Huffington Post has the story: (link...)

Watch all the way through. It's worth it, even on dialup.

... or - A Commentary on Education as Often Practiced

I hope this works - it's my first attempt at imbedding. If it doesn't, I know WC and OneT can help me learn.

Anyway - I felt this musical example spoke more eloquently than I ever could.

RB

Mrs. Witter's classroom at Cherokee Middle School in Kingston, Tennessee has a project up at DonorsChoose.org ((link...)).

They could really use "Hunger Games" books! Five people have donated so far, but there is more to go and the time period is up April 1.

The Thomas B. Fordham Institute just released its report, "The State of State U.S. History Standards 2011" ((link...)). Tennessee's U.S. History standards did not fare well in the grading (PDF, (link...)), earning only 5 out of 10 possible points.

Don't miss our local students competing on television. Tune in to WKOP, channel 15, at 6 PM this evening.

I wish there were more shows celebrating academics.

-- OneTahiti

A Roane County woman, Alli Schatzer, has made a winning video ((link...)) that just netted her a Dr. Pepper scholarship. She studies graphic design at Roane State. Way to go, Ms. Schatzer!

We should treasure our artists. Read more at: (link...)

-- OneTahiti

UNICEF ranked the 24 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Material well-being, educational well-being, and health well-being all were taken into account.

The United States placed rock-bottom. Charles M. Blow writes about it in the NY Times: (link...)

Where would Tennessee and Roane County rank? What can we do locally to turn this around?

-- OneTahiti

Eighth-graders in Kingston need our help. Their teacher has asked via DonorsChoose.org ((link...)) for money for books. This is a good cause.

Please consider stepping up and giving a little to these students. All donations for this project are matched 100%, so your gift will do double duty.

-- OneTahiti

Results are out for the Program for International Student Assessment, a test taken by students in 65 countries across the globe. Read the story in the NY Times ((link...)).

And last I looked, Tennessee was not high in USA rankings. It is simply not acceptable for children here to be raised with an educational handicap. What aggressive steps are being taken in Roane County to address this problem? How can we help?

-- OneTahiti

An article in the NY Times caught my eye this morning ((link...)):

Here in this suburb of Cleveland, supervisors at Ben Venue Laboratories, a contract drug maker for pharmaceutical companies, have reviewed 3,600 job applications this year and found only 47 people to hire at $13 to $15 an hour....

All candidates at Ben Venue must pass a basic skills test showing they can read and understand math at a ninth-grade level. A significant portion of recent applicants failed.... [The company] is now struggling to fill 100 positions.

Reading issues aside, ninth grade math is first year algebra. What percentage of Roane County applicants would be able to pass that same basic skills test? I'm guessing not many.

-- OneTahiti

The venerable Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is looking for a new, non-urban home ((link...)).

If the school relocated to Roane County, it would be a revitalizing jewel that would greatly uplift our economy, tourism, and culture. Why are Roane County, the Roane Alliance, and our towns not even trying to attract this valuable plum? Not once in months of news about this has Roane County been mentioned as even interested.

-- OneTahiti

According to a recent WATE article by Josh Ault, nearly all--97%--of University of Tennessee students receive a $4000 Hope scholarship from the state. Last year this scholarship meant the net tuition each student had to pay was $1918. Starting this fall, however, post-Hope net tuition will rise to $2,452, an increase of $534.

The percentage increase in the actual amount nearly all students must pay is $534/$1918, a whopping 27.84%.

-- OneTahiti

Microsoft is giving over 25,000 free vouchers for online computer education to Tennessee residents. Computer access is also provided for residents without computers. Find out more in the Knoxville News Sentinel story ((link...)) or at the state of Tennessee's Elevate America site at elevateamerica.tn.gov ((link...)).

-- OneTahiti

(Note from the management: Posting spam gets you blocked and deleted. Your post won't last long enough for it to be worth your time. Please give it up and try to find real work.)

Education Week gives the Quality Counts results by state for math progress: (link...) (PDF).

Tennessee ranks #45, but the news isn't all bad.

Tennessee makes the top 25 in National Certification.

Technical-minded Roane Countians, take notice. :) The following appears in the ET IEEE blog:

"Please volunteer to help with the 2010 Tennessee Science Bowl! Do your part to encourage students in the pursuit of technical careers."

"It is an easy, two-step process: (1) check your calendar to verify your availability on Saturday, February 27, 2010 and (2) visit the new, improved website and volunteer on-line!" http://www.orau.gov/sciencebowl/

"This year, there will not be a snow-day -- this may simplify your planning. One day, one big festive event! AND! The organizers will award a new 2010 Tennessee Science Bowl T-shirt to the first, fifth and 15th person who signs up!"

"Last year was pretty darned good. This year will be better still, with an aim for 50 teams, from 50 schools across the state."

