Work

How often have you thought about working? Enjoyment, too many hours, not enough pay, satisfaction, no rewards for the investment, fulfillment, etc. I gave this much thought, sat down, and wrote reflections on work.

Recently published in the Public School Montessorian, a national quarterly publication, here is an article where I shoveled those reflections. Click over to read the piece and see if you agree with what I have to say about work.

"Working: Lessons from a barista"

Same Job, Higher Salary

This morning's NYTimes "Sunday Review" (with its brand new format) presented an excellent article by David Leonhardt "Even for Cashiers, College Pays Off."

Here's one of many interesting points made:
"Only about 33 percent of young adults get a four-year degree today, while another 10 percent receive a two-year degree."

Writer Michael Lewis

Popular journalist Michael Lewis's books are often ostensibly about sports and competition, but when you immerse yourself into those books, you discover he writes beautifully about people, relationships, and families. Two of my favorites are Coach and The Blind Side.

I first was introduced to Lewis's writing when I read in the NYTimes Magazine "Coach Fitz's Management Theory."

Horizons

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) has long encouraged private education with a public purpose. Horizons National fits that to a tee. Look at this 3-minute NBC Nightly News clip to see what it is all about, then Call Lorna Smith, CEO of Horizons, to learn more about this fabulous program.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Walter Dean Myers & Father's Day

That GIECO commercial about the person living under a rock reminded me of myself when a teacher introduced me to author Walter Dean Myers. I was embarrassed to admit that I had not read any of his books. Author of over 100 books, Myers is followed by many young adults and adults.

After hearing this StoryCorps clip of Myers, I picked up his book Slam! Take a minute to listen to this powerful StoryCorps piece and get to know the author better. Perfect for Father's Day.

Summer Reading: Hardback, Paperback, or Digital

"First, I have to say that, like many of you, I love the feel of a hardback edition of a book in my hands, and the look of it on my bookshelf, even years after I’ve read it. And all my bookshelves at home and at the office are filled to overflowing with hardback books I love and won’t give up. In fact, the overflow was getting to be a hazard, so I donated hundreds of my hardback books to the local public library the last time we moved, a couple of years ago. But now, I have to admit (and I know the purists out there will cringe), I'm buying more e-books than hardcover books, and downloading them to my laptop, iPad, and iPhone. Here’s why:"

So begins Pat Bassett's (President of NAIS) recent blog post "On Summer Reading." Click here to read more. It is an excellent post.

The Teacher We Remember Most

How sad that the New York City school system has found yet one more nefarious use of standardized testing. Read "Tests for Pupils, but the Grades Go to Teachers" NYTimes article to see how "more than a dozen new standardized tests" — inspired by Race to the Top — will be administered to students beginning as early as next school year. As the article title suggests, the grades will be used to help measure teacher performance.

Don't lose heart, though. Read my latest Independent Teacher Magazine article "The Teacher We Remember Most" to understand what really matters most between student and teacher. And, it is not test scores.

List of Exemplary Blogs

I believe blogging is here to stay. Heads of school would be well advised to get into the world of blogging to parents and the rest of the world.

Claudia Daggett, Executive Director for the Elementary School Heads Association (ESHA) — "a non-profit organization established to promote a sense of identity among heads of independent elementary schools" — has compiled a set of slides with links to Exemplary Blogs. See what you think.

I distinctly remember in the mid-80s when the VHS video was introduced to take the place of a school admissions view book, but I guess I don't remember when the WWW took the place of the VHS video. It's all a blur.

Also, I just read in Sir Ken Robinson's book Out of Our Minds where he describes when the television was introduced at the 1939 Worlds Fair. Skeptics said no way that it would take over the radio.

How do You Define Success?

Be sure to read "How Do You Define Success?" in the latest issue of Independent School magazine. It gives a practical take on the work of Dr. Carol Dweck. Here is one excerpt from the article:

"Students scored better academically than other students when they:

• participated in more extracurricular activities;
• were viewed by advisors and deans as socially and emotionally competent;
• took more rigorous courses; and
• felt well known by at least one adult."