Spring is here at last!

This weekend could begin what traditionally in the Northwest is, a slow start to spring. The sun is finally shining on our glorious green earth showing it great wonder. Two days this weekend we are having wonderful, sunny weather; making this our official start of spring. My apple tree is in full bloom and is expected to produce another bumper crop of apples this year. The grass is growing so fast I cannot keep up with the mowing. Weeds have taken over my driveway so I was out with my weed picker cleaning things up yesterday in the sunshine. It is so sunny I had to wear a hat to not burn the top of my head. I took the convertible for a long ride to the golf course yesterday and really enjoyed the open air, sunshine and cruise. Spring brings new hope and the promise of a great summer; swimming, fishing, golfing, reading in the yard, tanning, relaxing, camping, and hanging out with the family. It is a great time of the year, a few weeks remain in school and our vacation for summer will begin. Shine on spring, brings us great weather, great memories and the beauty of mother earth in full bloom.

New Beginnings

It is November again, a year has gone so fast. Great to be blogging again. My theme is "New Beginnings" I am back in the classroom, teaching 178 kids how to make good work habits, work hard, have fun and enjoy exercising. The new beginnigs come with a new season, my 19th season as a wrestling coach. Hard to believe I have done this that long. Great work, challenging, energizing, and demanding. I am so up for the challenge. Takes me to new places I have never been. Write every week to parent, wrestlers and alumni, keeps everyone updated...a large family if you will. Great diversion, commitment, positive use of my talents. I don't know if I can ever give this up? I am not getting younger, so I may not be able to do this forever. My old coach from HS just was enducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. Don't know if I will make it that far in this place call coaching. The proudest moments I have had are at the Tacoma dome....State Champions, runners-up, placers, competitors, a very rewarding and draining weekend. Kids from all walks of life enter the arena and some come away with memories for a lifetime, others walk away empty. I love the thrill of victory, I feel the pain of the boys who suffer in defeat. February is a dark and rainy month, but on that weekend, the sun comes out.....reminding us that Spring is near, and we fill the dome with 16 kids per weight and duke it out for the top 8 spots. Every kid wants a chance to stand on the podeum and share the thrill of placing, but only 16 per division can call themselves champions. So lets rev it up for another exciting season of High School wrestling. Let begin a new with fresh eyes, new ideas, new kids, and an optimism that will take us through February, all the way to Tacoma for another season of crowning our State Champions.

Death of Kyle

Kyle Roger has died of terminal cancer. I was at his school yesterday and saw the faces of the children that were his friends. I say the faces of his teachers and aids. His cafeteria staff that waited on him....that loved him. His principal who called on him in his finals days. Kyle was so strong, so loving, so kind and so courageous. He was so young. Why do we lose kids to this? How can this happen to such a young and beautiful boy? I took a few moments to pray for Kyle and the Roger family on Sunday when I got word of Kyle's death. Jocelyn must be crushed....if you read my previous post about this I can still hear the echo of him saying..."this sucks"

My thoughts and prayers are with you Jocelyn and Cara in a very difficult time!



P

Outliers The Story of Success

Malcom Gladwell's new book "Outliers" has three themes of the book; attitudes towards work, cultural legacies and luck," Gladwell said. "Success is some combination of those three."
Gladwell's point is that these accidents - date of birth, culture and social class - are the true determinants. His conclusion is simplistic but convincing. What I enjoy about Gladwells writing is it is unconventional. He writes about social, psychological, environmental, cultural issues that transend all humans. The author allows us to see how success comes in many ways, in many different forms. Gladwells explinations are not as flimsey as his conclusion: "Successes," he writes, "are products of history and community, of opportunity and legacy." If it's not one thing, it's another. This is where he loses me. If success is a product of history, community, of opportunity and legacy then I am an outlier as well. Born in a Catholic family of eight, I was the fifth and the third boy. My father was an auto mechanic, my mother a secretary. Either of my parents had any education past High School. Each of my siblings that were older then me took the same path of my parents until my closest sister to me decided enought was enough...and went to college and graduated. This would make my sister an oulier as well according to Gladwell. I was the "first" male in my history to graduate from college and the first in my family to take advantage of my education. My sister had a degree as a teacher but never persued teaching...on the other hand, I got my teaching degree and have been teaching for the last thirteen years. I have also earned by advanced degree (Masters in School Administration) and am persuing my Principal certificate. Would all of this define me as an outlier? According to Gladwell....yes! Did I take advantage of my opportunities...I would have to say yes! Was my community involved in my success...I would have to say reluctantly, yes...more acurately my wife Joan. Does my History help me to be an outlier....yes being born in a big family...no college education history for my mother and father and just three of us in eight that have college degrees I would say yes. My grandfather was a carpenter and my grandmother a homemaker. Legacy?
Defined as a gift of personal property by will, I would say no. Success has come to me not from gifts but from taking advantage of opportunities. Luck, attitude toward work, and cultural legacies (not) I guess are a part of my overall success... or a combination of the three (or two in my case). I consede to the Master Gladwell...I love you!

