A tribute to Dr. Martin L. King

Regardless of your religious beliefs….. Regardless of your political beliefs……Regardless of your economic status….Regardless of where you live! The crisis in Haiti provides an opportunity for each of to become what Dr. King called for in his speech, “Drum Major.” We can all serve.
As citizens of the world community, we are watching in horror as millions of Haitian are living in what could be best be described as hell on earth. On January 15th throughout America many citizens will celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. It is clear to this writer that it would be an appropriate time to reflect on Dr. King’s message delivered on February 4, 1968.

“And so Jesus gave us a new norm of greatness. If you want to be important….wonderful. If you want to be recognized…..wonderful. If you want to be great---wonderful, but recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant…..You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to server. YOU ONLY NEED A HEART FULL OF GRACE. A SOUL GENERATED BY LOVE AND YOU CAN BE THAT SERVANT.”

In this moment of human crises and the celebration of a fallen leader, let try to apply the words of King to our daily lives:
“If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,
If I can show somebody he's traveling wrong,
Then my living will not be in vain.
If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,
If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought,
If I can spread the message as the master taught,
Then my living will not be in vain.”

Wake Up Everybody!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-TPk3OPEOc&feature=fvw

What has happen to the value of homework?

What has happen to the value of homework? Many of today’s students view homework as an unpleasant experience. Many parents and teachers believe that an excessive amount of homework create anxiety, pressure and may even stimulate depression in many students. Many educators view homework as a tool for good grades. To some degree all of this is true and believe it or not it has been true for years. Yet if our students, particularly our lower performing students, are going demonstrate academic growth then homework must be understood.
The ideal purpose of homework is to help reinforce what was taught in school. Deirda Grode, stated in an article titled The Homework Gap; “By allowing students to complete all their assignments in class, the school does not offer students the opportunity to take ownership of their learning. All the work is completed under teachers' supervision and students are not practicing the work while making errors.” Parents must reinforce the completion of all homework assignments.
Hundreds of young students practice independently their passions at home in an effort to become accomplished; as a basketball player, as a musician or as a video competitor. It is time to become a better academic competitor. Accept the challenge to meet the student’s needs.