Dadministrator's Minti Blog

Dadministrator's Minti Blog http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/ Dadministrator's Minti Blog Copyright 2008 Minti en-uk More Dads Joining the Internet Safety Club Dadministrator It appears more tech-savvy Dads are getting involved both by themselves and with company support, in advancing the resources, information-sharing and cause of Internet Safety. "Cyber Dad - http://mainstreet.com/protect-your-child-online-dangers-cyber-dad-way" joins the original "Dadministrator" online as a purveyor, instructor and participant in the Internet Safety battle.......Dadministrator - Internet and Computer Safety for your Family Cyber Dad" joins the original "Dadministrator" online as a purveyor, instructor and participant in the Internet Safety battle....]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/733737/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/733737/ Sun, 15 Jun 2008 06:48:00 -0700 Myspace and Online Gang Activity Dadministrator Here's a review of a recent Loudoun County, Virginia Gang Awareness Seminar - http://www.dullessouthonline.com/loudoun_county_gateway/2008/06/loudoun-county-gangs-awareness-and.html (Northern Virginia, outside of Washington DC) - one interesting item to note, was the comments about the significant gang activity online with Myspace - while not necessarily, overtly criminal, it certainly provides a lot of fodder to keep law enforcement interested and engaged, and can only ... Loudoun County, Virginia Gang Awareness Seminar (Northern Virginia, outside of Washington DC) - one interesting item to note, was the comments about the significant gang activity online with Myspace - while not necessarily, overtly criminal, it certainly provides a lot of fodder to keep law enforcement interested and engaged, and can only promulgate offline gang activity and behavior. All the more reason to keep your kids away from Internet Social Media until (1) they're thoroughly trained, aware, responsible and can prove it, and (2) their Internet Access is fully understood and monitored by you.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/733738/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/733738/ Sun, 15 Jun 2008 06:40:00 -0700 Signing off for a while.. Dadministrator ...time for someone else to step up. http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/646734/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/646734/ Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:08:00 -0800 2008 Northern Virginia, DC Metro, Fairfax and Loudoun Summer Camps Dadministrator Here's a great lineup of 2008 Loudoun Summer Camps and Fairfax Summer Camps inclusive of the surrounding DC metro region, brought to you by Modern Moms Magazine of Loudoun and Fairfax - http://www.iammodern.com. 2008 Fairfax and Loudoun Summer Camps - http://www.iammodern.com/2008-summer-camp-directory.html Research and sign up early - slots typically go very fast among these popular day camps. Modern Moms Magazine of Loudoun and Fairfax.

Loudoun 2008 Summer Camps

2008 Fairfax and Loudoun Summer Camps

Research and sign up early - slots typically go very fast among these popular day camps.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/642625/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/642625/ Sun, 02 Mar 2008 05:23:00 -0800 Driver's Education Tips for Loudoun Teenagers and Parents Dadministrator While we focus on in-school learning here, mostly, it's important to continue to manage critical out-of-school learning and education, especially in "life skills" like learning to drive. NOVA Insurance in South Riding (20152) - http://www.south-riding-insurance.com has some great Loudoun teenage driving education tips - http://www.south-riding-insurance.com/articles/2008/02/monitor-your-teens-behavior-when-theyre.html, as well as methods of monitoring their behavior behind the wheel. Evidently helps save your sanity ...
NOVA Insurance in South Riding (20152) has some great Loudoun teenage driving education tips, as well as methods of monitoring their behavior behind the wheel. Evidently helps save your sanity as well as insurance bill.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/641906/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/641906/ Sat, 01 Mar 2008 06:05:00 -0800 Let's Pick a Good School - Some Serious Flaws Dadministrator Yesterday's Post section by Jay Mathews on picking a good school should be helpful to some (evidently only those who read his whole column, though), but there's some serious flaws. We'll be brief in responding to each of his 10 points, as parents who've actually been through and are experiencing the process... 1 - "Buy an expensive home and you can ...
1 - "Buy an expensive home and you can almost be sure the local public school will be good" - that's technically somewhat accurate, but there's a lot of range inside the word "good" - that's where the rubber meets the road.

2 - "Look at the data" - absolutely.

3 - "Talk to at least 2 parents of children in different grades engrolled in the school you are considering" - great advice, if you're able to find parents willing to share; you're probably better off trying to do this online - blogs/forums like this are an increasingly-used method for quick communication.

