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Daily Tip:
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| A thought from Who's Line television show: |
| 02.26.04 (7:55 pm) [edit] |
What is the nicest thing that Jerry Springer could say to you?
"May you never be on my show." :lol:
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| the little things... |
| 02.25.04 (4:45 pm) [edit] |
I am not the person to ask if you want an advocate for the book [u]Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: It's All Small Stuff[/u]. I have quite a tendency to get stressed out or annoyed by the little things, such as charging extra at a fast food place for extra condiments or not having a specific shirt clean that I want to wear or even not remembering to carry an umbrella on a day it's supposed to rain. I admit this to be one of my major faluts, and come every New Year's Day I make a resolution to remedy myself. However, I then instantly stress out about if I'll be able to fulfill the resolution or not. All in all, I find it very laughable, and I remain amazed that I have driven myself crazy.
What I really wanted to get at here is that there is also a good side to focusing on the little things too. For example, I have found two four-leaf clovers and nearly a hundered pennies face-side up in my life. I have also saved the lives of several gracious bugs on the sidewalk, and I have a deep appreciation for good food. These things and others have given me a great deal of happiness.
In conclusion, GO SMELL A ROSE! :wink:
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| "Sorry 2004" |
| 02.20.04 (12:41 pm) [edit] |
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I have finally just heard the new song "Sorry 2004" where the singer apologizes to his girl for all the mistakes that he will undoubtly make in the upcoming year. This is an extraordinary idea! If only every guy could adopt this policy, then relationships would last much longer and women be much less upset. Think about it boys. :roll:
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| A simple act of kindness...PLEASE! |
| 02.19.04 (10:13 am) [edit] |
I was in line the other day for a milk shake. I had the biggest craving I've had in years! When I got the oppurtunity to order, a young girl behind the counter told me that they stopped making milkshakes at 11:30. I looked at the clock that reported the time as 11:29. I ended up arguing with her that they should be able to make a milkshake as the time had not passed and they didn't close for over half an hour. I finally said, "It's not even 11:30!" She told me to check the clock again. When I did I realized I had been arguing just long enough for the hand to hit the 11:30 mark. She smiled and said "next!" about as loud as she could.
Now what is the problem with a little more courtesy and pride in our work anymore? When I was working at the office for selling mall gift certificates, I would stay open an extra 5 minutes almost everyday to make sure everyone was able to get what they needed. A little kindness goes a long way.
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| The Tempest Characters |
| 02.18.04 (9:03 pm) [edit] |
Ariel is by far my favorite character. Neither man nor woman, full of magic and a light heart floating upon the air. In my mind, Ariel is the prelude character and embodiment of Tinker Bell. Ariel has it's own feelings and concerns (such as receiving it's liberty), and also is not the magic in itself, but rather at the will of the island and the island's magic. Ariel is the character that helps you cross over into the imaginary world, and is the most essential.
Miranda, though unarguably vital to the play's plot, is by far the most unwitted. She is easily impressed by anything of new substance (such as the male characters). She obeys not out of love, but more out of ignorance. As she is the only defined female character in the entire play, she gives us a clear view of how most women (particularly young women and women in love) were viewed in Shakespeare's social era. While Miranda remains therefore an important character, she nevertheless disgusts me.
If you only plan to read one of Shakepeare's plays in your lifetime, I suggest you try something a little lighter, such as [u]Twelfth Night[/u]. However, if you are interested in reaching a broader range of understanding into his life and culture, then please engage yourself in [u]The Tempest[/u].
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| The Cost of an Education....Prositution as Scholarship? |
| 02.18.04 (8:59 am) [edit] |
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The cost of receiving a higher-level education is becoming ridiculous, and it has begun to effect all of our lives. Just this morning I read in "USA Today" about the increases in tuition for college students in order to drive up standards of athletics at the school. Many of my friends that have traveled outside of their home for school are also paying astronomical amounts per year for mere tuition, the most being close to $40,000. And if the stress of not having the right degree isn't enough, there is the added pressure of paying for it. Just ask Rosie
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| Have you ever? |
| 02.13.04 (11:40 am) [edit] |
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Have you ever missed someone so much that you begin to see them everywhere? You hear their voice everywhere. All the jokes sound like jokes that one person would say. Has this person that you can't walk away from been a person your forbidden to miss? Someone that if even your closest friends knew of your heatache, they would tell you that to miss them is wrong. Have you ever missed someone so much that you begin to hate them for never leaving the depths of your mind? To top it off, you cannot figure out why you should miss them, for their leaving was the upmost greatest gift they could've given you. Finally, does the thought of never seeing them again tear at your stomach just as much as the thought of seeing them again? To this person, the least likely in the world to read this, I miss you.
