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December 2008
Vol 5 No 12
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Teachers.Net Gazette Vol.5 No.12 December 2008

Cover Story by Bill Page
At-Risk Students: A Point of Viewing

“At-Risk Students: Children who are expected to fail because teachers cannot motivate, control, teach, or interest them using traditional methods and prescribed curriculum.” ~ At-Risk Students: Understanding Their Defensive Ploys


Harry & Rosemary Wong: Effective Teaching
The Sounds of Students
Learning and Performing

Columns
»Teacher's Inquiry ProcessHal Portner
»December Survival GuideSue Gruber
»Words Can InspireLeah Davies
»Windy City Top TenTodd R. Nelson
»Tapping Into Internal MotivationMarvin Marshall
»The Busy Educator's Monthly FiveMarjan Glavac
»Dear Barbara - Advice for SubsBarbara Pressman
»The 2 W’s and a H: Finding the Main Idea in Students’ Behavior Kioni Carter

Articles
»A World of ZippersTim Newlin
»Recipes - Cinnamon Applesauce Dough Ornaments, Gingerbread Playdough, Gingerbread, Rudolph Sandwiches
»The End of the D and F Grade: Welcome to Lake WobegonAlan Haskvitz
»December 2008 Writing PromptsJames Wayne
»Education Accountability Version 2.0: A Letter to the Next PresidentTony Wagner
»Sometimes It’s Easier to Just Suck It UpMrs. Mimi
»Using Photographs To Inspire Writing IIHank Kellner
»Parents and FailureBruce J. Gevirtzman

Features
»Apple Seeds: Inspiring QuotesBarb Stutesman
»Today Is... Daily CommemorationRon Victoria
»The Lighter Side of Teaching
»This is why we do it…
»The Kelly Bear C.A.R.E.S. Program
»Printable Worksheets & Teaching Aids
»The Economy Is Not A Morality Play
»School Photographs for December 2008
»Lessons, Resources and Theme Activities: December 2008
»Video Bytes: The Benefits of Student Blogging; Unbelievable Water Fountain; George Washington Inauguration; Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke; Flight Physics; & Claymation Surrealism a la Magritte!
»Live on Teachers.Net: December 2008
»Newsdesk: Events & Opportunities for Teachers


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Contributors this month: Sue Gruber, Kioni Carter, Marvin Marshall, , Marjan Glavac, Todd R. Nelson, Hal Portner, Leah Davies, Barbara Pressman, Tim Newlin, Bill Page, James Wayne, Hank Kellner, Magoo, Bruce J. Gevirtzman, Barb Stutesman, Ron Victoria, Tony Wagner, Alan Haskvitz,Mrs. Mimi, and YENDOR.

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IMHO - Educators Speaking Up

Teachers.Net Community
Discussion


The Economy Is Not A Morality Play

We were impressed by the following post from a Teachers.Net chatboard as an especially thought-provoking, well-articulated and civil position on an interesting topic, so we are sharing it here in case you missed it. We encourage you to use the Discussion forum following the posts to react and continue the dialog.
Teachers.Net Community
December 1, 2008
The Economy Is Not A Morality Play
Posted by Jim Wayne on the Teacher Chatboard

We do not get good times or bad times because we deserve them. We get them through the operation of economic and social forces that operate regardless of individual effort or deserving. When a plane crashes, gravity does not distinguish between the passengers who are good passengers and follow the rules about seat belts and read the card about emergency procedures and the bad passengers that didn't.

The people who make bad economic decisions will pay a price in good times or in bad. Good times may defer the price but cannot eliminate it. The people down my street who are facing being unable to pay their mortgages now would have faced the same problems a little later, but they would still have to face them. Against my and other people's advice, they paid too much for their house. Nevertheless, it isn't the economy that is causing their difficulties, it is the decisions they made. Even if the economy had simply slowed gradually in a "soft landing," or even if the boom had continued indefinitely, they would have suffered. They made unrealistic plans. They are suffering, but they would have suffered anyway.

On the other hand, people who did not buy too much house, who were careful and made good plans are finding that they are having troubles they did not expect. I worry about whether I will be able to get health care, or repair my house. I may suffer, even though I took every reasonable precaution. The small photography shop on the next street did not close because the owner was a bad businessman; he had worked hard and been successful for more than two decades. It closed because his bank suddenly stopped extending ordinary commercial credit to even good customers. The bank was worried about its own safety and reserve levels. A photographer takes, develops, and frames portraits, THEN gets paid for them. He has to buy his materials on credit. Without ordinary commercial credit, he cannot afford to do so, and he closed.

Let us not waste our time in blaming. If this crisis continues, or gets worse, good people and bad people will suffer. If it is dealt with successfully, good people and bad people will benefit.

In the long run, according to the Gospels I read, God will not ask, "Did you make prudent plans? Did you save for the future? Did you pay your bills on time?"

He will ask, "Did you feed the hungry? Did you comfort the afflicted? Did you help those who needed it?"

Please note that the questions are NOT, "Did you feed the hungry who were deserving?” “Did you comfort those who were afflicted through no fault of their own?" “Did you help those who needed it and had been prudent?" God seems to have the idea that being a human being in need is enough.

Jim Wayne

If you spot a post on one of the chatboards that you think should appear in a future IMHO, use the "Share" button inside each chatboard post to email it to the Gazette editor with IMHO in the subject line. If it is a Teachers.Net mailring message that impresses you as an exemplary one, forward the email to the same address. You don't have to agree with the opinion stated; submitting simply means that you think it worthy of others' attention.



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