her.  That's the word from pediatricians, encouraging parents to make this a habit/routine in their child's life.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/24/parents-read-to-children_n_5522762.html

This simple act makes a huge difference in language and vocabulary development, that is clearly evident when kids start school.

It was incredible how lacking in language so many of our kindergarten students where at my last school as principal.  It was a 100% title 1 school, which means all the students were on the free breakfast and lunch program.  That fact in itself shouldn't matter in regards to kinder readiness, but it did.

With rare exception, the kinders entered school not knowing the alphabet, numbers, colors, etc.  They were a clean slate.  The challenge with that was, they were competing with kids who were extremely well prepared for school.  So, my kids began their educational journey way, way behind, always playing catch up.

What's fascinating to me about the notion of reading to your kids is, this is free.  It doesn't cost a dime.  If you don't have books, the library is full of them, which is why the kinder deficiencies were so disheartening.

Reading to your child makes a huge, positive, lifelong impact.  That's the word that the pediatricians are spreading.  That's the word we should all be sharing.

Happy Reading!
  

Wakes

As a child growing up, I attended a lot of wakes and funerals.  We lived in a small town and knew everyone, and of course we were expected to attend these services. Also, my parents were older and the people in our circle tended to be older, and many died during this time.

To this day, I don't like the color purple, as it reminds me of coffins.  Lilac, and various other shades of purple, was the color of choice for many of the women's.

I mostly went to these services under protest, as I wanted to remember people alive, but the South is steeped in funeral traditions that I was required to respect.

Now, having acknowledged that I prefer to remember people alive, I strongly object to a new trend described below.

There was a recent funeral in New Orleans where the deceased woman is sitting upright with sunglasses on, a beer in one hand, and a cigarette in the other, looking like she's very much alive.  See for yourself below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/22/us/its-not-the-living-dead-just-a-funeral-with-flair.html?src=me&ref=general&_r=0

Uh . . .

No.

No.

No.

That's just . . .

Creepy.

Creepy.

Creepy.

OK boys.

Here's the deal.

When I'm gone, find the nearest crematory, and tell 'em to fire it up.

Then, gather the family and friends, and throw one heck of a party.  Believe me, I plan to be there in spirit, to make sure all comments are true, and favorable, of course.

That's it.

Simple.

And, most importantly,

Not creepy.

Mama said . . .

The jails/prisons were filled with pretty boys who someone thought was too cute to discipline.

Exhibit #1

Stockton Police Mugshot of Jeremy Meeks

More info can be found on the link below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/20/hot-convict-jeremy-meeks_n_5515930.html

First Date

This is just too precious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiOJuIPl8vE

I Just Discovered . . .

New music from a kid name Sam Smith.  He has a marvelous voice.

Check him out on the iTunes widget on the right.

Side note -

I added a feature where you can sign up for emails, so you'll receive the posts as soon as I publish them.  The up side is you get them right away.  The down side is that it sometimes takes me a minute to catch errors, so those who get it quick, oftentimes have to muddle through the mess.

Your choice.

I'm just thrilled anyone is reading.

Awwwwwwww!

Take a look at these first time daddies with their babies.

Precious.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/12/first-time-dads-and-babies_n_5486253.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

Happy Father's Day

Suicide Watch

This is a sobering TED Talk by a former Highway Patrolman who's beat covered the Golden Gate Bridge.  In it he talks about his experience in dealing with folks who were contemplating suicide on this iconic landmark.

Although its a grim subject, it's presented in such a way that it leaves you hopeful.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tedtalks/kevin-briggs-ted-suicide_b_5491939.html

Green is the Color of Love . . .

. . . or lust, or something.

It is astonishing the number of Western women who get married while they're over here.

I think there are a number of reasons for this phenomena.

First, there are just so many men.  Now the average age is just north of 12 years old, but these ladies don't mind robbing the cradle.  Second, the reality is very real of going to jail and then getting booted out of the country if you are found to be cavorting with the opposite sex.  Third, loneliness.  These ladies need a man in their lives.  And finally, the highly coveted green card that so many of these young men seek (which I think is the most prevalent reason, whether it is admitted or not).

The guys typically come from very poor countries, and will do anything to better themselves, including (especially) marrying a US Citizen so that they can enter the US legally and gain citizenship.

So, with all of the marriages . . . is it love, or is it the love of the green card?

Me, being the cynic that I am, think that most times it's the later.

Why do I care, you might ask?

Actually, I don't, but I pride myself on being astute and observant in these new surroundings, and these weddings/marriages are pretty amazing to witness.

I know someone who went so far as to convert to Islam in order to expedite the process.

For those guys brave enough to have tried to talk to me, I've quickly reminded them I have shoes older than them.  They come back with age is just a number, and I respond with green is just a color until we're talking green card and a ticket out of here.

Apparently, love is in the air.

Who am I to question it?

Happy Father's Day

As we approach this holiday, here's a shout out to all the fathers out there, especially the newest father in my world, Chris.  I'm so proud of him in this new role that he was tailor-made for.

I'm also remind of my father, who would be 96 this year, if he were alive.

He was the oldest of eight, from an incredibly dysfunctional family.  We lived near them when we were growing up, but my Mom had the presence of mind to limit our exposure to the craziness that was ever present.