OCTOBER 20 New Yorker

Check out October 20th's New Yorker. I read it cover to cover this week. Not that I am bored, I am working full-time caring for 3 animals, 2 kids and a sick and sometimes absent wife. Still, I found time to read this issue: I wrote about Malcom Gladwell's article last post. I read a couple more interesting articles worthy of reading. "The Financial Pages" by James Surowiecki is an interesting twist on our financial woes. "The Omen" in Annals of Finance take us deeper into the Jeremy Kerviel case of how he made enormous profits for his company only to have them file suit against him and have him sent to jail. French financial extraordinaire may still prevail with his powerful defense team? The jury is still out on capitalism? and in Profiles, "Zen Master" we meet Gary Snyder and his interesting life as a hippie zen poet. Read on and enjoy these cold...dark, windy days of October in the New Yorker to warm you souls with interesting and engaging writing.

Annals of Culture...Response to "Art" and creativity by Malcom Gladwell

Gladwell responds in the October 20th New Yorker Magazine about two types of creativity: conceptional or experimental (Galenson's idea). Galenson argues that the late bloomer is successful later in life only because it come to them at a later date in life (Art that is). But this argument is taken apart by Gladwell to not necessarily true. He compares Cezanne and Picasso and suggest that "the artist may just be discovered later or the world is just slow to appreciate their gift." According to Picasso art is (as stated in an interview with Marius de Zayas)..."In my opinion, to search means nothing in painting. To find is the thing." THIS IS IT...what is art...it is finding it as it relates to ones own art. So...what is this "finding it" moment. Gladwell refers to two of my favorite Psychology experts; Howard Gardner and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Both have written extensively about attentional focus/learning and what Csik calls "Flow." This "Flow" stage occurs when a person find a moment (time is not present) where everything is lost but the focus on what is happening at that second. An artist needs to fine the "Flow" in order to concentrate and "create" their art. This is the shutting down of the logical brain and the turning on of the creative brain. It is a consuming moment (sometimes lasting for hours and even days) where the artist becomes one with their event. I believe this is when the making of "Art" takes place. Gardner would suggest that the environment must match the emotional and creative state in order to reach "flow." Garder and Csik have spoken at great length about this "state of being." They have collaborated on this issue and written articles and a book about this creative state.



Gladwell uses a great example of a genius (Ben Fountain) who quits his job as a lawyer to write and needed time, support and the optimal state of "Flow" to succeed as an author. Each came true due to his perseverance in wanting to succeed. Gladwell suggests that without all of the external supports, Fountain may have floundered as a writer. So...is art finding the opportunities and capitalizing on those "flow" opportunities to make your masterpiece. Most would say yes... at least the most gifted child prodigy's and older artist. Art can happen at any time in your life...so be ready to find that moment...capitalize on your artistic talent and stay with it until you make your masterpiece!

Art

Art...What is Art anyway. It is something visual, something heard, felt? What is this thing called art? I have been to many different places in my life...Le Louve, D'Orsey, Seattle Art Museum, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Experience Music Project, Childrens Museums, Old Rodio Museums, concerts of all kinds, book talks, lectures, keen note speakers, conventions, blogs, chat sites, web sites of all kinds.



Where does Art start and stop.... at what point does music, fine art, lectures, talks, conventions and such become less than art? Is art have to be creative? Can art be found in athletics, academics, social engagements? Where does this all begin and end?

Wooden on Leadership

I finished "Wooden on leadership" last night. John Wooden is amazing. I got the recommendation to read this book from a Christian friend of mine from Western Washinton University. He was doing a speak to some local coaches and mentioned this book as one of the best books on coaching and leadership. I agree....it is awesome!

