A video of Duncanville High School student Jeff Bliss has gone viral after a classmate recorded his rant in the classroom last week. Bliss is an 18-year-old sophomore who returned to 10th grade after dropping out. He says he realized the importance of an education for his future. He now takes his education and the learning of others very seriously.
Bliss had questioned why the teacher didn’t give the students more time to prepare for a test. She asked him to leave the classroom and he began sharing his opinions of why students were not reaching their true potential. He claimed the teacher only passed out worksheets and packets instead of creating lively and engaging discussions.
In Bliss’ opinion, the classroom time was a waste and challenged the teacher to get the students excited about learning. He also felt teachers must reach out and touch the hearts of their students to truly engage them.
“Just as much as the students need to give an effort, the teachers need to give an effort too.” said Jeff Bliss.
I recently discovered a fun downloadable from the very popular Teachers Pay Teachers site. This printable listed the rules for school marms or teachers in 1872. Educator and blogger Barbara Evans from It’s About Time Teachers, put the download together, however, it has been printed and shared in newspapers, books, museums and all over the Internet for over 50 years.
1. Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys.
2. Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day’s session.
3. Make your pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to the individual taste of the pupils.
4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if they go to church regularly.
5. After ten hours in school, the teachers may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.
6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.
7. Every teacher should lay aside from each pay a goodly
Have you always wanted to build your own lightsaber and fight the forces of evil? Forget the old Jedi Mind Meld trick. That’s for amateurs (and presidents.) You need what all Wookies, Ewoks, Vulcans and Vogons use to protect themselves across the galaxy.
Our amazing researchers at the Steve Spangler Labs have uncovered the secret to how the lightsaber actually works. It’s only a tad complicated – but don’t worry, any padawan can make their own.
You may need to travel to a galaxy far, far away to retrieve some of the components, but trust us. It’s worth it.
The key to the operation of the homemade lightsaber comes in the two rare components, the Dilithium Crystal and the Energy Modulation Circuit. The Energy Modulation Circuit, when switched on, converts a standard electrical charge into a hybrid form of energy that emits light, heat, and sound.
Once you have your lightsaber up and running, it’s time to practice a little before going out into the final frontier to look for Darth Vader and his BFF Khan Noonien Singh.
Becky I. from California shared pictures of her Christmas village with us. She uses Insta-Snow and sprinkles it all over her Christmas village. Insta-Snow fluffs and feels like real snow. It is perfect for creating an indoor winter wonderland. The snow sticks on trees and bushes and lightly covers sidewalks and buildings.
Just hydrate some Insta-Snow and spread it all around your village. You may want to use gloves or avoid touching the snow. Dirt and oil from hands can transfer to the snow and make it look dingy and dirty after a few days. The snow will start to dry out. Just spritz it with a water bottle every few days to keep it fresh and looking great.
As the horrific events of Friday, December 14th unfolded, we all felt helpless and angry. Angry that someone would walk into a school and take the lives of children and the educators who not only taught them but protected them to the end.
As we all look for ways to do something in the shadows of this tragedy, there is something immediate and easy that we all can do.
Thank a Teacher Day 2012, created in loving memory of those who lost their lives in Newtown, CT, and in honor of the hundreds of thousands of teachers who would do that tomorrow for your child.
How often do you show your appreciation to your child’s teachers? Today, bloggers and those in the media are participating in Thank a Teacher Day 2012. Our teachers spend at least six hours a day with our children. They not only work tirelessly to give them an education, but also provide comfort, support, a listening ear, hugs and safety.
On Monday, December 17, 2012, take a moment and thank a teacher. Send her an email, a card, a bouquet of flowers. Create a “thank
