Lunch

It's been a long time between meals.

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Busy

You must be busy!
You look busy!
They must keep you busy
Busy busy busy

All comments I have been recieving while out lately.

Yeah. I'm busy. I've been busy since I had my first, busier since my second. Busy is my new normal.

Surely this is said by well-meaning people or those who don't know what to say. Perhaps we feel we must say something to others even unintelligible statements such as "you must be busy".

Truth is I now use this as an answer. Truthful as it might be its not truth in its complete form.

"Busy" is an acceptable answer to the 'how you been?' Question. "Very busy" if they prive deeper. Add in a "tired" and they can suddenly relate. Reminiscent of previous years prior to children and the focus is suddenly shifted from how am I doing to 'other'. I like other.

See. The truth is I'm praying for a miracle. Whilst it hasn't yet happened I'm still praying. Daily.

Yet daily there is the struggle and fight to have faith that the miracle will occur and remaining hopeful in my circumstance. Yes, I have doubts and reservations and what ifs.

I am constantly praised for the wonderful works I am doing with these lots of little kids and being brave taking them all out with me (& trully I am grateful for it - often coming at perfect and needing times for my mothers heart). They are not my greatest struggles. They are easy in comparison to being out of my depth.

I do think its not fair and I do chuck toddler-sized tantrums.

I guess that we each have our struggles that determines our heart ache and need for a loving saviour however different it might be.

Are you crushed in spirit? Are you broken hearted? The Lord will save you. Reach out to Him today.

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

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Hair cuts

I have this child who refuses to get her hair cut on the basis it will hurt.

So. Finally. After all these years. She gave it to herself. And yes. I am mad and she's not happy. That's what you get for 1. Owning scissors 2. Having a child and 3. Taking a much needed rest.

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Little by little

Have you ever noticed how just a little bit by little bit our homes become consumed by useless garbage?

I really didn't think I had much TO throw out. What a surprise! An entire packing box filled with pure garbage. Hardly have I gone through the spare/school/clothes room to find this stuff just taking up space.

Now I am certain ill find heaps more.

But consider, how quickly does the garbage in our hearts, in our heads, amongst our relationships add up to become all consuming rubbish blocking that which is honouring, worthy, pure, clean, acceptable to us and we want for our life, our children's lives and those around us.
I'm talking about forgiving that teacher in third grade, the students who laughed at you, that boy friend who cheated on you, the pastor who taught you something wrong, and yourself. For not being quite as perfect as you'd like yourself to be.

I'm talking about letting go of that baggage you carry around.

I'm talking about clearing your head. Emptying your heart and moving along with life freely, freer, free.

(And this is all great! Coming from me).

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Science: making rain

Today we made it rain. Inside. See?
Water condenses and goes up high to form clouds. Then warmer temp hits the clouds and makes the water fall. (Amy's short version)
We copied the clouds by freezing water in a tray and placing over the spout of a boiling kettle. Drip drip drip.
Super easy experiment to do with lots of little kids.

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What does a busy sahm do with no kids?

Hubby is out, oldest child is out, middle kids are asleep and bubba is climbing on my legs.

When your as busy as I am all through the days and weeks what do you do when you suddenly have time to yourself?

I've organised the school stuff, could clean the kitchen after this evenings meal, tidy the bathroom, put washing away, swap rooms over, etc etc etc.

With a highly strenuous to do list I feel guilty to just sit. Just sit. The words in them self sound so naughty, so lazy, so... So relaxing.

Yep. I admit. I'm like Martha. (Or is it Mary?) Who is too busy to just sit at the feet of Jesus and be in his presence (if your not in the know that's like saying meditating but on the word written in the holy bible).

So. This evening I think I might just sit. Read a book. And do something just for me.

Tomorrow will bring a new set of jobs not done.

Peace.

Ahh...

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Invigorating

As this babe of mine is now crawling, climbing and pulling herself up on things she needs to be taken out of her bassinet and put in a real cot.
Only a real cot won't fit in our room so I have to swap rooms over. Moving a spare room, school room, master bedroom and clothes room isnt what I'd call invigorating but clearing out 5 large garbage bags of things to pass on sure is.
I used my regular goal "fill the bag til its full" theory only my aim was to empty a box. I emptied 3 tubs plus stuff hanging around. It was ruthless. Hoping others will find more use out of it then I am :)
More to come.
More to do.

