Competition is the way. I witnessed the purest form this morning, sixth and seventh grading competing for the title of "loudest" class. They were fired up. Trying hard to reach victory. Gain the title, respect, glory. There is never experimentation with competition, you win or you don't. I've spent my whole life competing in sports and superior grades. Competition consumed my being, my daily routine, life habits, outlooks, conversations...I wanted to win. Isn't that what it's all about, winning? How genius to put the simplest form of initiative into a schooling system that needs it most. We compete in the job market, on the high way, the morning after Thanksgiving, prom dresses, sports cars, yachts, sports (even if we have never played for the team, we are rooting), grocery lines, for a significant other, best looks, body, personality, to win elections, we are always competing! Let's compete for something worthwhile, education! Make our schools compete. Be cordial and respectful, live in the same city, but still be in competition. Think of sports teams. Opposing people gather under one roof for the essence of pure competition. Imagine if that many people, with that much vigor, that much spirit, that much optimism, hope, passion, unwavering faith, invested energies in education? In other words, what if middle school education was as important as Monday Night Football? Pick a team and root for them, to the death! Even if you paint your stomach and break beer bottles over the head of another, you are passionate, and that is great. (Watch out for the law!) So much money goes into men throwing and catching a ball within a rectangle. So much time. So much encouragement. What if that was invested in schools and children born into disadvantaged circumstance? If we rooted for them, they would perform just as well as your favorite sports star. Perhaps better, brains and ball players. In my opinion, leaving a more advantageous mark.

Improve in performance.

Problem in inner city: school, after school, living conditions, health, violence.

A student transferred into Academy prep for sixth grade from local public school. Her comments included: we are supposed to bring paper? what, you are assigning homework? wow, you graded my paper and left comments?

If school extended hours, children taken out of street for more hours than before--no need to worry about separate after school program-transportation and attendance--child is already at school. Academic teachers could leave--or not--and be replaced with after school teachers, from 3-6: extra curricular, computers, study hall, clean school, homework, snack, media center*paid teachers or volunteers, students for community service, students in local college, teacher add it to syllabus...public school bus system pushed back later. Living conditions not transformed overall, but with more options: room can be brighter with artwork, better grade clothes, god hoping have computers donated. Health improved through more nutritious meal options at school, no more pizza and corn dogs, come on, that is disgusting and ridiculous, real juice, no soda, no sweets, more carbs, protein, food WE KNOW IS HEALTHY!, violence would be cut back because students would be off streets more amounts of time, have alternate means of exerting energy and expression, more in accordance with law, feeling of accomplishment and that someone cares, there is hope.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

Wasting life in bars and night clubs.

A new plan of education. Ways to help children in poor neighborhoods.

http://www.fostercaremonth.org/TheCampaign/CoreMessages/Pages/default.aspx

THE PRIORITY:

Older youth are in most urgent need of attention. Nearly half of the young people in foster care are over the age of 10. Each year, more than 20,000 young Americans age out of foster care, most without the appropriate resources, skills or options they will need to live independently.

http://www.ktul.com/news/people.html

http://www.practicalenvironmentalist.com/category/people-making-a-difference

http://www.rd.com/people-making-a-difference

Should religious and leaders be used in same sentence?

EDUCATION

success is much more than passing a test

there is a crisis in inner city schools

demographics:

what is included in food stamps?

innovative ways to be creative

incorporate into classroom, basic curriculum

exert energy through other medium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act

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