Hey, wait a minute...!

Around three, give a month or two, reality took a turn for me.
At the least, curiosity was not an option anymore.
Curiosity, pecularity and obscurity took hold of my soul.

How can one live life fully without being grounded in meaning?
Seems unreasonable to me that I should not take time out from routine and
know the truth of it all.

"Off with their heads!"  I'll never forget those harsh words impacting my ears.
What could she mean?  Why do such a terrible thing?
I resolved to spend as much time as needed to answer that question.

At last, it become apparent that three year old capacity was no match for advanced political banter.
However, a deep yearning persisted and demanded some level of resolve.
Years latter, the framwork of my early yearing was by chance discovered.  It goes like this.

"If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am for myself alone, what am I?
If not now, when?"

 By:  Rabbi Heil

By:  Bert J. Wainwright

Education Free Fall

So, since the beginning of the first school
all appeared so, so hopeful.  However, like it or not,
education continues a steady and relentless free fall.

You ask, "Why, how come, it's news to me".
The allure of education is for the individual a chance for perfection. 
Bewhare the sad truth.  Without question, you must exchange perfection for mediocrity

Indeed, very near the beginning, individual asperation and worth are exchanged quietly for the collective  good.  The quiet vail of mediocrity begins to choke the unknowing soul.  Of course, an every present caveat assures everyone that good for all must surely be good for the individual.

Find a place at the table of many.  Rather, how about a seat under the table in the dark.  Please wait for a light through the cracks to make your day.  Light shines through a crack in the table.  Grasp a  tear drop and wet your appetite for lost perfection.

You question, how could this be.  Well, think back, reminisce, have you achieved the perfection desired beginning with day one?  Are you doing what you really want to do?  Do you know your true talent, much less put it to practice for self and others?

Some say, yes, completly, well almost.  Others say a little, it's yet to come.  You out there that have achieved perfection, I ask you, can you truely distinguish your self  from others?  Is your integrity whole or merely hand maden to others?  Are you settled with what you have become?

Let us begin anew as if day one.  Regain your self, integrity and power.  Then, freely give it over to another, your friend, lover and neighbor. Have a truly happy and prosperious life.

By:  Bert J. Wainwright, M.ED

The Price of Sanity

In the end truth reigns high.

This is a journey through time beginning with the truth and ending the same.

• You accept a lie to be accepted.
• A lie spares one the agony of seeing yourself or others as they really are.
• Lies often hide the shame of truth.
• Lies reveal where we want to go but lack sufficient courage.
• Happiness not yet achieved begs for lies to go away.
• A dead conscience rises from lies.
• Lies tell the story of good intentions never realized.
• Lies are just plain cheap and easier to do than truth.
• Friends feel better when you lie, especially about them.
• Short term gain seems easier to achieve with lies.
• Truth brings happiness because it is freedom.
• Lies cannot exist along side truth and freedom.
• Lies hide fear and eventually causes an end to life.

By: Bert J. Wainwright, M.ED

Heard A Story Yesterday

Just call him Billy. A staff person in same building where Billy was kept described him as aggressive, loud and trying to break out away from his caring caregivers. While not saying so, she implied that he was dangerous and unpredicable. After all, he tries to butt his caregiven when forced to stay somewhere/anywhere he does not wish to stay. Oh, beware when he is forced to stare you right in the eyeballs for more than fifteen seconds.

Now, look at this picture. What would you do if faced with the same or similar situation? Please review the following realities...

• You are forced to leave a place-like-home and go somewhere else.
• Your thoughts and concerns about change are ignored or at best trivialized.
• If you try to return to your confort zone your efforts are described as if you were a criminal trying to breakout of prison. Well, at least they got that right.
• You are forced to say what you want, when really they want you to say what they want you to say you want.
• You are not asked to identify what hurts or pleases you. Who cares anyway, as long as you are good.
• Imagine a fly in your eye or any thing else, and if you swat it away you are labled aggressive and violent.
• Consider, your choice of friends, teachers and lovers is never considered or respected.
• What about people who try to help you that never enlist your active, conscious acceptance and support in learning so called life skills.
• What about a minimum of forty hours a week dealing with caregivers that intentionally try to fool and manipulate you?
• And when you desperatly try to push, shove, and use your body to bang away at unwanted stimulus imposed on you from well wishers you are called violent, a mortal danger to yourself and others and need to be institualized.
• Finally, prison seems a better place to be.

