Comments for The Civic Fabric

Comment on Traumatic Brain Injury and Homeless Polpulations – a role for Philanthropy? by Tom Tatlock

Tom Tatlock — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:13:09 +0000

Thank you for raising this issue. I have been working to “Create a Community Coalition to Address the Issues of TBI among the Persons who are Homeless.”
We have created a coalition of 6 groups that provide services to the persons who are homeless and the 2 service providers who work with persons who have been abused. We have obtained an initial grant from The Community Foundation of the Fox Valley Region, in Appleton, WI to initiate this.
The goal is to train the front line staff so that they can recognize TBI and to train them in the techniques of Cognitive Rehabilitation (Remediation) Therapy so that the staff can teach those skills. The staff will Not become Cognitive Rehabilitation therapists but will teach the cog. rehab. skills in the classes on “life-skills” and incorporate the lessons in their client-staff interactions.
I have developed both a list of “Recommended Resources” that I would be happy to share with you. Also, I can send some of my Power Point presentations if you want them.
At present, it seems to me, a lot of effort is directed to identifying the persons who have sustained a TBI and who are homeless. This usually leads to an application for SSDI. I’m not aware of any active TBI treatment efforts — but that might just be my fault.
I became interested in this topic after sustaining a TBI in 1999, that forced me to retire.
Can you send me an address so that I can contact you directly?

Comment on Innovation Zones in Education and Government by Colleen

Colleen — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:18:44 +0000

As a teacher in private higher education and a contractor in both public and private schools my loudest comment is STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT when innovating with technology. Technology is amazing because it takes us out of a century long old box that never worked for half of us very well anyway. Fresh approach to experiencing all the things that many of us were forced to imagine from static pages. That said, implementation is key— I am bewildered by the seduction of all the electronic devices for our youth (and adults for that matter) filled with nothing so the default for no content and no training to create good content is GARBAGE! Education’s inability to recognize, address, validate, fund, train, support and structure the healthy use of technology is leaving our children to be educated by consumerism and pop culture instead of quality learning, depth, compassion and critical thinking – all great things we could offer as educators through the use of technology. I see our children already plugging into technology- these are not only rich children. The children that I educate with more electronic devices to charge in the computer lab go to a school with a 50% drop out rate and are more than 70% below the poverty line. Why are we as a society not channeling that enthusiasm, obsession, neurosis… and educating through it. Why are we not filling halls with teachers and training, structuring and innovating methodology through the communication tools our learners cannot put down? Let’s start with motivation…. all good innovation zones can be drawn from there. Thanks for your blog

Comment on Innovation Zones in Education and Government by Cathy Dietlin

Cathy Dietlin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:48:48 +0000

Hello,

John, once again your “mighty pen” wrote a fantastic article!

Each time you write I am greatly enlightened. Too bad we could not just “start over” with a new beginning and move forward as a public system. Yes, the pockets of charter and private options do allow for inspiration.

Thank you for taking time to write. As frustrating as the “entity” may be, your observations do give hope.

Have a good week.

CED

Comment on Innovation Zones in Education and Government by Mary-Scott Cebul

Mary-Scott Cebul — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:41:21 +0000

John – I just read this post and am looking forward to working with you on EGN. Chris T. has told me that our thoughts regarding the potential use of virtual realities and “serious games” to advance governance change are quite parallel. In fact, back during the Voices & Choices project I spoke a couple times with Ben Thompson … just to get a sense of the cost of developing a regional governance game along the lines of a “University”- type game. Half a million dollars – but times (and software) have really changed. So who knows?

Comment on Non-formal Education Institutions – A New Model for Educational Programming for Cleveland 2008 by sandrar

sandrar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:07:50 +0000

Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. Cheers! Sandra. R.

Comment on Public Schools and Private Auto Companies by John

John — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:26:30 +0000

Thanks Chris
In some ways, your story is similar to far too many across the State and nation. I am working with the local media to do more to cover the issue of poor educational quality. I firmly believe that most teachers want to do a good job. I would surmise that board members want to do the same. We have to find a way to inform these people that there is a better way of doing “education.” Technology will not replace good teaching – ever, but it can help teachers overcome barriers that result in some kids failing or loosing their joy of learning far too early. It is the job of leaders like yourself to band with others to broaden the horizon to what is possible. Once they see it and “get it” most will rise to the challenge. As a former Marine, you probably understand more than me that these are the essential qualities of a good leader! Thanks for the post.

Comment on Public Schools and Private Auto Companies by Chris Romano

Chris Romano — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:18:09 +0000

This is a really nicely done comparison. Sadly, I think your analysis would be lost on my local school boards (there are 3 in my town of just 60,000). They are so steeped in steeple-building, self-preservation and rarely do much in the way of thoughtful reflection or planning beyond the next tax levy. I wish I could compel them to read this.

Comment on Innovation Districts – An Exciting Initiative to Transform Education in the State of Ohio by John

John — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:09:41 +0000

The New York Times today covered a story of a Connecticut School District that has abandoned textbooks for Algebra. Way to Go!! More districts a can and should explore the same.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/education/08math.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

Comment on Can P-16 Compacts usher Innovation Districts for Education? by Jeff Jaroscak

Jeff Jaroscak — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:32:58 +0000

I’m a big fan of innovation. I even like innovation for innovation’s sake. My motto, in fact, has always been “If it’s not broke, break it.” It strikes me however, that in terms of public education, innovation should be the vehicle not the destination.

The problem as I see it is that we lack consensus about what we want for our students. Rest assured that there are many citizens who yearn for the “good old days.” I think it would be popular indeed to roll out a “Back to Basics” program that emphasizes the diagramming of sentences and copying of spelling words five times each.

I think that a clear target in terms of what we want for our students is much more important than how we get there. In your work with OGF, how did you come across the student outcomes that you included in the report?

Comment on Philanthropy, Politics and the "Religion" of Public Schools by John

John — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:28:30 +0000

I received this comment via E-mail and got permission to post it on the blog.

—–Original Message—–
From: David Marshak [mailto:dmarshak@seattleu.edu]
Sent: Sat 3/14/2009 3:00 PM
To: John Mullaney
Subject: Re: David Brooks on Ed. Reform

John,

It’s not too surprising. Daniel Kim may have offered post-modern analysis,
but there are no elected state leaders that I know of who present a
consistently post-modern agenda on education issues.

Look at Obama. He won the election because he convinced a significant number
of folks with post-modern consciousness to vote for him. On energy he has a
significant post-modern agenda. On education he’s stuck in the past like all
the other elected officials.

Are you familiar with Paul Ray’s research re traditional, modern, and
post-modern values/consciousness?

David