Small thank you(s) make teaching worth while

Antoine de Saint-Expurery the author of "The Little Prince said: “If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea”
Some people seek fame and fortune and some wander about through life. I wandered for a while myself, but I always sought some greater humanity. Teaching can open the door to that greater humanity for people. You can't leave my class without knowing the things you need to know, but you also get a healthy does of humanity. I am blessed by the presence of children and teachers who appreciate that dose of humanity. I often tell my teachers call me a captain who brings all safely to port. As I grow older I am starting to think of myself as a ship builder of sorts helping others long for immensity of that vast sea of humanity.
Education reformers have turned teaching into a series of meaningless licensure exams. Trust me on this they are doing more harm than good. They can turn potential teachers away. In Connecticut elementary teachers who become a Reading Specialist must pass 4 difficult licensure exams, plus going through rigorious tenure processes. You can't measure empathy, humanity, longing and hope on some standardized licensure exam. You have to feel it with your heart. Teaching at it's best requires a love of teaching, learning, and for those you teach.
How do you measure a teacher's humanity? I see it in the smiles of the children and teachers longing for that vast immense sea of learning. Sometimes I find it in a note or a card. I live for those notes and cards.
Humanity matters,
Jesse

If you like to know what I am listening to as I prepare for class tonight...it's Sam Cook's "Wonderful World" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF6JMotbHYM

Standing in the shadows of love with my Opt Out brothers & sisters

My thinking "Every Child Succeeds Act"
First, the very fact that they are refusing to call it by its original name the "Elementary Secondary Education Act" sends a message. Not too far off "No Child left "Behind' and Race To The Top". The message in my view the "Slogan" mentality remains the same in DC.
Second, keeping annual testing in grades 3-8 and once in high school is the main accountability focus. They are merely shifting the hammer from the Feds to states. This is not a victory for children, parents, teachers, and local public schools.
Third, Pay For Success is not a victory for special needs children, but a roadblock to services in my humble opinion.
I still stand with my Opt Out brothers and sisters in saying there is no compromising on our children, our teachers, and our public schools.
Not ready to play nice,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner

If you want to know what this Walking Man was listening to today....it's the Four Tops 'Standing In The Shadows Of Love" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhtzMwA5gJI

2016 Magnificent Seven TEDxCCSU Conference Talks

-->

 

Something a little different today readers. I have been the TEDxCCSU host for the past three years at Central Connecticut State University. This year we present The magnificent Seven at our 2016 TedxCCSU conference. 

The links for each 2016 TEDxCCSU speakers Of particular interest to the  to parents, teachers, students, and grassroots activists fighting against high-stakes assessment, the common core, and the privatizing of our public schools will be  four  well known  heroes in the struggle to save our public schools.

Dr. Ricardo Rosa
Ricardo takes us right to the point it Equates high-stakes testing with dictating bodies arresting minds; racism in disastrous education.  Warning Dr. Rosa holds no punchers, and Takes no prisoners.  He equates what’s happening to our children in our public schools in the name of education reform  as  and indoctrination of racism and white privilege. 
Learn and grow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai9esk0vvPI

Dr. Denny Taylor
Danny stepped outside the box and challenges us two star immersing children in a meaningful curricula Conversation about saving their world by tackling climate change. Danny dedicated to talk to our children.  You are in for treat people foot Doctor Taylor  has never let anyone video one of the talks before.
Learn and grow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFTOgyOiiY8

Dr. James Miller  just in case you aren’t familiar with Dr. James  Miller he is the host of the War Report on public education.  You’re in for a treat and an education from educator and a scholar who in 15 minutes sums up education reform as a war on children, parents, and their teachers and public schools.
Learn and Grow:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTr3sbfv_30

Principal Jamaal Bowman is the principal of Cornerstone Academy for Social Action middle school in the Bronx.. Principal Bowman is doing what he does best talking about is school with children more than test scores, where curriculum is meaningful,  and where school prepares young learners to become full participating citizens  in this Great American democracy.  Principal Bowman is given talks numerous times under topics of high-stakes testing.  He is the defender teachers, children, parents, and local public schools.  What is sweet about tomorrow’s talk in this link is  he offers us a glimpse for what education could be for all children. Principal Jamaal is quickly becoming America’s most loved principal. 
Learn and grow:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSjPizc4D7Y

Bishops John Selders JR: Now for those of you or interested in the bigger moral picture of race and justice this is the TEDx Talk for you. Bishops Selders, takes from Ferguson to the Moral Mondays and Black Lives Matter movement.  This TEDx talk is a must see. Bishop Selders challenges each and every one of us Live on that Moral Arch of social justice.   Trust me you are in for a real eye-opening treat listening to his TEDx Talk. For his as it church love, justice,  and hope. Here is Bishop John Selders JR. ” The Moral Instinct”.  

Dr. Ernest Pancsofar as a professor special education whose whole career has been dedicated to viewing Special Children as unique, gifted and talented.  There is no better advocate for special needs children Dr. Ernest Pancsofar. Sit back and enjoy Ernie’s TEDx Talk Creativity and ME. 

Learn and grow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0QpXTPRCSE

Dr. Michele Dischino is one of Central Connecticut State University's rising stars. She is an engineer with a passion for learning and teaching who immerses our engineering students in community service. Her engineers quickly learn creativity and innovation can only be found on the road of learning from our mistakes. Her Projects are embedded would love of children. Enjoy her TEDx talk “Failure is an option: How one educator reengineered our approach to teaching” enjoy

Learn and grow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FZ4KSrUYpc

 If you are interested in listening to the song I was listening to on my walk over the Avon Mountain on this beautiful December morning it's A change is gonna come from Folsom. > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWBTWELtkeg <