Last week I drove to Western New York to visit my family. I did not pack any food for my seven hour drive, and when I got hungry enough I decided to pull off the highway to get a bite to eat. Sadly, one of the foods available to me at that moment was McDonald’s. I could have gone to the convenience store and grabbed a yogurt, or perhaps a granola bar – but the smell of the burgers and fries took over my senses and I had to give in. And while I stood at the counter debating over the Quarter Pounder or the Big Mac I realized that I had not been to the “Golden Arches” in more than five years.
It was around 2004 that I first encountered the movie, “Supersize Me.” This documentary was about a man who ate nothing but McDonald’s for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for one month. By the end of the thirty days he had gained considerable weight and was becoming very sick according to his physician. The doctor actually asked the man to give up on his month long project in the interest of good health. The constant flow of fast food was starting to affect his liver, mood, and cardiovascular fitness.
This morning irony struck when I read the topic of this month’s Educational Leadership as, “Health and Learning.” Each month this publication focuses on one topic in the American Public School System, providing those in educational leadership with information and insight to potentially improve schools large and small. The December 2009 issue covers students’ diets, sleep habits, emotional wellness, and exposure to drugs and alcohol.
As a school community we have focused in school eating habits with our district wellness policy as well as our policy to allow bottled water in the classrooms. One of the points made in Ed. Leadership’s article about healthy eating is that children who are continually exposed to fat, sugar, and salt will find these foods to be their friends. These children will then turn to these foods for comfort in times of stress, or just as a better tasting alternative to healthy foods. Once this cycle begins, it can be a hard one to break, and the repercussions can bring agony later in life.
You can see the first four minutes of the movie, Super Size Me by clicking the link below. I give this film two thumbs up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V168xofxgu0
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
A Thanksgiving Blog
Much has changed in the American School System since I was a child. I can recall decorating trees, decorating eggs in art classes, making cards for family members and sharing gifts with my classmates. Many of these activities are no more in public schools, or they are implemented with surgical political correctness, so not to offend any member of the community. Clearly the holidays of which I speak can have a religious connotation to them.
Ahhh, but then there is Thanksgiving. I am sure that there are some out there who treat Thanksgiving as a religious holiday – but for the most part it is a day when we get together with our families and friends to share in a celebration. This primarily secular holiday first occurred nearly 400 years ago and the typical celebration that is held in homes across America emulates what happened way back in the 1600’s.
Tomorrow the Ralph C. Mahar Thanksgiving celebration begins at 10:00 AM on our football field where our Senators host the Athol Red Raiders. There is tremendous excitement in both communities about this game. We are 9 – 0 and Athol is 9 – 1. Two excellent football teams meeting on a turf field on a 50 degree day, without a chance of rain. While those of us are here watching our teams and coaches battle it out, we will have in the backs of our minds the delicious food, and fine company that awaits us later in the afternoon.
Anytime I have been asked which holiday is my favorite, I am quick to point out that it is Thanksgiving. I enjoy the camaraderie found in excellent athletic programs such as ours and Athol’s. So before the NFL games begin, before the turkey or the stuffing with the family – I would like to say good luck to both teams in tomorrow’s game. Play hard and of course play safe!
Please allow me to say Thanks in advance to the Senators and the Red Raiders for a great game, and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.
Ahhh, but then there is Thanksgiving. I am sure that there are some out there who treat Thanksgiving as a religious holiday – but for the most part it is a day when we get together with our families and friends to share in a celebration. This primarily secular holiday first occurred nearly 400 years ago and the typical celebration that is held in homes across America emulates what happened way back in the 1600’s.
Tomorrow the Ralph C. Mahar Thanksgiving celebration begins at 10:00 AM on our football field where our Senators host the Athol Red Raiders. There is tremendous excitement in both communities about this game. We are 9 – 0 and Athol is 9 – 1. Two excellent football teams meeting on a turf field on a 50 degree day, without a chance of rain. While those of us are here watching our teams and coaches battle it out, we will have in the backs of our minds the delicious food, and fine company that awaits us later in the afternoon.
Anytime I have been asked which holiday is my favorite, I am quick to point out that it is Thanksgiving. I enjoy the camaraderie found in excellent athletic programs such as ours and Athol’s. So before the NFL games begin, before the turkey or the stuffing with the family – I would like to say good luck to both teams in tomorrow’s game. Play hard and of course play safe!
