All Hands on Deck

Initially, I was to write on the subject of working with one's hands weeks ago. I had two reason to do so. The first reason is that working with one's hands and vocational skills in general are devalued in the U.S. , I think. Each time I hear someone promoting the idea that everyone should go to college I become annoyed. The truth is everyone shouldn't go to college. The reason everyone shouldn't go is not due to lack of brain power as some authors are making a living out of promoting. I attempt to read a book by one of these authors recently and couldn't get pass the introduction because of the veiled class and race bias arguments. I think for many people college is not the best learning environment.

Also, just because someone doesn't to college, but does gain valuable skills in other venues, that person shouldn't be devalued. Hence, I much rather a plumber who received on-the-job training fix my drain than someone who graduated college with a degree in water management.

Somewhere along the line we started placing more value on thinking than doing, in my opinion. With all the schooling I have, none of it gives me as much pleasure as designing and construction learning toys, particularly out of wood, even though I also work in metal, textile, and plastic. Mind you my skill level in woodworking is nothing to brag about, but I get the job done--at least to my satisfaction.

This brings me to the second reason for wanting to write about working with one's hands. Weeks ago I read a New York Times Magazine essay titled The Case for Working With One's Hand by Matthew B. Crawford. Crawford wrote about finding joy in working with his hands and managing a motorcycle shop while having a Ph.D. He also had expanded these ideas in his book Shop Class as Soulcraft. The essay was great, but I procrastinated writing about his essay and my views about working with one's hands. Then this morning watched Crawford on the Steven Colbert show. And later in the day I stumbled upon an article about Crawford's book on the Financial Times website after reading a Tom Friedman's article concerning America's need to invent its way to a better future--note the previous post.

So, I finally felt compelled to write this post. I'm sure I'll have more to say about our cultural view that graduating college is evidence of intelligence.

How to Get to There From Here

When people indicate that education is the key to success, would those same people buy into the idea of not allowing kids to having driving license if they didn't complete high school? Well, that the idea of tying receipt of a driver's license to completion of high school is that of Craig Barrett, former head of Intel according to New York Times' Tom Friedman in an Op-ed titled Invent, Invent, Invent.

Disappearing Newspapers

I'm working on a project with newspapers for 3-6 year olds, so I started collecting newspapers available in NW Florida. This idea eas developed from a ritual I started in NY when I live there years ago, on Sundays I purchase the NY Times along with the local papers for a quiet day of reading. I wanted to include papers in addition to those papers for the project: the Atlantic Constitution, the Tallahassee Democrat, and the Financial Times, etc.

Therefore, I went to Books-a-Million and Barnes and Noble, and supermarkets for these papers. To my surprise none of these other papers are available. Years ago I realized that the Tallahassee Democrat from the state capitol would be difficult to find in NW Florida. Now many other non-local papers have been curtailed. A worker at Barnes and Noble informed me that the person who used to manage out-of-town papers for the area died several months ago, and no one has replaced him. Could the death of one person cause the demise of sale of some out-of-town papers in my region of the state?

In any case, I'm not on the bandwagon with other people who are ready for the demise of print papers for on-line news. I'm finding the difference to be stark. Daily I read many national papers on line as well as a wide range of blogs. I'm finding that those sources are extremely similar to each other in what is reported. What is missing to me is the visceral effect of having a printed paper with stories that are below the radar of the wire services.

Moreover, there is my personal history with newspapers that is in jeopardy of being lost. Part of my reason for developing the newspaper project for kids was to share stories about newspapers in my life. Although neither of my parents completed high school--my father only completed the 2nd grade before being forced to work on a farm; and my mother completed the 11th grade before being forced to get a job to help the family--we always had a newspaper subscription. I want to show the children how we made transfers of the "funny papers" on Saturdays using soap and a clean sheet of paper. Also, I want to explain to kids how selling the Grit paper proved to be a poor idea for me when I was 13. Of course, I want to tell the students about my travails in trying to outsmarting bullies when I had a paper route.

This history is important, I think. Children want to hear these stories as well. Weaving the value of newspapers to the public and establishing the foundation for reading, e.g., reading left to right, top to bottom, letters form words, words form sentences; as an overview for future learning are also important.

Well, my project may take longer than I anticipated, but I'll find the papers I need to show show variety in format. The good part is that the rush of dopamine in my brain when I have all the parts for the project completed will probably knock me down.

What is the purpose of education?

