Published - March 21, 2008

Some school programs are unique

Bob Gerold

A couple of weeks ago my wife was taking a trip out of town, and offered to take my daughter along. My daughter replied, “But, I don’t want to miss school.” I knew my daughter enjoyed learning, but I didn’t realize she enjoyed it that much. As a kid I liked school too, but I wouldn’t pass up a chance to skip.

So what’s so different about my daughter’s experience of school? She loves learning, that’s true, but there is something more here. My daughter, along with most other kids, love to do things. Kids are more engaged if they are participating in a hands on activity than just sitting around listening to the teacher talk. But because of the pressure from state and federal authorities, some key educational programs attempt to cram information in the student’s heads so they can score well on standardized tests. Kids learn how to take tests and that is useful, but true learning includes play, creativity, teamwork and critical thinking, not reflected or even measurable in mere test taking.

Don’t get me wrong, there are many good programs and passionate teachers in Escambia County, but as a school wide program, Brown Barge Middle School is unique.

BBMS is a magnet school that draws students from all over the county. In order to attend BBMS a student has to have a ‘B’ average and get randomly selected in a lottery. The school only holds some 540 students, so enrollment is limited. Parents have to have some level of involvement, if only to enter their children in the lottery.

The work that students do at BBMS is ‘project or activity based.’ Every twelve weeks there is a ‘stream.’ The stream may be titled Wake Up America, Robotics, or Your Life, Your Business. Students get to request what stream they want to be in and over a twelve week period almost all of the instruction and learning is integrated into the topic of the stream. English, reading, journaling, even science and math, where applicable, are included in the course work of the stream. This is sometimes referred to as an integrated curriculum.

The components of the BBMS learning model include acquisition of skills, which looks most like the standard classroom. Next students work in small groups applying those skills to problem solving. For the most part sixth, seventh and eight graders work side by side in the same classrooms. There is a lot of mentoring going on and kids learn easier from other kids then they do from adults.

The third component of the BBMS model, is creating a simulation which takes their knowledge and applies it to some real life or bigger than the classroom arena. This simulation might be a reenactment of a congressional session, a musical, an environmental service project, or whatever is most appropriate for that particular stream.

I have been a substitute teacher at BBMS many times and the best way that I could describe the classes is a sort of controlled chaos, but the key word is controlled. The teacher, who expects a tightly disciplined classroom, would go crazy, but these kids monitor themselves and actually do learn. “This is not the program for everybody. Some children and teachers need a more structured environment,” explains Dr. Patricia Kerrigan, Principal at BBMS.

Is this type of program successful? In this case, the answer is a resounding yes. Brown Barge has been an ‘A’ school based on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests for the past five years. And best of all, my daughter doesn’t want to miss even just one day.

Published - March 16, 2008

Teachers need to be compensated fairly for their efforts

Bob Gerold

Back in the 1960s, Mr. Damesek was my High School algebra teacher. He taught me, tolerated me, encouraged me and inspired me. I recently found out that he has since passed away a couple of years ago. I hadn’t talked to him in some forty years but somehow discovering that he is gone seems like a loss to me. I never got to thank him for his efforts.

Its funny how there are just some teachers that you will never forget for the impact that they have made in your life. Think back for a moment and recall the teachers that left a positive impression on you when you where in school. We will remember them for a very long time. That’s how important teachers are. The really good ones stand out. Perhaps if we could objectify the qualities that make a teacher effective, if we understood that unique combination of passion, expertise and caring needed, we could design programs that would instill it in others. But even if we could decipher those mysteries, how could we entice those people to enter a field that is known for low pay, lack of respect, demanding rules and mounds of paperwork. This is an important issue, because according to some sources we are going to need almost 3 million new teachers over the next ten years.

As it stands, teachers have to be dedicated to the craft in a way that could only be described as extraordinary. They are committed to learning to be sure. After attending four years of college, they need to continue their education while they are teaching, getting additional certification, and advanced degrees. But all teachers are not created equal. In order to attract and keep the best and most qualified professionals, we have to design a method of compensating teachers that is fair. That is why merit pay is such a huge issue in our educational systems today.

All across the country school systems are experimenting with ways of attracting and keeping good teachers. In some school systems attempts at creating merit pay systems have floundered, including Florida. Gov. Bush rushed a merit pay plan through the legislature just before he left office, but many teachers rejected it for various reasons. Gov. Crist scrapped that plan in favor of one that encourages recognition for teams of teachers and not just individuals. But one complaint that remains is that the system is too dependant on test results (FCAT).

