This is a rant...

One day last week a student went to the school office to advise them that he needed another form for something and said that he didn't have the original form because he hadn't been home for over a week because his single mother was being stalked and she feared for his safety. (The stalker is now in jail.) However the staffer said. "Oh, you're making that up. That just doesn't happen!". So, without checking at all she just called him a liar.

What planet is she from? What bubble does she live in? Come on. I know he is telling the truth, not because he has been staying with my son and I, but because in my experience, he doesn't lie.

Do kids lie? Sometimes, but not with something like this.

Teachers and staff are in a position of authority. One would think some would be better informed.

I sincerely hope there are no other bubble people in schools.

arghh...

Cheers - Mike

In many cities and towns students who are going into high school from junior high are going to a new school as well.

Memories from junior high are many and year books are filled with comments from students who are saying goodbye to each other as they go off to different schools.

I attended grad ceremonies last Friday for my grade 9 student and 129 students were presented with their graduation certificates. Most students found that a bit boring but were looking forward to the dance which started after dinner that evening. The awards which were given out after the grad certificates were received by the students were interesting and many students were honored. Certificates were handed out to the honor students as well. The girls were extremely well dressed and most of the boys were too. The dance was a great success and fun for the students. It was organized for the students by the parents and no teachers were in attendance, which was by design. My son arrived home about midnight, tired but happy.

Now on to his new high school. It is a science and technology oriented high school with about 1,500 kids from grade 10 to grade 12. It also has the Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Focus in Research, Science and Technology Program.
The open house at the school was very impressive. The students and teachers showed a real pride in their school and all classes and programs were well represented. The school: WP Wagner School in Edmonton.

Many classmates from the junior high school are going to the same high school as well, so it won't be an "alone" experience. Although I got the impression that the high school students I met at the open house would make the new students very welcome.

That's all for today.

Good teaching - good listening...

Cheers - Mike

Most students know what can happen at a wet grad party, but think it will always happen to someone else, never to themselves. Well, sometimes they are wrong.

This link is to an article in the Terrace Daily paper, which is actually timeless. Although it was written a year ago, the comment and advice is as appropriate today as it was then, and will be in the years to follow.

Why, because some kids just don't listen. Some don't want to exercise good judgment.

This article was written by the RCMP and addresses the 2008 Grad Class of Caledonia Senior Secondary School. The article is called, CONGRATULATIONS CALEDONIA GRADS, BE SAFE.

I can only wish for a safe grad for all of our high school and junior high school grads this weekend.

Cheers - Mike

PS: have a read of this from Susan Duncan, published in the Times-Colonist on June 7, 2009 called, Dry grad and the parent's dilemma. It's good.

I found a great resource about talking with kids about school. It is from PBS. The four web page article includes; Understanding Each Other, Talking Strategies, Questions that Work and Age and Stage Tips.

There is a lot more for parents at the site as well, just check the sidebar.

Here is an excerpt from the introduction page, "Why is it so hard to talk about school? Parents often get exasperated with kids' monosyllabic answers to their simple questions. That one well-intentioned line, "How was school today?" has probably provoked more bad feelings between parents and kids than either party ever intended."

There is some really good advice and very workable changes for parents on this topic. So, please have a look at the intro page called, Talking with Kids about School, to get started.

How many parents have had the conversation illustrated in the cartoon on the page? I know as a parent I have, which is why I found this site so interesting and the straight examples so good. I consider the site a valuable resource for parents.

That's all for now...

Cheers - Mike

Today we look at kids and experience. What kind of experience? Well, getting over shyness, going back to school and more.

The first article I found addressing the shyness issue is from the Child Study Center in New York called, Helping Shy Kids get the Most Out of Their School Experience. It's good.

Parental experience is next. Parents have to be ready for school, in order to help their children be ready for school. Here is a helpful article called, Parents: Start the School Year Off on the Right Foot, which may help both parents and students together.

"Study: Game experiences can provide hands-on learning opportunities" By Kristin Kalning. It is called, Can games make your kid a better citizen?

Here is a consideration which isn't usually thought of, as it is outside the experience of most people. The education experience of military children. Here is a US DoD article which helps explain it better than I can. It is called, Ensuring Kids get Quality, Consistent Education. A quote from the article, "In some of our small and remote locations we need to ensure the kids are getting the same kind of qualities and 'the comprehensive high school experience' that they are getting in our larger schools".

There are summer camps, road trips, overseas trips, ski trips and more, all designed to give kids an experience they haven't had before. Here is one long term experience that most haven't heard of doing.
What kids can do - Yupik Eskimo Youth Embrace Subsistence Living and Renew Community.

Experience counts! Programs such as Venturers or Civil Air Patrol are great confidence builders as well as gaining life experience.

That's all for today...

Cheers - Mike

This is just a short post today.

This is one I have not seen before. I personally think it's a great idea.

Taking school to the kids - an article in the Ventura County monthly magazine Ventana called, School on Wheels. This is about tutoring homeless kids. It currently operates in California.
Here is an excerpt from the article, "...Designed to maintain links between schools and homeless children and offer those children the educational - and often emotional - support they're lacking..."

Cheers - Mike

Should kids have jobs in high school? Should kids be paid to go to high school?

Here is an article which goes into the subject a little more called, Should kids have jobs in high school?. A good argument is made for letting kids enjoy school and extra-curricular activities. But kids need money and parents usually have a problem of just giving kids money. So now we go to our second question, should kids be paid to go to high school? Well, here is the for and you'll find the against below.

Would get an education.
Wouldn't drop out of school.
Would attend classes.
Would take part in school activities and after school activities.
Wouldn't have to worry about money.
Would be accountable to parents for school progress.

Against:
Parent may believe the student wouldn't develop a good work ethic.
Student may not make enough money.
Student will miss some school activities.

There is much more of course and hopefully this will get you thinking and discussing it.

Cheers - Mike