So, as citizens of a republic, why do you think that the water cycle may be related to Adulting? ProjectDoBetter proposes a free long term plan…
Day 53/67: Five Month GED, The Water Cycle, and Adulting — Context, Critical Thinking, Continuous Learning: Project Do BetterMiddle of week 14/18 Day 53, Week 14 Grammar: Prepositional Phrases review Math: Combining like terms review Science and history: Who were the Anasazi, and what was their relationship with water? Please see the Lesson plan […]
Spanish has always been my favorite language, especially after moving to the bilingual South West. Technically, I was hired for my experience in Unix which led to my MAT in mathematics, but on the ground, my love of learning languages proved to be more important in the classroom. As an adult education instructor at the Continuing Education division of the San Diego Community College District, my fluency proved helpful for many of my students, and also, of course, the ESL classes help our students from many nations contribute in the USA.
Every local educational institution has room for improvement, particularly when seen from both faculty and student perspectives. I posed some questions recently about ideas for implementing low-cost projects that would have been helpful to our students when I taught in North campus involving
1.) a small library or study area,
2.) workshops by CA Promise Program graduates,
3.) an on-site nurse paid for by medi-Cal, and
4.) access to public transportation:
1.) Many of my students told me they didn’t have a quiet place to study. While I know that space is in very short supply on the North campus, I wonder if a small area, possibly in the multipurpose room when it’s not being used, could be set aside with cubicles or movable small desks and a small movable lending library like the tiny libraries?
2.) I wonder, on the assumption of course that having graduated and started a new career as a professional with a bachelor’s degree anyone can be found who will have time, if any students having graduated with a bachelor’s degree after getting their first two years of community college paid for through the California promise program or with the San Diego promise program, could be persuaded to come back either as tutors, mentors, or even just to give workshops in the areas in which they got their educations? Particularly accounting majors or paralegal/pre-law majors who could give small workshops on dealing with debt in California including, California statutes of limitations, or financial planning workshops or how to do your own taxes if you only need to do the 1040EZ, etc? One-on-one tutoring, and also mentoring, that supportive help, especially for our high school equivalency students, could be both useful and inspiring. Seeing successfully graduated professionals with a bachelor’s degree who came through the community college system and are willing to spend individual time with them, even if only a couple of hours a week, could make a difference. Could interns or SCORE volunteers put a program like this together? Do we track or stay in touch with students who finish the California or San Diego promise program once they finish their bachelor’s degrees?
3.) Many of my students worked two jobs or for other reasons never had time to see a doctor even when they were ill. I wonder if it is possible to pay, through the Medi-Cal system, for a nurse to be on-site, perhaps based out of the office of each campus, a couple of days/evenings a week?
4.) One of the biggest problem areas that I saw for my car-free students was that neither the Continuing Education division, nor the CE faculty Union was able to get the transit authority to enforce acceptance of CE student IDs for the monthly bus and rail pass discount. In planning for post-#Covid-19 classes, will we have any resources to address public transportation discount and access issues?
I imagine that some of these ideas may be a little overwhelming, because I understand that time and resources are extremely limited, but once in a while, as Dr. Rivera-Lacey noted: we do have to dream.
Please share your ideas for improving local education, or for supporting any other parts of our critical Public Domain Social Infrastructure!
Let’s #EndPoverty , #EndHomelessness, starting by improving these four parts of our good #PublicDomainInfrastructure 4:
1. #libraries,
2. #ProBono legal aid and Education,
3. #UniversalHealthCare, and
4. good #publictransportation
May, 12020 HE
So, how would you figure out how much water is currently in your local aquifer, say, if you live in Albuquerque, New Mexico? So, what does ground water
Day 52/67: Five Month GED, Water, and Health — Inspiring Critical Thinking and Community via Books, Lessons, and Storyhave to do with all of our health, and why do we need to understand this, as citizens of a republic?
#ProjectDoBetter works to explain, and share, in the Middle of week 14/18 Lesson Plan […]
How can you determine what the meaning of a word is in a mathematical context? And where would you find the resource that may put all of that information right at your fingertips? Solving word problems in mathematics, and all life’s problems are really word problems, requires learning the language of mathematics, which every […]
Day 50/67: Five Month GED, Language Learning, and Libraries — Inspiring Critical Thinking and Community via Books, Lessons, and Story
“The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.”