Denver has instituted a merit pay plan (ProComp) that has gotten good reviews. It includes several significant factors including; a buy-in from the teachers, a clear understanding of the components, rewards for schools and teams of teachers (not just individuals), several different measures of success (not just testing), and the money to back it up. This is a very complicated issue, but if we are going to meet the educational challenges of the next decade and beyond we have to start addressing this issue now.

Teaching is demanding and for the most part it is not compensated in proportion to the effort teachers put in. True, teachers get a lot of time off, but they have to recharge and recuperate. If you don’t believe me, become a substitute teacher and get some battlefield experience. Teachers are on the front line in our society and it’s about time we started to recognize and reward their importance. This is not about giving a teacher a hug, or just about compensating them fairly, it is about giving them your respect. Thank you Mr. Damesek for everything you taught me.

Published - March 9, 2008

Parents are a necessary component in their child’s education

Bob Gerold

Parents, as far as your child’s education goes, you are either part of the solution or you are part of the problem. There’s no in between. If you don’t value education, if you don’t monitor how your child is doing, if you don’t participate with them or their school, your children will get the message that you don’t value education, so why should they.

Parental involvement is crucial to the health and well-being of a child. You are the most important factor in your child’s success. You are the role model from whom they will learn what it is to be an adult. Do you read? Do you encourage them by modeling what is important in becoming educated? Are you aware of the resources that are available in subject topics that you are not familiar with? Be honest about it, how much time do you actually spend with your child talking about their school work, one hour a week, five minutes a day, no time at all?

At the very least, talk to them about school. Ask them how it’s going. Even if you can’t help them academically at least be concerned. Become aware of the issues and vote to support education. Individually do whatever it takes to move your kids along. If you are a parent who is involved in their child’s education I give you accolades. If you are not, here are some very concrete ways you can participate in your child’s future.

Model the importance of learning, go back to school, take a continuing education course. Read to your child starting at a very early age. When they are older, turn off the television one night a week and have a reading night for everyone. Limit the amount of time they spend with video games. Check that they have done their homework nightly. Be an advocate for better education and vote in school board elections. Be informed.

When asked how parents can support their children, Aggie Bauer, principal of Cordova Park Elementary School replied, “Check their backpacks. We send home lots of memos, and announcements. Parents should keep up to date on their school’s activities.” If you want to volunteer at your school contact the Parents Teacher Association (PTA) or Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA). They will be able to help you find ways to participate, even if you have very little time. Call your school and ask who the contact person is. “Become more knowledgeable about your child’s education and strengthen your bond with your child by volunteering,” adds Kathy Dunagan, President of the PTSA at Brown Barge Middle School. “Schools need the extra manpower to help in so many ways.”

When parents are involved their children do better in school. Recent studies published by the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (2002), indicate that no matter what the income level or background of the family, students with involved parents; get higher grades and test scores, have improved achievement, attend school regularly, have better social skills, have improved behavior and most important graduate.

I know most people are busy, but try to find the time to show some legitimate interest. Turn off the TV and spend 30 minutes a night with your children. Be persistent and genuine. There are many other ways you can be involved and support you child. Go to www.bobgerold.com for links and information on what you can do. No matter what level school they are attending and no matter how much they complain, children need the involvement of their parents.

Published - March 2, 2008

education is one factor in the health of our community

Bob Gerold

When I was quite a bit younger, I didn’t realize the real value of education. I squeaked my way through college. I dropped out for a couple of years and eventually went back, and got my degree in only eight years. As I got older I started to realize how important an education really was and the difference it made in my life. But I was still very selfish about the whole thing. I didn’t see the bigger picture. I was still opposed to the concept of me paying to educate your kids.

Even after I got married, to a teacher no less, I still didn’t want to pay to educate someone else’s children. I was not very community oriented. My perspective changed overnight when we adopted a little girl. All of a sudden public education mattered.

It was so important to my wife and I that we decided to move from New Orleans because of the poor public education system. My wife taught for a semester in the Orleans Parish School System and discovered that the schools were underfunded, unmanageable and downright scary. It also seemed like no one cared, the public didn’t care, the teachers didn’t seem to care, the parents didn’t care, so why should the kids care. The well-to-do sent their kids to private schools, so they were not supportive of public education. We got an eye opening perspective of why public education needs to be a community priority.

Pensacola thankfully is quite a bit different and has a much better school system than New Orleans, but I still wonder if we give enough support to one of the most important aspects of our community.

