Happy New Year Resolutions

It is time, once again, to make our new year's resolutions, or so we all think. Have you ever wondered from where this tradition came?

The Romans originally dedicated this day to their god Janus, the god of gates, doors, and beginnings (Interesting!). After Julius Caesar reformed the widely accepted calendar of the day in 46 BC he was then murdered. The Roman Senate responded to his murder by voting to deify him on the 1st January 42 BC in honor of his life and his newly revamped calendar. The month originally was named after the deity Janus, who had two faces, one looking forward and one looking backward.

A New Year's Resolution is generally a goal someone sets out to accomplish in the coming year. Some examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to become more assertive, or to become more responsible. A key element to a New Year's Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year, and new beginnings. As Christians, we should understand this whole idea of new beginnings. In Christ, the old things have gone and new things have come. We, in Christ, are all new creations, and each year draws use closer to the coming Lord who will complete our transformation. Each year we close the door of the past year and open the door to the new year. My prayer is that all of our new resolutions would be rooted not who we are but in our Lord and for His glory as we step through the door to a brand new year!  I warmly wish all of you a extremely Happy New Year. May God be glorified!

 

Waiting for "Superman"

Here is a link to the trailer for the film, Waiting for "Superman." If you don't have time to see the film then please give at least two minutes of your time to view this trailer. Regardless of your allegiances to public, private or homeschooling, one issue comes forth... we had all better come together for the sake of our children. I have posted international literacy scores on this blog for years, and can confirm that the scores referenced in this video are accurate. Be warned, this is a public video and will have advertisements on it. Clicking the upper right hand corner X will remove the ad. Thanks for watching!

A Finnish Education

A Finnish education is the best education in the world, according to many. What makes it excellent? Dr. Pasi Sahlberg, a Finnish educator and author, has our answer for us in an article from Jenny Anderson in the New York Times.

"In his country, Dr. Sahlberg said later in an interview, teachers typically spend about four hours a day in the classroom, and are paid to spend two hours a week on professional development. At the University of Helsinki, where he teaches, 2,400 people competed last year for 120 slots in the (fully subsidized) master’s program for schoolteachers. “It’s more difficult getting into teacher education than law or medicine,” he said.
Dr. Sahlberg puts high-quality teachers at the heart of Finland’s education success story — which, as it happens, has become a personal success story of sorts, part of an American obsession with all things Finnish when it comes to schools."


Students from Finland outperform peers in 43 other nations and that includes the United States, Germany and Japan, and they do it in mathematics, science and reading skills. The performance of this small and remote European nation has a direct correlation to its educational policies enacted 40 years ago. A summary of those policies can be found in this article. In sum, here are a few of the ones I think are most important.

All kids start at the same level, regardless of their socio-economic background.

Teachers are highly respected and appreciated in Finland because all teachers need a master’s degree in order to qualify to teach in Finland.

Since the 1960s all political authorities, regardless of political affiliation, have seen education as the key to surviving and thriving in an increasingly competitive world.

The government takes care of all costs because of their commitment to free education for all.

Schools receive full autonomy in developing the daily delivery of education services. The ministry of education in Finland continues to believe that teachers, together with principals, parents and communities know best how to provide the best possible education for their children and youth.

As I close, I recommend the movie, Waiting for Superman, to all who want to get a glimpse of what is taking place in our public sector schools. Particularly noteworthy, is the two teacher unions and their responses, particularly to Michelle Rhee in our nation's capital. Education is our future, and yet, we have swallowed the lie. We believe "self" is more important than the child. If we are going to create an educational system in this country that properly prepares our students for the future, then "self" will have to take a back seat. Geoffrey Canada has a powerful quote in that film about adults being more important in a U.S. education than the child. Until we right that upside down equation, there will be little change in the majority of education choices we offer our children in this country. Blessings to all!