Brit Wit
A knight in shining humor spoke today at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Sir Ken Robinson, a creativity expert knighted in 2003 by Queen Elizabeth, spoke about reforming education systems to encourage more innovation and imagination. It was a good speech, filled with lots of funny asides in his lyrical British accent.
About moving to the United States and enrolling his daughter in American History: “We don’t study American History. We suppress it. Get over it really. We’ve apologized, what do you want? We stay indoors on July 4th, draw the shutters and look at pictures of the queen and think about what might have been.”
About the technology revolution: “There are scientists studying ways to use our own bodies as broadband receivers. You could exchange files by holding hands, really, or whatever method you prefer. It all depends on the size of the file anyway.”
Of course, those quotes didn’t quite make it into the story I wrote for tomorrow’s paper. All in all, he was an entertaining speaker that created quite a bit of laughter.
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
The importance of a red plastic hammer
When I was four, I had a plastic tool belt with a red plastic hammer. I “helped” my dad built our swing set with that hammer.
As I grew up, my dad, the ultimate handyman, would tell me to come watch while he fixed this or that around the house.
On Sunday, I guess all that watching paid off. I spent four hours twisting and tinkering with parts under our bathroom sink — minus time for a few trips to Ace Hardware — and fixed a broken pipe all by myself.
Whoever thinks that type of work is a “man’s job” is wrong. It feels good to know that I can get my hands dirty and do the work just as well, especially since my husband had other things to do and I didn’t.
And besides, a plumber would have walked away from the job with just money. I walked away from the job with pride.
Thanks, Dad.
Wendy K. Kleinman
Staff Writer
On NewsOK.com: Ladies, what “handyman work” do you do on your own? Guys, do you ever help with the cooking or the cleaning? Go to our online forum at http://newsok.com/article/3122833/1189454861 and share your thoughts.
A timely task force
An award-winning superintendent from McAlester now has 29 colleagues to help her meet a challenge by state schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett to research the possibility of expanding both the school day and the school year.
Garrett previously announced that Lucy Smith would lead the Time Reform Task Force, and on Thursday she announced the other members of the group.
The task force will look into adding one hour to the school day and at least five days to the school year. Currently, minimums for public schools are six hours of instruction a day for 175 days.
“Oklahoma’s school day and school year are below the national average,” Garrett said in a press release. “This is significant when you consider that our nation’s schools require significantly less instructional time than competing nations in Asia and Europe do.”
Here are the newly named members:
-Don Parker, Bank of Oklahoma’s chief information officer and executive vice president from Tulsa;
-Helen Parker, Norman High School PTA president (no relation to Don Parker);
-Monica Barbour, parent of a special needs child from Tulsa;
-James Branscum, Metro Technology Center superintendent;
-Brooke Bisel, University of Central Oklahoma student;
-Alan Ingram, Oklahoma City Public Schools’ executive director of federal programs;
-Matthew Livingood, Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education member;
-Judith Ann Barber, education consultant from Grove;
-Patricia Hardre, University of Oklahoma faculty member;
-Joe Siano, Norman Public Schools superintendent;
-Lisa Horn, El Reno Public Schools’ director of special services;
-Gene Hunt, retired minister from Oklahoma City;
-Danny Rennels, Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association executive director;
-Bobby Russell, Pauls Valley Public Schools superintendent;
-Teresa Bryant, Cordell teacher representing the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators;
-Lyndol Fry, retired educator from Hugo;
-Glenda Cobb, Duncan Public Schools assistant superintendent;
-Bruce Demuth, chief of staff for the state Department of Career & Technology Education;
-Silvya Kirk, Midwest City-Del City Public Schools’ high school principal;
-Ken Lease, Oklahoma School of Science & Mathematics’ vice president of academic services;
-David Pennington, Ponca City Public Schools superintendent;
-John Privett, Tahlequah resident and former education reform advocate in Texas;
-Terri Silver, with the Oklahoma State School Boards Association;
-Connie Sloan, 2006 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year finalist from Canadian;
-Kathryn Turner, Fletcher Public Schools superintendent;
-Stan Bryant, Oklahoma City teacher representing the Oklahoma Education Association (no relation to Teresa Bryant);
-Cathy Williams, Vinita Public Schools elementary principal;
-Bill Bentley, Dibble Public Schools superintendent; and
-Ed Allen, president of the Oklahoma chapter of the American Federation of Teachers.
Stats by State
The Chronicle of Higher Education’s annual Almanac issue is out, and has some interesting state-by-state statistics.
For example:
While some people think Oklahoma has too many colleges — 57 in all — that’s nothing compared to California’s 408, New York’s 308 and Florida’s 169.
The largest student population at one physical campus is at Miami Dade College, with 54,169 students.
In 2005, the state with the highest proportion of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher is the District of Columbia, with 45 percent. Oklahoma came in at 22 percent, fifth lowest in the nation.
There’s lots more in this 92-page magazine, so I’ll share more in later posts.
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
Can technology go too far?
It’s no secret that students can use technology to cheat. They can use text messages to send each other test answers, or a cell phone camera to capture questions on a test so others know what to study. Cell phones are banned from many schools.
Now, Shvoong.com, a site that offers abstracts and other schoolwork help, is launching a tool called Shvoong Homework. The program will allow classmates to post class notes and assignments. It also alerts classmates when a peer adds notes or answers a homework question.
Says the company: “Class materials are available online at all times. … Catch up by reading fellow classmates’ summaries and homework assignments.” It also says “there’s no need to ask for permission if the writer already chose to share the content.”
Perhaps it’s a way to allow students to have group study time from their individual homes. But it also sounds like it could be a way for students to see who’s doing the homework first and get a hold of their answers – in essence, cheat.
Do you think technology in schools can go too far? Do you think it would be good for your child to use Shvoong? Tell me why, at wkleinman@oklahoman.com.
Wendy K. Kleinman
Education Reporter
Weed Deed
Three Oklahoma State University students proved they know their weed.
The ag students won the top three spots in the 2007 Southern Weed Society Undergraduate Contest last month in Vero Beach, Fla.
Cowabunga Dude!
But seriously, this contest was tough work. The students had to match herbicides to plant symptoms and take a written test on sprayer calibration that was so difficult, it served to “weed out” all but the top contenders.
The winning weed scientists were OSU students Josh Bushong, Amber Brewe and Cody Massey.
Kudos to their knowledge of kudzu!
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
Football for Dummies
It’s here — football season — and I feel like I walked into the twilight zone.
All the water cooler talk here has been Monday Morning (except it’s Tuesday) Quarterbacking. Who played well, who’s ranked what, who’s in jail and not on the gridiron.
Football fans might as well be talking Greek to me. It’s not that I hate football, I’m just not interested. I don’t understand the fuss.
And I haven’t tried to understand it, so shame on me.
Basketball I can understand. Mostly. Baseball bores me, but at least I know what’s happening.
But I am a football idiot. Which just might get me kicked out of Oklahoma.
My colleague David Zizzo wrote a story over the weekend explaining the fundamentals of the game. I was following along until we got to first-downs. That’s when I realized that if I start to comprehend the game, I might start to LIKE the game, and become a poll-prowling, team-touting, Monday Morning Quarterback.
Sometimes — especially when your team is losing — ignorance is bliss.
Susan Simpson, Education Writer (and OSU student during the 1991 season when the Pokes were 0-10.)