Please allow me to say Thanks in advance to the Senators and the Red Raiders for a great game, and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
H1N1 Clinic to be held December 11 at Mahar
Sometime back in August, I posted the first blog that referenced H1N1. At about that time I was working with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to secure influenza vaccinations for students in the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District, and for our sending schools whose administrations expressed an interest. Today, I am happy to report that our H1N1 clinic will be held in our gymnasium on December 11, 2009!
Very soon, I will sit with the Orange Department of Public Health Director, Roger Mallet to craft a press release. We currently have about 250 students scheduled to be vaccinated, and want to make a push to get the vaccination to more of our students. I must also specify that the December 11 clinic is for H1N1 only and that we are continuing in our efforts to provide the seasonal vaccinations for our students. Once we get through the H1N1 clinic, it will be much easier, and more widely accepted that we are providing students with vaccinations in school.
I am also happy to report that elementary students from the Petersham Center School will be able to participate in the December 11 clinic. Any student from Petersham Center School can get theH1N1 vaccination if the proper paperwork is competed and he or she is accompanied by a parent. I have a suspicion that the students in high school will take the vaccination injection much easier than the children who will come from Petersham – so for the Center School students a Mom, Dad, or other Guardian must attend!
The H1N1 clinic has opened a door for our district and for our students. The idea of providing services like influenza vaccinations in the school setting creates a convenient way for parents to have their students undergo routine wellness activities. By having the vaccinations in schools, parents do not have to make doctor appointments (which can take some time) or take time off of work to sit in waiting rooms. I have added the link to the H1N1 cover letter and permission form for parents at the bottom of this blog.
Next on the Horizon:
Last night I made the acquaintance of the Vice President of Family Health Centers. I am going to coordinate with her in an attempt to have Dental Screenings and Dental Clinics for our students. Just like the influenza vaccinations, the dental clinics will be optional if we are able to get them in our school. I will also ask our elementary school partners if they are interested in taking part.
http://www.rcmahar.org/Flu/flu%20shot%20cover%20letter%202009.pdf
http://www.rcmahar.org/Flu/2009%20H1N1%20Influenza%20Vaccine%20Consent%20Form.pdf
Very soon, I will sit with the Orange Department of Public Health Director, Roger Mallet to craft a press release. We currently have about 250 students scheduled to be vaccinated, and want to make a push to get the vaccination to more of our students. I must also specify that the December 11 clinic is for H1N1 only and that we are continuing in our efforts to provide the seasonal vaccinations for our students. Once we get through the H1N1 clinic, it will be much easier, and more widely accepted that we are providing students with vaccinations in school.
I am also happy to report that elementary students from the Petersham Center School will be able to participate in the December 11 clinic. Any student from Petersham Center School can get theH1N1 vaccination if the proper paperwork is competed and he or she is accompanied by a parent. I have a suspicion that the students in high school will take the vaccination injection much easier than the children who will come from Petersham – so for the Center School students a Mom, Dad, or other Guardian must attend!
The H1N1 clinic has opened a door for our district and for our students. The idea of providing services like influenza vaccinations in the school setting creates a convenient way for parents to have their students undergo routine wellness activities. By having the vaccinations in schools, parents do not have to make doctor appointments (which can take some time) or take time off of work to sit in waiting rooms. I have added the link to the H1N1 cover letter and permission form for parents at the bottom of this blog.
Next on the Horizon:
Last night I made the acquaintance of the Vice President of Family Health Centers. I am going to coordinate with her in an attempt to have Dental Screenings and Dental Clinics for our students. Just like the influenza vaccinations, the dental clinics will be optional if we are able to get them in our school. I will also ask our elementary school partners if they are interested in taking part.
http://www.rcmahar.org/Flu/flu%20shot%20cover%20letter%202009.pdf
http://www.rcmahar.org/Flu/2009%20H1N1%20Influenza%20Vaccine%20Consent%20Form.pdf
Monday, November 9, 2009
Thanking Ted Sizer
Each year the University of Massachusetts (UMASS) at Lowell asks doctoral students to take part in the annual colloquium. A colloquium is an event in which scholars get together to engage in discussion about a particular topic. Over the last couple of years I have had the opportunity to make the acquaintance of Boston Public Pilot Schools expert Dan French and renowned author, Jonathon Kozol. I have been provided with memorable moments at these events, my favorite of which was having Kozol’s book, Letters to a First Year Teacher signed by John. He wrote on the first page, To Michael. For all our children.
