What if everyone felt safe to share their opinions? Without fear of retribution? What if people could create an atmosphere where intelligent, thoughtful conversations could take place that helped solve problems rather than magnify them?
Your turn; what would that take?
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Monday, June 2, 2008
What if I change the format?
Well - since it seems like I'm not very good at posting long epitaphs on a consistent basis I thought I would switch to "What ifs?" I'm always thinking about different thought provoking questions (if only in my own mind) and thought it would be easier and faster for me to post these questions. All of the questions will be designed to possibly help people think about changing their mindset, in turn creating a more positive environment and place to live. Of course, once more people actually start reading this blog I can always post your positive stories - I just don't have time to post long things that I have to type up and remember, etc etc.
So, hence the first question is WHAT IF I change the format of this blog - will more people start reading?
So, hence the first question is WHAT IF I change the format of this blog - will more people start reading?
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Wow - has it really been close to 3 months since I posted last - yikes - life has been busy. Now if things could go straight from my mind to the pages of this blog I'd be posting a lot more often. Lucky for you, no one has invented that type of "blue tooth" - yet! Speaking of inventions and positive things in Peoria - The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. I'm not sure how this segment "Will it Play in Peoria?" came about, but I love it! Here's a link to the first in the series of segments they have done so far http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=653914114. I've watched all of the segments so far and they're great! It's positive press for Peoria and it's entertaining. I hope these segments continue. So far 4 different people each time from the area showcase newer products. The owner of Cyd's, local councilman, small business owners and of course the second episode includes Mayor Ardis.
Check it out and see if you agree whether or not each product "will play in Peoria."
Monday, December 17, 2007
Angel on Route 24
This story just left me speechless and gave me chills. http://www.pjstar.com/stories/121707/TRI_BF7SMA0D.006.php I can't even begin to imagine what I would have done in the same situation. There is no doubt in my mind that God had it in his plans for Marilyn to be there and that a small angel named Aaron asked for the special by passer to be his mommy. As a mother I am comforted to know that people like Marilyn are out there. In the day and age of fear of aids and other diseases, Marilyn showed true selflessness and compassion.
Marilyn's son Aaron was a student at Northmoor. There is a beautiful picture of him hanging up outside the library. He and his family obviously left their "heart stamp" at Northmoor just as his mother has with Limestone High School.
Marilyn's son Aaron was a student at Northmoor. There is a beautiful picture of him hanging up outside the library. He and his family obviously left their "heart stamp" at Northmoor just as his mother has with Limestone High School.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
ISAT Results in Peoria
OK - I have got to say that some people may look at the ISAT results from last year and not see positive results. I would like to say though that I think several of the school have very positive results even if they didn't meet AYP. http://www.isbe.net/nclb/default.htm Here's a link in case you'd like more information.
Anyway, back to the positive - when looking at the results for the schools in the City of Peoria specifically, many people will talk about the percentage of poverty in each school (basically the number of children who receive free or reduced lunch). Well I wish that could be broken up even more to show the percentage who receive free lunch only. Harrison for example then is probably 97% free lunch and 2% reduced. Many of the other schools would have similar statistics and there is a difference between groups in the low income catagory and don't get me started on the differences between generational poverty (like the families who live in Taft, Harrison, etc) and situational poverty.
So without getting too wordy (and if you'd really like to learn more about the challenges children who live in poverty face you can read the work of Ruby Payne) I want to say that several schools did much better than the numbers may say. I think the fact that a school like Kingman, with 87% low income (probably 70% free lunch), has steadily increased their percentage of kids meeting or exceeding standards is awesome! Then add to this their almost 60% mobility rate - just imagine what the teachers could do if all of the kids stayed at the school for the entire school year. So basically, when you look at everything that teachers and staff at Kingman and many other schools have to overcome to help children succeed, the fact that children exceed is a huge positive! Personally, as a parent, if I saw that my child's school had a small low income percentage and ISAT scores in the 70's or 80's, I'd wonder about the quality of education my child was receiving. Small low income and low mobility schools should have much higher scores - just look at what Northmoor has done with a low income percentage of close to half the student population, yet their ISAT scores were right at 90%.
So - to me - add everything up and the test scores are positive - they show that children and educators are working very hard and are achieving!
Anyway, back to the positive - when looking at the results for the schools in the City of Peoria specifically, many people will talk about the percentage of poverty in each school (basically the number of children who receive free or reduced lunch). Well I wish that could be broken up even more to show the percentage who receive free lunch only. Harrison for example then is probably 97% free lunch and 2% reduced. Many of the other schools would have similar statistics and there is a difference between groups in the low income catagory and don't get me started on the differences between generational poverty (like the families who live in Taft, Harrison, etc) and situational poverty.
So without getting too wordy (and if you'd really like to learn more about the challenges children who live in poverty face you can read the work of Ruby Payne) I want to say that several schools did much better than the numbers may say. I think the fact that a school like Kingman, with 87% low income (probably 70% free lunch), has steadily increased their percentage of kids meeting or exceeding standards is awesome! Then add to this their almost 60% mobility rate - just imagine what the teachers could do if all of the kids stayed at the school for the entire school year. So basically, when you look at everything that teachers and staff at Kingman and many other schools have to overcome to help children succeed, the fact that children exceed is a huge positive! Personally, as a parent, if I saw that my child's school had a small low income percentage and ISAT scores in the 70's or 80's, I'd wonder about the quality of education my child was receiving. Small low income and low mobility schools should have much higher scores - just look at what Northmoor has done with a low income percentage of close to half the student population, yet their ISAT scores were right at 90%.
