It's been a while since I posted here, but wanted to at least write down a few thoughts I've had on the reforming health care issue.
First, is the idea of mandatory insurance. I am vehemently opposed to this idea. Now we do have (in most if not all states) mandatory auto insurance, but that isn't really mandatory. It is only mandatory if you drive. There is an out. You can either not drive, or you can post a bond to cover any potential liability, if you have the means. Driving is not a right, but a privilege and with it comes responsibility. Health care, on the other hand, is and should always be considered a right for a civilized society. Like it or not, that is a truth for people of conscience. As we can not "opt out" of our health, mandatory insurance would infringe on our liberty.
Mandatory insurance is wrong on many fronts. Why should one industry be favored by a law for all citizens to finance it, while other industries do not? Not to mention the inequity of the burden it would pose. Why should tax dollars (because we all know even with reduced premiums most of America would not be able to shoulder the financial burden of health insurance without assistance from the government) finance the profits for any industry?
Don't get me wrong. While I am totally opposed to mandatory insurance, I am very much for publicly funded health care. (Ideally I'd like to see a single payer, universal health care program) I don't, however, feel that anyone should have to be MANDATED to participate in it. I do, though, think it should be supported by the public, with tax dollars. And in this regard I do think EVERYONE should participate in that funding on a graduated scale. Even if the scale starts at 1 dollar a year for the lowest income people and goes up according to income. And even if an individual personally chooses not to participate in the public health care option that would be provided (ie, they keep their private insurance).
I believe it is our duty to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to have access to health care. I may choose not to participate, but I think it would be very self centered to think that because I won't, no one else should either. Those who can afford private security, still have the right to police protection. If a renter's house catches fire, the fire department puts it out just as quickly as if it were a home owned by the occupant (even though the renters don't contribute directly to the funding for the fire department). It is the right thing to do. Access to health care for everyone is the right thing to do. I also have home schooled my children, but don't have any problem paying taxes to support a public school option for those who either can not or don't want to teach their children at home. It is in the public's best interest to have educated citizens, as much as it is in the public's best interest to have healthy citizens.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Thoughts on Education
It is not hard to note that our education system has great room for improvement. The following are some ideas I've been having in this area. The main focus of this article will be for grades K-2. Warning out of the box thinking to follow.
First, a change in education requirements for those working with this group. A focused associates program could easily train people as teachers for the program I'll outline and the ripple effect would be to lower the staff expenses a school must outlay, as the positions would pay less than a full degreed teacher. The skills acquired at this age are not so advanced to require 5 years of higher education to be effective. This program would be greatly focused on music, art and science.
However, the lower expense of having associate degreed educators would allow room for a specialist to do early identification of learning challenges. A "Learning Differences Specialist" would work on a rotational bases (spending time in each of the classes) as a teacher assistant within the school for grades 1 and 2 to identify potential obstacles that any student may face in their future. They would also head an after school program where the learning difference issues could be addressed, not only for those in grades 1 and 2, but the higher grades as well. Perhaps they would do a directed reading program for a student so that once they enter grade 3, they would have strategies in place to be on a somewhat even footing with their peers.
The K-2 group should focus more on exposure and brain development than on specific skill development, however each step (grade) would have a goal for achievement, just this goal will be a bit different than what we've had as goals for this group, thus far. This modification will allow for greater achievement in the next level of learning.
Educating this group would work with the natural strengths of this age. Children under 8 need to move around and engage, they have a natural curiosity about how the world works. By working with the natural strengths would allow children to experience education as the joy that it ought to be viewed. The #1 goal that should be aimed for is that the child is eager to go to school.
Kindergarten is a child's introduction into the learning process. By creating a fun environment allows for maximizing growth potential without inadvertently developing mental blocks for the learning process. As most kindergarten programs are only a few hours a day, music, art and movement would be implemented as the main learning tools. These 3 activities greatly enhance brain connections that will create successful mastery of number and letter identification that will be later built upon as they progress through their education. And many of the kids will begin learning to read through this process without a directed reading program.
Memorization would be experienced through learning songs (and even though they are pre-readers they would still be exposed to the words of the song). Memorization would also be done through playground games and becomes much more effective as they would be engaged in large muscle activity. Learning letter and number recognition could be mastered through art projects. At the end of kindergarten the children should have an indepth understanding of number concepts of 1-10, read the words one through ten, as well as, a couple dozen other words as explored through letter identification (the alphabet) This would be a side effect of the directed art projects. And through this would come a greater understanding as it isn't simply a rote memorization process.