We give lip service to the importance of a good education system, but sometimes that’s all we do. I have learned a lot about over the years and have become a steadfast supporter of public education. Let me give you some more of my background so you understand where I am coming from. Because my wife has been a teacher all her life, I thought that through her stories I understood the reality of the classroom, until a couple of years ago I attended Pensacola Junior College to get a teaching certificate. Even though I still don’t teach full time I have spend time in the classroom, observing, and substituting.

I now understand how important our educational system is to the entire community. It’s no longer about ‘my’ child. It’s about ‘our’ children. If the average child isn’t educated it affects all of us. If will affect you when you go to a restaurant, or try to get your car fixed. It will affect the crime in your neighborhood. It affects every aspect of our quality of life.

A child spends six to seven hours a day, 180 days a year, for 12 years, in a classroom. That’s over 15,000 hours spent in school. That is where a great deal of their future is determined.

Here’s the rub. We spend over $22,000 per year to keep someone in prison, compared to the average $6,072 that we spend per student on education in Florida. In the past twenty years, states have increased the amount of money spent on our prison systems by 570% while the increase in spending on elementary and secondary education was increased by only 33%. There is something askew with those numbers.

It affects us all. We need to do better, but funding is only one issue. Next week I’ll talk about the all important role that parents play.

Published - May, 27, 2007

Trustworthy: Dogs lead by example

We train guide dogs for the blind in our home, and we trained Walker from a pup until he was almost 2. His owner shares a very special story about Walker and faith.

Bob Gerold

Dogs are really cool. They can be trained to do incredible things. Dogs are used as service dogs, guide dogs, drug dogs, companion dogs and of course, pets.

The word pet doesn't really say it for me because dogs are more like partners. They are there when you call them and all they want to do is to please you.

Dogs have a purity of spirit. They love you unconditionally and they are mostly interested in whatever you are doing, of course and unless there is a squirrel around. They pay attention, particularly when they cock their head to the side and stare at you as if to say, "Huh?"

Dogs have always seemed so dedicated to me. They want to please us and even when they don't know how, they try anyway. Mostly they just want to be with us, stand by us and are willing to put themselves at risk for us.

Such is the case with Walker, one of the guide dogs for the blind that my family raised. Walker was placed with a woman in South Florida who has continued to stay in touch, and shares stories about Walker. He is much more than merely a dog to her.

She tells us how much she trusts him, even with her life. Following is one of the stories that she has shared with us.

"One morning I had to go to the post office and the bank. We were in a hurry and from the post office we had to go around the shopping center and make our way across a large parking lot.

"I told Walker that we had to go to the bank and that we had to move quickly. We usually go in a straight line until I hear the shopping carts or the automatic doors of Kash n' Karry and then cross the parking lot, because there is an island there that we can walk close to. This time, as we made the turn toward the store, Walker decided to cross. He took me to an island that we could safely walk alongside. I just thought he had found a short cut that I didn't know about.

"Then he decided to make a turn and there was no more island. I had no idea where he had taken me. I said, 'Walker, we have to go to the bank. I think we are lost.' He continued to walk at a fairly slow pace and I could feel his head turning back and forth watching the cars.

"I had no idea where I was and couldn't give him directions to go back. I told him, 'Walker, I am going to have to trust you to keep us safe and get us to the bank.' He kept walking and made a right and another right straight to the door of the bank. Safely at the bank, I got down and hugged him. He knew what he was doing the whole time. When I got to the counter of the bank I couldn't talk, I was so choked up.

"I knew somehow he knew what he was doing. As we were walking I could almost feel him saying, 'don't worry, I'll get us there safe, I know where it is.'

we raised Walker until he was almost 2 years old. He always looked like he knew he had a purpose in life. I am so glad he found it.

Published - May, 20, 2007

Make the most of family time

Bob Gerold

If you have to do something anyway, you will be more effective if you take on a mindset of "wanting to do it." If you do that, you will wind up both enjoying it more and doing it well.

I had the opportunity to test out this theory when my wife went out of town on Mother's Day weekend. I swear she intended to be away on Mother's Day, to prove to me how indispensable she is.

I got to play the part of single parent. We usually split duties but on this particularly busy weekend, I was to chauffeur my daughter to three different events, make the meals, do the grocery shopping, clean the house, pick up my mother and believe it or not, cook a casserole for the church potluck luncheon. I have to admit, I felt put upon.