Wooden says: "Make each day your Masterpiece"...what a great postive statement.
Wooden says: "Activity-to produce real results-must be organized and executed meticulously. Otherwise, it's no different from children running around the playground at recess."
Wooden says; "The star of the team is the team."
Wooden says: "Seek players who will make the best team rather than the best players."...explain to each team member precisely how his or her contributions connect to the welfare and success of the entire organization.
Wooden says: "A leader must accomplish the difficult task of getting those on the team to believe that 'we' supersedes 'me.' "
Rudyard Kipling says: "for the strength of the pack is the wolf; and the strength of the wolf is the pack."
Wooden says: "Control emotion or emotion will control you..."Intensity makes you stronger. Emotionism makes you weaker."
Wooden says: "I will not like you all the same, but I will love you all the same. And whether I like you or not, my feelings will not interfere with my judgement of your effort and performance. You will be treated fairly. That is a promise."
Wooden says: "A true competitor loves the battle."
Wooden says: "When I am through learning, I am through."
Wooden says: "In the end, the choice you make makes you."
Wooden says: "It is what you learn after you know it all that counts."
Wooden says: "The player who gives his best is sure of success, while the player who gives less than his best is a failure."
Wooden said: "Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable."
Wooden said: "You are not a failure until you start blaming someone else for your weaknesses and mistakes."
Wooden said: "Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out."

Now do you know why this guy is amazing?

AMERICAN EVE

I just finished an awesome read. Paula Uruburu's American Eve Evelyn Nesbit, Stanford White The Birth of the "It" Girl and the Crime of the Century is a must read. I provided a link of goodreads.com The story is extraordinary and the narrative of 100 years ago and the crime of the century that happened in Madison square gardens...the history of New York at the time of such millionaires..rich who took advantage of your ladies. Read this book. It will take you away, far far away in a world that Professor Uruburu (who took 10 years to write this book) so eloquently captured as a crucial time in American History. In a recent two part blog she explains how we must not repeat the mistakes of the past... just read the tabloids about Brittany Spears and some of the other exploited teens who have crashed and burned in their 20's. It looks like history has repeated itself and Professor Uruguru is here to remind us with her book about Evelyn that our lust for beauty continues to rules is all into the present and probably into our near future. Stay tuned for the next teen to crash and burn at the hands of the media, tabloids, the exploytation of women by men and so onward we go... into our dismall future

This thing called Cancer

A colleague of mine was talking to me about his young son who is terminal. As I sat and listened to him talk I began to wonder about this thing called Cancer. It has taken so many of our lives, it has killed so many and we still have not solved it's puzzle: What causes this thing called Cancer? I can't help but wonder how this disease can strip us of life, early life and often without notice. My father was a survivor of Cancer but was beaten down because of it. He had lung and brain cancer; two bouts fought with all of him human strength-won yet ultimately lost-weak, frail and limited in mental capacities when he died of related complications last November.

It stopped my in my tracks. A young boy. My colleagues son, who is terminal. How he carries on with strength I don't know. He says to me after a long pause with tears streaming from his eyes, "it sucks"... this Cancer thing I have been speaking about. I am angry of the priorities of our nation. We spend billions on war...and spend millions on research for Cancer. We are dying at home and killing the innocent abroad. Our nation is missing out on the opportunity to help millions of victims. Missing out on curing a deadly disease that strips us down to nothing. If we had any sense at all we would set our priorities to cure this awful disease and take back our ill and help them to live! Seven years old and terminal. I couldn't help but cry for my colleague today. I felt his pain. His suffering. His inability to understand why this is happening to his son. I could only say "take care" but I wanted to say to him that I feel his pain and I will be praying for him. In a moment of silence...I am praying for my colleagues son that he finds a way to beat this thing called Cancer

Malcom Gladwell Gone Mad: Random thoughts about nothing

In Malcom Gladwell video conference May 12, 2008 - Gladwell seems to have gone mad. Gladwell, in his typical way, argues another 'so what' topic. This guy is mad. Why does it matter first of all that athletes are tested or teachers are tested or lawyers are tested for the rigor of their professions? Gladwell suggests that it is not accurate to try and test skills and abilities of athletes, teachers and lawyers. Putting a battery of test to raise the standards does not necessary guarantee any more success then testing an average Joe from the streets. Is Gladwell suggestion that professionals and the average Joe have the same skill sets? Is Gladwell suggestion that screening for fitness, cognitive capacities and knowledge does not guarantee any tangible results. He even suggest that those who test well in a battery of cognitive and physical tests fair poorly in everyday work task on the job. The only premise I agree with in all of Malcom's arguments is the truth that human performance is best tested on the job not in an artificial setting. The rest is just him spouting off about seemingly obscure, random thoughts about nothing. This being said, I still enjoyed listening to him...