4 - "Visit the school and ask to speak to the principal" - this is fabulous advice, especially the part about "would I hire this person to work in my office"? The problem is, Principals change. Our Elementary School's initial Principal was an efficient, effective Manager of resources and capabilities - the current Principal we wouldn't hire to ~~wash our car~~ work in our office, and ALL indicators of the school's success profile are on their way down. We'd say speak to some of the Teachers, as well, about their "Boss".

5 - "Listen to your Kids" - certainly, and their friends.

6 - "The most competitive high schools do not necessarily lead to acceptance at the most selective colleges" - this is the ongoing undercurrent of Jay's knocking the merits and perceived value among driven parents of Thomas Jefferson (regional magnet school); while it is true that colleges look for the "whole package", why wouldn't you strive to challenge your child to the very greatest limits of their abilities and interests?

7 - "Don't worry about Elementary School" - Jay makes the point that Parents are the greatest influencers and supporters of children during these years, and if the school is safe and you like it, "relax". In our experience, the majority of parents are utterly un-involved in school, especially with respect to core academics (vs. sports), and this avoidance plus "non-worrying" leads directly to lax policies, non-motivated students, non-differentiated teaching, utter discpline chaos and rampant laziness in the classrooms, principals who aren't respectful or effective, and kids whose most impressionable and potential-filled years of learning and brain-expansion are utterly wasted. There's plenty to worry about in a mediocre Elementary School.

8 - "There are no good middle schools" - this is obviously and patently absurd...and if I'm not worrying about Elementary school, and there's no good middle schools, my kids have now spent 9 years wasting away like turnips in our society's drive to create an unmotivated, uncompetitive, brainless population that's the laughing-stock of the rest of the world. There are, obviously some very good middle schools...achieving Algebra I by the end of the eighth grade is an exceptional goal that indicates a good school? Why not Algebra I by the end of 6th grade, like a certain subsection of students are actually achieving in some extremly good private middle schools?

9 - "Look for challenging high schools" - certainly, but I'd hope that all high schools are challenging to some degree, in some range of subjects - be sure also to focus on challenges in academics vs. sports.

10 - "Listen to your heart" - well, sure....but listen very attentively and frankly to those that have gone before and are currently there - perhaps your heart needs to be over-ruled.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/641206/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/641206/ Fri, 29 Feb 2008 03:56:00 -0800 Support the School Budget... Dadministrator Stevens Miller, and the rest of the Loudoun County BOS - Support the proposed Loudoun Schools Budget intact - http://www.dullessouthonline.com/loudoun_county_gateway/2008/02/loudoun-bos-support-loudoun-county.html. Stevens Miller, and the rest of the Loudoun County BOS - Support the proposed Loudoun Schools Budget intact.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/640048/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/640048/ Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:22:00 -0800 No Tango Circus Tonight Dadministrator Last night's School Board meeting in Loudoun County wasn't the circus some may have expected, over removal of the Penguin book from general access at the particular Elementary school. Several very good commentaries, from the public and supervisors, an explanation from the Superintendent, a quick "stand-up" from 40 or so black-and-white-with-buttons wearing supporters of penguin rights, lots of "deflecting" of ...
No time to fully explore all the great material out of the meeting, that'll be in the next post.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/639456/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/639456/ Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:04:00 -0800 Online challenge to School Board Members, Parents and Teachers Dadministrator OK, time for a little Government/Web 2.0 challenge. If you don't know what that means, it's basically an Internet-age term for the easier-than-ever ways in which the general public can individually interact with their government (or businesses) using all manner of free feedback and collaboration tools. Here's an example - http://www.dullessouthonline.com/loudoun_SEO/2008/02/more-cool-government-20-activity-at.html from your Federal Government. Do a Google search on "Loudoun ... Here's an example from your Federal Government.

