There are 13 messages totalling 782 lines in this issue. Topics in this special issue:
1. K12> [netsites] The Jason Project 2. MISC> [netsites] Spelling Reform 3. MISC> [netsites] SingleMothering 4. MISC> [netsites] The Rohde to Srebrenica 5. MISC> [netsites] Old Time Radio 6. EZINE> [netsites] The American Chiropractor 7. K12> [netsites] With Different Eyes 8. MISC> [netsites] songfacts and artistfacts 9. MISC> [netsites] Time Zone Converter 10. K12> Re: WEB: New Teacher Resources - 2 msgs 11. K12> PROFDEV: Test The Early, Test Them Often 12. UPDATED> Things to Do in May @ The Franklin Institute Online 13. K12> reflect upon what you do ***************************************** For individual postings, send the message: set net-happenings mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe, click and send (no body or subject: required) mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Net-happenings mailing list is a service of Classroom Connect - http://www.classroom.com Archives for Net-happenings can be found at: http://www.classroom.com/community/email/archives.jhtml?A0=NET-HAPPENINGS Newsgroups: news:comp.internet.net-happenings http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&GROUP;=comp.internet.net-happenings ******************************************* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:38:18 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: K12> [netsites] The Jason Project From: "Alan S. Harrell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 9 May 2002 15:39:00 -0700 Subject: [netsites] The Jason Project The Jason Project http://www.jasonproject.org/ "The JASON Foundation for Education is dedicated to inspiring in students a lifelong passion to pursue learning in science, math, and technology through exploration and discovery." Alan [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.ashlists.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------- **Please feel free to forward this NetSites posting to your friends. To subscribe send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] **To unsubscribe from NetSites, send two box tops from a box of Tost Posties cereal with a 3X5 card where you have written the following secret address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please allow 6 to 8 weeks to receive your confirmation message. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/netsites Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:38:38 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: MISC> [netsites] Spelling Reform From: "William Borders" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 9 May 2002 15:25:18 -0700 Subject: [netsites] Spelling Reform Spelling Reform http://pages.prodigy.net/aesir/alt1.htm Believing that something needs correcting with English spelling, the Spelling Reform people have set out to change the spellings of English words to conform to a more simple system. ~~~~~~~~Bill Borders [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:39:03 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: MISC> [netsites] SingleMothering From: "Cherry Trease" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 9 May 2002 15:19:06 -0700 Subject: [netsites] SingleMothering SingleMothering http://www.singlemothering.com/ This site has features and advice supporting or dealing with single moms, single parenting, teen moms, divorce, pregnancy and more... Cherry Trease [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:39:29 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: MISC> [netsites] The Rohde to Srebrenica From: "Colin Ransinger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 9 May 2002 15:34:53 -0700 Subject: [netsites] The Rohde to Srebrenica The Rohde to Srebrenica http://www.columbia.edu/itc/journalism/nelson/rohde/ Follow this case study in human rights and learn of some good investigative journalism skills. Colin Ransinger [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:39:51 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: MISC> [netsites] Old Time Radio From: "Hodding Quincy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 9 May 2002 15:09:33 -0700 Subject: [netsites] Old Time Radio Old Time Radio Now http://www.otrnow.com/otrnow/index.htm "For Fans of Old-Time Radio, information, programs and label art for Old Time Radio collectors in MP3. Also Old Radio and Swing Music webcasts!" Hod [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:40:16 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: EZINE> [netsites] The American Chiropractor From: "Timothy Riage" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 9 May 2002 15:30:02 -0700 Subject: [netsites] The American Chiropractor The American Chiropractor http://www.chirofusion.com/cf/frontpage.asp The online version of The American Chiropractor Magazine with news and features about chiropractic practice, alternative medicine and treatments, chiropractic research, therapy and rehabilitation, sports medicine, and much more... Timothy Riage [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.triage.net/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:40:40 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: K12> [netsites] With Different Eyes From: "Alan S. Harrell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 9 May 2002 15:03:47 -0700 Subject: [netsites] With Different Eyes Mit anderen Augen (With Different Eyes) http://www.maikaeferflieg.de/ "An exhibition with drawings and photos by children for a kindergarten in Kosovo." Alan [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:41:28 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: MISC> [netsites] songfacts and artistfacts From: "helen katz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 9 May 2002 16:36:29 -0700 Subject: [netsites] songfacts and artistfacts songfacts http://www.songfacts.com