Any autistic persons reading this blog post are invited to add their own thoughts...

By: Bert J. Wainwright, M.Ed

Sense And Nonsense Of Education

Sense: Education is for all.
Nonsense: If you can afford it.

Sense: The educated are independent learners.
Nonsense: Lessons are essentially teacher directed.

Sense: Problem solving is an important objective
Nonsense: That is politically acceptable solutions.

Sense: Good behavior is desirable
Nonsense: Constant failure creates angry students.

Sense: Individualization is good.
Nonsense: Is ignored by many teachers.

Sense: Creativity is good.
Nonsense: Much of teaching/learning involves known outcomes.

Sense: Readers are invited to contribute their own ideas
Nonsense: Same...

Good Solutions That Last

• Good solutions can have a short or a long life. Each can result in change but only one can having lasting impact. Short life, long life: What makes the difference?
  
  Good solutions...
  
  Begin with a clear description of problem.
  Exhibit relevance, scope and depth.
  Are linked with problems that have a history.
  Do not fade with time.
  Serve positively many people
  Often, inspire new solutions to old problems.
  Embody, suffering and happiness.
  Are always there in front of you.
  Make some people nervous.
  Finally, are intellectual and heart-felt.

Anything, But Real Change!

What would it take to transform today's education environment into a state of the art system based upon the latest technology, up to date curriculum theory and practice and uncompromising dedication to education that works for all?

Consider the following thoughts before answering the introductory question.

Teachers, administrators, parents and students must accept the proposition that learning is not a choice but simple is always present and functioning, and cannot be turned on or off.

To be educated minimally means that a person has knowledge and can use it for a variety of ends sometimes promoting good and bad deeds alike.

Effort, glee and consternation in the pursuit of education are firmly anchored within the individual person and never fully appreciated or understood by others.

Day to day education looks nothing like it's end of year outcome and the two must be thoughtfully connected a step at a time.

If teaching intends to convey information to a person, then, how that person thinks about information is most vital for a successful and meaningful outcome.

Education goes on inevitably and knows no end: The role of teachers, administrators and parents is facilitative, and should not hurry or restrain student learning.

If learning is contineous and highly personal, how do facilitators link with learners? Hint, ask the learner for directions.

Although pieces of the learning pie are everywhere, the assembly of those pieces into meaningful, sustained thoughts and actions resides within and through deliberative actions of the individual learner.

What do you think so far...?

The Classroom Visit

Come in, visit this classroom,
Don't fear, you can see,
It was made for you and me.

Space is wide and deep,
Room for you and me,
Cast your eyes, can't you see

Share the long and short of it,
We were ment to be,
It was made for you and me

By: Bert J. Wainwright

Pieces...

Bells ring,
Long day finally ends,
Seems like a piece of me,
Is left behind.

Recollections persist,
Never mind, leave my mind,
Let new thoughts prevail,
Forever lost a school days tale.

Heart falls down, down,
Must pull together,
All my hearts,
Little pieces.

By: Bert J. Wainwright

The good teacher...

The good teacher puts time aside each day to just listen to students.

The good teacher uses his/her eyes to see what he/she cannot hear.

The good teacher uses his/her ears to hear what he/she cannot see.

The good teacher gently touches what he/she cannot see or hear.

The good teacher teaches his/her students to see, hear and touch the world as it really is and nothing more.

By: Bert J. Wainwright

Please, forgive my bluntness.

At the completion of any school day, how many children learn never, ever, make a mistake.

Not withstanding collective good, only individual people make a difference.

Often, the first thing we learn about school is dismay.

My parents are not my first teachers. I' am...

Schools are sometimes places where students learn to hate school.

Some students are successful in school, provided they go along and fit into an existing mold.

The next thing I want to learn is what did I just learn and why, what for...

By: Bert J. Wainwright


Eating alphabet soup is one way to digest the alphabet. Now, what did that letter I just swallowed look like?

Possibly, extra time added to the school day will just add more chances to fail.

School is a great place to be like someone else.

The first school ever built was intended to keep you from asking questions that might upset the status quo.