Reading would be a key element to this exposure. As it would not be a direct learning activity, the reading would be done by the teacher. Daily story time exposes kids to words and comprehension that will grow faster than the reading rate would grow if the students were compelled to "learn to read" on their own at this age. Learning to read would be a consequence of learning to write, and by the end of grade 2 the children would have developed knowledge of a few hundred words. Reading on their own would not begin until grade 3, however, exposure to reading would begin in this primary introduction period (grades K-2). This is why it becomes more critical to have a specialist who understands the nature of learning challenges. Dyslexia, for example, most teachers recognize that many young children may transpose letters, yet not necessarily have dyslexia, but most are unaware of the other symptoms of dyslexia and frequently these children fail repeatedly before their learning difference is discovered, if ever. Usually because the struggling child becomes a behavior problem or labeled as lazy, slow, deviant, goof off, etc, because they do not have the experience to verbalize that they are experiencing learning differently from their peers.
Grades 1 story time would include myths, legends, fables and fairy tales. Story that introduce concepts of group ideals. Much of the work would be done through discussion (not lecture) allowing for the development of problem resolution, personal responsibility, tolerance, or whatever opportunities naturally present themselves. Science at this grade would be daily, from the senses, to natural science. Exploring the outdoors, and documenting (drawing) their findings, and experimentation. There are a myriad of very well done books for young science activities. This age loves to "know" and are full of "why is the sky blue?" types of questions. Finding satisfaction to those questions is what propels learning. And thus achieving the #1 goal for this group of wanting to go to school.
By grade 2 the story time will start to include a sense of history and lead to discussions about what came before. Because the reading is not dependent on the reading level of the student, teachers can use more advanced material to bring the subject matter to life. By now, the students would have been read to daily for 2 years and would be exposed to how language works in a way that is more advanced than typical daily speech. They've not wasted their time reading inane books that do little to advance vocabulary or more complex thought. While their other class activities have been building a reading vocabulary they can use when they embark on an individual reading programs the following year.
I'm sure there is much more detail that could be added and needed to research this out fully. But wanted to post it as food for thought.
First, a change in education requirements for those working with this group. A focused associates program could easily train people as teachers for the program I'll outline and the ripple effect would be to lower the staff expenses a school must outlay, as the positions would pay less than a full degreed teacher. The skills acquired at this age are not so advanced to require 5 years of higher education to be effective. This program would be greatly focused on music, art and science.
However, the lower expense of having associate degreed educators would allow room for a specialist to do early identification of learning challenges. A "Learning Differences Specialist" would work on a rotational bases (spending time in each of the classes) as a teacher assistant within the school for grades 1 and 2 to identify potential obstacles that any student may face in their future. They would also head an after school program where the learning difference issues could be addressed, not only for those in grades 1 and 2, but the higher grades as well. Perhaps they would do a directed reading program for a student so that once they enter grade 3, they would have strategies in place to be on a somewhat even footing with their peers.
The K-2 group should focus more on exposure and brain development than on specific skill development, however each step (grade) would have a goal for achievement, just this goal will be a bit different than what we've had as goals for this group, thus far. This modification will allow for greater achievement in the next level of learning.
Educating this group would work with the natural strengths of this age. Children under 8 need to move around and engage, they have a natural curiosity about how the world works. By working with the natural strengths would allow children to experience education as the joy that it ought to be viewed. The #1 goal that should be aimed for is that the child is eager to go to school.
Kindergarten is a child's introduction into the learning process. By creating a fun environment allows for maximizing growth potential without inadvertently developing mental blocks for the learning process. As most kindergarten programs are only a few hours a day, music, art and movement would be implemented as the main learning tools. These 3 activities greatly enhance brain connections that will create successful mastery of number and letter identification that will be later built upon as they progress through their education. And many of the kids will begin learning to read through this process without a directed reading program.
Memorization would be experienced through learning songs (and even though they are pre-readers they would still be exposed to the words of the song). Memorization would also be done through playground games and becomes much more effective as they would be engaged in large muscle activity. Learning letter and number recognition could be mastered through art projects. At the end of kindergarten the children should have an indepth understanding of number concepts of 1-10, read the words one through ten, as well as, a couple dozen other words as explored through letter identification (the alphabet) This would be a side effect of the directed art projects. And through this would come a greater understanding as it isn't simply a rote memorization process.
