I will be at a synagogue this weekend doing my show “Dirt.” So today’s word of wisdom is as follows.
When Hillel was asked to sum up Jewish teaching while standing on one foot, he said, “What is hurtful to you, do not do to your neighbor.” But then he added this: “The rest is commentary. Go and learn.”
I just read this commentary in the NY times.
What do you think?
Op-Ed Contributor
The Early Bird Gets the Bad Grade
By NANCY KALISH
IT’S Monday morning, and you’re having trouble waking your teenagers. You’re not alone. Indeed, each morning, few of the country’s 17 million high school students are awake enough to get much out of their first class, particularly if it starts before 8 a.m. Sure, many of them stayed up too late the night before, but not because they wanted to.
Research shows that teenagers’ body clocks are set to a schedule that is different from that of younger children or adults. This prevents adolescents from dropping off until around 11 p.m., when they produce the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, and waking up much before 8 a.m. when their bodies stop producing melatonin. The result is that the first class of the morning is often a waste, with as many as 28 percent of students falling asleep, according to a National Sleep Foundation poll. Some are so sleepy they don’t even show up, contributing to failure and dropout rates.
Many of our presidential candidates have been relatively silent on how they plan to save our troubled education system. For those still searching for a policy that might have a positive impact, here’s an idea: stop focusing on testing and instead support changing the hours of the school day, starting it later for teenagers and ending it later for all children.
Indeed, no one does well when they’re sleep-deprived, but insufficient sleep among children has been linked to obesity and to learning issues like attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. You’d think this would spur educators to take action, and a handful have.
In 2002, high schools in Jessamine County in Kentucky pushed back the first bell to 8:40 a.m., from 7:30 a.m. Attendance immediately went up, as did scores on standardized tests, which have continued to rise each year. Districts in Virginia and Connecticut have achieved similar success. In Minneapolis and Edina, Minn., which instituted high school start times of 8:40 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. respectively in 1997, students’ grades rose slightly and lateness, behavioral problems and dropout rates decreased.
Later is also safer. When high schools in Fayette County in Kentucky delayed their start times to 8:30 a.m., the number of teenagers involved in car crashes dropped, even as they rose in the state.
So why hasn’t every school board moved back that first bell? Well, it seems that improving teenagers’ performance takes a back seat to more pressing concerns: the cost of additional bus service, the difficulty of adjusting after-school activity schedules and the inconvenience to teachers and parents.
But few of these problems actually come to pass, according to the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota. In Kentucky and Minnesota, simply flipping the starting times for the elementary and high schools meant no extra cost for buses. Nor have after-school jobs and activities been affected as anticipated. And though team practices and matches might have to start a bit later, student participation has usually stayed the same. Some districts have even witnessed improved performance from better-rested athletes.
Of course, when school starts later, it has to end later. But instead of viewing this as a liability, we should see it as an opportunity to extend the day even further until 5 p.m. or later, not just for high school students but for those in elementary and middle school as well. It would help working parents if their children were on the same basic schedule.
But there are other reasons to start and end school at a later time. According to Paul Reville, a professor of education policy at Harvard and chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Education, “Trying to cram everything our 21st-century students need into a 19th-century six-and-a-half-hour day just isn’t working.” He says that children learn more at a less frantic pace, and that lengthening the school day would help “close the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their better-off peers.”
Massachusetts has opened more than a dozen “expanded learning time” schools, which add about three hours to the school day. Students spend additional time on subjects like math and English, but also enjoy plentiful art, music, physical education and recess — all of which are being slashed at many schools.
Also, why not make sure there’s built-in time for doing homework? That way, children could get their work done at school where professionals can help them, freeing them to spend time with their families when they do get home.
So if candidates want the parent vote, here’s a wake-up call. Stand up for an educational policy that allows students’ real needs — rather than outdated time constraints — to dictate how and when our children learn best.