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Lots of little clothes

For those of us who have had a couple of little kids you might remember the clothes storage debacle. Keep? Pass on? Throw away?

I decided on giving away and had nothing left. Til I was pregnant with number 4. Well. Those clothes I passed on returned in greater force.

I store them like this. A box per size for girls, boys, shoes & socks. When bubba went up a size I swapped boxes. Easy as!

(Toys are also stored like this)

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My SIL Has a Cool New Blog

My sister-in-law, Tamara, started a blog this summer called Mess-Cipes:  Inspiration for Early Childhood and if you have little ones at home, you will LOVE it!  She has always been super creative and good with kids.  This idea has been over a decade in-the-making, as her youngest child is now 18!

Some of the different topics include:  

In the Studio

In the Garden

In the Kitchen

In the Library

In the Science Lab

Outdoors

Sorry for the super short blog post today, but I wanted to steer you over to Tamara's blog (Yes, the is the same SIL that was a doula and saved me from a c-section with my first baby.  Read the story here.)  

I hope you take some great ideas from Mess-Cipes and have fun with your kids!

BOLD Fort Worth was awesome, in case you were wondering.  The play was so well done and I think everyone laughed and cried, but most importantly walked away having a better understanding of their options in childbirth.  The Birth & Family Expo was so much fun and the vendors and silent auction were great!  Thanks to all those that volunteered and participated.  I have spent the day resting.  I hope they have too!  Now life resumes to normal, right?

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Disability Advocates Skeptical of NCLB Waivers

"While today's proposal has a strong and proper focus on the lowest-achieving 5 percent of schools in a state, there is not sufficient attention on the schools that struggle to consistently meet the academic needs of students with disabilities and other at-risk students," said Laura Kaloi, of the NCLD. "Millions of students with disabilities in these schools also need the benefit of school-wide instructional reform..."  - National Center on Learning Disabilities

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/speced/2011/09/disability_groups_react_to_oba.html

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Rest Peacefully, Lt. Joseph Szczerba

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Organisation with kids clothes

Living in rentals always leaves us with no cupboard space. That's where our own come in. Having lots of little kids with not a lot of space means being inventive. For us it means 3 rungs in the wardrobe and two tubs to chuck things in. One is amalia's the other is kids pj box.

The pj box idea came about years ago when I had to open 3 difficult drawers to get three sets of pjs. Now the kids get them all for me. Saving time and energy. Mostly mine :)

I have the lower rings for children who can reach and higher ones for the children who need help.

Works for me and saves floor space and putting away time.

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Colorado Schools "Fight Club"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/20/colorado-high-school-fight-club-video_n_971978.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmaing9%7Cdl12%7Csec3_lnk2%7C97391

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Book: Mike Mulligan & his Steam Shovel

A new favourite book in our home. The story is about a man and his steam shovel who suddenly find themselves outdated in their technology. With no job prospects they attempt to dig a cellar for the new town hall in just a day. Digging faster and better the more people watch it they finally finish the job. But with a new dilema...

This book is used with "The Blue Book" for LLATL - Learning Language Arts Through Literature

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For Every Action There is An Equal But Opposite Reaction - Capano Dead.

That's the first lesson I learned in 9th grade physical science.  It was the theory I applied (for extra credit) to the Magic Johnson HIV controversy.  My science teacher was a bit of a neanderthal man - short, curved, with a gruff body builder's physique and a die-hard sports enthusiast.  He had a small role in the movie My Blue Heaven.  He considered it his gateway Hollywood prominence.  He lasted only one year as a teacher and his 15 minutes of fame where just that - by 10th grade he was nobody.

This weekend Delaware lost one of their own - a tremendously wonderful police officer who died protecting Delawareans. 

For every action there is an equal but opposite reaction. 

Tom Capano was found dead in his cell this afternoon. 

An angel has gone to heaven.  A murderer is on his way to hell.

I am not totally callous and cold-hearted.  My heart mourns for Tom Capano's children in the same way it mourned for Anne Marie Fahey's family. 