Technical-minded Roane Countians, take notice. :) The following appears in the ET IEEE blog:

"Please volunteer to help with the 2010 Tennessee Science Bowl! Do your part to encourage students in the pursuit of technical careers."

WBIR has the story: (link...)

This good news is welcome after Tennessee's recent poor showing in The Nation's Report Card: Mathematics 2009, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) at Grades 4 and 8 ((link...)).

-- OneTahiti

Roane County citizens are invited to enjoy the first SRSS Bad Light Shootout on August 1, when Tamke-Allan Observatory will operate N4TAO as a Special Event Amateur Radio Station. The public is invited to participate in these events. The Bad Light Shootout is sponsored by Save Roane Starry Skies, and participants will shoot at targets picturing inefficient and poorly-designed light fixtures using marshmallows and water balloons. Help stamp out "bad" lights, old-fashioned street lights that shine out and up, wasting energy and money, causing dangerous glare, and blotting out the night sky. Admission is free before 7 PM.

Local hams from the Roane County Amateur Radio Club will operate our radio transmit/receive station, as we celebrate the two-year anniversary of our site radio license. The observatory is also active in optical and radio astronomy, and radio astronomy lectures and demonstrations are planned. Refreshments will be available. Operation will begin at 1600 h (4 PM) and continue into the evening hours. This Special Event Amateur Radio Station will coordinate activities with other stations operated from lighthouses around the world. We are “TAO Lighthouse, Collecting Starlight under Dark Skies” and we expect to be the only observatory participating in the radio net.

The Public Stargaze begins at 7:00 PM and the public will be treated to astronomy lectures, views of the night sky, and participation in ham radio activities. This will be an excellent evening to visit and enjoy some astronomy. The observatory sponsors public Stargazes on the first and third Saturday evenings of each month. Amateur astronomers bring telescopes and binoculars and offer views of astronomical objects, while visitors are invited to bring their questions and food to share with the astronomers.

TAO is a part of Roane State Community College, and supports light conservation and energy conservation. Poorly directed light is wasted and causes glare – a hazard on our highways.. Directing light downward where it is needed conserves energy and gives us a safer, more secure community. It also keeps our observatory open for education and research. When was the last time that you could see our beautiful milky way? We are losing our Roane County heritage to the glare of unshielded lights.

TAO is located just off Caney Creek Road between Midtown and Rockwood. Please check the observatory web site at (link...) for driving instructions and a map. TAO is wheelchair-accessible.

www.roanestate.edu/obs

www.SaveRoaneStarrySkies.org

It is strongly recommended that everyone with an interest in education or the arts read this essay by Paul Lockhart, "Lockhart's Lament:" (link...).

It's 25 pages in PDF format, packed mostly with truths, and a good read.

Based on the information on the Tennessee.gov site ((link...)), it doesn't necessarily take much to be called "proficient."

Education Week has the article: (link...)

Note: Free registration is required to view the page.

-- OneTahiti

Gene Thurman, former Principal of Harriman High School, died this morning after a prolonged illness. Thurman was involved in educational affairs and community affairs for most of his life, and leaves a legacy of many, many HS graduates who knew and respected him. His legacy also includes a community better for his involvement. That's hard to beat.

No info in arrangements as of now.

RB

I saw this article today and I seem to remember ground tires were used at Kingston Elementary (maybe other Roane Co. schools too).

(link...)

Our governor recently discovered Tennesseans are under-skilled and undereducated ((link...)). However, opportunities abound for some of us to change that. For example, the following information is from the Tennessee Fire and Codes Academy (TFACA). They have some interesting (and free!) classes coming up:

It is now OK to say "President-Elect Barrack Hussein Obama.

Americablog.com & CNN video (link...)

Now that the election is over the use of our President Elect's middle name, Hussein, is no longer a racist or religious slur.

I can not believe what has happened to the Roane County schools 15 bus driver resigned since Friday and the transportation director,,,the school system has historically paid Bus drivers for holidays that the schools where closed (as they do in everytown in USA) well thanks to the school board they voted to STOP that and never notified the employees,,This a crime,first of all these bus drivers and mechanics are responsible for the safety of our children and you screw them !!! Hello what are thinking the buses are already over crowded and unsafe,,then you take money out of people pockets 2 weeks before Christmas and dont even notify them. They get paid on a montly basis and for Dec 15th payroll many lost 200-500 in pay, they where never advised,Please help me to understand how you sleep at night !!! you make a decision that impacts the safety and welfare of children and you takeaway peoples hard earned money and arent even HUMANE enough to tell them....I understand these are hard times but dont sacrafice the schools, safety of the children,,,send McGriff back to where she came from along with the rest of the school board,,hope you have nice holidays cause we cant afford to pay our electric for the month
Thank you!!!!!!!

Kudos to Principal Scott Mason, Faculty, Staff - AND STUDENTS!

US News & World Report says you're one of the best!