Libertad's Journal

05/23/2008 08:05 #44427

Standardized test boycott

I love these kids and the teacher.

New York 8th-Graders Boycott Practice Exam But Teacher May Get Ax
by Juan Gonzalez

Students at a South Bronx middle school have pulled off a stunning boycott against standardized testing.

More than 160 students in six different classes at Intermediate School 318 in the South Bronx - virtually the entire eighth grade - refused to take last Wednesday's three-hour practice exam for next month's statewide social studies test.

Instead, the students handed in blank exams.

Then they submitted signed petitions with a list of grievances to school Principal Maria Lopez and the Department of Education.

"We've had a whole bunch of these diagnostic tests all year," Tatiana Nelson, 13, one of the protest leaders, said Tuesday outside the school. "They don't even count toward our grades. The school system's just treating us like test dummies for the companies that make the exams."

According to the petition, they are sick and tired of the "constant, excessive and stressful testing" that causes them to "lose valuable instructional time with our teachers."

School administrators blamed the boycott on a 30-year-old probationary social studies teacher, Douglas Avella.

The afternoon of the protest, the principal ordered Avella out of the classroom, reassigned him to an empty room in the school and ordered him to have no further contact with students.

A few days later, in a reprimand letter, Lopez accused Avella of initiating the boycott and taking "actions [that] caused a riot at the school."

The students say their protest was entirely peaceful. In only one class, they say, was there some loud clapping after one exam proctor reacted angrily to their boycott.

This week, Lopez notified Avella in writing that he was to attend a meeting today for "your end of the year rating and my possible recommendation for the discontinuance of your probationary service."

"They're saying Mr. Avella made us do this," said Johnny Cruz, 15, another boycott leader. "They don't think we have brains of our own, like we're robots. We students wanted to make this statement. The school is oppressing us too much with all these tests."

Two days after the boycott, the students say, the principal held a meeting with all the students to find out how their protest was organized.

Avella on Tuesday denied that he urged the students to boycott tests.

Yes, he holds liberal views and is critical of the school system's increased emphasis on standardized tests, Avella said, but the students decided to organize the protest after weeks of complaining about all the diagnostic tests the school was making them take.

"My students know they are welcome in my class to have open discussions," Avella said. "I teach them critical thinking."

"Some teachers implied our graduation ceremony would be in danger, that we didn't have the right to protest against the test," said Tia Rivera, 14. "Well, we did it."

Lopez did not return calls for comment.

"This guy was far over the line in a lot of the ways he was running his classroom," said Department of Education spokesman David Cantor. "He was pulled because he was inappropriate with the kids. He was giving them messages that were inappropriate."

Several students defended Avella. They say he had made social studies an exciting subject for them.

"Now they've taken away the teacher we love only a few weeks before our real state exam for social studies," Tatiana Nelson said. "How does that help us?"

jgonzalez@nydailynews.com

© 2008 The New York Daily News

metalpeter - 05/23/08 18:55
Granted this wasn't high School but I was told that when Regents exams started in NYS they made fun of them in California and the reason being is that teachers tout for the test. I can remember being in those classes where you learned everything then maybe the last few weeks of class you didn't learn anything it was all review so you could pass the regents. I don't know if that is how teachers still teach but in some subjects you had to do that. I understand that it is a way to keep all education the same. If some guy loves the civil war or WWII and how it changed the world we live in he can't go on about that for 3 months because he only has a week to cover the entire war. I think that is what all the tests are really about. I think the regents kinda shapes what people teach about in "middle School". Those National tests are a big deal because they reflect on the school and are the only thing funding is really based on from what I have heard. But that doesn't mean you have to give lots of tests. Yes you can teach test taking skills so kids won't freak out on them. I knew someone in High School where the teacher knew she knew all the Material but she would get nervous and mess up tests (not sure if he got her help or figured out a way for her to do better on the tests or not) so it would really hurt her grade. But the problem as these kids said with the tests is, that it takes time away from learning. The problem is that you still need a way to see if kids are learning or not because a lot of kids don't learn shit in school for too many reasons to list. I'm glad that these kids boycotted an examine that they didn't need (it was a practice and doesn't even mean any thing, it isn't like the psat, that you use as a tool to see what stuff you need to learn and that you can get a SChoolrship from, or you used to be able to.) I think a lot of what school teaches is to Memorize;and yeah that does have it place, and Commformity. The real point of school is to learn and it sounds like that teacher got the kids to like Social Studies not just remember Dates and got them to enjoy it. I think my teacher in High School used the "you don't need to know the dates but you do need to know the order and the time line" , Hey Maybe Tony had the same teacher and can correct if I'm wrong. But the important thing was knowing what caused what and to have an understanding of it, I don't think it was a regent exam then but not sure. Yes school should be about learning and not just tests but most of the time it isn't like that, good that these kids stood up to that, it is to bad that they will punish the teacher.

james - 05/23/08 11:25
When did accountants take over education?