If you think I’m a political junkie now…You should have seen me before. It started rather innocently. The first time I voted for Dukakis as a college student at Evangel College. A school where there were about 8 people who voted for him. Then it was meeting John Kerry back in the 90’s and thinking this guy would make a great president. I also have fond memories of going to see u2 several times on the Achtung baby tour back in 92 and at the end of the show they played David Bowie’s “Heroes.” I remember the feeling that so many of us young people had as we left. Feeling that if we united and voted we could end Bush 41’s foreign policy. The Clinton years were a mixed bag. I loved him-I hated him. Sometimes within the same speech. I remember wanting to vote for Dole ’cause he was a WWII veteran like my dad…But actually Dad and I both went to the polls that day and voted for Bill. By 2000 I had enough of the entire Clinton clan. And then I fell in love with a candidate for the first time. Bill Bradley. Everything about him screamed intelligence, leadership, and above all else…Respect. I read his books and attended meetings. At one rally I met Robert Parrish, KC Jones, and Dr. Cornell West and, as we left, the speakers blared Patti Smith’s “The People Have The Power.” I get chills thinking about it. I campaigned my ass off for him. And we lost. I was so disappointed that we lost to Gore and his gang in NH I vowed that I would not vote for him. I felt that the Democratic party had let me down and had sacrificed having any real beliefs and chosen the establishment. I felt like the Democratic party needed to regroup and redefine itself and that would only happen if they lost and reassembled into a party with dignity and a passion for the real needs of the working class they claimed to represent. I voted for Bush. There I said it. Who could see what was coming.
I tried to give Bush the benefit of the doubt for as long as possible but sooner or later the facts caught up with us all. In 2004 it was a no brainer to me that I would support my Senator John Kerry who to this day I think would be a GREAT president but he certainly was a weak candidate. For the sake of my sanity I had to shut off the news for a few years. Step away from all the bickering and also examine my own ideological problems. I found that my intolerance of the intolerant was killing my soul and I was buying in to the whole red state/blue state myth. I was looking at people through a warped media driven lens of left and right and liberal and conservative and it was not good at all. And as I stepped away I began to see the similarities of both parties and their desire for control and power. I began to see that both sides were distorting each others views and that the far left was being just as petty as the far right. It seemed like it was a game for both sides and that they didn’t realize that these moves on the red and blue checkerboard were affecting real peoples lives. I was officially done…Until I saw Kucinich speak at the LOGO gay voter debate online. I thought to myself this guy has got it all. He believes everything I do and he is the only one who is not ashamed to be called a liberal or to say he is for gay marriage. I personally am not gay but its an issue that I think is important and really one of the premiere civil rights issues of our time. Well, anyway, I realized that Kucinich had no chance and decided to go full force for Obama. I loved his books. I loved his speech in 2004. And I agreed with his vision of America. And then last week Bill Bradley endorsed him. Done Deal!
So this past weekend I watched Hillary reinvent herself and like many last night I questioned the poll results. I am a little angry at the Clinton strategy although apparently all is fair in love and politics. I kind of feel toyed with the way I used to with Bill. He would piss me off and then I’d see him speak at a press conference or yuk it up with Boris Yeltsin and I’d think “Wow…What a guy!” I think most of all I resented Bill and Hillary whining about the media coverage. Whining about Obama’s momentum. I even question the hecklers that went into Hillary rally screaming chauvinist chants. No protests the whole campaign and then suddenly Hillary has to defend herself against male chauvinists chanting “iron my shirt.” It certainly got the attention of all the women in New Hampshire. Paranoid? Maybe. And to top it all off her husband wags that famous finger at the media and basically says leave my wife alone. What a mixed message. If she is such a strong woman why does she need her husband to defend her? I just don’t know if I can handle 4 or god forbid 8 more years of seeing the two of them reclaim their throne. They have undoubtedly done good things for the country I know. But right NOW, in my mind, they have come to embody all that is wrong with a broken political system. If Obama loses this primary I just may do the same thing I did in 2000. Vote for the other team in protest. And sometimes honestly I do not see that much of a difference between Hillary and MCcain or Romney or Huckabee. Sure on policies there are huge differences of pro-life and taxes…Oh and 3 of the 4 believe in evolution…But will there be real substantive change in my life or in our foreign policy if Hillary gets in and Romney doesn’t. Maybe. This may be a bit of an over reaction but I just cringe at seeing more politics as usual. I just want more for my country. And more for the country my daughter will live in when I’m gone someday. But for some reason I feel that it will be different if Obama wins. Utopian? No. Perfect? No. Just a little different. I feel as though a page will be turned and it will be a collective cry for a change. Maybe I’m a little idealistic. So what. I mean I’m writing a blog and thinking that someone might actually care to read this…If thats not pollyanna what is:-)
So I’m back. I’m addicted and I’m in love. Right now the sexiest woman in my world is pictured below. Her name is Maureen Dowd and I have always had a crush on her. Besides being totally hot and well spoken she is whip smart. She writes in the New York Times and she is the smartest “guy” in the room no matter where she goes. Yeah I know she’s like 50…I can’t help it. And she just shot an arrow to my heart with her latest column. Check it out and see ya in South Carolina.