Reading would be a key element to this exposure. As it would not be a direct learning activity, the reading would be done by the teacher. Daily story time exposes kids to words and comprehension that will grow faster than the reading rate would grow if the students were compelled to "learn to read" on their own at this age. Learning to read would be a consequence of learning to write, and by the end of grade 2 the children would have developed knowledge of a few hundred words. Reading on their own would not begin until grade 3, however, exposure to reading would begin in this primary introduction period (grades K-2). This is why it becomes more critical to have a specialist who understands the nature of learning challenges. Dyslexia, for example, most teachers recognize that many young children may transpose letters, yet not necessarily have dyslexia, but most are unaware of the other symptoms of dyslexia and frequently these children fail repeatedly before their learning difference is discovered, if ever. Usually because the struggling child becomes a behavior problem or labeled as lazy, slow, deviant, goof off, etc, because they do not have the experience to verbalize that they are experiencing learning differently from their peers.
Grades 1 story time would include myths, legends, fables and fairy tales. Story that introduce concepts of group ideals. Much of the work would be done through discussion (not lecture) allowing for the development of problem resolution, personal responsibility, tolerance, or whatever opportunities naturally present themselves. Science at this grade would be daily, from the senses, to natural science. Exploring the outdoors, and documenting (drawing) their findings, and experimentation. There are a myriad of very well done books for young science activities. This age loves to "know" and are full of "why is the sky blue?" types of questions. Finding satisfaction to those questions is what propels learning. And thus achieving the #1 goal for this group of wanting to go to school.
By grade 2 the story time will start to include a sense of history and lead to discussions about what came before. Because the reading is not dependent on the reading level of the student, teachers can use more advanced material to bring the subject matter to life. By now, the students would have been read to daily for 2 years and would be exposed to how language works in a way that is more advanced than typical daily speech. They've not wasted their time reading inane books that do little to advance vocabulary or more complex thought. While their other class activities have been building a reading vocabulary they can use when they embark on an individual reading programs the following year.
I'm sure there is much more detail that could be added and needed to research this out fully. But wanted to post it as food for thought.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
An Idea I was having
I would love some feedback on this idea (However, not so much on presentation, as powerpoint is not my strong suit, if it's yours I'd be happy to accept suggestions though)
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Is Our Healthcare System Making You Sick
First we have to say, "what healthcare system?" Do we even have one at the moment, other than the hodgepodge of patchworks made up of various insurance and pharmaceutical companies? Not sure this is the MOST pressing issue of the day, unless of course you are sick and have to maneuver through the web of goo. As for me, me and mine are healthy and have no immediate concern, but I'm not so fool hearty to think that this will always be the case. And, with the current discussions regarding HR676 all the buzz, I figure I'd better figure out where I stand.
The first stop on my journey was actually the bill in California SB840. The following video shows how thoroughly the bill has been throughout, and the consequences of not having a good health care policy.
I found this bill very exciting, well, except for the fact that I don't live in California, nor do millions of other Americans. However, the federal government has a health care bill being currently discussed--HR676 co-authored by Dennis Kucinich.
Now this gets me thinking, which would be better, a state by state single payer system, or a national single payer system. Either way, profit HAS to be taken out of health care. Now profits, in general, are not necessarily a bad thing, but they have no place when it comes to dealing with health. I love the line in one of these videos where they equate it to ones house burning. We don't expect the individual homeowner to pay the fire department, we all pay so if we should be victim to a fire, we can receive the fire fighting services. Why has it been that health care has not been viewed in the same way?
So I decide to see where my state stands in this area. It appears we are going to have a general vote on whether or not to modify our constitution to include Health care is an essential safeguard of human life and dignity, and there is an obligation for the State to ensure that every resident is able to realize this fundamental right.
Okay, that's a start. I suppose this would lay the groundwork for future legislation.
The first stop on my journey was actually the bill in California SB840. The following video shows how thoroughly the bill has been throughout, and the consequences of not having a good health care policy.
I found this bill very exciting, well, except for the fact that I don't live in California, nor do millions of other Americans. However, the federal government has a health care bill being currently discussed--HR676 co-authored by Dennis Kucinich.
Now this gets me thinking, which would be better, a state by state single payer system, or a national single payer system. Either way, profit HAS to be taken out of health care. Now profits, in general, are not necessarily a bad thing, but they have no place when it comes to dealing with health. I love the line in one of these videos where they equate it to ones house burning. We don't expect the individual homeowner to pay the fire department, we all pay so if we should be victim to a fire, we can receive the fire fighting services. Why has it been that health care has not been viewed in the same way?
So I decide to see where my state stands in this area. It appears we are going to have a general vote on whether or not to modify our constitution to include Health care is an essential safeguard of human life and dignity, and there is an obligation for the State to ensure that every resident is able to realize this fundamental right.
