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