See for yourself...click on the title and view video

Authentic Intellectual Work

At the Gates meeting on Tuesday the discussion was around "Authentic Intellectual Work." What is meaningful, intellectual work? It doesn't happen in isoloation and is typically from the constructivist model of learning. Learning can happen when students construct their knowledge through organization, interpretation, evaluation, synthesis of prior knowledge to help solve problems. Authentic Intellectual Work comes when students engage and construct knowledge through a variety of modalities. Their cognitive work usually come in the absence of the teacher. Most "deep" thinking can be done via- so called- hight level thinking. What is this? What does it look like? Accessing prior knowledge is the start of developing authentic intellectual work. To come to a deeper understanding in learning the learner must test their understanding with other opinions and theories (compare\contrast). Must build new understandings (transfer) from previous knowledge and develop new theories to test their understandings. The testing comes when we analyse the work done and come to a new conclusion about what our new learning is.

What seem to be missing in the conversation was where creativity fits in. In the world of high stakes testing and standardized learning, creativity seems to be a lost art. Bloom's new taxonomy state that when we recreate a new understanding and create something entirely of our own making- this is the highest level of knowing, understanding and being able to do what is necessary to show evidence that learning has occured. This is what I would argue to be "authentic intellectual work."

What happened to inquire, discovery, trial and error? These are the things that test our true understanding (authenitic if you will) of our own learning. Jean Jacques Rousseau said "The person who has lived the most is not the one with the most years but the one with the richest experiences." Learning come best through our experiences, and without this our creativity is lost.

Leaving

What does it mean to be leaving? What are people leaving? What are they running from? Where are people going? Who are they running from? Are they running? Why are they leaving? What keeps them from staying? Why are they not staying?

Leaving is a strange thing...because are we really ever present? Do we ever take seriously living in the moment? Do humans take advantage of opportunities to live from moment to moment? I don't think so. Humans are always looking and chasing something they cannot ever have. Leaving happens because people are unsatified with their lives. People are leaving because they are chasing something they may never find. Humans refuse to stop and examine who they are and what is keeping them from wanting to stay put. People are afraid of staying to facing themselves. Fear keeps us from facing ourselves. Fear drives us to leave. Fear consumes us. Facing our fears and not allowing our fears to consume us will keep us living in the moment...being present and will not win over us leaving.

Sara McMann's worst enemy on the mat is herself

This is a story that will move the biggest rock on the planet. Sara McMann. A Silver Medalist at the 2004 Athen games in Wrestling. In the last three years she has lost her brother to a senseless death and her finasee in a tragic car accident. Yet, she has perservered and is attempting to reach her goal to be an Olympic Champion. Stories like this amaze me. The resolve of some people and the depth in which people can reach down and find themselves in the worst of circumstance is extraordianary. You wouldn't know why Sara was crying at the Medal ceremony in Athens in 2004. Her then finasee was able to comfort her in a time where Sara was a medalist in the Olympics. Anyone would have love to be in her place, but do we or will we ever understand the pain that Sara suffers from her devastating loss of her brother and just a short time after, her loss of her fiansee. WOW...I know who's corner I will be in when Sara wrestles for the Gold this year in Beijing, Sara McMann's because she is a survivor, a battler and a worrior in having overcome her huge losses in her life.

Placement

News of my placement came to me from a gentle voice saying "you will be with us next year." Wow, made my day and was a suprise. I have been working in teaching for 12 years and 10 in the same place and now I will be doing more of my professional development at my home school. My principal intership should be very challenging but I feel up for it at this time in my life. It will be great to work with people I have built relationships with at this school. This will make for a better experience knowing the staff and feeling comfortable with the staff. I am happy to hear this news...it is great news.