Do a Google search on "Loudoun School Blogs". At this second (since the search engine result pages, or "SERPS", change constantly), here's what you get on the first and second result pages:

1 - Loudoun Schools Feedback - that's us!
2 - Gateway to Loudoun County - prominent and popular Loudoun County blog
3 - Loudoun School Blogs - LoudounPedia - roundup of blogs in a great local Wiki
4 - Blogs Loudoun Times - the only local newspaper with local bloggers
5 - Our Loudoun Schools Loudoun Times - John Steven's reprints in the Times
6 - Our Loudoun Schools - John Stevens (School Board, Potomac District)
7 - Linked Up in Loudoun | LoudounExtra.com - daily review of Loudoun Blogs
8 - Loudoun School Talk Site Launched - Living in LoCo - news item about us
9 - Living in LoCo | LoudounExtra.com | The Washington Post - local blog about Loudoun
10 - Loudoun School System Recognized...Dec 24, 2006 ... old news item from the Post
11 - Loudoun Schools Dais - Tom Reed's blog (School Board - at large)
12 - Loudoun Democrats - blog news item
13 - washingtonpost.com- May 8, 2007 - news item
14 - Our Loudoun Schools - another John Stevens entry
15 - Mommy Life - local blogger with very religious, family-oriented themes
16 - LoudounExtra.com - local blog listing (pointing to us and John Stevens)
17 - Tango is Available to Parents - Loudoun Times - news item
18 - www.citizenet.com - aggregator of blog items
19 - Loudoun Travelers - seeking those looking for school break travel packages
20 - Loudoun Blogs/Wikis - LoudounPedia - local blog roundup

For a business (i.e. the LCPS) prepared to spend nearly a Billion dollars in taxpayer funds, approximately 85% of the budget of one of the "wealthiest per capita" counties in the country, that's all the public, online discussion you get.

You get our little blog, 1 regular and 1 intermittent school board members' blogs, 2 newspapers, 1 newspaper blog, ...and that's basically it.

Where's everybody else?

We know full well that emails are the preferred medium for parent-to-parent-teachers-to-administrators communications, using computers....but it's time to leverage the rest of the web. That's what we're teaching our children to do, in school, by the way. There do exist a smattering of online conversations about the schools elsewhere, like in local HOA discussion groups, homeschooling support sites, professional sites like Teachers.net, and high school Facebook groups; but it's simply appalling that more adults aren't involved online in the discussion.

Here's the challenge - start a blog, wiki, threaded discussion group, portal, website - any kind of online forum/mechanism for public comment on local, Loudoun education and school topics (private, public or otherwise). Regularly update and promote it, so that it gets to page 1 or 2 in the Google SERPs.

Who'll be first on the board? What group or area of the county, or school district, has the most Internet-savvy and Web 2.0/Government 2.0 engaged parents? Can more teachers and adminstrators learn to blog, or at least figure out ways to blog anonymously en masse?

Right now - here's the grades, in terms of "Taxpayer, Administration and Parental support for Loudoun County students, as Demonstrated by Degree of Government/Web 2.0 Online Engagement (not including email)" -

(Ordered by Google Rank, then graded by the criteria above)

1) "Dulles South District Area" - ( Grade=B ) - we obviously are in the Google lead (and will likely always be, with our secret sauce), but traffic isn't as high as it should be, and our District School Board rep isn't online (only via email)

2) "Potomac District" - ( B+ ) - John Stevens is fabulous online, and has a bit of an edge from the number of comments perspective (but still, a shockingly low number)

3) "Journalists" (WAPO - LoudounExtra) - (B-) - while Loudoun-centric educational material is usually pretty good (it's a Multi-Million dollar business, after all, with professional reporters), it's not as active from a feedback/comment perspective as it should be, and tends to focus more on "objective news" vs. "subjective and objective issues and ideas" we all need to talk about.

4) "At Large School Board Members" - (C+) - while an admirable start last year, there's only been 5 entries from Tom Reed since last Summer, and few comments.

5) "Politicos" - (Too Conservative) - (C) - definitely gets good traffic and comments from the local political club, but school topics are sparse and typically relegated to budget/election issues.

6) "Christian Moms" - (Mommy Life) - Loudoun-based, and sometimes Loudoun-focused with respect to special needs in the schools

7) "Government-Watchers" - (The Municipalist) - (C) - Loudoun-based, but not Loudoun-focused - still manages to get in very worthwhile commentary about Loudoun Schools once in a while.

8) "Teachers" - (Teachers.net, Virginia forum) - (B) - some pretty good mix of parent/teacher discussion, though only tends to flare up once in a while...not promoted much, as well, nor is entirely Loudoun-centric.

