![[The Brazil Times nameplate]](http://www.thebraziltimes.com/images/nameplate.png)
|
|
Overcast ~ High: 36°F Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012 |
|
|
Every Day's a Holiday - Data, Scope, and Perspective
Posted Wednesday, September 22, at 8:15 AM A friend of mine, during a discussion recently, stated that "data does not lie," a statement that I agree with only with qualifications. Properly collected and accurate data that pertains to the object of a discussion, debate, or decision and that is of sufficient scope, indeed, does not lie. ...
On People, Permanence, and the Almost Perpetual Nature of a School Corporation Human nature is observable and well documented over the course of human history. When faced with decisions, people often disregard proven human nature when it suits their desires. When that happens within the decisions made for education, we often get less education for the money expended than we could or should have. Some of those decisions are easy to reverse or modify but others will require decades because of the amount of resources expended and the amount required for the change...
'PORK' and the Fallacy of Community Schools in Indiana in 2010 The ultimate goal of the corporation can always be boiled down to four words ... "Maximum Education, Minimum Cost!" When spending is specified for the benefit of a small group that doesn't meet the need in the most cost-effective manner, but the cost is taken out of the pockets of every contributing taxpayer, that spending is purely "pork." The Clay Community Schools Corporation, as with every government entity both past and present, can serve up "pork" in many areas if great care is not taken...
Professionals, Experts, the Common Man and Government Decisions During a school board meeting recently, I heard a person express an opinion that absolutely astounded me. The idea expressed was that people should let the professionals run things in the best interest of advancing education, or something close to that...
Musical Chairs, What a Game! I interact with people a fair amount, I get out and talk to people, and I write this blog and respond to comments on it and other blogs on this site. Every once in a while, The Brazil Times publishes a letter I've sent to the Editor and I read the online version and comment on articles as I see fit. ...
Weiner Dogs & Hunting The Daschund was bred to hunt. The standard size was developed to hunt badgers, thus its German name which literally translates to "badger dog." The miniature breed was downsized to hunt rabbits. They are perfectly willing and able to go down into their burrowing prey's home to flush it out. ...
Where Are, Where Should We Be, and Where Are We Going As reported in a study concerning college completion conducted by the College Board, a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity, the United States has dropped to 12th place in college completion for 25-34-year-old citizens from its leadership position of several decades ago. By comparison, within the study group of 36 developed nations, Canada ranks at number one...
Serving the Need or Trying to Impress I have always wondered about people who seem to want to impress me with the material things they acquire. I mean, really, why does one spend money on a Rolls-Royce when a Ford will get you down the road just as well other than as a status symbo? Why would you buy a purse or a pair of shoes for $300, when you can purchase one that will do the same job and last just as long for less?...
Planning for the Future for the CCSC Three new members of the Clay Community Schools Corporation have been elected. I congratulate them and wish the best for their term in office. I thank the departing members and thank them for their service. I'd like to thank the people who voted for me for their confidence in me...
Four-Day School Week? In this period of dwindling funding in our education system, people are trying to get more education out of every education dollar. One innovation that has been suggested locally, is being used in other states, and is in a trial period in at least two Indiana school corporations is the four-day school week. ...
VOTE! The American Thing To Do! Election Day is May 4 and the polls are open from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Every Election Day, I am saddened by the percentage of people who do not participate in the voting. In a major election year, almost 75 percent of the qualified voters generally choose not to participate. In a minor election, when there isn't a Presidential election, the percentage is even more dismal...
Can't Wait for Spring I generally pay little attention to the weather, but this year, the winter made me just a bit wistful for warmer temperatures and less snow or ice. Now that I see my Princess tree starting to bud and the Dairy Queen is open, I know that it will soon be warm again...
Weekends without worries The United States Postal Service recently announced that it may have to curtail Saturday deliveries as it is losing billions of dollars. You would still be able to pick up mail at the post office. This is a step back in time, almost to the 1890s, when widespread rural mail delivery began. ...
Prior planning prevents poor performance While most government entities own assets in the name of the public, it appears that very few of them actually plan long-term for acquisition of new assets or replacing of existing ones beyond the life of a vehicle. This situation exists from the Federal government right down to the local library...
Reflections at Fifty-five I turned the age of 55 a couple of weeks ago and I have been thinking on my life. Some of you are beyond that point and for others it is still up the road apiece. However, if you are beyond grammar school, you have probably sat down and looked at your past, the present, and future even if it was only during the week before Christmas and you were worried that Santa might not show up that particular year...
The Lion Returns Well, the Lion returns to his lair. Many people have asked me when I would return to writing on this blog, but I have been doing a lot of other writing of a more personal nature dealing with family business. One other blogger I've spoken with told me that their practice is to write stories in advance, but I just write what happens to be fresh in my mind even if it is at some wee hour of the morning...
A Poignant Christmas Moment to Cherish I haven't been writing a lot of blogs lately due to family commitments and that I have had little to share. Perhaps that will change with the New Year and I will resume trying to improve education in the community even above its current high level. However, an event occurred Christmas Day that I feel that should be shared...
What Do You Think That I Owe You? The title question is one that I have asked people over the years when they fell on hard times, came to me for help through the rough spot, and then stopped trying help themselves, becoming dependent on me to provide for their subsistence while they used their assets for their enjoyment. ...
Who Cares? I'm going to take some quotes from a comment posted to an article on The Brazil Times website concerning education; however, I will not identify the commentator as my objective of this blog article is not to complain about what has been said but to comment upon what was said...
Is Rome Starting to Crumble? Late in the last school year, I had the opportunity to observe one the activities in one seventh grade classroom at North Clay Middle School. This year, I observed an eighth grade classroom. My motivation to sit in these classrooms was my concern for the education of one student who is related to me, but I am now concerned about the education of the entire student body. ...
|
Hot topics Every Day's a Holiday - Data, Scope, and Perspective(0 ~ 7:15 AM, Sep 22)
On People, Permanence, and the Almost Perpetual Nature of a School Corporation
'PORK' and the Fallacy of Community Schools in Indiana in 2010
Professionals, Experts, the Common Man and Government Decisions
Musical Chairs, What a Game!
|
Read more
Post comment
Browse comments
![[Feed icon]](http://www.thebraziltimes.com/images/icons/feed-icon-14x14.png){kind=icon}