Sometimes I like to post silly things. So, here's a picture of a duck. Click on the picture to see it full size where it looks much better.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Duck!
Sometimes I like to post silly things. So, here's a picture of a duck. Click on the picture to see it full size where it looks much better.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Why a boarding school?
I'm often (and by often, I mean about one time) asked, "Why a boarding school?" After all, there are many who believe that boarding schools are horrible, abusive places where the students are deprived of any form of basic human dignity. While I suppose that may be true at some boarding schools, and was likely more true in the days of old, that certainly isn't true for most boarding schools today. A good boarding school staff will make sure that the students are well cared for during their time at the school.
So, why do I love boarding schools and why would I like to see Golden Tree be a boarding school? I've listed some of my personal reasons in no particular order.
Almost every school I've encountered, day or boarding, claims to educate the whole child - physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. However, I really haven't seen this in practice at the day schools. In jr. high and high schools, teachers are with students approximately 45 minutes a day. Not really much time to get to know them, or do anything except the standard academic development. In boarding schools, staff who are committed, and truly love what they do, can finally educate the whole child. It is these staff, those who will fully embrace the boarding school lifestyle, and take on the very challenging but very rewarding work of caring for the whole child that I would love to see at Golden Tree Academy.
So, why do I love boarding schools and why would I like to see Golden Tree be a boarding school? I've listed some of my personal reasons in no particular order.
- I can get to know the kids too a much greater degree than I possibly could in a day school.
- I can more fully help the students develop into mature and responsible adults than I can at a day school.
- The group activities are tons of fun.
- Nighttime tutoring sessions are an absolute blast
- More good memories are made in a month than can be made in a year in a day school.
- I have spent more than half of my professional education career in boarding programs.
- Helping students by caring for them when they are sick, comforting them after a particularly difficult day, etc., provide intrinsic rewards that could never be obtained in a day school
Almost every school I've encountered, day or boarding, claims to educate the whole child - physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. However, I really haven't seen this in practice at the day schools. In jr. high and high schools, teachers are with students approximately 45 minutes a day. Not really much time to get to know them, or do anything except the standard academic development. In boarding schools, staff who are committed, and truly love what they do, can finally educate the whole child. It is these staff, those who will fully embrace the boarding school lifestyle, and take on the very challenging but very rewarding work of caring for the whole child that I would love to see at Golden Tree Academy.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
It's all about the effort
For those of you who have young (i.e., 4-10 years), intelligent children, take a look at this pretty good synthesis on the topic of effort in Scientific American. In short, it states that children who coast through grade school, being highly praised throughout those years, will often struggle in later years as they have not learned the benefits of effort. Once something gets hard, the student begins to think they are not capable, and like a domino effect, effort declines substantially. This lack of effort reduces overall motivation and grades. The simple solution - emphasize effort over non-essential praise.
At Golden Tree, we search for students who are willing to put in their utmost effort. Sure, not all students will come to us willing to put in that effort, but we'll try to help them along. As far as the material being boring? Well, unfortunately, most of the stuff that students are mandated to learn in middle school and high school is boring, whether the child is gifted or not. As a private, independent school, we can do more than the traditional school, and mix in some interesting into the mix of mandated boring, but sometimes useful, curriculum. Just a few things Golden Tree will be known for include frequent educational trips, night time lessons, appropriate and interesting electives, and enriched academics, spotlighting the topics the students deem interesting.
At Golden Tree, we search for students who are willing to put in their utmost effort. Sure, not all students will come to us willing to put in that effort, but we'll try to help them along. As far as the material being boring? Well, unfortunately, most of the stuff that students are mandated to learn in middle school and high school is boring, whether the child is gifted or not. As a private, independent school, we can do more than the traditional school, and mix in some interesting into the mix of mandated boring, but sometimes useful, curriculum. Just a few things Golden Tree will be known for include frequent educational trips, night time lessons, appropriate and interesting electives, and enriched academics, spotlighting the topics the students deem interesting.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Happy News
Our application for federal recognition of not for profit status has been submitted to the IRS. Let's hope they approve it. To celebrate, here are some happy links.
Autistic Basketball Player
The National Anthem of the United States - when things go wrong, then magnificently right.
Autistic Basketball Player
The National Anthem of the United States - when things go wrong, then magnificently right.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Safety and Helmets
Safety has always been a huge issue for me. At the summer camps I have worked at, I have often had to disagree with others who wanted to do certain trips due to safety reasons. Fortunately, even when I lost out, no accidents have happened, and most of the time, they won't. But it's that one time that the accident does happen that can become a problem. I hope that day never comes while the students are under my care.
At the boarding school I previouslly worked at, the rules for riding a bike or skateboard were simple, wear a helmet. While staff always did a good job to make sure kids wore a helmet, I often had concerns about the actual fitting of the helmets. The straps were always very loose, and none of the other staff took the time to show kids how to properly wear a helmet. Kids would complain that I was the only dorm parent that made them tighten the straps of their helmets. I always had to show them how easy it was for that helmet to come off with the way they wore them. I'm sorry I had to do this, but I think it was important. I will explain why.
My mom's life was probably saved by a helmet after a nasty bike spill. My cousin's life was probably saved by wearing a motorcycle helmet. In both instances, the helmets were substantially damaged due to impact, but they did their job. I've, sadly, had two others in my life who were not wearing helments and who have not been so lucky - one a bike accident, the other a skateboarding accident. Had my mom or cousin not been wearing their helmets properly, they could have easily come off during the fall, thus leading to major head injury, or even worse.
