Radical change needed to education policy

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/letters/28577-radical-change-needed-to-education-policy.html

Zimbabwe Africa has one of the highest literacy rates in the country but is struggling with unemployment rates for these college graduates.  The education ministry has received the highest amount of money in National budget since their independence.  Zimbabwe has one of the strongest economies in Africa but no one is working.   Graduates are not working in their specialized fields rather what they can find.  There are high rates of prostitution and drug dealing.  These graduates are getting fed up with not being able to find jobs so they move on to something else.  Officials are worried it is a waste educating when these students don't use their degree.   They need more investment that creates more jobs.

I have noticed that the same thing is happening in the US today.  I have a feeling it is around the world and not just in Zimbabwe and the US.  It is very difficult to find jobs post college so people are getting jobs in what they can find and then they keep them.  I know many graduates who have jobs but aren't working or using their degree at all.  With student loans being due starting six months after graduation it is hard to not find some sort of job while you are looking for professional jobs.  People just need to remember that they need to keep searching for these professional jobs while they are working at other jobs.  I can understand it would be hard if you get a serving job and make good money and then find your professional job and you might not make as much money, especially starting out.  We need to remember why we are going to school and to keep improving the world with our education.

First day in my first grade class

Today was my first day in my field experience at Clearview Elementary School.  I found out earlier this week via email that the first grade class I will be working in is part of the Spanish immersion program.  I was very excited to meet the students and learn some Spanish on the way.  When I arrived into the class room the students were finishing up their Science unit.  The teacher introduced me as Senorita Sierra.  I quickly learned that this class speaks Spanish the entire time.  I sat in the back for a little bit while they finished what the students were working on.  The teacher spoke to the students the entire time in Spanish and for the most part they responded in Spanish.   I was blown away by how much these students know and how well they could speak Spanish.  After the students were finished with Science, the class split into two groups.  One group of 12 students would come with me and the other 12 would go with Ms Hackenmueller.  I split my group of 12 into two groups of six.  We were playing Twister so half the students would actually be physically playing the game while the other half would be graphing where the students landed.  The graphs and twister board were done in Spanish.  It was quite a task for me to say right foot green in Spanish.  A couple of the students actually corrected me on some pronunciations which was fun.  It was a task to keep the students focused and understand completely how to graph the game.   Over all the students had a lot of fun.  This first grade class is a little more rowdy that some of the other classes I hear.  After the students left for the day I had about 15 minutes where I could catch up with the teacher and get to know her a little bit more.  This is Kari Hackenmuller's first year teaching.  She did her student teaching at Clearview last year.  She graduated from St Ben's last year and is a double major in Elementary Education and Spanish.  We touched base about the future weeks and I'm really excited to be in this class room!

To Write Love on her Arms

On Wednesday February 16th I attended the presentation, "To Write  Love on her Arms," in Steward hall.  I wasn't sure what to expect going in but once I got seated I figured out quickly what I was in store for.  The presentation was opened up by a guest speaker and founder of To Write Love on Her Arms Jamie Tworkowski.   He introduced the first performer who sang with a guitar music that was written by himself and his band.  It was very beautiful.  His voice is incredible and very touching.  The lyrics were very inspirational and I know touched many individuals. After the music was done Jamie came back on the mic to explain what To Write Love on Her Arms is and explain where it came from.  He talked a lot about having at least one person there when you are feeling blue.  I think it is very important to make sure that you have at least one friend who can listen if you ever need them.  Suicide happens usually because that person feels like they have no one to turn to or talk to. 

After Jamie spoke and explained the story one of his friends came on the mic and talked about drug addiction and how they come hand in hand.  I think the second speaker hit me a little harder because I have had real life experience with some of the issues he was speaking about.  My high school sweetheart got into the wrong crowd and became a meth addict.  It's such a scary life and while he was speaking it brought me back to those memories I had in high school and trying to help the person you love get better.  Addiction can be a disease and you can't force someone to change.  They have to see it in themselves and want to get out of the problems they are faced.  As a outside looker you can show them what their life may be like if they stop their addiction but you yourself can't change them.  In treatments they have step programs and one of those steps is to realize you have a problem, an addiction but you have to realize that you WANT to change it.

I was really touched by this whole thing and think it was extremely cool that they were able to come to SCSU and speak to students about these issues and give stories and information on how to help and stop suicide.  The auditorium was very full which means many students came.  TWLOHA has a website, blog, facebook, myspace and twitter pages that I recommend checking out.  You can also purchase their clothing and other things on this website.  Their website is : http://www.twloha.com
they have videos, blogs, music, and much more information so check it out!!!! 

Saying Good Bye to text books in school

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2011/02/18/sosa.clicked.in.tech.education.cnn?iref=allsearch

The future of American Education.  The iSchool.  A student names Travis Allen has come up with the concept of iSchool.  He was sick of the way he was learning in school and thinks there is a much better way to learn and that is on top of technology.  He believes that we need to adapt to technology in America and move forward.  His mission is to inspire and educate students on how to become life long digital learners in the information age.  He has come up with programs and apps that you download.  You would then only need to bring your iPad (or whatever kind of tablet pad) to all your classes and that would be it.  There would be no need for paper books.  Some schools are trying this out and requiring their students to have an iPad while attending that particular school.  "Students are sick of using plain paper, they enjoy seeing the color and it brings what they are learning to life."

I am very curious about this topic and think is is something that has serious potential.  I am all about the new era of technology and benefiting from it.  I have had some ebooks used in classes and while it was very convenient for me to not have to carry around a book and I could just open up the macbook, I also noticed I didn't obtain as much information.  I think it would be different if I had a iPad where it was a flat screen and not just a window open.  The ebooks I used weren't the best in clarity and I would skim through the material.  I do believe that this idea is good especially at younger ages when you are learning key fundamentals as the video said the kids are more interested and intrigued by the different colors and things you would be able to do on the programs vs a plain text book with plain letters and numbers.

What proposed Pell Grant cuts could mean to the MN State Grant

http://oncampus.mpr.org/2011/02/what-proposed-pell-grant-cuts-could-mean-to-the-mn-state-grant/

The MPR new on campus posted a article today about the proposed budget cuts and Pell Grant cuts.  The House State Officials were warned of a possible $113 million cut in the Federal Pell Grant funding for Minnesota.  The GOP has considered cutting the maximum grant by $845.  If this event occurred it would be catastrophic.  The state of Minnesota would have to make up the difference in State Pell Grants.
  This article really caught my eye because it affects myself.  I receive both state and federal pell grants for the first time this year.  These grants help me pay for tuition and books.  If I wasn't able to get these grants I don't know if I could continue in school because I am not able to take out loans or have my parents co-sign for loans.  I work two jobs just to be able to afford my rent and the necessities.  I can't imagine for the students who have more financial issues than I do.  This would really create a problem for them and not push them to succeed as a individual and continue on with their education.  $845 could be a entire class for someone who goes to a cheaper school for others it could be just a fraction. 
 I am really concerned about this topic because it effects myself and many friends and students around me.  I really hope that the State Office of Higher Officials can figure out a plan for their budget cuts that doesn't cut anything.  They should be focused on how and where they can get more money to bring into schools funding, not get rid of it.