Wednesday, December 17, 2008

My new boss and the guy in charge of your kids education for the next four years, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan









President-elect Barack Obama named head of Chicago schools, Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education. I looked on Wikipedia to see the history of the post and did not know it was created by Jimmy Carter. Some interesting characters have held the position including homophobes and gambling addicts. 

Saturday, December 6, 2008

I. Robot

Manchester University robot. Digital ID: 407661. New York Public Library
Legos and robots. What more could you ask for? Put them together and you have the Lego Mindstorm.  This article is one example of how schools are preparing kids for the future. Collaboration, programming, problem solving and fun.  First Lego League International is one of the main organizations creating events that involve schools with robotics programs. The article is about Oak Crest Middle School, where most PEC students will be attending middle school. With our  'technology' program in it's current state, will any PEC students be attending these events in the future, or just playing catchup? If you are at Legoland this weekend, check out the action! 

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Makin' Copies....Not!

From Copy Machine


My son came home Monday and let me know he didn't have homework. I was bothered, but not because he wouldn't have worksheets to complete each night. It seems our PEC copy machine is not working. It doesn't sound like it was working through at least Wednesday, but I may stand corrected. If that is the case, I wonder why the district at the very least doesn't get a replacement in while it is fixed. The copy machine is, if not the heart, at least one of the ventricles of a school. What does this say about district support of their teachers and schools? And only one copier? Really? Is this the same at all sites? Maybe teachers can dust off one of the old ditto machines in the storage room, if anyone still knows how to work them!