Special place

Tuesday night. Packed. Ready to go. We leave a very special place for Rose and me. Sad. But we are anxious to see family and friends.

See you soon.

Love to all,

Dad, pops, papa skip, skip the elder, Gordon

still thinking

OK so I’ve been thinking some more about education. President Obama is currently on TV answering questions via his internet discussion hookup. Education of course was the first question out of the gate, i.e. how do we fix it. His response was capital and reform. So I agree, but……… As my daughters and I have discussed many times, you can agree with the generalities but the devil is in the details. California is currently in lay off mode for teachers and other public workers. As I read the local paper’s letters to the editor, it is once again the “outrage” that it is the younger teachers that are being laid off and the older teachers are the ones that get to avoid the layoffs and keep their jobs, i.e. “it’s the young teachers that better relate to us” idea. The over-riding assumption with the general public, it seems, is that the younger teachers are the better teachers and that the older teachers are “excess” baggage. Another assumption is the idea that “relating” (however that is defined) somehow equates to learning. As a department chairman for over twenty years I can assure you that is not the general rule. Poor teachers exist at every level, as do good ones. That’s what the initial evaluation process is all about when determining who gets tenure. The poor teachers, hopefully, are weeded out. Unfortunately, at the University level, research demands have tended to over shadow the basic role of “teaching” at any level of education. What happens after tenure is granted is a topic for another discussion. Teacher quality is a much broader question than a young versus old discussion as is the question of who gets laid off first. However, I do agree that the system with regard to “layoffs” does need to be revisited. But I am sure there is no perfect answer and any system designed will have distracters.

My greater overall concern is with current and proposed approaches to the idea of “merit”, be it with regard to retention or merit pay. It’s hard to disagree with merit. But yet how do you define it let alone define it so it has universal application. Unfortunately, good intentions could only screw things up worse than they are now if we are not careful, especially, if we somehow link capital expenditures with merit, i.e. schools with the higher merit experience receive the large amounts of investment capital. I remember a favorite case study in the MBA curriculum that illustrated the point that during periods of product sale downturns perhaps you should increase marketing expenditures in that area, not decrease them. Admittedly this is not always the case. But, knee jerk responses often head us in the wrong direction. Tangent to this concern is the idea of somehow handicapping those teachers who are teaching in those low merit institutions when in fact perhaps these same teachers are the ones who should receive the greater amount of merit pay – for their dedication and love of teaching in that environment. That is one of the reasons, I believe, that education administration and merit pay must, somehow, remain basically at the local level. Who else better understands the question of merit? On the other hand are they capable at the local level, let alone motivated, to evaulate merit? Oh, it is a stormy sea upon which we relaunch this ship. (Note the Cambria influnce!) My thoughts are running too rapidly and with too much variety to organize them now. Daughters give me some direction!!

thoughts on education

Interesting how the mind works, i.e. how one thought leads to another, to another, etc. Kinda like streams, to rivers, to the sea.

Early in this blog, I had a post on my school experiences as a child. As a very young child I remember doing homework (usually those damn lists of 20 spelling words) at the dining room table in the lodge at the pitchfork ranch. I can still drag up memories of the physical make up of the large dining room. The guests and the help ate family style at three long tables with chairs and benches on either side. Of course, everything was made out of varnished pine, including the building! And, the décor was complete with stuffed animal heads of various sorts and assorted animal skins on the walls. In the fall when dad was off in the mountains hunting we would have only a few guests ,if any, at the ranch and the help was down to one waitress and mom the cook, which she hated but was very good at. After the evening meal and after the dishes were washed and put away, I remember sitting at one of the dining room tables with mom and the waitress (Frita) studying. I especially remember the spelling words because it was like a spelling bee every night! I felt very important that I had all the attention and worked very hard not to let my study partners down. The spelling test was every Friday morning. Every Friday when I got off of the bus there would be Frita and Mom at the bus stop awaiting word on my spelling results. Now you have to realize that this was extreme pressure for me personally because I seldom could do better than 15 correct out of 20 possible and often got less than fifty percent correct. But, it didn’t matter, any result was cheered. On those rare occasions when a hundred percent was achieved it was as though an Olympic event had just been won. Then at the end of the six week grading period we would have to study all the words once again because I would have a grand test of the 120 spelling words! It was like looking into an open grave. Oh how we all suffered! The greatest lesson I took away from this? We. Education is a team effort. I worked hard to make the team proud. I've been working hard every since the pitchfork days! Spelling still makes my stomach upset. At least the dreams have passed! :-)

I was reminded of this experience while John, his dad, and his mother sat at the kitchen table here in Cambria during their recent visit – doing homework. John was missing a week of school and, of course, had homework to do during his absence. I was reminded of the effort it takes on the part of the parents to help with this process and how important this effort is. Often, unfortunately, the student doesn’t have a clue relative to the efforts of his or her parents, let alone an appreciation for the “process”. And, even more unfortunate, I’m afraid is that our society doesn’t have a “clue” as to the importance of this commitment and process. In my view the human interaction as a result of this process is as important as the lessons themselves. Reliance on others, seeing the results of your efforts in the eyes of others, pleasing others, and team effort are valuable lessons.

