20 questions

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/20-questions-for-parents-about-k-12-school-reform/2012/03/21/gIQAMytwaS_blog.html

Read them, made me think, which is the purpose of reading.

Daily 5

At last nights School Board we were entertained and informed of a program called "Daily 5". It was nice to watch a video of young students excited to read to themselves, write, and read to others. Perhaps there are new ways to teach and some of us are willing to try them. Thanks for trying something new.

A Riddle

What does the Iowa Legislature and public education have in common? Nothing! The school system is expected to show results, we can't extend our year if we haven't made our goals, we can't "close" the session early if we did. I think I have a new designation for the State government, GINA, Government In Need of Assistance. I suppose we could rate the government on how it improved over last years government, or if we get our "waver"  we could rate them by using a growth model. So let's reform something already!

Facebook at School

I'm sure people will find it unusual for the school to use a Facebook account. This is an experiment to get more information out using the social media of today. I'm not sure of the future for blocking access to Facebook while on the schools' network. While in school, announcements and postings will suffice for now. Facebook could serve the public outside the walls quite well, I'm sure we'll consider all options in the future for students during the school day. I can't speak for others, but I expect sarcastic remarks about the school using Facebook, and if there are suggestions for changes to school policy I hope they are supportive or I can consider changes very slowly.

Swords to Plowshares

I'm not a big fan of the push in the State Legislature to put gun rights in the State constitution. I actually think the new "conceal carry" permits goes far enough. My biggest concern before was transporting a weapon in a vehicle, the conceal carry permit makes it legal. Now with the push in Des Moines it could become a constitutional right to carry the weapon everywhere, this goes too far. You may have the right to carry a weapon, but a property owner should have the right to say "not here". I've been on jury trial many times (much to the dismay of the defendant) and I would not be happy thinking anyone in the courtroom could be "packing". Any business, local government agency, etc, those closest to the individual voter should be able to set some restraint. Whatever happened  to local control? It's understandable to have 99 counties with the same rules now, but Hy-Vee should be able to ban guns from all their stores if they wish. The Democrats in the Senate won't let this happen anyway, so our State government just wasted a day, and I can't see where this proved anything symbolically.