This was the refrain that Du Bois repeated, particularly in the last chapter of this surprising biography. I listened to it, and upon finishing, immediately had the urge to read much of it over again at once, in print, especially the beautiful citations of poetry from the Hebrew scriptures, and the last sections in which Du Bois points up the legacy left by Brown which continued into his day, and indeed, even into our own day. Du Bois shows how the collusion of industrial interests and the racial interpretation of social relations, applied to Darwin’s work as a means of using the power developed during Brown’s time, the same power that drove him, a good and principled man, out of business, to prevent the existing hegemony from being changed, actually works to the detriment of all humanity. He ties up the implications of John Brown’s life’s work versus that interpretation of Darwin as a negation of the eugenics programs and all that led to those programs. Brown, much to my surprise, was described as a thoughtful man, initially stern, but eventually becoming a kind man, one who abhorred the shedding of blood, and believed deeply in the mutual obligations and respect due to every human being. Du Bois shows how the beginnings of Brown’s plan were intended to be as non-violent as possible, and only reluctantly evolved into the raid on the federal arsenal, while remaining a project of killing only when absolutely necessary. Witnesses describe a community with by-laws drawn up to run much as the first century Christians are described as living in the book of Acts, and of Brown’s insistence upon gentlemanly and respectful conduct, even to captured prisoners. This made him, it seems, a man well ahead of his times. But, also a bit of a dreamer. Du Bois describes Brown as attempting to convince other leaders, but finding them more skeptical of his plans. I was very impressed with Du Bois delving into military science to show that, had every member of Brown’s group acted in strict accordance with his plan, the raid on the Armory would very likely have succeeded. Yet, a plan that depends on each man acting selflessly is, it seems, the plan of a dreamer. By the time I had finished Du Bois’ devastating final chapter, I felt not only moved for the dream and strongly felt duty of Brown, but also for the life of honest and courageous integrity that was laid down as a willing martyr for the cause of Abolition. He used his trial as a means of putting the very South herself, and her Peculiar Institution in particular, on trial, quite successfully. Why are we not taught about the details of this trial, and his words at that trial, in school? This biography should be required reading in every High School history classroom in the United States.
Please, please, please, read this book, perhaps starting with the final chapter.
But read it. Twice!!
My reading updates follow:
listening via https://librivox.org/john-brown-by-w-… …
British wool tariffs nearly brought the US to consider invading, around 1830?? Wow. I’ve never heard of that, nor of the fact that Oberlin college was given land in Virginia.
John Brown as a bank director? Who would have thought of this? Ruined, like many, by the Panic of 1837
“Organized economic aggression” by business highwaymen literally forced a good man, John Brown, out of business because he refused to abandon his good principles!
and incredible, of all the poetic language Du Bois uses: “…a great Black phalanx” of escaped slaves and Free People of Color welcoming them into the “cities of refuge” up north and organizing Colored resistance. And John Brown’s family sheltering …
The reverend Lovejoy, from The Simpsons, is named for the murdered Abolitionist preacher Rev. Lovejoy? Who knew!
This murder, and being kicked out of their church for giving their nice seats to the Negro family attending the meeting, catalyzed Brown’s 1839 knowledge and support of the Abolitionist movement. In fact, white brutality even against white people planted the seeds.
Section 7: So, Brooks caned Sumner over Missouri’s lie about Kansas Territory, and the Civil War actually began in Lawrence, KA.
Shameless forcing of a faux election by Missourians of Kansas lawmakers, and the US Army helping the Southerners with guns and Bowie knives, and canon!? But despite the free-state majority, KA, nearly became a slave-state.
Ch. 7, The Swamp of the Swan, end of Section 8:
This militia formed by Captain John Brown is like David, as he says, but not a band of thugs, as that of David was: no profanity, no corporal punishment, no unkind or ungentlemanly behavior. Wow. Feeling themselves like a family, said his men. These were the Anla’Shok. “All great reforms…based on generous…”
Incredible.
How his image has been distorted.
… and why not admit women?
He wrote and had adopted an actual Constitution for his followers down South.