This teacher is too good for the current system. We don't need real teachers, we need test administrators.

mrmike - 05/23/08 09:01
I love this. With "No Child Left Behind" those tests are a constant. At Montessori where three grades can be in the same room, the testing is dragged out that much longer. Big surprise that a Bush relative has a financial stake in the primary testing firm.

05/21/2008 21:03 #44412

Shortwave radio

I just started searching for short wave radio stations with my new radio and the second station I found is a Cuban station. I love it. I think I need an even better radio to pick up the stations more clearly.

Does anyone know of any shortwave stations I can pick up?

Right now they are talking about the centenarios. Those that who have lived to be a 100 in Cuba. La mayoria las mujeres. The majority women. The station keeps on fading in and out. Now I know why people become addicted to this.

Now I am very sad that I can't return back to Cuba. I do think I will be there again before I die. I truly feel sad that I can't go again and live there for another 4 months. It has been three years this August. The program I went with is no longer running through the University at Buffalo and now it is even harder to go.

This shortwave radio is totally freaky.

jason - 05/22/08 14:47
China Radio International has some interesting programming. Yeah, The US and Cuba both have propaganda stations yelling back and forth, and that is fairly amusing.

I don't know how often this list is updated, but I found a list here: :::link:::

Hope it is helpful! Enjoy! I would like to buy a better radio.

libertad - 05/22/08 14:13
I got a Grundig Yacht Boy. I love it so far. I'm much more into radio programming and am bored by the TV. It is expensive though for a radio, but I think worth it.

tinypliny - 05/21/08 22:08
What kind of radio did you get? My $5 radio broke down finally (after serving for 2 long years). I think I want one that can at least get the classical station! I had to do some crazy circus contortions with the antenna for the $5 radio to catch the classical station even faintly. It was a loser radio.

libertad - 05/21/08 21:32
Raul has done some good things since taking power. Now it is time for us to respond in a manner opposite of what we have been doing since Castro. Clearly, it doesn't work.

james - 05/21/08 21:27
Really?

I hope Raul has a cache of houseboys then.

libertad - 05/21/08 21:24
Yup, I heard about that. They say that Raul himself is gay, except nobody really says it. So I just realized that I am listening to Radio MartÃ. They are totally US propaganda and Havana blocks the signal.

james - 05/21/08 21:21
The times they are a changin' I am sure you will be there again.

Did you hear about Raul's daughter? She has been campaigning for GLBT rights in Cuba. Dick Cheney's daughter should take cues from this classy gal.

05/17/2008 16:04 #44376

Paper or Plastic?

So actually I don't want either of those, but every time I go to Wegmans the cashiers do not understand this concept. When I give them my cloth bags they wrap things up in plastic bags that they don't think should touch the food. For example, my non-toxic cleaning supplies they insist on doing this with. Also, if I happen to need a bag because I have more stuff than cloth bags I sometimes ask for paper because it is a good thing to use in the recycling bin to separate everything. What they will do is put the paper bag in plastic. Do they think I am just trying to be trendy with my Lexington Co-Op bags or something, because I can assure you I am not enjoying walking around advertising anything. Why don't they seem to understand the point? Seriously, this last cashier seemed put off when I had to insist that I didn't want the plastic bags. I already feel so much pressure to put all my veggies and stuff in plastic bags because they can't handle it when there isn't a bar code on them.

So anyways, I have cut down my plastic use quite a bit, but still have a lot of room for improvement. IF anyone has seen a plate and silverware set that comes in a neat little carrying case let me know where I can find one. I would love to bring it in to work to use in place of Styrofoam.

tinypliny - 05/18/08 21:31
I think I have brought home around 10 plastic bags the whole of this year, starting January. I have some solutions that I follow religiously:

1. Take your own cart. Wheel it right in front of you, after you unload the groceries. Just let the cashier know that you don't want ANY bags. Instead of bagging stuff, they usually just place it in the cart.

