Very Fitting...

WHAT DO TEACHERS MAKE?


The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Barbara . Be honest. What do you make?"

Barbara, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life ( Barbara paused one last time and then continued.)

Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.

You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

What do you make Mr. CEO?

His jaw dropped, he went silent.

THIS IS WORTH SENDING TO EVERY TEACHER, EVERY CEO, EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW.
Even all your personal teachers like mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, coaches and your spiritual leaders/teachers.

A profound answer!!!

Compliments of Mr. El-Amin

Why The City Councilors & Community Should STAY "in" School!

"New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) which shows more than 725 school administrators making more than $141,000 annually, including nearly 60 school superintendents drawing annual salaries of $200,000 or more, Rible said, “Such exorbitant salaries are, in part, to blame for the high cost of property taxes associated with education in New Jersey and the state’s chronic budget deficits."
[http://hobokencurriculumproject.blogspot.com/2010/03/nj-bill-seeks-to-cap-salary-of.html]

Here's Your Opportunity...

For those who REALLY want to understand the reasons and glean the qualifications of the candidates running for the Plainfield Board of Education - Come Out to:

PEA Candidates Forum

Wednesday, 3/31

5:30 PM

P.H.S. Cafeteria

Come Join Us Today : 5 PM

For The Record!

I had a very engaging conversation with Annie McWilliams and I appreciated the opportunity to understand her position as well as express my own.  That's "authentic" intentions in action.

Not the cowardly Anon-mer(s) whose commentary speaks only to their self-centered concerns and how  they are sick of talking about the schools (wonder how many kids they have in the district). Not a single candidate spoke last night -- yet out of the 6 speakers that came up to the mic when I was there -- 5 talked about their concerns for the schools.  Hmmm...

And if Anon has it their way looks like we will be checking our ward cards at the door -- lessen you be speaking about anything they might not be interested in...

Silly Rabbit.

It's not about you think my way or hit the highway, but rather how can we come to some common ground -- and we have a lot of common ground to cover.

Anywho -- thanks Annie for reaching out/in and over!  I look forward to the 3rd Ward's meeting and many opportunities to converse, partner and IMPROVE Plainfield -- the community and the schools!  Be well.

Absolutely Disgusted!

You know I’m getting pretty sick and tired of POLICITIANS throwing around the word POLITICS as in “Playing Politics” as if it is a dirty word. If it’s a dirty word then that makes YOU dirty because it’s what you practice and are involved in day in and day out.

It’s not politics that is dirty -- it’s the sneaky, conniving, lying duplicitous nature of the politician that makes it so!

I was completely out done when I walked into the 2nd Ward City Council meeting and was assailed with two absolutely OBSURD proclamations! The first was from Annie McWilliams who said that because the BOE elections were approaching, the council would not entertain any questions regarding education, after all “it was beyond” their responsibility. Yet last week they not only entertained education they introduced and allowed commentary from BOE members and the CSA.

Hmm -- So what’s that about? Sounds like politicking to me…

The real question is -- why would you hold City Council Forums during the BOE election period and then NOT expect people to discuss what is happening?

Why would Annie think it was SLIGHTLY OK to SENSOR/CENSURE what is on the hearts of the people in her community?

Shortly following Mr. Mapp says it is the job of the State and Federal Government to provide education for communities, and just to make sure we all understood him -- he repeated it. WHAT???

Hey Mapp -- It takes a Village to raise a child and like it or not YOUR House is in this Village and YOU along with everyone else will have to PAY to EDUCATE this city’s children.

Think of it this way -- you will either pay to educate them, pay to jail them or pay to bury them. AS for ME and MY HOUSE -- we ARE A PART of THIS COMMUNITY and We gladly give of our time, talent and talons to EDUCATE our future.

I personally, don’t go to City Council Meetings because they are too rigid for my taste. BUT whenever I hear about an OPEN forum format I attend. But guess what I'm coming to talk about? You BETCHA -- EDUCATION…that is to say the DIRE STRAITS of PLAINFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS! And--- it doesn’t matter if it’s during an election season or not!

How could the council even remotely believe they could have a VIABLE and/or VALUABLE conversation about ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT without first understanding how education will play a role in the success of same?

ANNIE -- YOU Can NOT create and/or establish an economic infrastructure WITHOUT ensuring you have the ability to sustain same.

Who is going to work in the stores? Buy from the Stores? Hello -- Own and Operate the Stores? Certainly not the children of Plainfield because their EDUCATION does not afford them the ability to SUSTAIN the economic base.

I got up to talk but time was running out and I had to go to another forum -- So I had to write this up because it was just too darn unbelievable that she and Mapp would take such an asinine stance on such a highly publicized, critical issue in our city. And -- there were a LOT of folks there that felt the same way given the bouts of applause that erupted every time someone mentioned their concerns about education and the current state in our city‘s schools.

Looks like the council made the WRONG call on that one!

It was a sad commentary to witness these two in full blown ignorance of how important the educational issue is to the community, but I must say the community people who spoke up were on point, and despite the edicts of Ms. McWilliams, continued to voice their concerns about the educational system in Plainfield.

Power to the PEOPLE of PLAINFIELD!

Huh?

"I rather be the one suffering the stress of not knowing specifics rather than having stress due to the possible different scenarios." Christian Estevez, BOE Member and Incumbent

Hello Plainfield!  It is exactly this type of mentality that has allowed non-certified, convicted, under qualified, the mismanaged of money and abuse of power to run rampant in our district.  If you DO KNOW then you can't do anything to fix it or HOW ABOUT PREPLAN for it instead of the reactionary rash that is part of this BOE operating strategy!

I said it on Tuesday and I'll say it again -- Spare the voters of Plainfield the STRESS of your candidacy. You came, You tried, you FAILED now move on! Ugh!!!

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