I was 17 when Anne Marie disappeared.  I know exactly where I was when I first heard about it. As a young journalist in college, I followed her story.  Because Delaware is so small, I had a distant connection to the man who bought Jerry's boat, sans anchor.  I knew why the police were searching Cherry Island - for Capano's couch believed to have been disposed of in a dumpster on a family construction site - even when law enforcement managed to keep the documents sealed from the press.  The NJ fought to get access to those warrants.

My new husband and I took turns reading the Ann Rule book "And Never Let Her Go" on our honeymoon to California in 1999. This past Friday, the same day that one of our finest had his life stolen, one of the Verizon channels in the 121-140 block aired its Anne Marie Fahey documentary again.

The NJ is reporting that Capano's death appears to have been of natural causes.  It's heart-wrenching that Ann Marie wasn't granted the same peace in passing.

See, I'm not all that bad.  I'm just willing to put in writing what many in Delaware are feeling.  Justice for Anne Marie. Finally.

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BOLD Fort Worth -- THIS WEEKEND!

BOLD FORT WORTH OPENS THIS FRIDAY!

What is BOLD Fort Worth?  It's 3 performances of a play called "Birth" and a Birth & Family Expo with over 60 vendors and a Silent Auction.  The event benefits the Tarrant County Birth Network.

This year, there are three performances of "Birth," a play by Karen Brody, to choose from.

Friday, September 23 @ 7:00 pm

Saturday, September 24 (Crybaby Matinee) @ 2:00 pm

Saturday, September 24 @ 7:00 pm

Tickets are on sale at several locations in and around Tarrant County, including several Birth Centers and Chiropractors' offices.  Tickets can also be purchased online and picked up at Will Call.  They are on sale for $10 each and will be $15 at the door.

Each performance will be followed by a Talkback, led by yours truly, where you will have the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of various birth professionals that work in Tarrant County.  The Talkback will run about an hour.

BOLD Fort Worth will take place at the Bob Duncan Center in Arlington.  There is plenty of parking on the south side of the building.

On Saturday, look forward to the Birth & Family Expo from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm.  The first 500 people through the door will receive a "green" goody bag.  This year we have twice as many vendors.  There is such variety in vendors, you'll enjoy every minute.  Pick up some fabulous products -- some for baby and some for you! -- and gather some valuable information and resources from various business in Tarrant County.

Also at the Birth & Family Expo, you can take part in the Silent Auction.  I am a total junkie and this Silent Auction is no exception.  Come bid and win on all kinds of services, products, gift cards, etc. 

All proceeds benefit the Tarrant County Birth Network, which I am a Chapter Leader.  If you live in the Ft. Worth/Dallas area, we invite you to be a part of our organization.  We hold free monthly meetings and have held some pretty cool events, and even published a book of birth stories, The Birth Next Door.  BOLD Fort Worth is our big fundraiser that makes these other things possible throughout the year.  I hope you'll come out and support Mother-Friendly choices in and around Tarrant County.

This year marks the 5th Anniversary of "Birth" being performed around the world.  The play is the story of 8 women as they share their birth stories, all very different from one another.  This year, Karen Brody added a VBAC storyline for one of the 8 women, so if you saw the play last year, it will be different this time around.  

We decided to put a rating on the play this year of PG-13.  It probably is not a play for children.  With that being said, we are holding a Crybaby Matinee on Saturday afternoon for those with babies.  The actors have been warned that this will be the noisy show! 

If you are not a fan on our BOLD Facebook page and TCBN Facebook page, that really is the best way to keep track of the updates. 

We are printing "My Body Rocks" t-shirts to celebrate BOLD.  You can also pick up TCBN logo shirts, "The Birth Next Door," as well as vinyl for your car window.  All will be available at BOLD Fort Worth at the TCBN table.  Stop by and see us.

 Buy your tickets now. See you this weekend!

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This is what I woke up to today:

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Tears that flow

You'd think that after 6 years of marriage we'd have it altogether by now, or at the least part half together. Unfortunately, for me, I'm still hanging on by a thread.
A worn stretched thin thread.

As a "Christian" I find admitting this to be rather shameful and I think that's not fair. For me. So go easy on me. Or don't. I don't care ultimately.

For me it means fear of asking for the miracle that I need firstly in my heart and then in my life.

I wanted the perfect life with the fruitful garden, lots of little kids, the perfect man, and to serve wholeheartedly. Turns out lots of little kids is the easiest, most rewarding part of my heart & life.