artistfacts http://www.artistfacts.com Songfacts is a searchable database of song information compiled by radio professionals, music enthusiasts, and visitors to this web site. We hope using this site will help you better understand and enjoy the songs you listen to, and invite you to share your knowledge with us so that others may benefit. We provide the album, year the song was released, highest U.S. and U.K. chart position, and "Songfacts" about each song. The "Songfacts" are interesting tidbits like what the song is about, who wrote it, and what makes it different. Artistfacts is the associated sites with facts about the artists. katlady ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:41:56 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: MISC> [netsites] Time Zone Converter From: "Alan S. Harrell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 9 May 2002 15:31:06 -0700 Subject: [netsites] Time Zone Converter Time Zone Converter http://www.timezoneconverter.com/ "Time and time zone converter. Readily tell the time anywhere in the world using our frequently updated time zone database." Alan [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:43:46 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: K12> Re: WEB: New Teacher Resources - 2 msgs From: "Classroom Connect -- Connected Teacher" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 9 May 2002 13:16:14 -0700 Subject: Re: WEB: New Teacher Resources We have a site with resources for new teachers you wish to share. http://www.sabine.k12.la.us/vrschool/newteachers.htm Ross Williams Technology Director Sabine Parish School Board PO Box 1079 695 Peterson Street Many, LA 71449 (318) 256-9228 ext 225 (3180 256-0105 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.sabine.k12.la.us ----- You might try this site. It has many links for teachers who just start out using the internet for their classroom. http://www.internet4classrooms.com/teacher.htm There are many links to choose from there. Some to try out would be the Reading/Literacy Resources for Present and Future Teachers and the Survival Guide for New Teachers . Some others are the Worksheet generator pages and Discipline help. Susan Brooks Technology Facilitator Hickory Ridge Elementary [EMAIL PROTECTED] ______________________________________________________________________ To send a resource or project announcement to our list, please address your email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] A free service moderated by Classroom Connect's Teacher Community host, Paul Heller, this email list is archived at Connected Teacher: <http://www.classroom.com/community/email/archives.jhtml?A0=CRC> ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:44:12 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: K12> PROFDEV: Test The Early, Test Them Often From: "Classroom Connect -- Connected Teacher" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 9 May 2002 13:31:28 -0700 Subject: PROFDEV: Test The Early, Test Them Often Arnold Pulda, Liaison for the Gifted and Talented Student Programs in Worcester, Massachusetts, writes about testing, grading, and assessment in the new media classroom. <http://www.classroom.com/community/connection/connectednewsletter/testearly.jhtml> Paul Heller List Moderator Classroom Connect www.classroom.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] ______________________________________________________________________ To send a resource or project announcement to our list, please address your email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] A free service moderated by Classroom Connect's Teacher Community host, Paul Heller, this email list is archived at Connected Teacher: <http://www.classroom.com/community/email/archives.jhtml?A0=CRC> ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:45:43 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: UPDATED> Things to Do in May @ The Franklin Institute Online From: "Karen Elinich" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 09 May 2002 16:13:11 -0400 Subject: Things to Do in May @ The Franklin Institute Online May 8, 2002 For a web version of this issue of "Things to Do," click here: http://www.fi.edu/to_do Things to Do in May @ The Franklin Institute Online http://www.fi.edu ============================================ What's Happening @ The Museum This Month? If you're in the Philadelphia area, plan to visit The Franklin Institute Science Museum this month. "If you haven't been here lately, you haven't been here at all!" Special Events in May! Ultimate Philly Skate Jam Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12 11:00AM - 3:00PM Don't miss this special event which celebrates the opening of "UltimateX" in the Tuttleman IMAX Theater! http://www.fi.edu/tfi/info/current/skate_jam.html Happy Birthday, KidScience! Saturday, May 18 11:00AM - 3:00PM Don't miss special birthday activities on May 18 when the KidScience exhibit turns one year old! http://www.fi.edu/tfi/exhibits/kidscience/index.html ============================================ This Weekend @ The Franklin Institute This handy page offers a short-range look at upcoming events at The Franklin Institute. Plan a visit for THIS WEEKEND! http://www.fi.edu/ThisWeekend.html In the Mandell Center: Find out what happens to our bodies and minds in... Secrets of Aging- Special Events in May! In the Mandell Center through September 1, 2002 http://www.fi.edu/tfi/info/current Now Open! The Train Factory ... a new exhibit that can't be missed! The exciting attraction that everyone has been waiting for--The Train Factory, the new home of the Baldwin 60000 steam locomotive. http://www.fi.edu/tfi/exhibits/trainfactory In The Tuttleman IMAX Theater... Through September 26, 2002: "UltimateX" Through September 26, 2002: "Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure" Through