For quite a while, I've had the view that we spend a huge amount of time educating students primarily toward high-paying jobs with little emphasis on creating quality citizens with jobs. I guess an argument can be made that the push toward high career jobs is necessary to help students repay a mountain of college loans. In any case, I'm glad that I'm not alone in my view of how we educate our children. Today I read an article that shared some of my views about how we educate. Below is an except from an article titled Selling Education, Manufacturing Technocrats, Torturing Souls: The Tyranny of Being Practical by William Astore:

Based on a decidedly non-bohemian life - 20 years' service
in the military and 10 years teaching at the college level - I'm convinced
that American education, even in the worst of times, even recognizing
the desperate need of most college students to land jobs, is far too
utilitarian, vocational, and narrow. It's simply not enough to prepare
students for a job: We need to prepare them for life, while challenging
them to think beyond the confines of their often parochial and
provincial upbringings. (As a child of the working class from a
provincial background, I speak from experience.)

Would You Drug Your Child for Control?

On SlashDot.org I found an article that references a device that delivers drugs to a child to keep the child sedated in home settings. Here is the link to the device. I find this device scary.

As I'm writing this, I just remembered a situation from around 1971 when I worked a summer job as an Allied mover in NY. I overheard a medical doctor, while I helped move his family in Connecticut, remark that he had given his infant a sleeping drug to allow the baby to be quiet during the family's upcoming driving trip. I found that situation incredulous at the time as well as now.

What I'm Reading

I'm currently reading Iconoclast by Gregory Berns. I made the choice to read this book by happenstance in that I saw it on display at a library and thought I remembered something about it from a program at BookTV on C-SPAN.

Although I'm only about halfway through, one idea that sticks out is Berns's view about the pressure we feel to conform to the wishes of the group: "for most people the will to stand alone for one's opinion does not come easily. (p. 87)

What is striking about this idea is that it brought to mind a March 15, 2009 report at Science Daily concerning a research study that indicates that children as young as 3 and 4 years feel the need to conform to the wishes of the group. I now wonder whether the need to conform is innate? Moreover, can we encourage children to risk being different and standing up for their ideas without creating more pressure on them?

An Interesting Way to Ensure Children Study

Here is a British article that highlights how parents ensure their children study.

Boosting Your Creativity

New Scientist is featuring an article titled Eight Ways to Boost Your Creativity. The idea that piqued my interest most was the one that indicated that the color blue helps a person to be more creative.

In thinking about colors, I'm reminded of a study years ago that suggested that a pink environment made boys less aggressive. The report indicated that when boys, who were acting out, were placed in a pink room, the boys immediately calmed down.

Free Stories for Children

I found the link for this site, that has stories for children, at Freakonomics.com.

Earth Day 2009

Today I planted an onion from the root and stem of an onion I bought last Saturday--I'm not sure which end the growth would occur, if at all. Since last Earth Day, I've become more ecology conscious. For example, Instead of purchasing African Violets annually, as I have for years, last year I started developing new plants from the leaves of my older African Violet plants.

Another positive ecological change I've made is with using vinegar for cleaning instead of using commercial cleaning products. I add a small amount when washing dishes by hand. Outside the house, I'm using recipes from Jerry Baker books to care for my lawn and outside plants. His ingredients avoids chemicals that are harmful to the environment.

In activities I've developed for 3-6 year olds, I have reduce my reliance on plastic and products from China. Instead, I make products out of wood, textile, and recycled metal to support activities.

Times Are Changing

Come together 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you'd better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

The Times They Are A-Changin'
Bob Dylan


In the 1960s when I was 12, I was selected to represent my church at a convention for several days. I no longer can recall how this all came about. I lived in Charleston, SC, and the convention was 100 miles away in Columbia, the state capital. I think my father, who was an official in the church, had a hand in the decision to select me. I received a point of contact, instructions, a bus ticket, and was on my way. I can't remember the point of contact doing much, but that was OK. Anyway, I shared a room with three older guys from other churches and did my convention thing. I had no problem, except dealing with being away from home alone for the first time. I returned home and gave my report on the conference. I've been on the road ever since.

This story came to mind over the weekend after I read an Associated Press story titled "Public doesn't believe woman raped, killed girl." In addition to the dismay of learning about another attack on a child, what struck me was the disbelief of the public. Even though the evidence led the police to the conclusion that the woman raped the girl, the public seemed to be locked onto a paradigm that certain people don't do certain things. If the suspect were male, the person would have been adjudicated by the public prior to evidence. Moreover, if the person were a minority male, a photograph of the questioning would be all it takes for the public to render guilt. That child abusers being caught are married is another thought-pattern breaker.