Due to my experiences with knowing people who have worn helmets, thus preventing major head injuries, and seeing the tragic results of those who haven't, I must continue to insist that whenever I am in a supervisory position with kids, that I am able to require the proper use of helmets when they are riding a bike or skating. Should Golden Tree ever become reality, one of my requirements will be just this, proper use of helmets. If the student can't, then the student will have his or her bike, skates, scooter, skateboard, etc., taken away. They might not like it, their parents may not like it, but I'd rather have them angry at me than injured.
Accidents happen. They are part of life. Please, when you are out biking or skating, reduce your risk of major injury by wearing a helmet. Make sure your loved ones do as well.
At the boarding school I previouslly worked at, the rules for riding a bike or skateboard were simple, wear a helmet. While staff always did a good job to make sure kids wore a helmet, I often had concerns about the actual fitting of the helmets. The straps were always very loose, and none of the other staff took the time to show kids how to properly wear a helmet. Kids would complain that I was the only dorm parent that made them tighten the straps of their helmets. I always had to show them how easy it was for that helmet to come off with the way they wore them. I'm sorry I had to do this, but I think it was important. I will explain why.
My mom's life was probably saved by a helmet after a nasty bike spill. My cousin's life was probably saved by wearing a motorcycle helmet. In both instances, the helmets were substantially damaged due to impact, but they did their job. I've, sadly, had two others in my life who were not wearing helments and who have not been so lucky - one a bike accident, the other a skateboarding accident. Had my mom or cousin not been wearing their helmets properly, they could have easily come off during the fall, thus leading to major head injury, or even worse.
Due to my experiences with knowing people who have worn helmets, thus preventing major head injuries, and seeing the tragic results of those who haven't, I must continue to insist that whenever I am in a supervisory position with kids, that I am able to require the proper use of helmets when they are riding a bike or skating. Should Golden Tree ever become reality, one of my requirements will be just this, proper use of helmets. If the student can't, then the student will have his or her bike, skates, scooter, skateboard, etc., taken away. They might not like it, their parents may not like it, but I'd rather have them angry at me than injured.
Accidents happen. They are part of life. Please, when you are out biking or skating, reduce your risk of major injury by wearing a helmet. Make sure your loved ones do as well.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Today, while making my normal rounds on the Internet, I stumbled across two articles, written by elementary students, about boarding school. The articles can be found at:
Both these articles are about life at boarding school, and the fun that goes along with it.
I know many people picture boarding schools as a place more akin to a prison. And, in fact, some of the schools for troubled teens are a bit like prisons. But for the most part, they aren't. Golden Tree Academy is designed around the needs of the kids. Not only will they need to work hard for their classes, but they are expected to play, interact, socialize, etc., just as all kids in normal schools do. The difference? At boarding schools, your friendships can become extremely tight.
Both these articles are about life at boarding school, and the fun that goes along with it.
I know many people picture boarding schools as a place more akin to a prison. And, in fact, some of the schools for troubled teens are a bit like prisons. But for the most part, they aren't. Golden Tree Academy is designed around the needs of the kids. Not only will they need to work hard for their classes, but they are expected to play, interact, socialize, etc., just as all kids in normal schools do. The difference? At boarding schools, your friendships can become extremely tight.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Sodas in Boarding Schools
I'm addicted to soda, pop, or coke, depending on which part of the country you are from. It looks like soda is the preferred term in all the boarding school areas. Seriouslly, I tried doing without soda today. I gave in, and wound up drinking a soda for dinner. But that was going to be my only soda for the day. By 8:45 pm, I had to have another soda! I tried just drinking water, but I couldn't do it. I don't know why I'm addicted. It's not the caffeine. I can do just fine with caffeine free soda. I just need the soda.
At one of the boarding schools I worked at, students were not allowed to have sodas on campus, unless provided by the school for special events. Students were able to purchase sodas during town-time and on weekend trips, but those had to be consumed before coming back on campus. Needless to say, many kids snuck soda onto school grounds. The other school I worked at did allow soda. They even had a soda machine on campus. None of the students were excessive with their soda drinking, as far as I know. Mostly one or two cans a day.
If and when Golden Tree Academy becomes operational, we will need to decide on a policy for sodas. Should we allow sodas on campus? If we do, we would have to monitor consumption to ensure that some kid isn't drinking too much. If we don't, students will still get it, but hide it, but they probably won't have as much access to it. Oh decisions decisions. What is your opinion? Should a residential school for mostly middle school aged students allow sodas on campus?
At one of the boarding schools I worked at, students were not allowed to have sodas on campus, unless provided by the school for special events. Students were able to purchase sodas during town-time and on weekend trips, but those had to be consumed before coming back on campus. Needless to say, many kids snuck soda onto school grounds. The other school I worked at did allow soda. They even had a soda machine on campus. None of the students were excessive with their soda drinking, as far as I know. Mostly one or two cans a day.
If and when Golden Tree Academy becomes operational, we will need to decide on a policy for sodas. Should we allow sodas on campus? If we do, we would have to monitor consumption to ensure that some kid isn't drinking too much. If we don't, students will still get it, but hide it, but they probably won't have as much access to it. Oh decisions decisions. What is your opinion? Should a residential school for mostly middle school aged students allow sodas on campus?
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