Joseph M. Jamison: April 2008 Archives
Baby Steps
I attended a presentation entitled Into the Millennium: Nurturing the Whole Child Monday night given by Rick Ellis, an adjunct professor at Rider University and the Bank Street College of Education. An expert in the field of Early Childhood Education, Mr. Ellis stresses the importance of developmentally appropriate teaching from preschool through first grade, and with the academic standards continually rising in the United States, the expectations are for students to accomplish tasks that are too advanced for their age. His advice? Slow down.
This…
As the Olympic Torch Relay makes its way around the world ducking and dodging protesters along the way to Beijing, one has to think of the role politics have played in the Olympic games, and what role they should play. When the first IOC Olympic Games took place in Athens in 1896, the goal was simple; it was a way to bring nations closer together by having the youth of the world compete in sports, rather than fight in war. By using sports, Olympism promotes the balanced development of people as an essential step in building a peaceful society that places a high value on human dignity.
All In The Family
With its second week of regular season competition wrapping up this weekend, it’s pretty safe to say that the Major League Baseball season is officially underway, and I couldn’t be happier. While wrestling was my sport of choice as a high school and collegiate athlete, baseball will always remain my first true love. And it better be, because there’s sort of an unwritten rule in my family when signs of spring begin to erupt: baseball first, life second. Whether it be the 25 text messages I receive from my father and 2 brothers during a Phillies game or the countless number of softball leagues we participate in, baseball is a way of life for the Jamison boys, and a rite of passage into the family; even my mom joins in on the fun from time to time. Thus far, I am the only one of three sons lucky enough to have a baseball nut as a significant other, but I can guarantee I’m not the last.
A Change of Pace
My initial idea for this week was address the issue of retaining high quality teachers in America. The statistics concerning teacher who leave the profession within the first five years is rather alarming, and therefore warrants discussion. After reading Gerard’s article on Wednesday, however, I was led in another direction. In short, Gerard discussed how he had difficulty seeing who he is due to his analytical nature. His competitiveness contributes to his complex as he consistently compares himself to others whom he considers to be “better than him” at specific tasks in which he enjoys, such as running, leading him to continue to search for the right words to define him. In the end, there is an acceptance of sorts, and perhaps a new avenue towards a more accepting future is in store.
I, too, at one time, suffered from a similar complex, although my issue deals with accepting who I am, as opposing to actually seeing it.
