Pinellas is the second Florida school district to join the online trend of send 140-characters updates out into the wold. Broward schools got there first, and Lee schools have since followed.
Zahn said she aims to tweet at least one item daily, whether it's a reminder of a board meeting, celebration of a school event or perhaps an alert of an issue needing immediate attention. "It's something we do in addition to everything else we do for communication," she said.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Aggressive Kids
Hi Maria,
Yesterday I was riding my bicycle down the street. When I heard loud music coming from an open garage. I looked toward the noise and saw a teen jerking his head to the beat. Seeing me, he bolted from a wheel chair and ran in my direction like a crazed attack dog. My bicycle is fast, so I just sped away from the problem.
That boy does have at least one parent and teachers. You may have boys like that in your school and perhaps even in your classroom. They are a major problem that needs to be solved.
I wish I could offer you a solution. I dealt with it by speeding away. Avoidance is not something you can do. I suppose that transference would pass the problem on to someone else. That would move your problem out of your classroom, but it would still be in your school.
Stephen
Yesterday I was riding my bicycle down the street. When I heard loud music coming from an open garage. I looked toward the noise and saw a teen jerking his head to the beat. Seeing me, he bolted from a wheel chair and ran in my direction like a crazed attack dog. My bicycle is fast, so I just sped away from the problem.
That boy does have at least one parent and teachers. You may have boys like that in your school and perhaps even in your classroom. They are a major problem that needs to be solved.
I wish I could offer you a solution. I dealt with it by speeding away. Avoidance is not something you can do. I suppose that transference would pass the problem on to someone else. That would move your problem out of your classroom, but it would still be in your school.
Stephen
Sunday, April 19, 2009
I listened to kids tell why they like Harry Potter stories.
Hi Mike,
They like Harry Potter stories because they see their unfolding life in those scary and frightening stories.
So there is a generation of frightened adults about to enter center stage. They have good reason to be frightened.
I was the only customer at the Boat Club last night for about an hour. Durk and I talked about predation, law enforcement, what it was like back in the 70's and how we slowly got to were we are today. 1984 arrived late, but it got here none the less.
Stephen
They like Harry Potter stories because they see their unfolding life in those scary and frightening stories.
So there is a generation of frightened adults about to enter center stage. They have good reason to be frightened.
I was the only customer at the Boat Club last night for about an hour. Durk and I talked about predation, law enforcement, what it was like back in the 70's and how we slowly got to were we are today. 1984 arrived late, but it got here none the less.
Stephen
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Florida's tuition costs.
So you want to go to college in Florida but live out of state. I found out this morning the financial consequences of that. Out-of-state students are charged $623.75 per credit hour. The typical number of hours taken per semester is 16-18 hours. $9,980 - 11,227.50. There are two semesters in a school year and it takes 8 semesters to graduate. The tuition cost alone would be over $79,840.
That is ridiculous.
That is ridiculous.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The Suncoast News is not only thinner.
This morning I noticed that Suncoast New is not only thinner, it is now shorter. They have eliminated about an inch from the length. They are obviously attempting to stay alive.
The Suncoast News is a free local news paper that depends on advertising revenue. It should be obvious what what happens when advertisers cut-back. They can cut-back only so far and then they close. When that happens, we will all suffer the consequences. Since they service my area, it will not effect you.
Is this happening in your area?
My uncle George was known for saying, "I don't care." He was a retired UAW worker that didn't read the news or books. He did watch the TV and liked his morning coffee and donut with his cigarettes.
Stephen
The Suncoast News is a free local news paper that depends on advertising revenue. It should be obvious what what happens when advertisers cut-back. They can cut-back only so far and then they close. When that happens, we will all suffer the consequences. Since they service my area, it will not effect you.
Is this happening in your area?
My uncle George was known for saying, "I don't care." He was a retired UAW worker that didn't read the news or books. He did watch the TV and liked his morning coffee and donut with his cigarettes.
Stephen
Friday, April 10, 2009
Google Employees
Hi Lorenzo,
Would the people like those working at Google read a newspaper? NO!
Would they have a newspaper subscription? NO!
Would they read a James Mitchener size novel? NO!
There must be exceptions, but not enough of them to be of any consequence. So to them, the loss of the Freedom of the press is not of any concern.
This short message is about the extent of their attention span.
Stephen
Would the people like those working at Google read a newspaper? NO!
Would they have a newspaper subscription? NO!
Would they read a James Mitchener size novel? NO!
There must be exceptions, but not enough of them to be of any consequence. So to them, the loss of the Freedom of the press is not of any concern.
This short message is about the extent of their attention span.
Stephen
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
We are losing the press.
RE: First amendment of the U.S. Constitution:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Hi Andrew,
The Suncoast News shrinking is one more sign indicating the decline of the Newspaper industry. Some major news papers are publishing only 2 days a week, others transferred publishing to the Internet. That lowers publication cost. However, in some cases their advertising is being substituted and the revenue transferred elsewhere. That is a major problem for publishers and Google.
A free press keeps us informed. We are then able to each make decisions based upon that information. It is so important that it was written into our constitution. We do not have a free press without newspapers, writers and publishers. They are all being lost by having their financial life support gradually cut.
Stephen
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Hi Andrew,
The Suncoast News shrinking is one more sign indicating the decline of the Newspaper industry. Some major news papers are publishing only 2 days a week, others transferred publishing to the Internet. That lowers publication cost. However, in some cases their advertising is being substituted and the revenue transferred elsewhere. That is a major problem for publishers and Google.
A free press keeps us informed. We are then able to each make decisions based upon that information. It is so important that it was written into our constitution. We do not have a free press without newspapers, writers and publishers. They are all being lost by having their financial life support gradually cut.
Stephen
Saturday, April 04, 2009
The stat link has been replaced.
Hi Maria,
I removed the link to Lessonplans.com's statistics. Somewhere between 1 to 5% of the visitors have a less than creditable reason for seeing our statistics. Since, I have not a way of identifying them, I have decided to restrict availability. They will now be only available to a few insiders.
Stephen
I removed the link to Lessonplans.com's statistics. Somewhere between 1 to 5% of the visitors have a less than creditable reason for seeing our statistics. Since, I have not a way of identifying them, I have decided to restrict availability. They will now be only available to a few insiders.
Stephen
Thursday, April 02, 2009
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