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| It's just wrong! |
| 02.11.04 (8:21 pm) [edit] |
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Are you aware that when you ask for extra cheese on a Subway sandwich that you are charged an extra thirty cents? Or when you ask Burger King for extra barbeque sauce that you are charged eleven cents? This is an injustice! As if these major companies were not making enough profit from their menus that they must start charging extra for these necessities. How much of a need do companies like these pocess if you must pick the change from my pocket? Are we now paying for Jered's sandwiches? I want to "have it [my burger] your way" with complimentary condements! Is thaat really to much to ask? Today, I am ashamed of capitalism. :evil:
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| Big Fish |
| 02.09.04 (12:53 pm) [edit] |
What if you knew how you were going to die? Then you'd know that nothing else could touch you. What would you do?
Go see [u]Big Fish[/u]!
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| Squirrels! Are they taking over? |
| 02.05.04 (10:47 am) [edit] |
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Ok, this is random, but I have to admitt that I love these strange creatures with their bushy tails and beaty eyes that always seem on alert. However, due to the cruelity of some humans and our dangerous technology, we have transformed squirrels into low self-esteem animals that scatter with fright at the drop of a pin. Thank god I think the behavior of human beings is changing to kindness, for yesterday a squirrel came walking so close by my foot that I actually jumped out of the way. Who ever thought they would have scared me? :lol:
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| Overcrowding in Florida’s schools |
| 02.04.04 (9:56 am) [edit] |
Overcrowded classrooms are the largest reason for decline in a quality education in Florida. I have observed every sized class as both a student and a tutor, and I have therefore seen harm large classes often cause to students and their education. There is a constant struggle between teacher and class for control. There is a lack of individualized personal attention needed to overcome difficulties every student must face. There are more frequently obsolete texts and a scarce amount of computers for classroom use. I can testify personally that there is also a general stress to being in an overcrowded classroom that encompasses everyone. Overcrowded classrooms are not acceptable, but also, unfortunately, are not easily repaired.
The increasing problem of overcrowding among Florida public schools is most affected by standardized test scores, such as the FCAT. The FCAT is used for determining a child’s competency level in comparison to their grade level in school. If a child’s competency level is lower than their grade level, then they can be held back from graduating until able to better complete that level. However, there is more than meets the eye about the FCAT tests as they evaluate more than an individual student. These tests, reading comprehension given at grades 4, 8, and 10 and science administered at grades 5, 8, and 10, also evaluate an entire schools standing. Public schools in Florida are graded on the A-F basis, where A is superior and F is failing as an institution. The results from standardized tests scores of an overall student body greatly influences the grade that a school receives. Statistics show that the mean percentage of students passing the FCAT tests in grades three to ten is 52.5% for reading and 53% for science and mathematics categories (FCAT Reading and Mathematics Scores Statewide Comparison for 2001-2003). When almost half of the student body in Florida fails at these tests, the schools are punished with failing grades themselves.
How does the grade a school receives affect the problem of overcrowding? When a school obtains a low grade, they receive significantly less funding for education from the Florida government in the next year. These failing schools consequently have major budget cuts to provide for the following year. “Teachers feel that smaller classes encourage increased student-teacher interaction, allow for more thorough evaluation of students, and promote greater teaching flexibility. However, because of the additional teachers and facilities required, reducing class size is costly (Lewit).” As a result, wages of qualified teachers are cut, supplies for the classrooms are limited and out-dated, and creative programs like art, music, and theatre are cut from the offered curriculum.