June 21, 2002: "Lost Worlds: Life in the Balance" & "Amazing Journeys" Schedule of showtimes: http://www.fi.edu/tfi/info/omnivers.html#showtimes Buy tickets online: http://www.fi.edu/tickets For reservations by telephone, call 215.448.1254. Sci-Store is Now Open! The Franklin Institute's brand new 4,500 square-foot retail store is open for business in the Atrium! Save $10.00 on Museum Membership! Become a Member of The Franklin Institute online and enjoy special benefits. http://www.fi.edu/tickets Homeschool with The Franklin Institute The 2002-2003 school year schedule is now available. http://www.fi.edu/tfi/programs/homeschool.html Bring the Science Fun to your location! Bring a Traveling Science Show to your school, club, or community organization. http://www.fi.edu/tfi/programs/travshow.html Camp-In Program - 2002 dates are available "Brainstorm" during an Overnight Adventure in The Science of Weather. http://www.fi.edu/tfi/programs/camp-in.html Discovery Camp Register for 2002 Session Dates at The Franklin Institute's summer day camp. Themes include: The Sound Factory, Speed Races, Home in the Sky, Sense It!, and Discovery Days. http://www.fi.edu/tfi/programs/discovery In the 3D Theater... "Web of Life" http://www.fi.edu/tfi/info/3d.html ============================================ The best things in life are FREE! Visit philly.com, The Region's Home Page, and register to win tickets to The Franklin Institute, concerts, movies, and other events! http://entertainment.philly.com/freebies ============================================ In the Fels Planetarium... PLEASE NOTE: The Fels Planetarium is NOW CLOSED for a major renovation, re- opening in October 2002 with a new design that will optimize the Planetarium viewing experience. For more information, http://www.fi.edu/tfi/info/ or 215.448.1200 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 07:48:18 -0500 From: Gleason Sackmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: K12> reflect upon what you do This is a multipart message in MIME format --52273118-POCO-51431250 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: "Juanita Herold" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thu, 9 May 2002 19:50:44 -0700 (PDT) -------------------------------------- Date: 5/8/2002 6:24 PM From: Jaime Lao Happy Day of the Teacher!!!! ------------- This was sent to me and I thought you might reflect upon what you do as a teachers As we reach the end of the school year, this is a good thing to take a look at. Many of us might feel frustrated or even despondent at the work we and our students have done. We might feel as though we've not done enough. You will recognize yourselves in these people's stories. To all my friends who teach, ever taught, who raised a teacher, or who care about education. This is truly a touching article. If you haven't seen it, enjoy the read. You Want Heroes? by Frosty Troy "Where are the heroes of today?" a radio talk show host thundered. He blames society's shortcomings on public education. Too many people are looking for heroes in all the wrong places. Movie stars and rock musicians, athletes and models aren't heroes; they're celebrities. Heroes abound in public schools, a fact that doesn't make the news. There is no precedent for the level of violence, drugs, broken homes, child abuse, and crime in today's America. Public education didn't create these problems but deals with them every day. You want heroes? Consider Dave Sanders, the school teacher shot to death while trying to shield his students from two Neo-Nazi youth on a bombing and shooting rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Sanders gave his life, along with 12 students, but other less heralded heroes survived the Colorado blood bath. You want heroes? Jane Smith, a Fayetteville, N.C., teacher, was moved by the plight of one of her students, a boy dying for want of a kidney transplant. So this pretty white woman told the family of this handsome 14-year old black boy that she would give him one of her kidneys. And she did. When they subsequently appeared together hugging on the Today Show, even tough little Katie Couric was near tears. You want heroes? Doris Dillon dreamed all her life of being a teacher. She not only made it, she was one of those wondrous teachers who could wring the best out of every single child. One of her fellow teachers in San Jose, Calif., said "she could teach a rock to read." Suddenly she was stricken with Lou Gehrig's Disease, which is always fatal, usually with five years. She asked to stay on the job-and did. When her voice was affected she communicated by computer. Did she go home? She is running two elementary school libraries. When the disease was diagnosed, she wrote the staff and all the families that she had one last lesson to teach-that dying is part of living. Her colleagues named her Teacher of the Year. You want heroes? Bob House, a teacher in Gay, Georgia, tried out for Who Wants to be a Millionaire.. After he won the million dollars, a network film crew wanted to follow up to see how it had impacted his life. New cars? Big new house? Instead, they found both Bob House and his wife still teaching. They explained that it was what they had always wanted to do with their lives and that would not change. The community was both stunned and gratified. You want heroes? Last year the average public school teacher spent $468 of their own money for student necessities-work books, pencils-supplies kids had to have but could not afford. That's a lot of money from the pockets of the most poorly paid teachers in the industrial world. Public schools don't teach values? The critics are dead wrong. Public education provides more Sunday school teachers than any other profession. The average teacher works more hours in nine months than the average 40-hour employee does in a year. You want