Daddy was a hard worker, with an excellent work ethic.  I'm grateful my brothers and I inherited that.

As I've mentioned before, he was illiterate.  His folks made him stay home to work and help raise his brothers and sisters.

His relationship with his own kids was strained and distant.  We had very little direct contact with him even though we lived under the same roof.  We learned early how to stay out his way.  He was a volatile alcoholic, a mean drunk.

My most vivid memories of him involve cleaning up his vomit during his weekend binges.  Believe me when I say it has been an excellent deterrent in keeping me away from drugs and alcohol.  I didn't want to grow up and be like him.

Neither did my brothers.

Truthfully, he had no idea how to be a father.

He worked hard and provided a living as best he could under the circumstances, but beyond that, he had nothing to give.

Thank God, my Mom had a reservoir of common sense, that she dispensed liberally as we were growing up.

My two older brothers had it much harder than Terry and I because by the time we came along much later, he had mellowed out.

Even still, I don't ever remember having a conversation with him . . . ever.  We must have, but honestly, I don't remember.

We all left home as soon as we could and never returned to live.  Once we escaped, there was no desire to return, except to see Mom.

For many years I was angry with him, but I realized he was doing the best he could with his skill set.  So, I moved from anger to pity.  I felt sorry for him.  He missed and mangled so many opportunities.

How did he live with that in his old age? Were there regrets? Did he know how we felt about him?  Did he care?

So, Father's Day brings mixed emotions.  I'm sad about my own father, but I'm so grateful for the fathers that Ben and Frankie have become.

They have broken this generational curse, and for that I'm so very grateful and so very proud.

Happy Father's Day.

It's On!

Kudos to the California judge who declared that the laws governing the hiring, firing and tenure of teachers in that state are unconstitutional.  It is a system that has protected grossly ineffective teachers because getting rid of them is such an incredibly long and drawn out process.  In the best case scenarios, it takes a minimum of two years to get rid of incompetent teachers, but in most cases, it takes much longer than that.

Check out the article below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/12/opinion/in-california-a-judge-takes-on-teacher-tenure.html?hp&rref=opinion

This is my gripe with the teachers' union.

If they are fighting for more pay, I would be right there with them.  But when they are protecting teachers that they wouldn't allow their kids near, then I had a problem with that.

I know about this issue first hand.

In my first year as principal, there was a teacher on my staff who was so inept, it was criminal that she was allowed on a school campus, let alone in a classroom teaching kids.

But the kicker was, she had been teaching for 18 years (!!!) at this point.  Believe me when I say she didn't just get incompetent in her later years.  You see, I was a substitute teacher at this school and knew her back in the day.  Seven years later, I returned to the same school as principal.

In order to fire a poor teacher, you have to document, document, document.  It's tedious and time consuming, but it was a task I was willing to take on.  Armed with several years of write ups from previous administrators who had started the dismissal process, these was compiled and treated as one year.  I was then charged with consistently documenting her actions that year, in order to move forward with dismissal.  With the extraordinary help from my supervisors, and the attorney for the district, we were successful in removing this teacher my first year as principal.

Thank God, we were triumphant, but it just shouldn't be this hard.

Then, there is the other issue with the new teachers, who are last hired, but are first fired each year.  I had some amazing brand new teachers who brought energy, enthusiasm, and creativity to the job, but each year they were released.  Some found jobs at other schools.  Others were discouraged and went to other districts, and many just left the profession altogether.

In the four years at my last principalship at one of the poorest schools in Sacramento, I lost half of my staff each year.  It was virtually impossible to move forward with school-wide initiatives because staff continuity was non-existent.

That was criminal, too.

So, for all those folks who would defend the current practices tooth and nail, shame on them for protecting teachers that they wouldn't dare let teach their own kids.

If they're not good enough for their kids, they shouldn't be good enough for any kid.

So, right on Judge.

I hope this is the beginning of a tidal wave of change in education as we know it.

Drug Mule

The New York Times has a fascinating story of a 90 year-old man who transported drugs and drug money throughout the US for years without detection.  His is not the face that is usually associated with this illegal activity.  Probably why he got away with it for so long.

The article is lengthy, but well worth the read.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/magazine/the-sinaloa-cartels-90-year-old-drug-mule.html?hp

Really Cool Service

A company called Kitestring, offers a service where you let them know you're going out, say to meet someone for the first time,  and you give parameters on when you should be finished.  If you don't check in at the appointed time, either to respond or extend the time, it starts to SMS folks you have listed as contacts.

Kudos to Alisha for sharing this.

https://www.kitestring.io 

Revolutionary!

This video clip shows an innovative way to clear a clogged drain.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/10/pongtu-toilet-unclogging-plastic-wrap_n_5477564.html

Home Growing

This tiny space becomes a multifunctional workhorse.  Check out the video clip below.  It's less than two minutes long.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/03/tiny-apartment-mit-cityhome_n_5438617.html

Nice Rides

Check out the fleet of police cars for Dubai, beginning with the most expensive car in the world, the Bugatti Veyron.

I wonder if this is one of the reasons why many of the little boys want to be policemen when they grow up.

http://autos.aol.com/article/dubai-police-drive-the-worlds-fastest-police-car/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmaing11%7Cdl17%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D484806