EDUaction NOW

A CASE FOR TAXES

We continue to hear about big government versus small government,

about doing the right thing for people versus staying out of people's lives,

about fair versus unfair taxation.

Yes, the role of government, personal freedom, and taxes are the talking points at the centerpiece of most political conversation.

I'm not really a one-side or the other kind of guy, and most of us are not. We know that there are no easy answers and 140 character Twitter comments or repetitive slogans help but they don't get to many who vote. Whether you live in a blue state or a red state or whether you are for or against a certain individual running for public office, the upcoming 2014 national elections are just around the corner; you might want to keep this in mind:

           Individual initiative has made this country great,
          but that initiative has always been complementary
                       to our collective commitments.
         You and I----"we"---make a powerful partnership!

So, how do "we" make the case for or against government, individual freedom, and taxes? Do YOU want smaller government and lower taxes???

Before answering too quickly, please check out the following list from the very interesting blog "What Would Jack Do?" It's a specific list of what NOT to do if you DON'T believe in taxation for the greater good.  I'm not a negative person, but sometimes a focus on "no" is a way to make a point---here's the list:

Do not use Medicare.
Do not use Social Security
Do not become a member of the US military, who are paid with tax dollars.
Do not ask the National Guard to help you after a disaster.
Do not call 911 when you get hurt.
Do not call the police to stop intruders in your home.
Do not summon the fire department to save your burning home.
Do not drive on any paved road, highway, and interstate or drive on any bridge.
Do not use public restrooms.
Do not send your kids to public schools.
Do not put your trash out for city garbage collectors.
Do not live in areas with clean air.
Do not drink clean water.
Do not visit National Parks.
Do not visit public museums, zoos, and monuments.
Do not eat or use FDA inspected food and medicines.
Do not bring your kids to public playgrounds.
Do not walk or run on sidewalks.
Do not use public recreational facilities such as basketball and tennis courts.
Do not seek shelter facilities or food in soup kitchens when you are homeless and hungry.
Do not apply for educational or job training assistance when you lose your job.
Do not apply for food stamps when you can’t feed your children.
Do not use the judiciary system for any reason.
Do not ask for an attorney when you are arrested and do not ask for one to be assigned to you by the court.
Do not apply for any Pell Grants.
Do not use cures that were discovered by labs using federal dollars.
Do not fly on federally regulated airplanes.
Do not use any product that can trace its development back to NASA.
Do not watch the weather provided by the National Weather Service.
Do not listen to severe weather warnings from the National Weather Service.
Do not listen to tsunami, hurricane, or earthquake alert systems.
Do not apply for federal housing.
Do not use the internet, which was developed by the military.
Do not swim in clean rivers.
Do not allow your child to eat school lunches or breakfasts.
Do not ask for FEMA assistance when everything you own gets wiped out by disaster.
Do not ask the military to defend your life and home in the event of a foreign invasion.
Do not use your cell phone or home telephone.
Do not buy firearms that wouldn’t have been developed without the support of the US Government and military. That includes most of them.
Do not eat USDA inspected produce and meat.
Do not apply for government grants to start your own business.
Do not apply to win a government contract.
Do not buy any vehicle that has been inspected by government safety agencies.
Do not buy any product that is protected from poisons, toxins, etc…by the Consumer Protection Agency.
Do not save your money in a bank that is FDIC insured.
Do not use Veterans benefits or military health care.
Do not use the G.I. Bill to go to college.
Do not apply for unemployment benefits.
Do not use any electricity from companies regulated by the Department of Energy.
Do not live in homes that are built to code.
Do not run for public office. Politicians are paid with taxpayer dollars.
Do not ask for help from the FBI, S.W.A.T, the bomb squad, Homeland Security, State troopers, etc…
Do not apply for any government job whatsoever as all state and federal employees are paid with tax dollars.
Do not use public libraries.
Do not use the US Postal Service.
Do not visit the National Archives.
Do not visit Presidential Libraries.
Do not use airports that are secured by the federal government.
Do not apply for loans from any bank that is FDIC insured.
Do not ask the government to help you clean up after a tornado.
Do not ask the Department of Agriculture to provide a subsidy to help you run your farm.
Do not take walks in National Forests.
Do not ask for taxpayer dollars for your oil company.
Do not ask the federal government to bail your company out during recessions.
Do not seek medical care from places that use federal dollars.
Do not use Medicaid.
Do not use WIC.
Do not use electricity generated by Hoover Dam.
Do not use electricity or any service provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Do not ask the Army Corps of Engineers to rebuild levees when they break.
Do not let the Coast Guard save you from drowning when your boat capsizes at sea.
Do not ask the government to help evacuate you when all hell breaks loose in the country you are in.
Do not visit historic landmarks.
Do not visit fisheries.
Do not expect to see animals that are federally protected because of the Endangered Species List.
Do not expect plows to clear roads of snow and ice so your kids can go to school and so you can get to work.
Do not hunt or camp on federal land.
Do not work anywhere that has a safe workplace because of government regulations.
Do not use public transportation.
Do not drink water from public water fountains.
Do not whine when someone copies your work and sells it as their own. Government enforces copyright laws.
Do not expect to own your home, car, or boat. Government organizes and keeps all titles.
Do not expect convicted felons to remain off the streets.
Do not eat in restaurants that are regulated by food quality and safety standards.
Do not seek help from the US Embassy if you need assistance in a foreign nation.
Do not apply for a passport to travel outside of the United States.
Do not apply for a patent when you invent something.
Do not adopt a child through your local, state, or federal governments. 89.Do not use elevators that have been inspected by federal or state safety regulators.
Do not use any resource that was discovered by the USGS.
Do not ask for energy assistance from the government.
Do not move to any other developed nation, because the taxes are much higher.
Do not go to a beach that is kept clean by the state.
Do not use money printed by the US Treasury.
Do not complain when millions more illegal immigrants cross the border because there are no more border patrol agents.
Do not attend a state university.
Do not see any doctor that is licensed through the state.
Do not use any water from municipal water systems.
Do not complain when diseases and viruses, that were once fought around the globe by the US government and CDC, reach your house.
Do not work for any company that is required to pay its workers a livable wage, provide them sick days, vacation days, and benefits.
Do not expect to be able to vote on election days. Government provides voting booths, election day officials, and voting machines which are paid for with taxes.
Do not ride trains. The railroad was built with government financial assistance.