heroes? For millions of kids, the hug they get from a teacher is the only hug they will get that day because the nation is living through the worst parenting in history. Many have never been taken to church or synagogue in their lives. A Michigan principal moved me to tears with the story of her attempt to rescue a badly abused little boy who doted on a stuffed animal on her desk - one that said "I love you!" He said he'd never been told that at home. This is a constant in today's society-two million unwanted, unloved, abused children in the public schools, the only institution that takes them all in. You want heroes? Visit any special education class and watch the miracle of personal interaction, a job so difficult that fellow teachers are awed by the dedication they witness. There is a sentence from an unnamed source which says, "We have been so anxious to give our children what we didn't have that we have neglected to give them what we did have." What is it that our kids really need? What do they really want? Math, science, history and social studies are important, but children need love, confidence, encouragement, someone to talk to, someone to listen, standards to live by. Teachers provide upright examples, the faith and assurance of responsible people. Kids need to be accountable to caring parents who send well-disciplined children to school. These human values are essential in a democracy-anything that threatens them makes our whole society a little less free, our nation a little less strong. These values can be neither created nor preserved without continuous effort and that effort must come from more than teachers who have students only six hours of the day. Despite the problems, public school teachers laugh often and much. They have the respect of intelligent people and the affection of students who care. Teachers strive to find the best in their students, even where some see little hope. No other American bestows a finer gift than teaching - reaching out to the brilliant and the retarded, the gifted and the average. Teachers leave the world a little bit better than they found it, knowing if they have redeemed just one life, they have done God's work. They are America's unsung heroes. --52273118-POCO-51431250 Content-Type: message/rfc822; name="att0.eml" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7 bit Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="att0.eml" X-Apparently-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] via web20610.mail.yahoo.com; 09 May 2002 16:33:37 -0700 (PDT) X-Track: 1: 40 Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Received: from intergate.sdcoe.k12.ca.us (198.133.204.2) by mta310.mail.yahoo.com with SMTP; 09 May 2002 16:33:37 -0700 (PDT) Received: from sdcoe.k12.ca.us (asc54-7.sdcoe.k12.ca.us [209.66.194.7]) by intergate.sdcoe.k12.ca.us (8.9.1a/8.9.1) with ESMTP id QAA26097; Thu, 9 May 2002 16:09:15 -0700 (PDT) Date: Thu, 09 May 2002 16:30:30 -0700 From: Carol Schmitt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.7 [en]C-CCK-MCD NSCPCD47 (Win98; I) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: "Amanda and Scott Hammond-Williams and O'Keefe" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Carol Horschman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Carrie Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Janelle and Kevin Milner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Janice Bailey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Jenny Bumgardner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Juanita Herold <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Kathi Pastor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Martchen Dickson-Cooper <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Pam Huff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Paula Carmack <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Takeshi Tsubo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Tamara Hippen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Fwd: Fwd: reflect upon what you do] Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="------------5335F94E57C606D91D9A9D80" Content-Length: 3697 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------5335F94E57C606D91D9A9D80 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit --------------5335F94E57C606D91D9A9D80 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Disposition: inline Received: from riptide.sandi.net (riptide.sandi.net [165.24.1.35]) by intergate2.sdcoe.k12.ca.us (8.9.1a/8.9.1) with ESMTP id IAA08932 for <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Thu, 9 May 2002 08:23:41 -0700 (PDT) Received: from dolphin.sandi.net (dolphin.sandi.net [165.24.1.201]) by riptide.sandi.net (8.9.1/8.9.1) with ESMTP id IAA06917 for <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Thu, 9 May 2002 08:18:00 -0700 (PDT) Received: from 165.24.106.167 ([165.24.106.167]) by dolphin.sandi.net (8.10.1/8.10.1) with SMTP id g49FI0901153 for <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Thu, 9 May 2002 08:18:00 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: 08 May 02 21:14:48 +0100 From: Carol Schmitt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Fwd: reflect upon what you do To: Carol Schmitt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> X-Mailer: QuickMail Pro 1.5.4 (Mac) X-Priority: 3 MIME-Version: 1.0 Reply-To: Carol Schmitt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-Ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by intergate2.sdcoe.k12.ca.us id IAA08932 X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 -------------------------------------- Date: 5/8/2002 6:24 PM From: Jaime Lao Happy Day of the Teacher!!!! ------------- This was sent to me and I thought you might reflect upon what you do as a teachers As we reach the end of the school year, this is a good