Are Hardcover Books a Hinderance?

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:46:01 +0000

An interesting opinion on BoingBoing; pointing out the subtle, socially significant role of a hardcover book. This post is a reponse to another very intersting opinion that hardcover printing prices are what’s runing the book industry.

What do you think?

Replace Hardcovers with a Bunch of Big Signs the “hardcovers gently single out the most important ideas” article.
Things I’d Love to See #4 the “forget hardcovers” arcticle.

Success Story at Franklin Middle School

admin — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:23:52 +0000

They used to tell me that at this school you really didn’t learn anything because the teachers didn’t care,” she said. “But once I got here everything changed.

Our local newspaper, the Long Beach PressTelegram, reported today that Franklin Middle School is finding success after “failing” for several years.This is good news. Good news for them, and good news for the other half of Long Beach middle schools (mine included) that are on the Federal Watch List.

As I was reading this article, however, here’s what struck me. First, there are some major innovations here. I was pleased, yet astonished, when I read that the school is focused on “realistic goal setting,” meaning setting goals based on things their student can achieve and not numbers NCLB decided on. Good call.

But some of the “school climate” interventions put into place here are ones LBUSD has been advocating for for years, and in my experience, ones that may or may not be successful. Take implementing School Uniforms. I know every single school year our staff has lined up behind a serious 100% uniform compliance (this year, everyone, this year we’ll do it!) and every year it falls by the wayside. Our PTA even bought us all customized lanyards to hold student IDs, but the plan just couldn’t get off the ground. Is it really these kinds of programs that can turn around a school?

No. What really made the difference is clearly identified by the student interviewed:

‘”They used to tell me that at this school you really didn’t learn anything because the teachers didn’t care,” she said. “But once I got here everything changed.”‘

It’s the teachers who are making the difference. Great job, guys!

Read the article from the Long Beach PressTelegram

PS: Wow. I’m on a Federal Watch List. How geeky-cool does that make me?

ameeliaghareeb.com » Uncategorized

Come on, people.

Swanky NY library may not get new children’s room because of fears that poor kids might visit more.

Seriously, come on.

Are Hardcover Books a Hinderance?

Success Story at Franklin Middle School