Okay, that's a start. I suppose this would lay the groundwork for future legislation.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Inauguration Day 2009
The greatest ripple of our century.
I kind of overslept, but not so much that I missed President Obama's speech. I woke up just as Vice President Biden was being sworn into office. I arose in time to watch W fly away and see the new president sworn in and give his speech. I dashed down the stairs to log in and find a way to connect with others, but didn't want to miss a moment, so first thing I did was hunt down a live broadcast.
Gotta love facebook. They teamed with CNN to bring both the live broadcast and the interactivity of the net together. I sat mesmerized as the comments flew past. Many simply stating they were watching the inauguration. Many exuding the joy of this day and sadly, even a few haters leaked through. (Honestly don't know how the joy did not manage to ripple in their direction....but let's hope it finds a way) This was a ripple felt around the world. And a proud day for us all.
I kind of overslept, but not so much that I missed President Obama's speech. I woke up just as Vice President Biden was being sworn into office. I arose in time to watch W fly away and see the new president sworn in and give his speech. I dashed down the stairs to log in and find a way to connect with others, but didn't want to miss a moment, so first thing I did was hunt down a live broadcast.
Gotta love facebook. They teamed with CNN to bring both the live broadcast and the interactivity of the net together. I sat mesmerized as the comments flew past. Many simply stating they were watching the inauguration. Many exuding the joy of this day and sadly, even a few haters leaked through. (Honestly don't know how the joy did not manage to ripple in their direction....but let's hope it finds a way) This was a ripple felt around the world. And a proud day for us all.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Dear Mr Cheney
Oh my, my, my. Tonight I was watching your interview with Jim Leher. As the topic turned to the economy you stated repeatedly that your administration was good for the economy and that the problems were unforeseen prior to the fall of 2008. Except you did acknowledge the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac problem that reached crisis at the end of the Summer 2008, however, you chose to use that as a means to dig the Democratic Congress. As you attempt to sound informed and "warrior" like in the fight with congress over FM/FM we both know the motivation was not to "save the economy" or prevent crisis, but rather it was to continue the pushing of the anti-government, anti-regulation agenda. Who are you trying to kid, here? Well, since you appear to have such a little grasp on things economic, let me spell it out for you.
I'm torn as to what would be the actual center of the ripple between failing to raise taxes to support a war effort and loosening regulations that allowed the greedmongers to rape the economy.
I think I'll lean more towards the lack of regulation as the center since that has been working towards the current course we're in for a few decades, while being exacerbated during this past administration, not solely by policy, as much as it is by attitude. The flawed belief that money making is the most valuable regulator for a society. It certainly has it's place, but only after a strong ethic is in place.
Next would have to be the war initiated without providing funding to maintain it. This was the first time in our nations history that we waged war against a country that did not attack our soil. (And for your woe begotten followers, Iraq did not attack our soil, terrorists did, and those terrorists were Saudi Arabian) And the first time ever we were engaged in war without having taxes to pay for it. Any other president in history would roll over in their grave if they knew the leadership not only did not raise taxes, but lowered the taxes on the wealthy, all while financing a war, they would think we, the people, have all gone nuts.
Next ripple, Mr. Cheney, is the rapid increase of gas prices. Do you not see the relationship to the housing crisis and the increase in fuel prices, which led to increases in food prices, which led to less spendable income, which causes financial shortfalls for small businesses? Yes, sir, that is how a recession is born. And when we wind back to the center of our ripple, the lack of regulations in the banking industry, we have people approved for loans they never should have, nor never would have in the 70's and even in the 80's. So yes, sir, you and President Bush are culpable. You may not be the only ones, but to say you did well.....that is a sure sign of serious delusion.
I'm torn as to what would be the actual center of the ripple between failing to raise taxes to support a war effort and loosening regulations that allowed the greedmongers to rape the economy.
I think I'll lean more towards the lack of regulation as the center since that has been working towards the current course we're in for a few decades, while being exacerbated during this past administration, not solely by policy, as much as it is by attitude. The flawed belief that money making is the most valuable regulator for a society. It certainly has it's place, but only after a strong ethic is in place.
Next would have to be the war initiated without providing funding to maintain it. This was the first time in our nations history that we waged war against a country that did not attack our soil. (And for your woe begotten followers, Iraq did not attack our soil, terrorists did, and those terrorists were Saudi Arabian) And the first time ever we were engaged in war without having taxes to pay for it. Any other president in history would roll over in their grave if they knew the leadership not only did not raise taxes, but lowered the taxes on the wealthy, all while financing a war, they would think we, the people, have all gone nuts.