I'm disappointed and lack contentment. I covet the idea of the perfect marriage being mine.

I would rather lay on my bed, under my warm blanket shaking & crying then stumbling around in the dark grasping at nothing. I often feel hopeless. I am hopeless. I often feel this is my only option.

Many months ago I read a blogpost by a fellow mum Blogger who stated that parenting did not come naturally to her. For years she struggled in the area of parenting and still does. I could not relate in any way.

Except in the area of marriage. Marriage has been the most difficult, tragic,  traumatic experience in my life. I feel like giving up. I feel like walking out. I feel my imperfections. I feel like all I do is fail. I feel unworthy. I feel broken. I feel pushed to side and abandoned. I feel so many negative emotions. I feel like this often. Too often.

I often look around me and 'see' other married couples and rarely hear they have struggled seriously. Just seems so perfect. From the outside.

So there you have it. A 2:30am post and you now know this mother is broken in pieces.

Please don't assume I am not thankful or grateful of the one who fathers my children and holds me in the night (& puts up with me). I am. I love him too. Lots actually.

Hope yours is better than mine.
Xx

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PZ - Focus Area 4: Flexible Operating Conditions - A pathway to a city "district?"

Partnership Zone  Thoughts  -

If Focus Area 4 - Flexible Operating Conditions - is a stipulation of both Tranformation and Turnaround (two of the four models) could the CSD BOE install a new "body" to oversee the governance of its two newest PZ schools?  A REQUIREMENT of both of these PZ models is to "Adopt a new governance structure."  Should Christina use this oportunity to return control to the neighborhoods from which the students that attend these schools are drawn?  Could CSD develop a governing structure that places direct leadership into the hands of the City residents and thereby establishes a foundation that ensures these schools are truly "community" schools within their urban settings? 

Is PZ the pathway to establishing something akin to a city district -a concept that a strong cohort of urban elected officials and community organizers is already behind?  They've approached Gov. Markell and contacted the Northern New Castle County School Boards requesting their ideas receive fair review.  They've marched in Wilmington and been highlighted in stories in the News Journal. 

The real question - Is Delaware ready to think innovatively?  And is Christina ready to lead?  Nothing about Race to the Top is certain. There is no data to show the models work.  In fact, I believe RTTT is the greatest education fallacy of our time - but, if this is the mechanism that allows my constituents to take the reigns of at least some of their schools in a new, creative, innovative manner; perhaps it's the route for which we should all be advocating... Maybe it's time to install a governing body that falls within Christina's domain but allows for greater autonomy - in a manner similar to the way that Charter School Boards act with autonomy in leading their schools with respect to their authorizers, such as the case with many of the charters located in the Red Clay School District. In my proposed version, Christina would continue to provide the administrative guidance and back office support - but the unpaid governing body at these two PZ schools would establish the mission and policies that relect their values and make the operating decisions that ensure the success of their schools.

Of course, you might just say - Why don't you Charter those schools then?  Chartering may require (the jury's out) invoking those certain provisions of the law that are time and process consuming.  PZ regulations require that districts submit plans within 90 days for approval.  Considering that no Public School in Delaware has ever gone through the conversion process, a 90 day window will likely not suffice to complete the requirements of the conversion law.

Well, readers, what are your thoughts, and Kilroy, I expect to hear from you!

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*Missing child*

Isaiah and I just walked into the lounge room to find it empty. Strange. I asked him where the baby is. In bed he tells me. I didn't put her there.

Where was she? Crawled. 2 metres away and hiding under my chair.

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Dear Bubba,

In light of recent angel babies, abortions, birthdays, new babies being born, and your growth & development I find myself asking
"have I cuddled you enough today?"
Have I cherished you enough today?
Have you been told that you are loved enough today?
Have I delighted in you enough today?
Have I captured the moments in my heart to remember these precious days with you enough today?

I am aware that our days on earth are numbered, and that each day we are given with our beloved children, families and friends are what I call a blessing.

I ask. Will I regret the way I spend this day if tomorrow was your last?

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Day to day

Well, its official. I'm sick but will live. Prescribed with rest and vitamins. Should have asked for a prescription for rest. Doh.

It's shopping day - but I can't do it. Or I spose I could. But I wonder how contagious I am. Who will I infect? What other parent will feel like I do? Think I better not go out unneccessarily which is near impossible.