The teacher shortage in Florida is the most important contributor to overcrowded classrooms. Due to lack of funds, the average teaching salary in the state of Florida is far below the national average, being $40,275 for the 2002-2003 school year (Statistical Brief). The lowest reported salary being less than $30,000 a year. Many teachers find this amount unsatisfying for the work that they do. The cost of living in Florida is found above this yearly estimated income. Out of need, want, and fear, these qualified teachers have been seeking others careers. Without teachers to instruct a class, the students must be wedged into other already packed classes, thus creating the tension of an crowded classroom. Most students find it more difficult to learn and concentrate in class when combating a high pupil-to-teacher ratio. In order to compensate for this dramatic loss of teachers, many schools lower their standards for qualified professionals. Consequently, some of the people who find themselves the head of a classroom are often only teaching assistants or substitutes. Many certified teachers do not even hold degrees in the fields that they teach. “Staffing decisions play a major role in class size because the administrative and instructional relationships between teachers and pupils result in part from the amount and type of staff hired by a school district (Lewit).” In fact, the problem has come to such a degree of importance that certification requirements designed for teachers in Florida have been recently lowered. Now instead of completing the Praxis and other such standardized exams, there is only one that can be chosen of three possibilities, a bachelor‘s degree, completion of a course in education and a $56 fee (Florida Teacher Certification Requirements). This fee, nor is the lowering of regulations, a solution. The problem remains that while teachers are in such a high demand, there is a serious lack of funds to satisfy the supply for this needed resource.
Insufficient funds also lead to developing the problem of inadequate or omitted educational supplies. This list of supplies can vary from text books and chalk, to outside gym equipment and classrooms to house students. “If the items are small, like crayons for my first grade class, or more reading books, then I buy them. I never used to have that problem because a budget was supplied by the school for each teacher. The school board, however, did away with that ‘luxury’ two years ago,” said first grade teacher Rioberta Deltufo from Pelican Island Elementary (qtd. By Deltufu). Although more often than not, the teacher cannot begin to supply the class with the essentials needed for lessons. When there aren’t enough class sets of books, baseball fields in physical education, computers, or empty classrooms, then students are re-routed into crammed classrooms.
The budget cuts have also deleted many other important programs. This is the most noticeable symptom of overcrowding. These are typically the creative programs including art, choral, band, and drama programs of a school. While taking away this creative outlet for students of all ages degrades the quality of education, it also heightens the crisis of overcrowding. When these programs are not available to relieve classrooms and teachers periodically, students are again placed into other full-sized classes. The majority of schools are over budget each year in the state of Florida. Sometimes the budget cuts become so drastic that schools must close much more than a few programs. For example, in Monterey County Robert H. Down Elementary, school to more than 350 students, was threatening closure of halls all together. Forest Grove Elementary School and Pacific Grove Middle School also faced uncertain futures as the Pacific Grove Unified School District tries to balance its $14.7 million annual budget after cutting (Manley). These effects are common and weigh heavily on overcrowding.
Many people still refute that overcrowding is not a problem of lack in funds as a result of low standardized test scores, but the simple increase in population growth each year in the state of Florida. However, these people must be unaware of the demographics to Florida’s population growth, in which senior citizens seem to be the majority. [find info to back up statement] If each school received more money, then in return more schools could be constructed to educate students, higher wages could be paid to qualified teachers, and the materials inside every classroom would be updated and available to help children score higher marks on standardized tests. With these improvements, students would most definitely be better equipped to do well on FCAT, therefore giving schools an overall higher grade to receive more funds from the government.
In conclusion, overcrowding is in direct correlation to results on standardized test scores. The increased number of those failing, the less funds received to provide for the school in the following year. Due to the teacher shortage, limited educational supplies in the classrooms, and cut of many creative programs, overcrowding only increases as a predicament. When classes are overcrowded they, in turn, are harder to prepare for these deciding tests. This is a vicious cycle to a dangerous problem of devaluing Florida public education. In order to improve, the circulatory problem of overcrowding in the class must stop. As parents, teachers, students, faculty, and future partners in government and business, we must all take concern. Children are the future, so give them the resource of a quality education in an appropriate environment.
Works cited:
Deltufo, Rioberta. Personal interview. 31 Jan. 2004.
FACT Reading and Mathematics Scores Statewide Comparison for 2001-2003. Chart.
Florida: Department of Education. 2003.
Florida Teacher Certification Requirements. Student Support Services Project. 2003.
University of South Florida. 2 Feb. 2004.
http://sss.usf.edu/html/Profe...
Lewit, Eugene M. and Linda Schuurman Baker. “Financing Schools.” The Future of
Children 7.3 (1997): 9.
Manley, Victoria. “School District Plans Budget Cuts”. Monterey Herald.com 6 Mar.
2003. 2 Feb. 2004.
http://www.montereyherald.com...
Statistical Brief: Bureau of Education Information and Accountability Services. Florida
Department of Education. May 2003. Series 2003-23B. 2 Feb. 2004.
http://www.firn.edu/doe/eias/...
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| Commericals |
| 02.03.04 (10:23 pm) [edit] |
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Ok, did anyone else besides me think the Super Bowl commericals just weren't up to par?
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