Thanks to the original author: http://www.whatwouldjackdo.net/

WHO KNEW?

Why is this lady off on another adventure?
Isn't that Kimberly?

The same lady who celebrated her 30th birthday by taking a 15 plus hour trek up and down Half Dome with her sister?

Yes, that Half Dome and that Jennifer!

The same lady who would rather be water-skiing, enjoying sailing, or kayaking on Canandaigua Lake?

Yes, that lady!

The same lady who left a successful career with Four Seasons, living and working in Chicago, New York, Nevis, and San Francisco and decided to give it all up and go to graduate school at Syracuse University?

MA in International Reations from the Maxwell School

MS in Public Relations from the Newhouse School

Hanging out with the children of India while researching international water issues.

Yes, that lady and that Syracuse University Public Diplomacy Program requiring completion of dual master's degrees from two of the most pretigious programs in the country. From engaging classrooms to reserach in northern India to an internship at the US Department of State in Washington DC, Kimberly's love of learning and making a difference by solving enviornmental issues is front and center.

Why another adventure?

At the graduation ceremonies this weekend, there were many words of wisdom shared, but the ones that probably best answer the question "Why?" came from the speaker who reminded us it's easy to offer criticism---but we have a chance to make a difference when we offer solutions.

Kimberly intends to make a difference! :-)

Congratulations, Little Guy. Your friends and family are so very proud of you, and we know the world is a better place because you care so much!!!

TEST IS BECOMING A FOUR-LETTER WORD

Students in England taking the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), a testing process that has generated issues much like the USA's NCLB.

What's wrong with this picture?

I see a symbolic illustration of how an obsession with testing has changed not only how we measure what happens in schools but it is also a yardstick of what's really happening in schools. And what's happening is simply depressing to consider if you care about the future of schooling, as it is becoming, from my view, a testy situation--pun intended!

Sadly, the idea of taking a test is an innocent enough concept and, in fact, an important concept. A test does not have to be thought of as a pejorative word; it does not have to be thought of as a nasty four-letter word. In fact practically everyone wants tests---we want our airline pilots to have passed lots of tests, we expect our surgeons to have done well on all of their tests, our teachers need to be certified, we believe that medicines should be tested before they receive approval for distribution, we want to take a test-drive before we buy a new car, consumers want products tested before they buy them, when there's a health concern diagnostic tests can be lifesavers for humans and for our family pets, and then there's the white-gloves test to see if the house if ready for company.

In schools we have always had tests, some better than others, but despite a few bad experiences we have never thought of tests in quite the same way as we do today. A random review of blogs about testing found these very representative comments:

from a mom: "I think this whole test business is awful. I remember going on field trips and doing fun science lessons when I was in elementary school. I would not have the love of reading I have today if I had to take all those tests instead."

from a dad: "Too much testing and not enough learning. We need to come together and find a better way to make sure our kids are succeeding. Speak out!"

from a teacher: "Rather than holding teachers accountable for student progress and improvement over time, this legislation (a new teacher performance system in NY) dictates that students and teachers, out of an entire school year, will be judged by a few hours of a no.2 pencil scratching."

And Califonia Governor Brown recently delivered an interesting one-liner in the context of criticizing a piece of testing related legislation, "Adding more speedometers to a broken car won't turn it into a high-performance machine."

A fascinating piece from the Educational Testing Service in 1999, "Too Much Testing" is worth a visit, even though it was written over a dozen years ago. You can download the full report at ets.org.

It has clearly withstood the test of time!

