Standardized Testing breeds unethical, pathetic teachers...

Although I'm not a proponent or fan of standardized testing (I hate them, actually), I do find it appalling that teachers, who are entrusted with the education of our children, choose to try and cheat the system by changing test scores themselves (see article by clicking on link below). This unethical behavior contributes to the breeding of a society below the standards expected (based off of tampered, unreliable test scores which make us look smarter than we are) and is done for purely selfish reasons. Increasing a paycheck, in this instance, does nothing for our children who eventually become adults. Adults who have been cheated out of a thorough and well-balanced education and who quite possibly end up in the lower-socioeconomic brackets of our society and end up living off of government assistance. Teachers who lie and cheat with regards to this not only are an embarrassment to my field, but a detriment to it as well.


The Search for a New Way to Test Schoolkids (USA Today)

Last Year vs. Today

Last year about this time I was...

• Introspectively analyzing my life choices, actions and consequences;
• In the midst of wading through one of the toughest personal challenges of my life;
• Beginning a new aspect of my career in higher ed;
• Unsure of what the future held.

Today I am...

• Continuously analyzing my life choices, actions and consequences;
• Appreciating the strength and support I had to get through one of the toughest personal challenges of my life;
• Celebrating nearly a year of teaching college full-time, a wonderful new aspect of my career in higher ed;
• Excited for the future and the new life I'll be bringing into the world.

It sure has been a while...

...but why? Well, it has been a busy, somewhat complicated, extremely eye-opening, emotionally healing time for me during the latter half of this year. Some personal revelations forced me to take a hard look at my self, my choices and the desires I have for my future.

Blogging, I'm certain, will increase in 2011. At least that's the goal as of right now. But until then...

Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, etc. and Happy New Year to all!!!

Patricia

If you like it and you know it clap your hands...

One of my favorite artists has done it again, she's released an album that I can't stop listening to over and over again. This song is one of my favorite's on the album and as usual, her video's are funky and creative. Where would we be without true artists?

Clap Your Hands people!!!

This blog is missing...

Me!

More soon, dear blog. I'm sorry to have been MIA.

The Hulk

Some days I feel like my life is in a vortex. Other days I feel I'm in a holding pattern. At times, though, life is like a rollercoaster ride. Sort of like the one known as The Hulk which can be found at Islands of Adventure in the Universal Studios Theme Park in Orlando, Florida. I've been on it several times while I visited the park with family and friends while living in South Florida. It has a sharp take-off as it shoots you out like a rocket then continues into the spiral of twists and turns that is a rollercoaster. I usually hate rollercoasters. Most of my life I have. This one I like. I think it's the exciting take-off. Or maybe I'm just weird and have an affinity for rollercoasters in my older years. I wonder.

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The way I see it...

Almost two months have gone by since my last blog post. Life has been busy with a new term at school starting, a trip to Ecuador for a family wedding, and, the daily ups and downs that life brings. I find myself at a crossroads where I must focus on attending to some personal business that seems to cut into my creative outlets. I haven't written much, felted much or cooked as much as I normally do. But on the other hand, I am focusing on taking care of things that needs my attention. I do long for the day when I can feel at peace with myself for some of the decisions I've made and how they have affected me, overall. That is a daily process, however.

I turned on the news yesterday to hear of another tragedy caused by Mother Nature. Poor Mother Nature, she sure is getting blamed on a lot of things these days. Global warming, global swarming!! In all honesty, though, it is sad to hear of people losing their lives through flooding in Pakistan. But, it was nice to read of the many lives that lived after the plane crash in Columbia. Quite a miracle, actually. We're living in a unique time in life where news is at our fingertips, information is abundant, yet, we still seem to focus on things that are most important to us. Such as who is judging on American Idol and what fashion ensemble Lindsay Lohan wore on her surrender to jail. (Yes, there is a hint of sarcasm there).

One of the big stories in the news yesterday had to do with our president supporting the First Amendment and stating that it is the right of any business or organization to set up shop wherever they like as long as they are within their legal rights. Shame on our president for supporting the foundation in which our country was built. Why is it that capitalism goes out the window when people want it to? You can't have it both ways...either you have government involved in making decisions about private business or you don't. Emotions set aside, business is business. And that's the harsh reality of it, at times. I support my president on this one.

And that's just the way I see it today.