This just in, I got an update from something that I also truly believe in…Simple Truths! It sure speaks on common sense values. I don’t profess to be an extremely religious person, (though I am a cradle Episcopalian,) but I do believe a lot in character. I believe in being the best you can be, be true to yourself, and respect others. The updates I get are so inspirational, and today’s is no exception. What they sent was an excerpt from the book, the video, (is shown below).
what I got from the update:
One of the beauties of “The Extra Degree Concept” is in its many applications. With the movie or the book you can emphasize 212° service, 212° attitude, 212° commitment, 212° leadership, and the list goes on. In the back of the 212° book, I wrote eight short chapters using stories to reinforce each “extra degree” point. I’d like to share the one I wrote on 212° kindness:
One of my favorite things to do is waking up early on Sunday morning, getting the Sunday paper, making a hot cup of coffee and kicking back to read about what’s going on in the world. It’s my quiet time…my time alone to reflect and relax.
One Sunday morning about halfway through my little ritual, I spotted a headline that read “Graduating Student Credits His ‘Angel’”…and I began to read. A young man who was graduating from college told the story about how Oral Lee Brown was his “Real Life Angel.” In 1987 Brown, a real estate agent in Northern California, saw a young girl in her neighborhood begging for money. When she went to the school the girl had claimed to attend, Brown couldn’t find her; but that day she made a decision that would change the lives of many other children forever. She adopted an entire first-grade class in one of Oakland’s lowest-performing schools, and she pledged that she personally would pay for anyone who wanted to attend college.
This would be a great story even if Oral Lee Brown were independently wealthy; however, it is a much greater story considering she was a former cotton picker from Mississippi, making $45,000 a year and raising two children of her own.
Brown lived up to her pledge. Since 1987, she’s personally saved $10,000 a year while also raising donations for her “adopted first-grade kids.” And because of her tremendous act of unselfish love, children who could have been “swallowed by the streets” are now graduating from college to pursue their dreams.
We all seek our purpose in life. Most of us wonder how we can make a positive difference during our brief time on this earth. But asking and doing are different things. Oral Lee Brown embodies what 212° kindness is all about.
The irony of this, I had a student show me a powerful video this year (he was very dedicated to football,) and that I just got an update on from Simple Truths. It’s called 2120. This is another extremely powerful video, simple but the truth! You are now aware…You now have a target for everything you do…2120
Today’s letter’s-to-the-editor write about an article in Sunday’s outlook section (oh, how could I miss that?) on students’ self-esteem. Ashley Herzogwrites about how self-esteem hasn’t proven it helps anyone. She states “while the self-esteem movement hasn’t made children any smarter, it has made them more self-centered, demanding and hostile to criticism.” This may be, along with the many other statements, research and just flat out opinions on the subject. One of her “critics” in the letters, from JAMES A. BABB, mathematics teacher, grades eight-12, Friendswood, makes a very interesting point:
Teaching math at the high school level is an exercise in developing new attitudes in a defeated army of disappointed students. Success cannot be measured a year at a time because failure has dogged the students since fourth grade, where they began to lose confidence because the teaching techniques are focused on the standardized, mechanical questions that are on standardized tests. These tests, developed by lobbyists for book publishers, focus on what the book publishers place in their books, not on problem-solving strategies.
What did I tell you, yesterday??? One thing I know for sure works, “Teen Leadership.” It’s not a fad, nor a program. It is where students learn life-changing skills. Teen Leadership gives young people the opportunity to learn self-discipline, self-awareness, self-control, they learn commitment, and the self-confidence one truly needs in life. It also gives them the necessary tools, and prepares them, in how to deal with life experiences. The class shows positive signs in student behavior and makes a difference in kids’ lives. Schools see more respect among students and teachers, fewer fights, and an increase in attendance. Teen leadership students, before they take the class, have discipline problems, many are failing multiple courses, are assigned to the detention center, or have police records. After Teen leadership, they experience what it feels like to be successful, they achieve academically, and more stay out of trouble. The curriculum is awesome, and these kids become true leaders. See more on student’s testimonials. Teachers learn too. They learn to become better teachers. The first course is Capturing Kids’ Hearts. This, is for the teachers.
I believe students, and adults, need to master the art of self-confidence, self-awareness, self-control, not self-esteem.
“State puts North Forest school district on probation.” Ericka Mellon reports on the critical despair of North Forest ISD. Ok, many people I talk to about North Forest (where I worked last year,) I either get an “oh my,” or a “where is that?” Meaning, either people know about North Forest’s rap (and I’m not talking about song,) or they’ve just never heard of the place. When I interviewed with them, I had never heard of them either. But I had gotten some advice from a dear friend who said, “don’t go there.” Well, I was desperate, and I did. But, I do not regret it, not for a minute. I learned so much as a first year teacher, one big thing I learned is that teachers are teachers, where ever you go. They are the most wonderful and dedicated people put on this earth. I think everyone of ear shot of this should, “hug a teacher, no make that kiss a teacher.” Oh, better scratch that, that might get some in trouble, unless of course, you are married to them or something like that. I digress. There’s really not much to this story other than what we know already. Just that things are actually happening. Erica has blogged on School Zone (one of my favorite blogs-see right) on this story today, including some things that missed the paper, for more on this story.