We're living in a time when old thought patterns may not fit, and we need to accept where we are and adjust our thinking and laws to fit new patterns. Even as I'm writing this entry and listening to the news out of Mobile, AL, the newscaster is reporting a story of a soccer coach (male) being arrested for abusing a child. The newscaster even remarks that the arrestee was a popular person in the community.

Indeed, we are living in changing times and must find more efficient methods to protect children. I hope no one asks me about deterrence methods. I must prove a warning that my opinions about such methods are draconian.

Here is a Poem for a Slow Sunday

Not of School Age (1932)
Robert Frost

Around bend after bend,
It was blown woods and no end.
I came to but one house
I made but the one friend.

At the one house a child was out
Who drew back at first in doubt,
But spoke to me in a gale
That blew so he had to shout.

His cheek smeared with apple sand,
A part apple in his hand,
He pointed on up the road
As one having war-command.

A parent, his gentler one,
Looked forth on her small son,
And wondered with me there
What now was being done.

His accent was not good.
But I slowly understood.
Something where I could go--
He couldn't but I could.

He was too young to go,
Not over four or so.
Well, would I please go to school,
And the big flag they had--you know

The big flag, the red-white-
and blue flag, the great sight--
He bet it was out today,
And would I see if he was right?

Stress May Hinder Children's Brain Development

Economist.com has an article that reports on a study with claims that poverty from generation to generation may be the result of children growing up under stress. These children's brain do not develop normal working memory and their chance for upward mobility is reduced.

I Swear That Toddler is Not Listening to Me!

Here is one possible reason found at Science Digest:

"For parents who have found themselves repeating the same warnings or directions to their toddler over and over to no avail, new research from the University of Colorado at Boulder offers them an answer as to why their toddlers don't listen to their advice: they're just storing it away for later."

The WebKinz Party

Last Friday I was part of a Webkinz Party at a library. My role was to manage the
"Paint the Fence" game. Prior to participating in the event, I had a vague understanding of the Webkinz "movement" and had to search the Web for information to prepare for the party.

In all my planning, I still wasn't prepared for the high-energy level of the kids at the party. The kids repeated roamed through the seven activities. I found it difficult to understand why "glorified-beany babies" were receiving such attention.

There was one comical moment for me when a little guy related how happy he was to receive the prize for painting the fence, and I noticed that he was missing two front teeth. I'm not sure what it says about me that I find kids with missing teeth hilarious.

I found it interesting watching whether a parent chose to help or not help a child playing games. In some instances I found it sad to see some parents not giving children time to work through missteps and instead playing the game for the children.

Changing Times

Today I went to see the movie Watchmen. The picturesque quality of the movie was complimented by the music, which lprompted me to research the lyrics of one of Bob Dylan's songs used in the movie. Here is the part of the lyrics that highlights ideas that I often ponder:

The Times They Are A-Changin'

...Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

Film Festival

New York International Children's Film Festival

When Computing Becomes Child's Play

Follow this link to a cool article about a new form of computing at NewScientist.com.

Another Reason to Address Children's Bad Behavior Early

Aggressive children ins pre-k have fewer friends according to a recent study. I think it's interesting that this finding is true for boys as wells as girls. Left unchecked, aggressive children could develop far greater bad behavior.

Head Start Program

The February 8, 2009 New York Times (Sunday) had two articles that mentioned the Head Start Program. In Education is All in Your Mind, Richard E. Nisbett indicated that Head Start "have been found to have only modest effects on the children's academic achievement, and these often fade by early elementary school." In Head Start Falls Further Behind, Douglas J. Besharov and Douglas M. Call indicated that "Head Start and similar prekindergarten programs could truly help disadvantaged children, but many studies have shown that Head Star, as it is managed, is failing them."

Well, I have personal experience with a local Head Start Program. In 2001 I coordinated with the staff and was allowed to present a program to the tots during Black History Month. I read a story I created about an African chicken and had the tots provide background music using the small African drums I brought. All went well. I expected a thank you note, but none arrived. A few years I presenting an after school program at the center that hosts the same Head Start Program. While there, I stopped at the Head Start Program and offered to present a free program to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday. I referenced my previous work with the the Head Start Program and left my contact information. I was alerted that the offer would be sent to the Head Start central office. I never received a reaction.

My experiences with Head Start has left me with the same impression that is supported in Richard E. Nisbett's article: the quality of Head Start depends on the management. Besharov and Call report that the U.S. House of Representative version of the stimulus bill identifies additional funds for Head Start without significant reforms even though the National Reporting System that would allow measurement of individual centers was eliminated in 2007.

I find it hard to understand why establishing accountability is difficult to achieve in Head Start. As a result the children, all to often, are the ones that suffer the most.