My thoughts exactly...

I saw this on Yahoo. Perhaps I got giddy...I really REALLY feel strongly about Britney and Justin. There rest I'm somewhat apathetic about but Britney and Justin? Absolutely!!!

Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman plus five other couples we wish never broke up

by Joanna Douglas, Shine Staff, on Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:22pm PDT

How awesome is it when your friend has finally finally finally found a great boyfriend and you’ve gotten all comfortable going out on double dates and at long last you have absolutely zero complaints about the dude? And then how much does it totally suck when they break up? This is how we—and apparently Howard Stern—felt when learning that the comedic supercouple of Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman had broken up. "Jimmy e-mailed me and said they were going through some tough times," says Stern. "I was so upset I had to go take a walk." Kimmel told Stern the split was "mutual," adding that he felt as though he had "lost his best friend." Awww! [US] We hate seeing great couples break up. Some others we wish had remained a unit:

1) Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt – They dressed alike, styled their hair the same, and gosh they were just such a good match. We love our Brangelina and all, but there was something much sweeter about the courtship between Brad and Ms. Paltrow. Sigh.

2) Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake – Let’s face it, Britney needs him back and probably wishes they never split in the first place. Justin may have progressed career-wise but him and Jessica Biel = major zzz’s. We just know JT could whip Brit back into shape and the prince and princess of pop could return and restore order to the musical world.

3) Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder – He’s got the beautiful Vanessa Paradis and she’s dating, um... Rilo Kiley guitarist Blake Sennett. Exactly. C’mon Johnny—remember where your heart lies? Need you check your tattoo: Wino Forever.

4) Drew Barrymore and Fabrizio Moretti – She just broke up with Mac guy, Justin Long and we say a big good riddance! We like our wild child with a rocker, and who better than the adorable, curly haired drummer Fabrizio Moretti of The Strokes. Go win him back, Drew!

5) Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe – They were young and in love and we all didn’t think they could make their marriage last, but they had two kids and were together for eight years… and then they broke up. We know we doubted you, but we wish you hadn’t given up so soon, and as much as we like Reese with Jake Gyllenhaal, they’re not a winning couple. So… how about another go?

Taking a Stand

I found this article on Alfie Kohn's website and I found it more than interesting. It's encouraging. At this early stage in my career--I'm still drowning in idealism and feel that I can maintain a balance until my prayers are answered (we get a new president) and things change. But I have felt this for quite some time. What happens in education at present is wrong and I know from experience. If you have questions feel free to ask. I could tell you how I was literally told to work one on one with a certain group of students--leaving those who were behind even further behind. No joke. I am not speaking ignorantly--that I can assure you. I know for a fact that when this truth is revealed...neither the government nor the school districts--will be willing to take the blame. I will be held accountable. Read this and if you want to know more about Alfie Kohn and his philosophies (he's not just for teachers. He writes for parents and management personnel as well and I firmly believe the entire world should read Punished by Rewards) click here... http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.html Read on..

What if they gave a test and nobody came? Or what if all the students came, but the teachers refused to give them a test? The civil rights movement succeeded not only because good laws were eventually passed (mandating desegregation) but because ordinary people refused to obey bad laws. Rather than just complaining about policies they thought were immoral, they withheld their consent through disciplined disobedience.

In May, virtually the entire eighth grade at a South Bronx, NY middle school handed in blank sheets of paper rather than take yet another practice exam for the state test – along with a petition that protested the "constant, excessive and stressful testing" that comes at the expense of "valuable instructional time with our teachers." In California, activists are currently working to convince parents to boycott that state’s endless STAR testing program. “We have written and read and talked for years about the damage tests are doing to our children, our teachers, our schools and our democracy," their website says. Now “it's time to act.”

There have been other examples of protests by parents and students – from Scarsdale to San Antonio -- but let’s take a moment to honor the people who have put their jobs on the line to say no: teachers who have stood up alone in their communities and said they just can’t in good conscience participate in – and thereby perpetuate -- this suffocating regimen of testing. When the history of the current “accountability” fad in education is written, these teachers will be likened to the folks who bravely challenged Jim Crow laws in the South.

“My conscience bothered me. I thought, ‘How can I continue to do something I think is harmful for my students?’ I simply had to stop giving the [state test].”
-- Carl Chew
Washington teacher

“They’ve taken my job away from me as long as I have to spend my time teaching to the test. I can’t do that anymore. So I have nothing to lose [by refusing to participate in the testing].”

-- Jim Bougas
Massachusetts teacher

“Every single time I administer these tests, children are upset. I felt this year that I had three options, since continuing with this practice was not an option. I should either (a) spend a lot of time teaching my students about tests to try to lessen the stress, or (b) tell them exactly what to write down for every question, or (c) stand up for what I believe in and risk discipline, while protecting my students from this nonsense. . . .[In choosing (c), I’m] attempting to represent the views of so many of us who feel helpless in this horrible, spiraling descent of our education system.”