Preamble here: https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/td…
Postponement of action, weeping to Schubert…
An indictment on the system of slavery, Brown’s speech on the stand ends with
“Farewell. Farewell.”
Du Bois calls his trial “the mightiest Abolition document that America has known” is right, and a beautiful one, by his last words to his family.
“The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.” Clearly, Du Bois wanted this phrase to stay with the reader, and he uses it to devastating effect, particularly in the last section, “The Legacy of John Brown.”
Absolutely stunning look at both a deliberately misrepresented man, and a legacy that remains with us, to this very sad day.
Incredible.
Simply incredible.
Shira
Action Items:
1.) Share your thoughts, please.
2.) Write a story, post or comment that uses those thoughts.
*****************
Click here to read, if you like:
B5, Hakan: Muhafiz/The Protector, Sihirli Annem, Lupin, or La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews
Holistic College Algebra & GED/High School Lesson Plans,
Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading about #ProjectDoBetter. This work is my personal way (as opposed to founding the Project, overall) of contributing to building tools that can help increase empathy and compassion in our world. Story, as part of how we see our world, helps us make sense of and define our actions in this world. And remember how important story is also as part of this project. Let’s Do Better.
Shira Destinie A. Jones, MPhil, MAT, BSCS
ShiraDest
Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
A basic understanding of science, and support for free access by all residents to high quality branch libraries with trained Reference Librarians who also understand basic science, is another responsibility of being an Adult in a republic. Understanding the basics underlying any illness, like smallpox or typhoid, the history behind it, and the sensible […]
Day 47/67: Five Month GED, Historic Decisions, and Health Care — Inspiring Critical Thinking and Community via Books, Lessons, and Story
Aside from simplifying mathematical roots, Adulting often involves simplifying the roots of complex social and logical problems, too. Seeing through false arguments, distinguishing red herrings from truth, finding the root cause of a situation, all require logical and persistent thinking, developed by mathematics. Community colleges are one good place to learn these skills. […]
Day 45/67: Five Month GED, Community Colleges, and, Local Laws — Inspiring Critical Thinking and Community via Books, Lessons, and Story
Free access to Public Legal Education, as part of Phase I’s Public Financial Knowledge Infrastructure section, in Project Do Better, is an integral part of the sets of learning needed for all adults, and the project has several free handouts available on the topic for all interested persons, especially volunteers wishing to share the information with others. Sharing accurate and timely information is also part of Public Health, and Your Personal Health:
Please ask for details or updates. We can build a safer, more cooperative world for all of us.
*****************
Click here to read, if you like:
B5, Hakan: Muhafiz/Protector & Sihirli Annem, Lupin, or La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews
Holistic College Algebra & GED/High School Lesson Plans,
Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading about #ProjectDoBetter.
Shira Destinie A. Jones, MPhil, MAT, BSCS
Shira
Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Free access to Public Legal Education, as part of Phase I’s Public Financial Knowledge Infrastructure section, in Project Do Better, is an integral part of the sets of learning needed for all adults, and the project has several free handouts available on the topic for all interested persons, especially volunteers wishing to share the information with others.
Please ask for details or updates. We can build a safer, more cooperative world for all of us.
*****************
Click here to read, if you like:
B5, Hakan: Muhafiz/Protector & Sihirli Annem, Lupin, or La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews
Holistic College Algebra & GED/High School Lesson Plans,
Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading about #ProjectDoBetter.
Shira Destinie A. Jones, MPhil, MAT, BSCS
Shira
Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Free access to Public Legal Education, as part of Phase I’s Public Financial Knowledge Infrastructure section, in Project Do Better, is an integral part of the sets of learning needed for all adults, and the project has several free handouts available on the topic for all interested persons, especially volunteers wishing to share the information with others. Please ask for details or updates.
*****************
Click here to read, if you like:
B5, Hakan: Muhafiz/Protector & Sihirli Annem, Lupin, or La Casa de Papel/Money Heist Reviews
Holistic College Algebra & GED/High School Lesson Plans,
Thoughtful Readers, please consider reading about #ProjectDoBetter.
Shira Destinie A. Jones, MPhil, MAT, BSCS
Shira
Shira Destinie Jones’ work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Context, Critical Thinking, Continuous Learning: Project Do Better 