Comparing two novels

Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnic and Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay are two very different novels but can be compared in many ways. I finished Adam Gopnic's novel last week and seem to have the Paris theme in novels right now. I just finished Tatiana De Rosnay's novel a few minutes age. They are both the same in the following ways. Adam Gopnic's has written a follow-up novel called Through the Children's Gate: A Home in New York . Adam lived and worked in Paris for the New Yorker Magazine and moved back to New York in 2000 with his wife and child. Similarly told in Tatiana's Sarah's key, the author lived in Paris, moved back to New York and lives their with her daughter. Two completely different genres, two very similar told stories about two major cities. I personally enjoyed Tatiana's Sarah's Key which could be compared to the well know "Sophie's Choice" about the Holocaust. This particularly version was told regarding how a group of Parisian women and children were rounded up by their own Paris police force and sent to die in an imprison camp and eventual gas chamber. The story is told through two characters; the novelist voice as a journalist trying to find the truth about this dark time in Paris history, and through a young Parisian who's brother was left behind in Paris in hidding place. The Mother and Father were separated from her only to be gassed at Auschwitz. Sarah is courageous enough to attempt to escape only to be caught and told she could be put to death if the officer told. Sarah, with her charm, convinces the officer she must return to save her brother who is locked in place at her home in Paris, which only she has the key to. So as the title of the novel, Sarah's key. I will not tell you anything more other then it kept me reading all day today it was so good.

In Gopnic's Paris to the Moon the story is more about life in modern day Paris. The adapting and adjusting to being an American in a foreign country. Each author handles this sensitive issue with ease. Both Gopnic and Rosnay explain the difficulty of handling living in Paris with an identity of an American. Interesting enough, the reason both author can handle this so masterfully may be because Adam Gopnic is a dual citizen (Canadian/American) and Tatiana De Rosnay is of English, French and Russian discent. Gopnic now lives back in New York, Rosnay lives with her husband and two children in Paris

PARIS FRANCE

Paris France. The city of romance. The city of lights. A beautiful city I miss. Went to Paris in 1996. That was 12 years ago. No wonder I miss this place. I am reading Sarah's Key, a story about the Vel' d' Hiv.. this black day in Frances past. July 16, 1942 the Paris Police supported the Gestapo by rounding up thousands of women and children in the city. Parisians had know for over a month that something was wrong, going to happen but the men are the ones who went into hiding. The women and children thought they were safe. Apparently this was not the case. They rounded up all of the Jewish women and children and sent them on trains to Auschwitz. The book, written by Tatiana De Rosnay is a historical fiction novel of the Vel' d' Hiv account. To think of Paris under attack, people; especially women and children being rounded up to be killed is unbearable. The author tells her story from a little girls point of view as well as her journalistic accounts and an interview with a survivor.

Quiet Thursday at Home

Today was a sick day. I had a cold and felt stuffed up in the head. I was home today where it was very quiet. My kitty Jessica was home with me but she was just in and out today. She rested on the chair, couch and on the floor in the sunshine. It was so peaceful and quiet today. Nice to have some time to slow down and think...stop and rest and get well. Quiet allows for time to think and process what is happening in my life. Things happen so fast in our world that we need time to process what has happened. We don't do this enough. We don't stop and take time to understand what has happened and why it has happened.

For instance: The Ferndale Coach was found dead, shot in the head possibly by a husband of women who he was having an affair with. Tragic. Have we stopped to think about this. No, and if we have we will think only for a while ( a few minutes) and then move on, blocking out what our true feelings are about this tragedy.

What has happened and why? We need time to stop and think, process and reflect... learn from others and take life lessons to heart...not just move on and forget. This is why our nation is in trouble.

Coach Missing/Found Dead

The news of a local track coach missing late last week had authorities on high alert. The worst scenario came about, the coach was found dead near his abandon car near the county border. Foul play? Suicide? Authorities are not saying much. This hits too close to home, a local coach 38 years old dead. It is disturbing and unsettling. It reminds us that life is fleeting. May the lord welcome this man into his kingdom. He is know for his kindness and helpfulness. It may have been his time but a disturbing turn of events that led to his death.

Rest in Peace

Scooters, PJ's and Slippers

In the spirit of a youthfulness, I was riding a scooter with my PJ's on with my slippers. What a great experience. Scooters are small, easy to ride and somewhat safe. I bombed our short hill with ease and didn't crash and get road rash. It was a successfully encounter in scooting in my PJ's and slippers.

May the youth of today keep on scooting!