-- Kathryn Sihota
British Columbia teacher

“I have to look at myself in the mirror, and I know these tests are wrong. Frankly, I’m not a teacher when I teach to a test like this [or] when I administer a test like this.”

-- Don Perl
Colorado teacher

"Someone needs to use a little common sense and say, 'I am just not going to do it.’"
-- Doug Ward
North Carolina teacher

"How can I teach my kids to stand up for what they believe in if I'm not doing that myself?"

-- Katie Hogan
Illinois teacher
[one of 12 boy cotters at a Chicago school]


When Thoreau was imprisoned for refusing to pay war taxes, the jail faced the street. One day, his friend Ralph Waldo Emerson was walking by and said, "Henry! What are you doing in there?" To which Thoreau replied, "The question is what are you doing out there?" For any teacher who shares the outrage and grief felt by these dissenters, the challenge is to explain why he or she is helping to perpetuate that policy by breaking the shrink wrap and handing out the tests to students – in short, by following orders that he or she knows are wrong.

Of course we applaud the courage of educators who have taken a stand against this insanity. But what will it take for us to summon our own courage and join them?

***

We're pleased to introduce a new website feature: an archive of comments that appeared previously on the NEWS page.

As always, your comments in our guestbook are welcome. Thanks for visiting.

copyright Alfie Kohn

Summertime is Finally Here...

Here's a moderately small overview of the events of the summer thus far...it's been a good one...

~Summer of Hope~At the beginning of the summer I participated in the Summer of Hope walk. My good friends, They Lynchs, included me. It's a Christian organization that works to get orphans from the Philippines here for one month in the summer (July). They are hosted by a family and hopefully adopted by interested individuals. The walk helps raise money for the costs of getting the children here and helping care for them! Mom and Misty joined me and we ate at Applebees in large quantities afterwards:)
Here I am with Courtney and Connor. I may need to blog about this family at some point, they are just amazing...they're the children of the Lynch family! I love them mucho!

The Spill Canvas

One of my very favorite...albeit not very popular, bands! They came to town on June 28th and played at The Venue. I went with my friend Josh and then Jonnie and Jessica met us there. I look terrible because it was so hot inside...and Jonnie and Jessica had just come from her sister's wedding. We had such a good time. If you look at the bottom of this post you can watch/more so listen to my all time favorite Spill Canvas song: Lullaby. I'm posting the lyrics below this picture too...just in case!

It's the way that you blush when you're nervous.It's your ability to make me earn this.I know that you're tired, just let me sing you to sleep.It's about how you laugh out of pity,'Cause lets be honest I'm not really that funny.I know that you're shot, just let me sing you to sleep.

If you need anything, just the say the word.I mean anything.Rest assured, if you start to doze, then I'll tuck you in,and plant my lips where your necklaces close.

It's those pills that you don't need to take,medicating perfection, now that's a mistake.I know that you're spent, just let me sing you to sleep.It's your finger and how I'm wrapped around it.It's your grace and it keeps me grounded.I know that you're weak, just let me sing you to sleep.

If you need anything, just the say the word.I mean anything.Rest assured, if you start to doze, then I'll tuck you in,and plant my lips where your necklaces close.

While you were sleeping I figured out everything,I was constructed for you, and you were molded for me.Now I feel your name, coursing through my veins.You shine so bright it's insane, you put the sun to shame.

(Oh)If you need anything, just the say the word.I mean anything. (I really do)Rest assured, if you start to doze, then I'll tuck you in,and plant my lips where your necklaces close.If you need anything, just the say the word.I mean anything.Rest assured, if you start to doze, then I'll tuck you in,and plant my lips where your necklaces close.

***Fourth of July***We had our Fourth of July BBQ and fireworks fun at Cara's. I sat outside with the boys where they specifically saved a spot for me:) They set it with utensils, water, and all!




Cara had the babies sporting red, white, and blue and I was rather fond of it. Here's Ava. She didn't want her rootbeer float but definitely went for the Otter Pop. She is her mother's daughter!

Here's me with my madre on the Fourth! We had a good time for the most part although I'm dying for some real "tradition" on this holiday. Perhaps camping with Misty, Ken, and the kids:) We ate, played in the pool (that is my tradition with the boys for 3 years now:) and watched fireworks over at Tammy's house.

Roaring Springs!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought it would be fun to take a day off work and take the boys to Roaring Springs. I invited Rachel to come along with us! She used to go to the Y (she was in my group every summer...from the summer before 3rd grade on!) She's amazing with kids, she's a LOT of fun, and I love her..so it made for a great day!

There wasn't a single ride the boys didn't go on! They even rode this one...if you don't know it's a rather scary ride. I was nervous. I followed them up (and Rachel and I rode it afterwards) but I was in tears I was so worried about them...but they're incredibly tough! I was very impressed and they LOVED it! They wanted to go again but I couldn't handle the stress again!

After a fun-filled WONDERFUL day. I felt so blessed and I missed them so much after they went home. I was lonesome for them...they are such special boys!