thing to take a look at. Many of us might feel frustrated or even despondent at the work we and our students have done. We might feel as though we've not done enough. You will recognize yourselves in these people's stories. To all my friends who teach, ever taught, who raised a teacher, or who care about education. This is truly a touching article. If you haven't seen it, enjoy the read. You Want Heroes? by Frosty Troy "Where are the heroes of today?" a radio talk show host thundered. He blames society's shortcomings on public education. Too many people are looking for heroes in all the wrong places. Movie stars and rock musicians, athletes and models aren't heroes; they're celebrities. Heroes abound in public schools, a fact that doesn't make the news. There is no precedent for the level of violence, drugs, broken homes, child abuse, and crime in today's America. Public education didn't create these problems but deals with them every day. You want heroes? Consider Dave Sanders, the school teacher shot to death while trying to shield his students from two Neo-Nazi youth on a bombing and shooting rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Sanders gave his life, along with 12 students, but other less heralded heroes survived the Colorado blood bath. You want heroes? Jane Smith, a Fayetteville, N.C., teacher, was moved by the plight of one of her students, a boy dying for want of a kidney transplant. So this pretty white woman told the family of this handsome 14-year old black boy that she would give him one of her kidneys. And she did. When they subsequently appeared together hugging on the Today Show, even tough little Katie Couric was near tears. You want heroes? Doris Dillon dreamed all her life of being a teacher. She not only made it, she was one of those wondrous teachers who could wring the best out of every single child. One of her fellow teachers in San Jose, Calif., said "she could teach a rock to read." Suddenly she was stricken with Lou Gehrig's Disease, which is always fatal, usually with five years. She asked to stay on the job-and did. When her voice was affected she communicated by computer. Did she go home? She is running two elementary school libraries. When the disease was diagnosed, she wrote the staff and all the families that she had one last lesson to teach-that dying is part of living. Her colleagues named her Teacher of the Year. You want heroes? Bob House, a teacher in Gay, Georgia, tried out for Who Wants to be a Millionaire.. After he won the million dollars, a network film crew wanted to follow up to see how it had impacted his life. New cars? Big new house? Instead, they found both Bob House and his wife still teaching. They explained that it was what they had always wanted to do with their lives and that would not change. The community was both stunned and gratified. You want heroes? Last year the average public school teacher spent $468 of their own money for student necessities-work books, pencils-supplies kids had to have but could not afford. That's a lot of money from the pockets of the most poorly paid teachers in the industrial world. Public schools don't teach values? The critics are dead wrong. Public education provides more Sunday school teachers than any other profession. The average teacher works more hours in nine months than the average 40-hour employee does in a year. You want heroes? For millions of kids, the hug they get from a teacher is the only hug they will get that day because the nation is living through the worst parenting in history. Many have never been taken to church or synagogue in their lives. A Michigan principal moved me to tears with the story of her attempt to rescue a badly abused little boy who doted on a stuffed animal on her desk - one that said "I love you!" He said he'd never been told that at home. This is a constant in today's society-two million unwanted, unloved, abused children in the public schools, the only institution that takes them all in. You want heroes? Visit any special education class and watch the miracle of personal interaction, a job so difficult that fellow teachers are awed by the dedication they witness. There is a sentence from an unnamed source which says, "We have been so anxious to give our children what we didn't have that we have neglected to give them what we did have." What is it that our kids really need? What do they really want? Math, science, history and social studies are important, but children need love, confidence, encouragement, someone to talk to, someone to listen, standards to live by. Teachers provide upright examples, the faith and assurance of responsible people. Kids need to be accountable to caring parents who send well-disciplined children to school. These human values are essential in a democracy-anything that threatens them makes our whole society a little less free, our nation a little less strong. These values can be neither created nor preserved without continuous effort and that effort must come from more than teachers who have students only six hours of the day. Despite the problems, public school teachers laugh often and much. They have the respect of intelligent people and the affection of students who care. Teachers strive to find the best in their students, even where some see little hope. No other American bestows a finer gift than teaching - reaching out to the brilliant and the retarded, the gifted and the average. Teachers leave the world a little bit better than they found it, knowing if they have redeemed just one life, they have done God's work. They are America's unsung heroes. --------------5335F94E57C606D91D9A9D80-- --52273118-POCO-51431250-- ------------------------------ End of NET-HAPPENINGS Digest - 9 May 2002 to 10 May 2002 - Special issue (#2002-310) ************************************************************************************