At one of these events I sat next to an older man and a woman who I assumed was his wife. While he sat and seemed to listen to every word that Dr. French was saying about the Boston Pilot Schools, his wife just sat and knitted. At some point the gentleman was introduced to everyone as Theodore “Ted” Sizer. I remember thinking to myself how fantastic it was to be sitting next to such a famous author. One of Ted’s books, The Red Pencil: Convictions From Experience in Education is among my favorites when it comes to ideas about improving the education system as a whole.
Among my favorite of Dr. Sizer’s assertions is the one that he draws about educational equality. He made a pretty compelling case for why things in schools are the way they are when he wrote, “Over the course of a year, most children spend more than twice their waking hours outside of school. This time, not surprisingly, carries far more influence than the amount of time spent in the classroom, if not for some, surely for most.” He goes on to say, “If we want a powerfully educated population we must attend to all aspects of each child’s situation, in deliberate, sustained combination.”
Now I don’t mean to bore you with quotes from books, but what Sizer says is very important. The fact that the percentage of students achieving proficiency on MCAS examinations goes up as the socioeconomics of the school community is not merely a function of happenstance. There is legitimate research to support that student achievement increases with socioeconomic status. If those who authored the No Child Left Behind Act would just realize this, our summer and weekend programming would be just as powerful as that which happens in our 180 day school year.
On the topic of socioeconomic status and its direct relationship on student achievement I could write for hours. In actuality, I have written for hours about this – but I really don’t want to bore you with research. The real reason that I wrote this blog tonight is that I want to say thank you to Ted Sizer, a forward thinker, a wonderful author, and a pioneer in the American Education System. On October 22, 2009 Ted passed away at the age of 77 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Ted not only left us with inspirational and promising ideas about how to improve education for our children – he left us with work that simply must be done.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Leadership Lesson: Dr. Thomas Weinberg
Lately, most of my personal time has been spent putting together my doctoral dissertation. I have reached the point now where the end of my doctorial studies is in sight, and with this I have been working more furiously in hopes of reaching the end. One of the major components of this expansive document deals with leadership attributes and practices of school superintendents. While I was writing about these attributes and practices I felt compelled to stop and reflect on how one could become an exceptional educational leader.
I came to the conclusion that the leadership practices of any person (superintendents included) are influenced by formal education, informal education, and experiences. Formal education applies to those people who earn degrees in administration or some form of leadership. In colleges and universities these individuals are required to read certain works, write papers to synthesize concepts, conduct studies, and make presentations on leadership topics. Informal education applies to those pieces of research that prospective leaders choose to read, investigations and case studies about the success of others, and conversations about how to become promising in practice. Finally, experience applies to those things that happen in life that call upon us to behave in a particular manner the next time we encounter familiar circumstances.
Once I drew the conclusions above I started to think about my own formal education, the books that I have read, the research that I have been interested in and the people and experiences that have helped me to shape my independent thoughts about leadership and school improvement. Then it dawned on me – I am lucky to have been provided with an excellent formal education which has helped me to engage in self-directed learning opportunities. Also, over the past 15 years I have witnessed leadership practices that have been exceptionally successful and others that have been profoundly absurd.
Focusing in on exceptional leaders with whom I have been associated, I reflected on one of my Professors from Buffalo State College. In the mid 1990’s I was fortunate to have made the acquaintance of Dr. Thomas Weinberg – one of my Sociology Professors who was a winner of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award in teaching. Given the number of students that Dr. Weinberg has each year, it is unlikely that he remembers me, but because of his friendly nature and acts of kindness – I will never forget him.
You see, in the summer of 1996 I went to file my graduation paperwork with Buffalo State College’s administration. I found out (rather abruptly) that I was one sociology course short in reaching my own graduation requirements. This happened as a result of my being inappropriately advised by a brand new faculty member, and the fact that I did not take the personal responsibility of looking over my own course completion requirements in the prescribed courses of study for my degree. So there I was, twenty-two years old and in crisis. I was told that I would have to attend for one more semester so that I could take one class in order to earn my degree.