Reading, writing, counting and speaking are just great. Now, when do we learn to think?

Got nerve, write you own blunt thoughts.

By: Bert J. Wainwright

Rallies for Handicapped: Do they really work?

Just received an email reminder to sign up for upcoming rally for disabilities at Louisiana state capital in Baton Rouge.

I have a better idea. Why not add an additional strategy such as...

All nonprofit agencies/programs and private agencies/individuals should meet and put up as much money as possible and hire a full time high dollar lobbying firm or individual lobbyist.

Unfortunate, but true, money talks. Lobbyist will go after congressman using the "sympathy" and "what's in for me" strategy.

Lobbyist efforts will be ongoing and stay at the table side of congressman/women. I know this approach doesn't reflect the rightful emotions that people feel, but instead takes a hardheaded approach.

Certainly, many good people fight hard in behalf of handicapped persons; however, the time has come to review the results gained by sympathy driven efforts.

Additionally, I suggest a sympathy and lobbyist plan built around dogged one on one techniques and supported by internet networking. Remember computers can work all night with little pay.

Yes, I hate lobbyist just like everyone else. Nevertheless, we need desperately to broaden our approach to helping handicapped person everyday, everywhere.

Sincerely,
Bert Wainwright

My Leg Is Bent

What we all share in common is imperfection. And, that's what drives us into the ground or over the next rampart.

Why not just brand everyone with their red badge and be done with it. Once past the hurt and enbarrassment, we can get on with living.

Given this or that imperfection, let's all spit at the same time and wash life's dirty little secrets away. Imperfection is what it is...a cloud that obscures unbound perfection.

Once the crying is done, we must face the truth. No matter what heaven or hell tries to dictate, we are responsible for ourselves. Past, present and future!

Before we take the next crooked step with our unique bent leg, we must admit our choices define individual destiny. Hardly a breath is taken and we agoinze, and are summond to life with out
excuses.

By: Bert J. Wainwright

Preschool and Big Bucks, Hum!

Preschool education is not rocket science.
However, you need the following:

A good rocking chair. Use as much as possible. If you please, include yourself for a few rocks.

Set of blocks
Some old clothes
Books with nursery rhymes and pictures
water paint and paper
puzzles and legos
plastic bug and plant jar
tape measure and ruler, your husbands fishing weight scale and plastic measuring cup
plenty of simple plastic/cardboard containers
puzzles, e-mail me for instructions on how to make your own
homemade drum, simple string and make your own percussion instruments
A few tables and chaires

And, that is about it (x10 M/L)...most of which you have at home or can buy cheap at Walmart

Oh! don't forget...teaching technique requires that grown-ups interact with children at eye level, verbalize what she/he/they are doing and encourage questions and decision making.
Also, only child creations/work are allowed on walls.

Reader ideas...

Finally, going back to humble beginnings, parents must visit class at least once each week.

Have a happy day!

Bert Wainwright

Preschool: Time Out Please!

Close all preschool for thirty days.

Suspend practice of scheduling preschool enrollment and attendance based on needs of working parents.

Preschool programs must originate from the home. Preschool must be an extension of home with parents engaged as primary caregivers.

Institute preschool program design based on needs of children. Flexible programing must allow children to access resources, activities and flexible time schedules.

Social, emotional, physical and cognitive needs must be viewed holistically. Child development must be viewed holistically.

End preschool time out when all of the above prescriptions are implemented and function satisfactory.

Children must remain priority one!

Begin the revolution now!

Bert J. Wainwright

Stimulas Money and Special Education

How should money be spent?

Spend it where it will do the most good for the most people for the longest time possible.

Having said that mouthful, the next step is to define "good".

Why not ask local school districts what they need . Check the stimulus package. Does it say anything about need assessment?

Pontification from either direction, top down or down up does not make any sense.

Here we go again. The flies will spoil good meet!

Nexus: Knowledge, Teaching and Learning

Work in progress...

A set of limits applicable to knowledge, teaching and learning is necessary to help establish a working paradigm.

• Knowledge is information identified and organized through objective experimentation, and social validation or consensus.
• Teaching assumes a teacher who strives to convey directly knowledge or facilitates the construction and discovery of knowledge by any learner.
• Learning assumes any person interested in the discovery and construction of knowledge for self improvement and the improvement of others.