Friday night I spent most of the evening at my computer while my daughter watched TV in the other room and it felt disconnected. By Saturday morning, I decided that I should take on the weekend whole heartedly. Instead of sniveling and complaining about all the stuff I had to do, I decided to do it all with enthusiasm.

So for the rest of the weekend, I chose to "want to do it." My daughter and I went shopping for a birthday gift and by taking our time and being creative, we were satisfied in finding just the right gift. Next we went grocery shopping and made a game out of it, from putting together the list to perusing the aisles and filling the cart, making jokes and laughing all the way. Later that evening, instead of me getting lost in the computer and her in the television, we played games together. We were connecting, father and daughter.

Sunday morning, we got up early and cooked a casserole while singing to the radio. Later we cranked up the stereo while we cleaned house. By internally shifting my perspective from 'having to do it,' to 'wanting to do it,' I had a very good weekend.

Monday morning when I dropped my daughter off for school, she looked at me very sincerely.

"That was a really fun weekend, Dad," she said. "We haven't had that much fun together in a while."

We both just sat there looking at each other with a silly grin, a deep, connecting moment that only comes every once in a rare while. I hugged her until she finally had too much and said, "Daaad!"

Each combination of the three players in our family creates a different experience. That is not to diminish any of the other combinations. No matter how much you enjoy being with your whole family, those one-on-one experiences can be unique and special. This weekend turned out to be a father-daughter experience and we had a great time.

It would have been much easier to complain, but it would have been so much less satisfying. Even if it takes extra effort to change your mindset, if you want it badly enough you can do it. I hope you have both the opportunity to discover those special times and the fortitude to make the best of them. I got to be stand-in Mom for the weekend and I loved it.

You can escape from the positive, negative energies around you

Bob Gerold

There are energies and wave forms all around us, all of the time. There are cell phone transmissions, radio waves, television, sound waves and more. Wherever you are, you can turn on a radio and it will receive any number of stations. The waves are there all the time; to become aware of them, all you need is the proper equipment.

Light waves are all around us, too. Light waves are experienced as color and brightness. Even the person who can't see is being bombarded by light waves. We sometimes experience light energy in the form of warmth on our skin. Even the ultraviolet rays that we can't see affect us.

We take these energy forces for granted even though they can affect our health. Besides the obvious ones, there are more subtle energies at work, too. These more subtle energies can also affect us, even if we don't realize it.

Enter a cathedral and you will probably feel something special, an energy that surrounds you and beckons you to speak in whispers. Last summer, I visited St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. I was amazed at how the sounds, fumes and fuss of the city were left outside, only a dozen yards away. Inside the cathedral was a sacred space filled with quiet spiritual respect.

Music carries its own distinct energy. In scientific studies, it has been shown that plants grow taller and healthier if you play classical music in the background. By the same studies, they are stunted in growth if all you play is heavy metal or rap.

We are not immune to influences from the subtle energies around us. As we move from one energy-system to another, we can feel the differences. If an angry person enters a room, you can feel the tension in the room increase. Anger has its own energy pattern that accompanies it and it physically affects us when we are in its presence. If someone enters the room that is enthusiastic and optimistic, they too carry an energy with them that can affect the people in the room. Some people are just easier to be around than others, even if you don't understand why.

This brings us to a distinction between positive and negative energy. When we are in the presence of a positive energy, we feel better and more supported. It just feels good. Negative energies contribute to us feeling ill at ease, uncomfortable or tense.

It seems as though anyone would rather be surrounded by positive energy, but guess again: It's not true for everyone. Some people are more comfortable with negative energy because that is what they are most familiar with and unconsciously continue to create negative energy and drama in their lives partly because they don't know any other way.

But despite the fact that we encounter some energy systems randomly, there are some things that we can do to increase the amount of positive energy in our lives and decrease the amount of negative energy.

In future columns, I will be discussing different kinds of energy, and how to use them to positively influence your life.

For some readers, this is precariously close to the world of woo-woo; for others, this will strike a cord that resonates in their life.

Whichever side you are on, I invite you to keep an open mind and consider the possibility that subtle energies may affect you more than you realize.

New brain games becoming popular with aging boomers

Bob Gerold

Since my last article, several people have contacted me with questions.

I have been interested in brain research and keeping my mind fit for quite some time. I have read extensively on the subject and do many types of activities that challenge and stimulate my mind, including puzzles, brain twisters and logic problems.