Get going - if you need help with how to go about online blogging and such, drop us a line...]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/635815/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/635815/ Sat, 23 Feb 2008 05:07:00 -0800 And Tango Makes Three Penguins in Loudoun County Dadministrator We won't dive deep into this local Loudoun book-banning issue - http://blog.loudounschools.org/2008/02/penguins-popping-up-in-press.html, since our only reliably online School Board member, John Stevens, is so adeptly handling the local reporting already. But, it obviously deserves a quick comment. It's nonsense, all around. It's utter nonsense that a children's book, that's received many, many distinguished awards from very competent, educated teachers, non-academic professionals ... local Loudoun book-banning issue, since our only reliably online School Board member, John Stevens, is so adeptly handling the local reporting already. But, it obviously deserves a quick comment.

It's nonsense, all around. It's utter nonsense that a children's book, that's received many, many distinguished awards from very competent, educated teachers, non-academic professionals and parents, is pulled from the shelf. It's utter nonsense that a single parent's objection isn't vetted further than it seems to have been. It's utter nonsense that we're all blogging and emailing about THIS, while, in the meantime, it's more than halfway through second grade and still half the class can't do simple subtraction or multiplication AT ALL, or without "manipulables".

It's also blatant and rampant hypocrisy, though unintended of course, that our Elementary School children are exposed daily to blatant displays and discussion of alternative lifestyles, including very-nearly cross dressers, comments from teachers about "living with my boyfriend", etc. Happens ALL the time, as commonly discussed among student and parents. The penguins are much more modest and socially-responsible. Believe us, most children by the 4th-grade really do understand these social differences, and really don't care.

However, a good test and scrubbing of LCPS communications protocol, school board policy and adherence to state regulations, and some degree of "awakening" by an incredibly indifferent (to the status and progress of local education) population of Loudoun parents (just heard a new one this week, the PTA referred to as the "Party Talk Association") is all a good thing.

All about a nice (and true!) little penguin book, that when searched for online, is Allowed (by our Internet Filtering/Protection Software), while the School Board member's blog was Not Allowed...need to check our filters, obviously.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/635816/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/635816/ Sat, 23 Feb 2008 04:42:00 -0800 Loudoun County Math Investigations Parent Input Meetings Dadministrator (From Leesburg Today) - "Loudoun County Public Schools administrators are holding a series of meetings to brief parents on the Investigations math program that will be used as the primary curriculum at a small number of elementary schools. Investigations is a K-5 mathematics curriculum, developed at TERC in Cambridge, MA. It is designed to help all children understand the fundamental ideas ...
Investigations is a K-5 mathematics curriculum, developed at TERC in Cambridge, MA. It is designed to help all children understand the fundamental ideas of number and operations, geometry, data, measurement and early algebra through the use of inquiry activities.

Parent meetings will include information about research available about the program and a description of the outcomes administrators will measure to determine whether to continue or expand use of the curriculum.

The first parent meeting was held Feb. 11 at Rolling Ridge Elementary School. Upcoming meetings will be held at Tolbert ES Feb. 25, Hutchison ES Feb. 28, Sanders Corner ES March 10 and Round Hill ES March 27. All meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.

Well, we'll have to balance this meeting against the ever popular Modern Loudoun Moms Meetup event at San Vito's in South Riding, the same night! (By the Modern Loudoun Moms Magazine folks).]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/634182/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/634182/ Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:19:00 -0800 Silent Auction Fundraiser Scheduled for Local Teacher Shelly Scheyder - South Riding Dadministrator Shelly Scheyder, a beloved and devoted second grade teacher at Little River Elementary and South Riding resident, is ill and has been unable to work since October. Despite undergoing a battery of tests ordered by several specialists, none of them has yet been able to diagnose her. Shelly has taught and lived in our community for almost 10 years, and ...
More Information...]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/631913/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/631913/ Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:36:00 -0800 Parents - instruct your children of the dangers of soap in drinks Dadministrator Well, it's happened again here in Dulles South, and now at an Elementary School. A fourth-grader last week (and accomplices) added some soap to another's drink in school (update 2/21 - according, "officially", to LCPS, four students spoke about putting soap in another’s cup, and one of these students told a teacher - the four were counseled by the principal ... added some soap to another's drink in school (update 2/21 - according, "officially", to LCPS, four students spoke about putting soap in another’s cup, and one of these students told a teacher - the four were counseled by the principal and guidance staff - no soap was actually put in anybody’s cup) (another update - 2/23 - this statement isn't entirely accurate, either, as we've got the exact, insider details, from kids, parents and the Principal) - while details are sketchy, not much seems to have been done about it (class parents weren't informed, the child wasn't punished by the school....according to school administration, "the kids really don't know about it, so we didn't feel the need to bring it up to others...").

