The Power of Words - A Covert Operation

Given the dialogue over the use of the R-Word in the movie Tropic Thunder, here’s an interesting excerpt from an interview with Annabelle Lukin, linguist at the University of Macquire in Sydney. In the interview, Lukin explains how words get their power. 
Sticks and stones do break bones, but it is only through language that actions [...]

Its Time to End Apartheid in America

As I wrote in my last post The Problem with Art Programs Targeting People with Disabilities, Passion Works is a well touted art program in a sheltered workshop. For those readers who have been deluded by media campaigns it is time to clear up a few myths about sheltered workshops. Sheltered workshops are a form [...]

The Problem with Art Programs Targeting People with Disabilities

The big idea these days is art made my people with disabilities and several public agencies and organizations are jumping on the band wagon. The headline banner for VSA (Very Special Arts - ugh) reads Creating a society where people with disabilities can learn through, participation in, and enjoy the arts. Passion Works Studio in [...]

Wading through Ideology, Creating Art, Revealing New Insights - Journal Page 3

click to enlarge image
When most babies are born, possibilities abound. But, the discovery of her extra chromosome changed all that for my daughter and our family, at least in the beginning. Instead of possibilities, a whole new set of restrictions, rules and traditions descended upon us. As her parents, as good parents, we were [...]

Wading through Ideology, Creating Art, Revealing New Insights - page 2

Another page from my journal - an art journal actually. Click to enlarge the image.

Appreciating That Every Student has Something to Offer

Maybe its just rhetoric…. or maybe its not but, in this day of standards and sameness, I’m glad to hear a politician say “every child has strengths.”
OHIO GOVERNOR EMPHASIZES CREATIVITY OVER TESTING TO BOOST COMPETITIVENESS
Governor Ted Strickland (D) of Ohio hosted a three-day summit in Columbus this week to promote a new classroom environment, one [...]

Stories can Help us Clarify our Vision and Purpose

Piggybacking on an earlier post about stories from people who attended Donnelsville Elementary School, I want to add these words of wisdom from a publication produced by the Research Center for Leadership in Action, New York University.
The process of creation - including writing and telling our stories - can help us slow down and reflect [...]

How One Community Said Goodbye to Its School

I rediscovered this little gem of a book while cleaning my office and couldn’t resist posting it here. Celebrating the Memory of Donnelsville is a collection of school stories told by local residents of the Donnelsville, Ohio community. This little book is a powerful example of how one small school engaged their community in a [...]

Making Sure Everyone is Included

Here’s a story that offers a glimmer of hope in contrast to the one about the little boy who was voted out of his kindergarten class. My husband, a high school carpentry instructor, was approached by a couple of his students yesterday morning. The two asked if the class could stop on the way to [...]

Where’s the Outrage When Adults Vote Kids Out?

Apparently, a kindergarten teacher in Florida asked each of her young students to say what they didn’t like about their classmate 5-year old Alex Barton. Then the teacher asked the class to vote on Alex’s continued participation in class. By a 14 to 2 margin Alex was voted out. This morning’s bloggers and readers are [...]