I put food in the crock pot thinking atleast dinner is on if I get worse during the day - yet it dried out. More wasted food = more money down the drain.

Yep. I feel so lousy. I'm over it. I've had enough. We've stopped schooling. I've stopped teaching (have I really?).

We've gone into a montessori style of learning. I like it but its messy. I hate messy.

I'm about to put a dvd on for the kids and demand my rest (ha!)

Despite feeling down the house is feeling peaceful. I've been listening to the niv on cd (proverbs & psalms) , reading one of our new resource books about David & ot times from Samuel to kings (kids book) but loving it. Realising new things plus I have the overall understanding of the bible now that I didn't years ago that I asked for. Loving it. Psalm 110? & psalm 150 are new favourites.

Ugh

Feel free to load me up with mcfeast burgers. I'm starving!

Might read and rest while kids learn to be kind, gentle from their living dvd (lol)
Bye for now

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Home schooling: guided play

When strangers discover that I home school (which is happening more and more often cos my school aged kid is always with me and never at 'school') I can visually see them cloak me with a SUPER cape with a giant "S". "S" standing for super mum OR stupid. Either or I'm not offended. It doesn't help my case having a couple younger kids with me either. How do you manage? I dunno. I have to. I choose to. I'm not perfect (unfortunately for all involved)

Today I don't feel like I'm managing. Feeling broken, feeling worthless, feeling like everything I say, do or attempt fails.

On top of this I am sick. I have 4 sick kids. My baby is full of snot. We are not sleeping the best and I'm finding the sound of my name being called as a burden rather than a delight from lots of little kids.

I don't feel like dealing with rebellion, or facing a carton of weetbix thrown around the kitchen by an unsupervised toddler. I don't want my husband to return home at lunch to see exactly that I've showered and ive fed the baby. Nothing else is done.

So. Being the semi-wise homeschooling mum that I am I've provided the children with their own learning.

See? I'm just a simple mum with little difference than others.

Now. If I can get the toddler occupied without me I won't get jumped on anymore. Ideas?

5 things I am thankful for (feeling very unthankful)
1. Bible on CD
2. Puzzles
3. Kitchen door (its closed)
4. Sleep in
5. That we don't feel like this daily

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Crazy things

Sometimes crazy things happen in a house with lots of little kids. Like finding the oven turned on with a stuffed dog sitting on a plate inside,

Or hearing a knock at the door to find a live chicken looking at you.

Or a cat that eats fog food, a dog that eats cat food, a chook that eats dog food and kids that eat anything.

But the crazy thing I found today?! My hair brush. With no bristles. Cos they'd been cut off with scissors.

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My Thoughts on 9/11

I am writing this on September 11.  It's been 10 years since my country was attacked.  

I do not have any family in the military.  I cannot identify with the thousands of families that sacrifice to send loved ones out each and every day -- and year -- to fight for and protect The United States of America.  I am one of the millions that is not touched in my daily life by the War on Terror.  But I am one that is incredibly grateful for the sacrifice on my behalf, so that I can live free and free from terror.  Thank you.

I love my country.  I cannot hear the National Anthem without getting tears in my eyes.  Forget trying to sing it -- I can't even get through it!  I love to see my flag waving in the wind.  And since I live in Texas, the bigger the better!  The history of The United States is like none other.  In fact, the only text book I ever read cover to cover was US History in college.

My children are of ages now that they are learning about 9/11 and we have had many discussions about that day.  Life changed that September day.  Innocence was lost.  The whole world changed.   

I held my 5-month-old baby on the couch for days, watching the television in horror, not believing this was happening to my country.  Things like this didn't happen in America.  Who would ever hate us this much?  My son was 5 years old at the time.  He would look up at the TV every now-and-then and then continue playing with his toys.  He built towers and crashed other toys into them, knocking them to the ground.  It made me cry.  I wrestled with turning off the TV, but I couldn't.  I had to watch.  I had to know and understand what was happening.  Like all those that flocked to Ground Zero and the blood banks.  I felt a unity with my fellow Americans.  I could not turn off the TV and pretend this wasn't happening.