You can watch all the pundits or you can keep it simple. She won for two reasons.
1. She cried.
2.It was 60 degrees and old people came out to vote.
As most of you know I tend to lean to the left politically. Although I have voted Republican on occasions in the past and I do not consider myself very ideological or insanely loyal to a party. I was supporting Kucinich early on because I agree with him on everything, I knew he had no chance but so what. I then switched to Barck Obama. Well not really switch because I have been a fan of his since reading his book after he won the senate seat in Illinois. He was my safety choice and I felt he was a man of integrity. He overcame obstacles. He is passionate. He restores my idealism. He seems to unite people. I like him. I also felt like Hillary was just not an option since I felt she was part of the old broken system. Plus, so many in America have already made up their mind about her. Her biggest asset (Her husband Bill) with with Democrats was her biggest liability with Republicans and the next president must unite. Obama seemsed perfect. Something about a tall skinny awkward guy from Illinois uniting a divided nation…:-) But I must admit I have fallen in love with Hillary.
I felt she kicked serious ass at the NH debate. When she spoke about working for change and was passionate about her work to help 7,000 kids get health care and 1, 200 national guard troops get benefits..She Was On Fire! She was strong and intelligent and passionate. But the truth is she also charmed my socks off with her finally showing a feminine side. Lets face it, we bring our gender to who we are. Male candidates inspire woman voters by appealing to feminine desires. Example, the last election saw soccer moms drawn to the candidate that would keep them safe, The protector. The provider. The Daddy. The Strong man. Criticize it all you want women…but it was real. So there is an element to gender with a candidate. My criticism against Hillary was that she had spent so much time living in an all male club that she had taught herself to strip herself of all things that would seem feminine. I’m not saying she was “butch”…but she was just not “motherly” and sensitive. Is that wrong for me to think that. If women vote for their “fathers” why can’t a man for his “mother.” In addition, I feel that if I vote for a woman to lead us I am voting for a WOMAN. The kind of leadership and sensitivities that a woman can bring to a job are totally different than a man’s skills at times. Would a woman think differently about sending a young boy to war. Would a woman think differently about schools. Would a woman think differently about the rights of those who are not in the white male majority. I hope so. The problem was Hillary didn’t show me this…Until this weekend.
At the debate there was this moment
BOOM! In that one second Hillary was human. She was real. She was FEMININE! She connected with me. I loved her. Page Dr. Freud!
There was also a moment I have no video documentation for though. (UPDATE: VIDEO BELOW) She did a press conference for reporters yesterday that I saw on C-Span. All the reporters were gathered around and Chris Matthews was asking something of her and trying to get her attention as she walked away after the conference. She walked over to him as he stood on the other side of the fence. She grabbed him by the shoulder. Pulled him closer. Put her hand on his cheek and said something. I’m told she said “Why are all you guys obsessed with me?” Awesome. Perfect. Game. Set. Match. Loved it!
I see a different side of her now. I am glad that I kept an open mind even though I was committed totally to another candidate. I now connect with her in a way I didn’t before which is so important. Damn, its everything in politics! One pundit, I believe it was Mark Shields on PBS told a story to illustrate this point. He told the story of a reporter who was covering the funeral of FDR. He was in the crowd about twenty rows back of where the funeral procession was going by. Throngs of people paying respect and he could barely see anything as the funeral went by so he looked beside him and there was man sobbing heavily out loud. In tears. After the funeral the reporter asked him “You seem very moved…Did you know the president personally?” The man replied “No, but he knew me.”
So I felt emotion toward Hillary. Maybe it was the exchanges above. Maybe it was the fact she was the underdog now when for so long it felt like her nomination was a media ordained inevitability. I felt like we connected.
By the way…I still support Barack Obama and will vote for him in the primary and election day:-)
UPDATE: 3:22 PM 01.07.08
Ok now I am really connecting. You got to see this.
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4097366
I know how much my opinion matters and how important I am. Of course everyone wants to know what I like so they can adjust their lives accordingly. So here are the things you need to read, see, and hear.
Music:
Lucinda Williams: West
Bright Eyes: Cassadaga
Concerts:
Elvis Costello solo opening for Bob Dylan, Worcester, MA
Blue October, First Ave, Minneapolis, MN
Books:
Phillip Roth: Everyman
Steve Martin: Born Standing Up
Movie: No Country For Old Men
Of all the above things it was the Bright Eyes album Cassadaga that probably meant the most to me this past year. Just perfect from beginning to end.
happy new year