2. Take small brown paper bags with you for the veggies and fruits. Put them in the paper bags you take, instead of the plastic bags they have on the rolls. Label them with the bar code. That will make the checkout faster and the cashiers won't be bothered by the fact that you have your own paper bags.

3. I think even taking a plastic/Glass/ceramic lunch box would be fine in the cafeteria. You can just hold it out and tell them to serve the food in it. I did this with my plate last week, and they were quite okay with the idea. Pop the plate/box into a simple plastic/cloth/paper bag and wash it whenever you get the chance.

james - 05/18/08 17:38
I wish they charged people 5 cents per plastic bag. That way people would just buy their own, and get pissed as hell at the cashier who wraps every damn thing in them.

jenks - 05/18/08 14:37
I was in wegman's the other day and they had a sign about the NEW "hippo" plastic bags they're getting, and this big explanation of why they are better than paper. (take up less space --> less shipping costs, stronger, less costly/polluting to produce, recyclable, etc.)
makes me wonder.
I guess paper is 'better'- but personally i can't stand my groceries in paper bags. And I shop so rarely I always have WAY too much for plastic. But, I reuse my plastic bags, at least.

metalpeter - 05/18/08 09:57
Based on what you just wrote I called the store and talked to a cashier who said that they like Canvas bags but when they see ones from stores that aren't Their's that upsets them so that is why they do the plastic thing (dude I'm fucking with you of course just messing around). Seriously I'm not a cashier or bagger so I'm not sure why they really do it but I have 2 ideas.
1) If a paper bag gets wet from snow or rain or something leaks then they break and you lose everything.
2) I think it is a carrying thing. Paper bags with out handle are tough to carry most people can only do two but if you slide it into plastic you can carry more of them
3)routine I think they get into a routine and being asked to break that is tough

janelle - 05/17/08 17:21
Go to EMS or Dicks Sporting Goods or any place that carries camping equipment and you ought to be able to find a "mess kit" that will be like a couple of tin plates with a fork and spoon inside and a little clamp with a screw that hold it all together.

05/11/2008 16:14 #44309

Cleaning products

This mop is hard for me to get because they are for businesses. I plan on making a trip to get one for myself since I will have hard wood floors. Does anyone want one? The last one I got was about $30. It could be the last mop you ever buy. The pad is machine washable. I have been using one every week and machine washing it and it is still is in very good condition. Best for wood floors or smooth tile. I never used it on linoleum. If you want one just let me know and I will give it to you at the price I pay.

These are electromagnetic dust rags. They are $2.50 each last I knew. They are the best I have seen elsewhere. They are great for smooth surfaces and can even be used with method window cleaner for mirrors. Leaves no lint behind. These are exceptionally durable and I use them all the time. They pick up so much dust, but are best when washed frequently.

Also, I if you wanted a scrub brush with wooden handle those are great too. It is in the second picture. Those are probably about $4.

mike - 05/16/08 10:58
shipping, handling and don't forget a processing and check cashing fee. A boys gotta make his money!

libertad - 05/14/08 13:59
Oh did I forget to mention my shipping and handling charge ;) I am planning on going on Friday. I'm really hoping that I don't have any problems with this. It is always such a hassle, but worth it.

paul - 05/13/08 21:41
I want one of the mops. Wow, at cost - you bf would charge shipping and handling and I am his brother, lol.

05/09/2008 22:44 #44291

Fish Frenzy

On May 6th I went to Hoyt Lake and witnessed a fish frenzy. It kind of freaks me out a bit. Has anyone ever seen this before? it looks as if he water was boiling.

Look at how much algae there is. If these fish are here to say they are certainly going to die. When the algae bloom dies and all this extra bacteria are eating up all the oxygen everything will die.

I love all the different colors.

So this crane was trying to take advantage of the situation but didn't have much luck.

This frenzy occurred on both sides of the lake. I tried to find the goldfish I had seen previously, but was unable to find them. They were really kind of gross looking. I have never ever seen fish like them. They seemed like a disease or something.

paul - 05/10/08 11:13
That is totally freaky but smehow makes me hungry. If only they were doing that in wasabi/soy or tartar sauce.

tinypliny - 05/09/08 23:20
Wow. Maybe those fishes are actually robotic? In the crane video you posted, at around 0:39-0:40 seconds, you can see one streaking past the legs of the crane and the sound is of a car/motorcycle going by!

Or maybe someone dumped some dead pet/animal carcass/human body there, and the fish were just there to feast on the carcass. hey, don't give me that look. I am just saying, it's a possible explanation. Fish are known to actively eat carcasses.