HOLIDAYS ARE A GREAT TIME TO REMEMBER WHAT'S IMPORTANT

I always think about this message from the late, great comedian and sometime philosopher, George Carlin; it has been a few years since he wrote this, but much of it seems to still ring true...see if you agree:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways but narrow viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families, more knowledge, but less judgement, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not how to make a life. We've added years to life, but not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but we have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not our inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things...

Remember, spend time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember to say "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend a hurt when it comes from deep inside you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.

TIME FOR A FIELD TRIP

I’m 70 years old and there are times when I can’t remember why I just walked into the den or what I was looking for. Early dementia? No, just, as my favorite doctor used to say, “Your briefcase is full." It’s full, of course, because I have lived so long and have had opportunities to put so much in my briefcase.

The interesting thing is I can remember my 3^rd grade field trip to a local bank as though it were yesterday. I can remember my first camping experience, our family trips to the beach, being selected for a Little League team, our eighth grade trip to DC, especially the Smithsonian, our wedding day in 1964, the birth of both daughters (vividly), and the list goes on.

I share this because I just returned from a weekend trip to DC where I was stunned by my feelings of pride in our overwhelming beautiful capital, my awe of the bigger than life monuments and the reminders of the many important people and events that have made us so special, and an incredible understanding of how complex our country is and why we need a dynamic and reliable government.

So, I share this not because I want to make a case for more research on dementia or argue for bigger government. I share this because my weekend trip to DC somehow brought to light a perspective on current events in our world that I now believe might be better addressed with effective 21^stcentury leadership.

I’m deeply concerned about the current leadership in two major arenas:

q I am very concerned about the crisis of leadership in our Congress, the narrowing of our national perspective, the pandering to special interests, the failure to put the greater good at the center of our discourse.

q I am equally as concerned about the crisis of leadership in our educational system that has allowed data-driven-everything to dominate every decision, resulting in the loss of important teaching-learning opportunities for our teachers and students.

So, what’s the connection? What would a 21^stcentury leader emphasize?

Field trips! Yes, field trips!!!

School districts nation-wide have all but eliminated meaningful field trips, whether it’s the economy squeezing the budget, fears of increased liability, alternative strategies such as virtual visits, or, as in too many cases, a misunderstanding of the worth of a field trip. The common response to “Why not a field trip?” is “We need more time on task for the areas of the test.” Sadly, what these comments don’t realize is the results in almost every area of any standardized test would be enhanced by an effective field trip. Not a believer? Take a moment and reflect on your schooling: what were the most memorable school activities you can recall? I’ve done this hundreds of times with future teachers and in every case a field trip or a project related to a field trip makes the list---every time! It could be a senior trip to DC, a project presented at the State Fair, a rewarding day at an amusement park, a band competition, a whale watch---the list is extensive.

Real and life-long learning occurs when there is a personally meaningful event, a connection, an ah-ha or an OIC (oh, I see) experience. Field trips provide meaningful learning and should be among the last things to go when there are decisions to be made at school.

I’m equally as sure that our elected officials in Congress need to take some field trips. When I hear how “bad” big government is, I have to wonder, do they get out and around in DC to visit and to know what our big government agencies really do? I’m sure there is room for some belt-tightening, but the country I have known, grown up in, prospered in, needs now more than ever to reach out and make a difference in the life of our people. Whether it’s the complex work of the State Department or the comprehensive issues worked on at the EPA, the Department of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs----the list is extensive. The work is important. It makes us who we are as a nation.

Government makes a difference when it serves its people; that is happening in this country better than any other place in the world, and politicians looking for an issue would serve us all better by taking a field trip, checking things out, and making recommendations for improvement rather than thoughtless statements that “less government is better government.”

Yes, field trips. Still not convinced? I know not everyone can hop in a car, train, bus, or plane and visit DC, but it would really be a treat and a vivid reminder of what an awesome country we live in. In fact, most field trips provide opportunities for learning and evidence that we live in a very special place.

We still have a lot to learn. Let's take a field trip!

HAPPY NEW YEAR: HUGS ALL AROUND!

The new year brings unlimited opportunities for EDUaction Now advocates. "Making a difference" is always at the top of my resolutions, and I hope you feel the same way. I also hope our few interactions at this blog have added to that goal, and I thank you for stopping by---stay in touch!

If you have not heard of the free hugs campaign, I hope you enjoy this video; check out the details at their website: http://freehugscampaign.org/

Happy New Year!

HUGS!!!!

DOGS CAN MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE

This is one of my favorite videos of all time---so inspirational---eliminates dry eyes!!! Click below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGODurRfVv4

WELCOME TO MY WORLD

Welcome to my blog: EDUaction NOW.

The name comes from a paper I wrote as an undergraduate almost 50 years ago. I submitted the paper, "EDUaction is the Answer for the Future" for an educational foundations' class and it was well received, but the word EDUaction was circled and red-penciled with a small "sp"---I guess the professor was a former English teacher!!!

So, all these years later, I decided to bring "EDUaction" back to life----no red pen markings, just important ideas, comments, questions, and suggestions that I hope will make the world of education a better place.

I look forward to our many interactions!!

Tom