The sky was eerily quiet for several days.  I remember driving from Albuquerque to Santa Fe to see my parents, listening to Lee Greenwood sing "I'm Proud to Be An American" and sobbing my eyes out.  My father had a heart attack 6 days after 9/11 -- the first of several that would happen over the next 6 weeks.  It was a stressful time.  My siblings came from out of state when my dad was in the hospital and were surprised that I was still flying my flag on my front porch.  I never wanted to take it down.  In fact, I still wish I could fly it every day of every year.

This post has nothing to do with birth or breastfeeding, but I felt compelled to write it.  I live in my own little bubble most of the time.  My 10-year-old has a friend whose mom serves in the Air Force and is in Iraq again.  She leaves for an entire year, only coming home for 14 days.  I believe she's there for the third time.  Her friend has two little sisters, too.  I can't imagine the sacrifices that family makes.  The girl's dad came by to pick up Abby the other day, and it was windy out.  I have this little Uncle Sam statue on my porch with an American Flag in his hands.  The flag had blown down and was laying on the concrete when he came to the door.  He gently picked up the flag and place it back in Uncle Sam's hands.  I was humbled and quite embarrassed that it had been laying on my porch when everything about their family has to do with protecting our country. 

I wish we could remain naive. I wish we could greet loved ones at the gate instead of the baggage claim.   I wish our children didn't have to grow.  The world can be a yucky place.  When Vena, now 12, learned about 9/11, the thing that stuck with her was all the people that jumped from the burning towers.  How could that have possibly been better that staying in the burning building?  She had nightmares for weeks, that is, when she would finally fall asleep. 

I love our elementary school.   Every Veteran's Day they do a beautiful program in the school parking lot.  Every public servant you can think of -- all military branches, police, firefighters, EMT, etc -- are honored.  The kids learn and perform all those American songs we love -- America the Beautiful, I'm Proud to Be An American, and The Star-Spangled Banner.  I learned that first year, bring your tissues!  As long as they continue to do that program, even when I no longer have children there, I will make that my tradition on Veteran's Day.

I won't even touch on the politics, but I will say that the way I have viewed the world since 9/11 has caused me to change a number of attitudes, including how I vote.  I was never concerned about war and such before that fateful day.  I hope we never encounter a day like that again.  I am grateful that 10 years have passed and we haven't seen another attack like 9/11.  Someone was doing something right, I believe. 

Thank you to those that love this country as much as I do -- perhaps more -- to step out on the front line to defend this land that I love.  God Bless the USA.

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Philly district to foot ENTIRE Ackerman bill, even after she violates the separation agreement, and now donors back out.

http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/26180-philly-school-district-will-foot-entire-905000-bill-for-ackerman-buyout
Philly schools will foot entire $905,000 bill for Ackerman buyout
September 7, 2011
By Dave Davies

The School District of Philadelphia has paid former Superintendent Arlene Ackerman a $905,000 separation payment entirely with tax dollars.

The district late Wednesday also announced its decision not to pursue legal action against Ackerman for her public criticisms of a school district official.

Under the separation agreement negotiated with Ackerman, she was to refrain from any public comments that would injure the reputation of other schools officials. However, Ackerman sharply criticized district chief financial officer Michael Masch, and officials were considering a legal action to void or reduce her separation payment.

In a statement, the School Reform Commission, which governs the district, said while it disagrees with Ackerman's assertions, it believes its efforts are better spent on teaching kids than going to court. The statement also said most of the private donors who'd pledged $405,000 toward Ackerman's separation payment backed out after a public controversy over the use of anonymous donations. Instead, the entire $905,000 payment will come from the beleaguered school district.

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Why Jack Markell Needs to build schools 10 % closer to students homes!

http://www.wgmd.com/?p=34164&cpage=1#comment-70294

Outrage in Cape Henlopen over new bus routes caused by Jack's 10% transportation push off to the local districts.  And who was the board member who called the WGMD and asked them not to report on the issue? (listen to the end)

Thanks, Jack.  Your commitment to education leaves me speechless.

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Ackerman wasn't Pennsylvania's only big buy-out

Supersized Buyouts for School Chiefs Scrutinized


Wow!  What a read! PA/Oregon/Texas.  with legislative attempts in Oregon to change Superintendent contracts.  And, you can't beat the special office for the non-renewed superintendent who wasn't terminiated.  Wow!

