Reflections on President Obama’s education speech

Reflections on President Obama’s education speech

I just finished watching the President's speech tonight and I liked it. I think the first part was a little weak, but toward the end it had some real substance. I don't know if it had much impact in student's lives overall, but I also don't think it hurt anything either. I loved the examples at the end regarding failure. Everyone is going to stumble at one point in their life, and you aren't always going to be good at everything you try. The State of American Education…

Christopher Langan: the “smartest man in America”

Christopher Langan: the “smartest man in America”

I found this video on YouTube and have to say it is very interesting. Langan has one of the highest IQ's of anyone ever measured, one which even exceeds Einstein's. Ironically, he worked as a bouncer in Long Island and when you see the video you can understand why he may have chosen that as his career. His story very much reminds me of Good Will Hunting, a movie about a genius who decides to be a janitor and construction worker despite his intelligence. If you watch all…

When you say yes

When you say yes

Every choice has two sides What have you said "yes" to recently, and what did that mean saying "no" to?

How schools kill creativity: insights from Ken Robinson’s TED Talk

How schools kill creativity: insights from Ken Robinson’s TED Talk

Exploring why our education system may be stifling rather than nurturing creative thinking A TED talk about education and how we are teaching kids to grow out of creativity in school. The notes I took during watching the video highlight some fascinating insights about our education system and how it shapes (or limits) creative thinking. Key Insights from the Talk Communication equals literacy: Communication is just as important as literacy to teach children Children embrace being wrong: Kids are not afraid of being wrong, which lets them be…

If you are not happy now, you never will be

If you are not happy now, you never will be

Reflections on unconditional happiness and detachment "Perhaps true happiness is something different from this clinging and pushing away. Perhaps true happiness is an internal thing." But this running toward and running away; can it ever provide us with lasting happiness? We're happy with our kids, but the little rascals tend to grow up, and then reject everything we have ever taught them. As they go their own way. Perhaps true happiness is something different from this clinging and pushing away. Perhaps true happiness is an internal thing. If…