Possible connections between knowledge, teaching and learning follows:

• All elements require objectivity
• All elements necessitate free flow of information.
• All elements are interactive

Your ideas...

School: Like A Temple

All money changers must leave now.
The work of education is not for sale.

Money without vision will fail education.
Vision without science will fail.

Foremost, Dignity must reign for all.
Shall we begin our task earnestly?

I'll Be With You Always!

Oh, another day peaks through the morning haze.
I walk alone down a dusty road that does not faze.
I'll be with you always!

School building can be seen just down the road.
My thoughts run wild and I forebode.
I'll be with you always!

Doors reach out without a kind enbrace,
My legs refuse to pick up the pace.
I'll be with you always!

Stop, is this a place for me?
My body shakes for all to see.
I'll be with you always!

Past that threshold and face the day.
Please, please listen to what I say.
I'll be with you always!

Never fear, my brave cohorts.
For I share your lonely hearts.
I'll be with you always!

Whisper to Me: First Day of School

Quiet now!
I'm so excited.
But, so small.

Quiet now!
Is there a place for me?
I don't need much space.

Quiet now!
I shutter...
She touches me gently.

Reader thoughts are welcome.
......................................
......................................

Shout now!
It's just like home.
Yours and mine.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

No doubt in my mind, a leaky school roof can interfere with learning.
But, fixing one does not assure learning by a long shot.

And, high dollar breakfast programs will fill empty tummies.
But, not being hungry dose not assure learning by a long shot.

Just how we get from roofs that don't leak and full tummies to students that learn to read, write, speak and count is still an unsolved mystery.

Education desperately needs some form of stimulus package that identifies the real culprits undermining learning experience for so many thousands of our young people.

Sterotypic Words Are Cheap, Efficient And Thoughtless

Whenever speaking about specific persons with a disability, avoid using words that are meant to describe common shared characterics of groups. Real persons disabled for whatever reason deserve to be identified by their unique individual qualities.

Yes, what I am suggesting does take more time. However, extra time will allow recognition and appreciation of a special person with unique qualities that can never be adequately represented through shorthand verbage or generalizations.

Bert J. Wainwright

Universal Pre-School, Yes But...!

If universal Pre-School means child development, e.g. childcare opportunities for all children regardless of social or economic status, then, we all should rise and applaud vigorously.

However, an important caveat is worth mentioning: All child development programs must be organized to insure the availability of flexible developmetal appropriate services. For example, hours and days of the week attendance, and generic or targeted program activities must be readily available, and goals must be easily understood.

The worth of any child care services is whether it provides optimal services to individual children. Optimal services supports physical, social, emotional and cognitive growth without child stress or anxiety. Parent work related goals, professinal bias, experimental trends and community priorties are secondary to the needs of individual children.

While child care in or out the home can offer significant child development benefits, the home should always be considered the primary anchor for supporting the child's health and well being.
Parents are not only a child's first teacher, but they are in a unique position to more fully understand and appreciated their child's uniques. From day one, parents must accept, vigorisly defend and maintain a lead role in nuturing their child.

Bert J. Wainwright

Kindergarten Lights

Half past twelve
night is coming,
feet dangling from the bedside
wish bed could be defied.

Click goes the switch
my thoughts run round,
bring down the night
and, shrouding my sight.

A light glimmers
bringing back hope,
my thoughts run round
and hopeful thoughts resound.

Effective Teachers My Eye!

This post is in response to recent commentary concerning "effective teachers" written by Andrew J. Rotherham in eduwonk blog. My purpose is a thoughtful critique of ideas not people.

I suggest the usefulness of the expression "effective teachers" will fade and die along with "credentialed teacher" and "experienced teacher". The reason is simple. All of these expressions fail to factor in past, present and future context. Basically, context like change shows no mercy to ideas and concepts that lack the capacity or fail to evolve and adapt over time. One might say, these expresions emerge and are buried in the same original ground seperated from all others.

An alternative focus ought to identify "effective learners". An "effective learner" is any individual that can at least read, write, speak and count at or above the fifth grade according to standards acceptable to academia, politicians and consumers of education. These competencies are minimal skills required to pursue advanced technical training or higher education. Without these skills success in life can be difficult and limited.

