Oh education...

With all the talk about budget cuts in education there are constantly articles written about teachers and education. Some articles can really get me going, especially if they mention Tony Bennett and/or Mitch Daniels. I get so frustrated when I think that he won the election 2 years ago just because he was republican. I wish people had become educated on who they were voting for, because to me, the superintendent of education is a very important role. How Tony Bennett became a superintendent of an entire school district first is beyond me.

What really gets me going though is when I start reading comments. I hardly ever read more than 5 because by that time I am so fired up that I start thinking up harsh retorts to give these unknown, and most likely ignorant, people. I don't see how people can think they know everything about education and teaching or how they can try to lump all children into one category.

One such article claimed that "25% of third graders cannot read" and they go on to say that they cannot read on grade level material. The latter statement contradicts the former. Yes, there are a lot of children that cannot read on grade level but they can read. Those that cannot or are behind come from many different groups: non English-speaking children and special education children.

Instead of taking money away from high-need schools (which are usually urban schools) and giving it to schools in high-socioeconomic areas, give funding to schools that need it most (while they must also show how they are going to use the money). That way money will be going to help the schools with children who are struggling.


Just my two cents.

Where's my busy bee?

These last few weeks we have been extra busy. First, we sold the house that Clint had been working on...finally! So...we decided with the extra money that we were going to do a few things that had been on our to-do list.First we paid off Clint's truck! Woo Hoo! We own it for real now!

We had a fence company come and give us an estimate and we will have a fence within the next two weeks (hopefully less!). This is one reason why we want a fence (in addition to her running away, we she did twice this weekend!):


Zoe keeps asking when it will come!


We also decided that is was time to get rid of Clint's ginormous box tv and update to 2010 and we got a flat screen. This was actually a lot more labor-intensive than we thought. First we went to get a tv stand at Target and the one we wanted was discontinued and out everywhere, even though it was on display. Then we went to Best Buy and ordered the tv we had looked at the night before. They didn't have any in stock because it is being discontinued, but Lafayette Square had one. So we had to get it Saturday morning. We went to Walmart to get a tv stand and had to wait FO EV ERRRR for someone to help after asking someone. Then they couldnt figure out what model it was. Finally, a WOMAN came and helped us and told us they only had the one on display because they were out. OF COURSE! But we got the display because it was put together and $70 off! It then took forever to get it all together. But it is lovely:


Finally...yesterday my mother and I worked on getting Clint's new Lawn Care business together. Check out the website here. It is still being worked on but the basics are there. Tomorrow he is going to get a lawn mower and trailer. Over spring break I am going to pass out the door hanger flyers we order.