Next ripple, Mr. Cheney, is the rapid increase of gas prices. Do you not see the relationship to the housing crisis and the increase in fuel prices, which led to increases in food prices, which led to less spendable income, which causes financial shortfalls for small businesses? Yes, sir, that is how a recession is born. And when we wind back to the center of our ripple, the lack of regulations in the banking industry, we have people approved for loans they never should have, nor never would have in the 70's and even in the 80's. So yes, sir, you and President Bush are culpable. You may not be the only ones, but to say you did well.....that is a sure sign of serious delusion.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Less Homework Revolution
Todays ripple was inspired by a segment on the Today Show (NBC) this morning.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28624181/
For me modern public education generates a HUGE ripple, and frankly, not a very pretty one. This is why the piece on Today was inspiring to me, and has potential to make a view small ripples in a positive direction. Basically the idea is to set appropriate homework levels based on the age/grade of the child. Ten minutes per grade was the recommendation I heard. This was followed up with the reasoning behind it which included such things as student motivation, stress reduction, lack of training to teachers on a uniform standard for dispensing homework.
As I listened I thought of my daughters 2nd grade teacher. We were at a new school and the first day my daughter came home with a 10 page homework packet. To be fair this was for the whole week, however, there were multiple subjects covered within this packet, each with a daily requirement. That first night we spent a good 5 hours working on just 2 of the 4 sections required for the first day. Now for some children, each segment could potentially be done in 15 minutes (which still would come to 2 hours of homework). But my daughter did not understand any of the assignments, and did not understand my explanation, either. (Some may be familiar with this refrain, "That's not how Mrs. X said to do it") So after a grueling 5 hrs I decided to let the teacher see her errors so that she could be familiar with how my daughter is understanding the material. I also noted the time we'd spent on the homework, and my observations (that she did not have a basic understanding of the task).
The following day the prior days homework was sent home with a note from the teacher "Please ensure that all the questions are answered correctly before returning to school"
HUH?
How is she going to know where my child struggles, if I tell her all the correct answers on her homework? What was the point of having a teacher if the teacher was not teaching the material, but instead sending it home to have the parent teach the material? And did she not notice the point I made that her "incorrect and unfinished" homework took us 5 hours. My daughter was 7, not 17. And as the guests pointed out in the Today Show segment, the ripple was in true form--my daughter HATED school, was highly stressed and developing anxiety issues.
Solution? Or should I say potential solution?
Revamp of the entire educational system. Ok, if I can only eat an elephant one bite at a time, than a simple and reasonable homework guideline is a good start.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28624181/
For me modern public education generates a HUGE ripple, and frankly, not a very pretty one. This is why the piece on Today was inspiring to me, and has potential to make a view small ripples in a positive direction. Basically the idea is to set appropriate homework levels based on the age/grade of the child. Ten minutes per grade was the recommendation I heard. This was followed up with the reasoning behind it which included such things as student motivation, stress reduction, lack of training to teachers on a uniform standard for dispensing homework.
As I listened I thought of my daughters 2nd grade teacher. We were at a new school and the first day my daughter came home with a 10 page homework packet. To be fair this was for the whole week, however, there were multiple subjects covered within this packet, each with a daily requirement. That first night we spent a good 5 hours working on just 2 of the 4 sections required for the first day. Now for some children, each segment could potentially be done in 15 minutes (which still would come to 2 hours of homework). But my daughter did not understand any of the assignments, and did not understand my explanation, either. (Some may be familiar with this refrain, "That's not how Mrs. X said to do it") So after a grueling 5 hrs I decided to let the teacher see her errors so that she could be familiar with how my daughter is understanding the material. I also noted the time we'd spent on the homework, and my observations (that she did not have a basic understanding of the task).
The following day the prior days homework was sent home with a note from the teacher "Please ensure that all the questions are answered correctly before returning to school"
HUH?
How is she going to know where my child struggles, if I tell her all the correct answers on her homework? What was the point of having a teacher if the teacher was not teaching the material, but instead sending it home to have the parent teach the material? And did she not notice the point I made that her "incorrect and unfinished" homework took us 5 hours. My daughter was 7, not 17. And as the guests pointed out in the Today Show segment, the ripple was in true form--my daughter HATED school, was highly stressed and developing anxiety issues.
Solution? Or should I say potential solution?
Revamp of the entire educational system. Ok, if I can only eat an elephant one bite at a time, than a simple and reasonable homework guideline is a good start.
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