So - to me - add everything up and the test scores are positive - they show that children and educators are working very hard and are achieving!
Shopping in Peoria
OK - I have just got to say I am pleasantly surprised by my shopping experiences in the last few weeks - even though we're in that time crunch, stressful time - people have been so nice!
I was at Cub Foods the day before Thanksgiving and the people shopping were smiling and chatting with each other. Then, when I went down one aisle in particular, one woman was looking for canned asparagus so she asked and then another shouted out something she needed and everyone just kind of pitched in and helped find the items. I felt like I was shopping with friends.
Then the day after Thanksgiving I dared to go out to Kohl's. I didn't up end buying anything because the line seemed to stretch all the way to Sam's, but the people in line were talking and seemed to be in a good mood. I don't think that I could have been in such a good mood after spending that much time waiting in line!
Well and then there was the lady I ran across in the parking lot at WalMart. I tried to be helpful to the cart people by carrying all of my bags to the car. It was a great plan until I got to the car and realized I would need to set all of the bags down in order to open the door to my SUV. Well luckily a lady in a navy blue convertable recognized my plight and came to my rescue. She opened the door for me and we even had a nice little chat about how her daughter has the same type of SUV and how nice they are for the size, etc, etc. It was one of those moments that I walked away with a "fuller bucket." So thanks to the lady in the blue convertable.
I was at Cub Foods the day before Thanksgiving and the people shopping were smiling and chatting with each other. Then, when I went down one aisle in particular, one woman was looking for canned asparagus so she asked and then another shouted out something she needed and everyone just kind of pitched in and helped find the items. I felt like I was shopping with friends.
Then the day after Thanksgiving I dared to go out to Kohl's. I didn't up end buying anything because the line seemed to stretch all the way to Sam's, but the people in line were talking and seemed to be in a good mood. I don't think that I could have been in such a good mood after spending that much time waiting in line!
Well and then there was the lady I ran across in the parking lot at WalMart. I tried to be helpful to the cart people by carrying all of my bags to the car. It was a great plan until I got to the car and realized I would need to set all of the bags down in order to open the door to my SUV. Well luckily a lady in a navy blue convertable recognized my plight and came to my rescue. She opened the door for me and we even had a nice little chat about how her daughter has the same type of SUV and how nice they are for the size, etc, etc. It was one of those moments that I walked away with a "fuller bucket." So thanks to the lady in the blue convertable.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Great Weekend and thanks to the Vets
Oh my - it's been way too long since I've posted. I often think "I should post that," but then by the time I get home I forget!
Well I can't forget about the wonderful weekend I had! The short version is that I got to go shopping, had a perfect cab driver in Chicago who even counted out change (without me asking and of course I told him to keep it), then getting on the train a younger guy saw me pause getting on with all my bags and offered to help. So I ran in to many people this weekend that managed to remind me how wonderful people can be if you just have faith and look for the positive!
Now there's one woman in particular who really touched me this weekend. She was sitting next to me in a workshop, noticed my nametag and proceded to share a really cool story with me - how Peoria Arizona got it's name! Here's what she told me; when California was being settled there was a family with 11 children that road in a covered wagon to get to California. Well they stopped off in Arizona and during what they thought was going to be a brief stop the people in the town convinced them to stay. See, they had 11 children and in order to have a school there had to be at least 10 children. So, the people who had settled in the area convinced the family to stay and set the father up with a job and they named the town after the city the family was from PEORIA!
The woman who shared the story worked for the school district in Peoria Arizona and shared the story with many others over the years. Not sure if it gave anyone else goose bumps like it did for me!
Speaking of education, I hope all of our local teachers enjoyed the day off for Veteran's Day. I saw many out and about shopping today! More importantly - thanks to our veteran's who have fought for our freedom. I don't agree with figthing to solve problems, but I'm so thankful that when push comes to shove there are men and women who are willing to fight the big bullies! May all of our newest veteran's be able to come home soon.
Well I can't forget about the wonderful weekend I had! The short version is that I got to go shopping, had a perfect cab driver in Chicago who even counted out change (without me asking and of course I told him to keep it), then getting on the train a younger guy saw me pause getting on with all my bags and offered to help. So I ran in to many people this weekend that managed to remind me how wonderful people can be if you just have faith and look for the positive!
Now there's one woman in particular who really touched me this weekend. She was sitting next to me in a workshop, noticed my nametag and proceded to share a really cool story with me - how Peoria Arizona got it's name! Here's what she told me; when California was being settled there was a family with 11 children that road in a covered wagon to get to California. Well they stopped off in Arizona and during what they thought was going to be a brief stop the people in the town convinced them to stay. See, they had 11 children and in order to have a school there had to be at least 10 children. So, the people who had settled in the area convinced the family to stay and set the father up with a job and they named the town after the city the family was from PEORIA!
The woman who shared the story worked for the school district in Peoria Arizona and shared the story with many others over the years. Not sure if it gave anyone else goose bumps like it did for me!
Speaking of education, I hope all of our local teachers enjoyed the day off for Veteran's Day. I saw many out and about shopping today! More importantly - thanks to our veteran's who have fought for our freedom. I don't agree with figthing to solve problems, but I'm so thankful that when push comes to shove there are men and women who are willing to fight the big bullies! May all of our newest veteran's be able to come home soon.
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