Dr. Weinberg happened to be walking by the Dean’s Office when I was being given this news. Although Tom is an expert in analyzing human behavior, it did not take his expertise to see that I was not happy. He took me out into the hallway and asked me what was going on – and when I was done he asked me to stay in the hall. He went into the Dean’s office and a couple of minutes passed. He then asked me to come into the Dean’s office where he presented me with an option.
Dr. Weinberg explained to me that the Dean was willing to approve an Independent Study for me that Dr. Weinberg would oversee. This independent study would mean that I would practically work day and night for the remainder of the semester and if I could complete the course work in time would be given my degree with the August graduates. I accepted the offer, completed the work, and earned a B in my independent study.
Dr. Weinberg had nothing to gain in helping me. He actually created more work for himself in doing so. My Sociology professor went out of his way for me simply because he could. I consider that day in the Dean’s office a lesson in leadership. Tom taught me something that day that has stuck with me more than any lesson I have learned in a classroom or any philosophy I have read in a book. Dr. Weinberg deserved the Chancellor’s Award that he received because as you could see, his lessons tend to stick with his students.
To Dr. Weinberg:
You taught me the value of providing opportunities for success. You could have walked right by me that day in 1996. You should know that when I have been confronted with the opportunity to do for another as you did for me – I have been following your lead.
I came to the conclusion that the leadership practices of any person (superintendents included) are influenced by formal education, informal education, and experiences. Formal education applies to those people who earn degrees in administration or some form of leadership. In colleges and universities these individuals are required to read certain works, write papers to synthesize concepts, conduct studies, and make presentations on leadership topics. Informal education applies to those pieces of research that prospective leaders choose to read, investigations and case studies about the success of others, and conversations about how to become promising in practice. Finally, experience applies to those things that happen in life that call upon us to behave in a particular manner the next time we encounter familiar circumstances.
Once I drew the conclusions above I started to think about my own formal education, the books that I have read, the research that I have been interested in and the people and experiences that have helped me to shape my independent thoughts about leadership and school improvement. Then it dawned on me – I am lucky to have been provided with an excellent formal education which has helped me to engage in self-directed learning opportunities. Also, over the past 15 years I have witnessed leadership practices that have been exceptionally successful and others that have been profoundly absurd.
Focusing in on exceptional leaders with whom I have been associated, I reflected on one of my Professors from Buffalo State College. In the mid 1990’s I was fortunate to have made the acquaintance of Dr. Thomas Weinberg – one of my Sociology Professors who was a winner of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award in teaching. Given the number of students that Dr. Weinberg has each year, it is unlikely that he remembers me, but because of his friendly nature and acts of kindness – I will never forget him.
You see, in the summer of 1996 I went to file my graduation paperwork with Buffalo State College’s administration. I found out (rather abruptly) that I was one sociology course short in reaching my own graduation requirements. This happened as a result of my being inappropriately advised by a brand new faculty member, and the fact that I did not take the personal responsibility of looking over my own course completion requirements in the prescribed courses of study for my degree. So there I was, twenty-two years old and in crisis. I was told that I would have to attend for one more semester so that I could take one class in order to earn my degree.
Dr. Weinberg happened to be walking by the Dean’s Office when I was being given this news. Although Tom is an expert in analyzing human behavior, it did not take his expertise to see that I was not happy. He took me out into the hallway and asked me what was going on – and when I was done he asked me to stay in the hall. He went into the Dean’s office and a couple of minutes passed. He then asked me to come into the Dean’s office where he presented me with an option.
Dr. Weinberg explained to me that the Dean was willing to approve an Independent Study for me that Dr. Weinberg would oversee. This independent study would mean that I would practically work day and night for the remainder of the semester and if I could complete the course work in time would be given my degree with the August graduates. I accepted the offer, completed the work, and earned a B in my independent study.
Dr. Weinberg had nothing to gain in helping me. He actually created more work for himself in doing so. My Sociology professor went out of his way for me simply because he could. I consider that day in the Dean’s office a lesson in leadership. Tom taught me something that day that has stuck with me more than any lesson I have learned in a classroom or any philosophy I have read in a book. Dr. Weinberg deserved the Chancellor’s Award that he received because as you could see, his lessons tend to stick with his students.
To Dr. Weinberg:
You taught me the value of providing opportunities for success. You could have walked right by me that day in 1996. You should know that when I have been confronted with the opportunity to do for another as you did for me – I have been following your lead.
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