Once we identify "effective learners", we must identify personal and environmental circumstances with an eye for discovering emerging and current individual learning paradigmes. An accurate paradigm should help predict future success in learning. Failed predictions will hopefully stimulate the researcher to discover faulty assumptions and analysis, and try again.
Successful predictions, invite further exploration of paradigm patterns shared by other "effective learners". Possibly, a valid and realiable theory of learning might emerge from current chaos in education today.

Always, the tree of education has roots leading to the individual learner. Useful education ideas and concepts must be firmly anchored to living and dynamic persons who are in constant search for adaptive strategies that supports their continued success as "effective learners".
Their are no effective schools or systems of education. Even teachers succumb to the grinding cog of the system. What is enduring in education today? Well, at any given arbitrary end point of the day, a steady gaze through the fog of time reveals failed learners and "effective learners". They are survivors and have endured the folly and fortune called education.

Certainly, good people, informative books and fine buildings can play an important role in education. But, at the end of the day, individuals press go or no go when it comes to learning. I implore those who care about education to focus first on individual learners. While we can expect to meander and fall prey to false promises in our search for education insights, please end the day celebrating people who often succeed, sometimes fail, but always rise each morning and engage life's challenges and opportunities.

Bert John Wainwright

Did You Say Digital?

I am astounded by our preoccupation with the so called digital learning age.

Rather, should we not concern ourselves more with what, where and when we communicate?

By the way, digital is no more or less than a new way to electronically package information. At best digital allows a faster, visually and auditory satisfying way of communicating. Really, some of us are so spoiled'

What a disaster so far, when we digest a dismally poor record of no significantly improving reading and math test scores for at risk students . What we need is insight, forethought, relevance and overall a better sense of timing. Perhaps, we should return to using flags or maybe smoke. Most of all, we need to get the message right.

Now, digital can't give us insight or prudence. Don't you agree?

Someone, Say Something!

Today CNN rolled out the "Autism Partnership" intervention model for persons labeled "Autistic.

What was left out is the connection of "Autism Partnership" program with ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) philosophy and approach to helping autistic persons.

My complaint is simple...CNN should have clearly spelled out the limitations of ABA methods.
Further, If families were fully informed of ABA limitations they might seek alternative programs.

Come on CNN, tell the whole story or nothing at all! Truly help people help themselves with accurate and complete information.

An Autistic Survivor

Education Oversight

Recently, ninety residents of Lake Charles LA. responded to a survey question exploring issues that could impact quality of life: Among other things, all wanted quality teachers in each classroom.

I wish to raise the stake. First, I believe we need quality parents in every home!

Bert John

EducationSignPost: Education Upside Down

Basic Ideas:

1. Teaching and learning always begins and ends with the student pressing the go no go buttom.
2. Learning need not be eccentric. Two or more learners can produce results provided individual integrity is valued.
3. Every meaningful discovery of fact often sets the stage for creativety.
4. Fact combined with creativity can lead to ever expanding horizons.
5. Top down education sometimes robs the teacher and learner of opportunities to exercise ownership of the past, present and future

Education Upside Down

"Consult Education"

Details to follow...

Bert John

Thoughts by an "Autistic Survivor"

"However launched and for whatever purpose, I find loneliness and inspiration. Being alone simply makes life easier to see. Given solitude, I cherish little choices that define not ends but beginnings that tantalize and beg appreciation and resolve."

Autistic Survivor

Advancing the "Autistic" challenge

All "Autistic" intervention plans must enable the following critical elements:

1. Ownership of behavioral issues resides with challenged individuals.
2. Intervention must respect individual integrity
3. Reciprocal satisfaction shall guide all measures of progress.

My list of critical elements need not be viewed as complete. Feel free to add your own insights. As always , consult an "Autistic" survivor for added insight.

Bert John.

Words Can Hurt

I suggest a ninety day moratorium on the use of label "Autistic".

Why you ask? Because, many persons using the label "Autistic" tend to substitute an appreciation of the whole person with mindless oversimplification and superficiality.

I further challenge readers to seek out an "Autistic Survivor". Engage that person and appreciate the whole person.

Bert John

reaching out...

I am pleased to meet you.

Bert John