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Rest Peacefully, Dr. Skinner. Your contributions are indelible to Delaware's Autism Community. Thank You.

Charles Kimball Skinner

Charles Kimball Skinner, D.D.S., age 75, of Newark, DE, died on Sunday, September 4, 2011, at Christiana Hospital from respiratory failure.

Born in Wilmington, DE, on September 13, 1935, Charles was the son of the late Dr. Glenn Seymour Skinner and Dr. Pauline Kimball Skinner.

He graduated from Newark High School in 1953, where he was valedictorian of his class, and from the University of Delaware in 1957, with distinction and honors in chemistry.

A graduate of Temple University School of Dentistry, Class of 1961, Charles became a member of Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Dental Fraternity and John A. Kolmer Honorary Medical Society. After dental school, he served as a captain in the US Air Force until 1963, when he established his private practice in Newark, lasting for 43 years until his retirement. He was a member of the American Dental Association, Delaware State Dental Society, Academy of Operative Dentistry, Academy of Gold Foil Operators, Fellow of the Royal Society of Health, Sons of the American Revolution, and National Society Americans of Royal Descent.

Perhaps his greatest achievement and pride was editing the legislative bill to create Delaware's educational program for autistic children, one of the first and most comprehensive in the United States. Charles also spent many years advocating for equal living and employment opportunities for the disabled at the state and federal level. Some of his writings were even included in the Federal Register.

Charles is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Helen Cochran Skinner; children, Charles K. Skinner Jr. of New Castle, Daniel Skinner of Annapolis, MD, and Julie Skinner of Eagle River, AZ; brother, Dr. Glenn Skinner Jr. and wife, Barbara, of Sunnyside, WA; sister-in-law, Margaret Cochran of Newark, DE; grandchildren, Katherine Skinner and Genevieve Skinner; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marcelle Baker, sister-in-law, Janet Lee, and brother-in-law, John Cochran.

Services will be held privately at London Grove Friends Burial Ground in Kennett Square, PA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Delaware Foundation for Autistic Citizens, Inc., 711 Nottingham Road, Newark, DE 19711.

SPICER-MULLIKIN FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY
To sign guest book, visit
spicermullikin.com
302-328-2213

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Back to School Guide - Reclaiming Your Child's Education

What it means to opt out of The Test!

Back to School Guide: Reclaiming Your Child’s Education (1/2)
By Kerri Provost, August 31, 2011 2:53 pm

In March of 2011, the mother of a straight-A Hartford student called up the principal to say that her daughter, Caridad¹, “will not be taking the test.”

The test, in this case, happened to be the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT), which is administered to all students in grades 3-8, every year. About one week is dedicated to the actual test (seven hours in all), though the level of preparation varies from school-to-school, with some assigning test prep homework all year round. Caridad, who was in the seventh grade when she opted out, attends one of the schools that puts less emphasis than others on the standardized state tests...

http://www.realhartford.org/2011/08/31/back-to-school-guide-reclaiming-your-childs-education-12/

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PZ: You Never Know Who's Looking Back...

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Precisely why Arts can never be eliminated from school! Welcome to the Jungle!

Make's me wish I had learned an instrument as a child...

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Dear Anonymous,

Dear Anonymous,


I am sorry if my writings sound mean. My comparison is not directed at schools, but at the department that changed the ratings system and essentially rendered it useless.

Children are my passion, providing access to clear, comprehendable data is part and parcel to that passion.

The new system invalidates the historical data. The untrained eye will look at school profiles and see a superior school and actually think that school is superior when in fact it may be one of the 40ish who fails to meet the federal minimums.

The designers of this altered system had one obvious motive in mind when they implemented it - Make DCAS and RTTT look like they are working to ensure voter buy-in. The public is being scammed and if they don't live and die education they won't realize it.

It's shameful.

As for my schools - I am proud of each and every one for their achievements. But, my desire for these schools and teachers is to internally celebrate this moment in time and then use that affirmation to propel them into a new school year and return to the mission at hand - teaching children, not the test, but to be life long achievers of all of their goals.

The benchmark will rise by about 1/3 next year. Approx. 1/3 more children must achieve profiency for our schools to maintain their ratings. While the natural reaction is that this a moment to savor, we cannot be satisfied, knowing that the bar was lowered by a department that is supposed to be dedicated to achievement.

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