welcome back...

It's a brand new school year and despite the budget worries in California, the threat of layoffs, the national budget deficit escalating towards $10 TRILLION, the stale and degrading NCLB, reading decline, and the lack of "alternative"" programs like vocational, music, art, preparation for adulthood, etc., there is still reason for joy and optimism!

Why you ask? Because whenever humanity ceases to hope, flames go out and passion extinguishes, and it simply is not in our DNA to let that happen!

Educators and the magnificent support surrounding them have as their raison d'etre making a difference. All of us are in this battle together and it is for the "souls" of our children to experience the best and be all that they can be. The completeness of every human being is fostered by those who teach and even when it seems like it's 2 steps forward and 1 step backward, we must continue to fight the good fight not retreating but employing whatever strategy works.

Each person that works for the schools, public and private, cares, of that I have no doubt. To say that all is perfect harmony between the administration and the front-line is blasphemous, but we all want what's best for the children. With the complexity of the world, i.e., the overwhelming nature of marketing, media, and entertainment mixed with the poverty, illiteracy, and stimulants, it is difficult to make headway. When teachers don't connect with their students andwhat worked in the past is outdated, we must reach into our bag of tricks and pull out that which Does work!

I challenge you to start sending ideas and practices that have been successful and we can create a clearinghouse for all to utilize. The more tactics we have, the better off we are collectively, so don't be stingy, send them in.

And don't forget that everyday we change lives and influence decisions whether we know it or not. Our role is not only important, it's life changing!

So once more: send ideas and share with others and while you're at it, send a blog. react or create something entirely new.

Go forth and as Oliver Wendall Holmes stated:

" I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving. To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, but we must sail and not drift not lie at anchor."