I was delighted to discover the game "Brain Age" for the Nintendo DS. I do the brain exercises daily and seem to have quickened my response times.

The reason why this field of brain research is gaining so much attention is that the leading wave of baby boomers is now turning 60 years of age. Baby boomers always have been about molding the environment and changing the way things are done. Interest in the field of brain fitness is no different.

Boomers will do whatever it takes in time and investment to live life longer and fuller. This is not a group that will easily give in to the ravages of old age. If there is any chance that some activity will delay or put off the possibility of neurodegenerative disease, they will do it. The evidence is growing that you can do certain things to stay mentally sharp longer. These factors include eating a healthy diet, getting physical exercise, staying socially active and doing mental exercises. Exercising your brain may be the key to improving your chances of keeping your mind fit even as you age.

The new technologies have added greatly to our knowledge of brain functioning. We now can determine what areas of the brain are stimulated by specific behaviors, and we can design activities to give us optimum results. These exercises strengthen neural pathways, increase blood flow and contribute to overall sharpness. It is very similar to going to the gym to lift weights. If you lift weights you will get stronger. If you exercise your brain it stays sharper.

There is a growing industry around this phenomenon, from brain gyms on the Internet to activities in assisted-living facilities. People are realizing that you can add to your brain health by exercising.

So it's real. What can you do about it? There are numerous sites on the Internet that give you access to exercises for your brain. These include:

· www.memorise.org.

· www.dsmexercises.com.

· www.happy-neuron.com.

· www.mybraintrainer.com.

There also are exercises that you can do anywhere for free. Reading aloud as fast as you can seems to stimulate the prefrontal cortex. Some other activities that seem to be good mental exercise are working math problems, drawing pictures from memory, memorizing a series of playing cards and doing word scrambles as fast as you can.

No matter what age you are, but particularly if you are an aging boomer, it is and will be important to maintain your sharpness and memory as you get older.

For more articles click here.

Game can help keep your brain young

Bob Gerold

There is a lot of data indicating that the brain, just like the body, needs to be used and exercised to stay fit and healthy. One of the most important regions of the brain as relates to creativity, memory and that general sense of sharpness is the prefrontal cortex.

The prefrontal cortex is such an important portion of your brain that it determines how stored knowledge is used in practical situations. Your ability to respond intelligently to everyday situations depends on how well this region functions. Based on the incredible advances in brain scans, particularly using functional magnetic resonance imaging, it can be determined quite clearly what parts of the brain are activated by different activities. Overlay that with research and it has been determined that there are specific activities you can do to keep your prefrontal cortex healthy and fit.

Doing specific exercises increases the amount of blood flow, oxygen and nutrients that is supplied to your brain. This stimulates neuron development and the strength and number of connections between those neurons. This also leads to the regeneration of lost neurons, a problem in aging brains. Continuing cognitive training may reduce memory decline, and increase your concentration. Seniors who continue to be mentally active may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia by as much as one third.

For Christmas my daughter begged me for a Nintendo DS. This nifty little electronic machine does many things with various different game chips but the one I became most interested in is a little game called "Brain Age." Utilizing the combination of the Nintendo DS ($129 at Circuit City or Best Buy) and the game "Brain Age" ($19.95) you can do a healthy dose of aerobics for the mind.

"Brain Age" utilizes several different game-like exercises measuring the quickness and accuracy of your responses.

It starts out with something called the Stroop Test. Words such as blue or black appear on the screen, but you are asked to identify them by the color of the letters instead of the word.

For instance the word black may be colored yellow and you are supposed to say, "Yellow." This little test is harder than it seems. It activates the prefrontal cortex in that you have to operate on two different levels. You see the word but respond to the color.

Not only does the DS recognize your spoken word but it also has handwriting recognition using a touch screen.

A second set of rapid fire exercises are very simple math problems, i.e. 4+2 = ?, or 5-3 =.? You write in the answers as fast as you can on the touch screen. This activates your mind and improves your math skills at the same time, but let me tell you, you feel pretty dumb when you quickly write down the answer for 4 x 4 (16) when the machine is actually asking you for the answer to 4 + 4 (8).

Your brain age will be rated based on the quickness and accuracy of your responses. This can vary from 20 years old, which is the peak of quickness and response time to your 80s. But don't despair, by doing the daily practice exercises you can improve your brain age.

"Brain Age" is the inspiration of prominent Japanese neuroscientist Dr. Ryuta Kawashima. It is targeted for adult users who may never have thought of purchasing this type of electronic game before.

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