Let that sink in a bit....

Recalling the Mercer Purell-in-teacher's-drink incident this past Fall (with the teacher hospitalized from this very toxic exposure), we probably dodged another bullet on this one. Thankfully and very luckily the soap of choice wasn't a more poisonous chemical, as most fourth-graders don't know the difference between hand soap, bleach and draino.

Number one - all the kids certainly do know about the incident, they've informed their parents. Number two, there needs to some serious, immediate education levied in all schools about the absolute dangers of poisons and classroom "antics" like this. Number three, there needs to be a bit more honest transparency on part of the schools with all parents, regarding incidents, dangers, the need to educate at home on social behavior, etc. Number four, the schools need to come down very hard, even on an Elementary School student and their parents, in situations like this - sure it was just 'soap', and no one was seriously injured - but there's a serious, future incident brewing in a local child's psyche, and it, along with any potential copycats, needs to be nipped in the bud.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/630861/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/630861/ Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:00:00 -0800 A new kind of Sausage? Dadministrator Per this post at Gateway to Loudoun County - http://www.dullessouthonline.com/loudoun_county_gateway/2008/02/new-kind-of-loudoun-sausage-being.html, yesterday's joint Loudoun County School Board, Board of Supervisors and Economic Development Commission meeting was fruitful, and a good step in a reasonable, albeit long-term process of collaboration and inclusion between the stakeholders... Gateway to Loudoun County, yesterday's joint Loudoun County School Board, Board of Supervisors and Economic Development Commission meeting was fruitful, and a good step in a reasonable, albeit long-term process of collaboration and inclusion between the stakeholders...]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/629954/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/629954/ Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:33:00 -0800 Math Investigations Recoil Heats up Across Counties Dadministrator Following up on our last Math Investigations post - http://www.dullessouthonline.com/loudoun_schools/2008/01/stop-investigating-in-pwcs.html; last year, there was a petition against Math Investigations in Loudoun - right now, there's a full-on Math Investigations petition and website effort - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PWCSMathForum/going on in Prince William County, with overflow and contributory comments coming in from Loudoun as well (noted in the Teacher's Forum - http://teachers.net/states/va/topic1210/2.14.08.07.12.06.html site). Definitely a ... Math Investigations post; last year, there was a petition against Math Investigations in Loudoun - right now, there's a full-on Math Investigations petition and website effort going on in Prince William County, with overflow and contributory comments coming in from Loudoun as well (noted in the Teacher's Forum site).

Definitely a full head of steam gathering.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/629955/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/629955/ Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:05:00 -0800 Top 10 Reasons Moms Like Loudoun - Good Schools is #2 Dadministrator Modern Loudoun Mom Magazine - http://www.iammodern.com of Ashburn, VA release its "Top 10 Reasons Why Moms Like Loudoun County - http://www.pr-inside.com/iammodern-com-releases-top-10-reasons-why-r433030.htm". The reasons are (note schools is #2!): 1. Safe living conditions 2. Good schools 3. Good jobs 4. Good neighbors 5. Beautiful parks 6. Great shopping 7. Local retreats and wineries 8. Historical landmarks tied with city centers 9. Cultural sites and events 10. Rich libraries Check out Modern Loudoun ... Modern Loudoun Mom Magazine of Ashburn, VA release its "Top 10 Reasons Why Moms Like Loudoun County". The reasons are (note schools is #2!):

1. Safe living conditions
2. Good schools
3. Good jobs
4. Good neighbors
5. Beautiful parks
6. Great shopping
7. Local retreats and wineries
8. Historical landmarks tied with city centers
9. Cultural sites and events
10. Rich libraries

Check out Modern Loudoun Moms reviews of private schools, as well.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/629002/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/629002/ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:31:00 -0800 Above and beyond teacher examples... Dadministrator Do you have a good story of a teacher going above and beyond? We've got plenty, here's a couple...short and sweet - A local Kindergartner went in to school several times with various leftover indicators of night-time battles against exczema-based itching...after a few weeks of this, his teacher personally came by with some great suggestions she'd found helpful for combating ...
A local Kindergartner went in to school several times with various leftover indicators of night-time battles against exczema-based itching...after a few weeks of this, his teacher personally came by with some great suggestions she'd found helpful for combating persistent exczema, including a new type of kid's vitamins she'd seen. Nice, considerate and thoughtful gesture, on her own time.