Lo and behold, this past week, I heard President Obama’s comments as he made a speech on his plans for education. He related how as a child his mother would get him up at 4:30 a.m. to review areas of study within which she thought he was weak and needed help. He said he would often complain about the additional work and the agony of getting up at 4:30 a.m . He said he still remembers her comment after he complained one morning. She stopped what they were doing, looked at him, and said, “this isn’t exactly a picnic for me either, Buster.” Mothers know the commitment it takes to raise a child and both sides of the education equation. If they don’t, they shouldn’t be parents. If society has forgotten the commitment, it must relearn it. Obama’s point was that society must recommit its efforts. Education isn’t just about you. It’s about your commitment to others and to our society. It’s nice when the President of the United States confirms the thoughts you were having at a particular point in time.

If I had one lesson for my grandchildren to learn it would be; much of what we do in life isn’t about us. Much of what we do is for others – and that includes your education experience. You make yourself proud when you make us proud. Now quit complaining about “me” and get to work! It’s what we expect. You should accept no less.

I wish I had taken the time to thank my parents and Frita for their help. But, I guess we give thanks in many ways.

Dad/Grandpa/Gordon/Skip the elder

p.s. Hi Irene. Thanks for listening. :-)

Strauch4 Join the team

So Happy to see that Kyle, Traci, Michael, & Prue are following this thing!! I'm posting a couple of pictures that we got at Morro Bay of a Momma otter with her baby on her tummie for Prue and Michael. Prue, see if you can make out the baby on mommie's tummy. Sorry the pictures are not clearer. I've been having issues with my camera since I've been here. Isn't that the way it goes?!!!The birds are oyster catchers and are really neat. They have a weird call that gets your attention.

I bet you guys are anxious for grandma to arrive from Spokane. Hopefully, you will be able to visit Spokane this summer and use the cabin at Priest Lake. We have more room now so its not the hassle it used to be. If Kyle were closer he would be helping Uncle Skip along with Les and Doug build a camper port behind the cabin this spring. Then we will have some serious room for the family visits.

Please leave comments so I know some one is reading this thing!! :-)

Love,

Uncle Skip, Dad, etc.

Katy, Doug, & John visit

The Sliger Crew arrived on March 7 in San Jose. I motored up to pick them up. We stayed in Monterey that night and toured the Monterey Aquarium on Sunday. Had a lot of hands on stuff which John and I enjoyed and appreciated. A Bat Ray that allowed you to touch it was a hit with us. It was like a dang puppy wanting to be petted! Too many attractions for grandpa to pick a favorite. Jelly fish and sardines (coordinated swimming routines) were among my favorites.

After the Aquarium visit we headed south. Took the 17 miles drive north of Carmel where the tree picture above was taken. Saw how the "other half" (other 1%?) live. Very pretty area. Seeing the golf courses reminded me of how bad my brother plays golf and why does he continue to abuse himself so?.

Big Sur was Big Sur. Hard to describe the vistas where the mountains meet the sea.

We hit the Elephant seal landing site before we reached Cambria. Got to see a lot of pups as they learn how to swim and eat before they leave to join their mothers at sea. Most of the bulls and cow seals had already left. So not as many as usual but fun.

Arrived home to grandma Rose and to one of her famous dinners - and wine! :-)

Long first couple of days. Needed rest to get ready for the remainder of the visit.

I'll post more as I sort through pictures and gather thoughts. Above pictures show the guys tide pooling on the beach north of town. Notice plastic bags full of treasures found, i.e. shells, rocks, and dead things.

Dad/uncle skip/etc

Clint & Mad visit

Time has passed quickly since Clint and Madeline's visit. The day they left I motored to San Jose to pick up Katy, Doug, and John. Have been too busy to blog since.

We especially enjoy Clint and Mad's visits. We learn a lot and discover new trails. This year we discovered a new trail south of town which leds eventually to the ocean (see photos above). A gentle walk through an old cattle ranch with lots of birds and plants for them to point out to us. I got a couple of good photos of a fly catcher which I put in the birds of Cambria album. We shared good stories and the time passed much to quickly.

Whales are here!

News flash. Late yesterday afternoon while trying out yet another setting on my camera, I saw three water spouts from a whale a ways off shore. First ones I've seen this year. Two years ago while here alone I saw several spouts while walking on the ranch trail. Actually saw the back of a baby whale. Last year we saw none. Hopefully, we will be able to see some while the kids are here. If so we should go to Morro Bay and charter a boat to view them up close.

Weather has been strange. Rainy with periods of sun. So we can get out and about. Still pleasantly warm however. Yesterday we went to Templeton on the other side of the hills to visit Trader Joes. Also had lunch at a new spot Rose had read about. Good.

Today we await Clint and Mad's visit. Hikes are one the horizon!

Kids visit on Saturday. Motel reservations in Monterrey are made. We are set to go.

Dad/Gordon/Skip the elder

IRS

I just finished my third IRS audit response in two years. So far I've made $1250. I can hardly wait for the next one. I keep telling them, I'm not dishonest just dumb! At least I'm consistent in the mistakes I make. And, they are in my favor after I point them out to the good folks at the IRS. I have much to thank Kay for as she had the patience to go through my files for me at home. I still have the 2008 return to file after I return home. And, the beat goes on. At least I should be able to complete this return without making the same mistake again. duhh I'm a CPA.

Hope all is well with everyone. Good Sunday vibes here. Reading the New York Times, drinking coffee and kicking back.

Dad/Gordon/Skip the elder