For-Profit-College Fiasco: Why a Watchdog Needs a Watchdog

This is why the "watchdog" needs a watchdog.

"Despite receiving over $150 billion in federal grant and student loan dollars every year, higher education is largely a self-regulated industry. Instead of directly determining whether colleges are good enough for federal funding, the government outsources that decision to private accreditors, which are governed and financed by colleges themselves. Accreditors set and enforce their own standards. For-profit colleges that operate nationwide can shop around to find the accreditor with the easiest" terms.

Derek Fitzhenry

Read full article HERE

We Need Schools….Not Factories!

Winner Of the TED Prize 2013, Sugata Mitra 

What a great statement..."But what got us here, won’t get us there. Schools today are the product of an expired age; standardized curricula, outdated pedagogy, and cookie cutter assessments are relics of an earlier time. Schools still operate as if all knowledge is contained in books, and as if the salient points in books must be stored in each human brain — to be used when needed. The political and financial powers controlling schools decide what these salient points are. Schools ensure their storage and retrieval. Students are rewarded for memorization, not imagination or resourcefulness". Sugata Mitra, blog is an excellent look at where we need to take education. Unfortunately, I don't think these type of experimentation in education will take place in Public Education due to the control of the politicians and the failed but continues thought process that testing is the answer to quality education for all students. 

This statement "From Plato to Aurobindo, from Vygotsky to Montessori, centuries of educational thinking have vigorously debated a central pedagogical question: How do we spark creativity, curiosity, and wonder in children?" was the starting point for teachers and their desire to educate people.However, the education community today starts with, "how do we measure learning and hold teachers accountable". Mitra goes on to say..." But those who philosophized pre-Google were prevented from wondering just how the Internet might influence the contemporary answer to this age-old question.

Mitra experimented with children in India by giving them computers and no help. The children with no prior experience, and unable to speak or write English, taught themselves how to use the computer and then began to teach each other. This experiment is know as "The Hole in the Wall" . This experiment challenges the way we educate children today and if we could get the politicians out of the business of education I believe we would experiment more and take risk that would help our young people learn and grow. 

With Standardized Testing as the driving force behind our public education, it's unlikely teachers  will start with the notion of "how do I spark creativity, curiosity, and wonder in children". Most teachers are going to take the safe route and that's "TEACH THE TEST". 

This education blog by Mitra is a GREAT READ. I encourage you to read this article and take a hard look at what is going on in the world in other countries as compared to the USA.  

Derek Fitzhenry 

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE. 

The Global Stakes of a Saudi Aramco I.P.O.

Saudi and many other Middle East countries are linked to our economy to the point it is very difficult to make decisions for our country. I'm not sure Americans truly understand the impact of Saudi on oil prices and our economy. The following article is an example of the impact Saudi has on the world and the United States.

Derek Fitzhenry

Please read article HERE

High School Students Say Student-Led Discussions and Group Work Often Go Awry

As teachers we have been told over and over cooperative learning is the path to successfully including other students and differentiating instruction. I have witnessed at times this not being the most successful method of instruction in some classrooms. These type of teaching techniques all have there place but we should understand as a profession, not all strategies works for all students and all situations.

Derek Fitzhenry

Please read article HERE

Are We Too Preoccupied with Teaching Techniques?

This is a great question for all educators. Teaching techniques are important and we have grown as profession in our techniques but we may get consumed with the technique and forget the caring part of education.

Derek Fitzhenry 

Read full article HERE

Youth Baseball and Surgery for Overuse Injuries

Derek Fitizhenry here and I'd like to discuss youth sports injuries and youth strength training. It is so important to an athletes career and athletic programs across the nation. High School coaches have seen this for years. Daddies mean well and they want the best for their son however they push them in the sport of baseball to the point of breaking and this is more common than uncommon. Dad's don't understand the importance of training the body for strength and condition along with hitting, fielding and pitching. The body will respond to training at a young age but that training has to be multiple and safe. Using body lifts for kids under 12 is a great way to begin to strengthen the body. Sprint training and plyometrics can begin at 3 years old and go a long way in preventing injuries.  To many dads view strength training as a "football" thing but it's not about football it's about injury prevention and enhancing athletic ability. YOU CAN TRAIN FAST TWITCH MUSCLE. and fast twitch muscle is important in all sports.

Read article HERE

5 Stories You Didn’t Know About Muhammad Ali

This is really a great article about Muhammad Ali.  He was the GREATEST.  Will never be another one like him.

Please read this article about him HERE