Another teacher takes it upon herself (and she's started a trend), when dismissing first-graders outside the school door, to make absolute eye contact with each and every child's parents before letting them walk away after school....no other teacher did this when she started, but more are doing it now.

More?]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/624410/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/624410/ Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:10:00 -0800 New post... Dadministrator but the date got messed up, so it's 2 down, right before the "what this blog is" post. http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/623641/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/623641/ Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:52:00 -0800 Keeping Predators off Social Networking Sites Dadministrator You've heard about them, places like Myspace, Facebook, etc., the "social media" sites built to allow people to share their world and friends with each other. You've also heard, no doubt, of sexual predators using these anonymous mediums to hone their craft. Now there's new legislation proposed in New York - From Media Daily Online - http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=75380&Nid=38793&p=408441 - "The Electronic ...
From Media Daily Online - "The Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act, would require sex offenders to register their email addresses and instant message screen names. That information would be turned over to social networking sites, which could then prevent people from creating profiles. Several weeks ago, MySpace said it was ousting convicted sex offenders from the site by comparing names of users with state databases."

This is good legislation, that should truly become national legislation, though obviously there are worlds of issues with respect to enforceability - we believe these sorts of convicted or charged felons should simply not be allowed to use online, electronic communications medium. In fact, all of their phone calls should be either recorded, or intercepted by proxy for approval. Just like if they tried to walk into a school, they'd be intercepted by security officials.]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/620050/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/620050/ Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:49:00 -0800 What this blog is... Dadministrator To be clear (probably need to do this once a year), this blog isn't simply about criticism, destructionism, "nay-saying - http://blog.loudounschools.org/2008/01/have-your-say-on-elementary-math.html" or general negativism. This blog is an attempt to get some additional public discourse into the Web 2.0 sphere, regarding the topic of Loudoun Schools and Education (both public and private). It's an open request to all parents, teachers, ... nay-saying" or general negativism. This blog is an attempt to get some additional public discourse into the Web 2.0 sphere, regarding the topic of Loudoun Schools and Education (both public and private). It's an open request to all parents, teachers, administrators and any other interested party to check in and discuss, politely and frankly, what's on their mind. It's about seeking answers, seeking collaboration on sensitive issues, offering anonymity to those concerned about it.

It's also very much about answers, solutions, and new ideas, from a grassroots, parent and consumer level. Yes, consumer, because we pay a heck of a lot of money for educational services, public and private, and at least deserve accountability for our dollar. Being a blog, however, means that what's on "our" mind is usually the source of most topics. (When we say "our", that also refers to the fact that this is a collective blog, multiple authors and contributors.) Our topics deal mainly with things we directly experience, hear, see or are involved in from an educational perspective (and we're extremely involved, on a daily basis, in many ways that are for the most part known only to our children, family, friends, teachers, business partners, customers and blog readers).

We'd love to participate in other viewpoints and address topics others have, - but there just isn't anything out there on the blogosphere (outside of John Stevens), LCPS websites don't appear to allow online commenting for others to see, like blogs (where's Government 2.0 in Loudoun County?), LoudounExtra's education contributions and Jay Mathews reprints are too infrequent (though letters to him are usually quite introspective and well thought-out), emails to supervisors and school board members aren't shared with the public (I suppose they could be FOIA'd), emails around the community mom and dad email lists are too cumbersome and aren't really very "democratic", and broader Internet discussion forums are either not well known enough or simply not "local" enough.

What would be productive and useful, would be if those who do post either positive or negative comments, or send emails full of constructive or destructive criticism (that's why this blog is moderated), or who have strongly opinionated thoughts and ideas, would also get these out into the Web 2.0 fray of blog, wiki, and BBS-enabled discourse. Have your own say, start a blog, do your own thing - we just need more people online discussing this, and this blog could and should be only one of hundreds on the topic - especially a topic that costs nearly a Four Billion dollars to Fairfax and Loudoun County taxpayers, many hundreds of millions more to those electing private educational services, and many billions more in consumer goods and services focused on educating ourselves and our children.

We guarantee good, inbound "link-love" to anyone who starts another great blog or BB on these topics!]]> http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/619127/ http://www.minti.com/members/dadministrator/blog/619127/ Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:53:00 -0800