Disintermediation – one of those wonderful baggy words that only yields up any meaning after being dismembered into constituent parts, if at all. Or perhaps a word like a string of railway carriages shuttling along clanking and rattling over the rail bed. The word is most usually applied in the field of marketing and economics where it refers to the…
Category: RattleBag and Rhubarb
So much to do
“You must do the things you think you cannot do” Stone Cottage One of the great things about Poughkeepsie is that you are always in striking distance of so many places to visit and things to do. One of them is Val-Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt’s home in Hyde Park – the only place she referred to as home. The grander Roosevelt…
Colleges that Change Lives
Colleges that Change Lives is the title of Loren Pope’s very useful book for those planning for college. It’s also a website. If you are off to college soon, or know someone who is, then take a look. It is particularly useful in dispelling some of the myths of excellence. As with many things, it is important to dig a…
Gnome Update
Gnome update: See Gnome Eruptions or scroll for the original story and commentary There were no further eruptions reported yesterday at PDS. However, I received today the following photographic evidence of garden variety gnome eruptions in London:
Beyond the Comfort Zone: Outdoor Education and the ZPD
Imagine a cleared space in the forest and a circle drawn with a rope; “This is your comfort zone – the space where you are confident and at ease. This you can already do. We all have our comfort zone. It takes many shapes and it is different for all of us.” Then another rope makes a circle around the…
Gnome Eruptions
They started appearing on campus last week. The gnomes. Peaceful gnomes presiding over the grounds and the walkway between the buildings.And now they are proliferating. Another appeared at my window this afternoon. Does he need to be brought inside? Any information you may have as to their origin and significance – or more importantly about gnomic care and feeding –…
In Honor of Don Fried
In honor of Don Fried and his three decades at Poughkeepsie Day School: Past and present colleagues, students, parents and trustees gathered from far and wide Sidereal sang Reminiscences were shared and new memories made Alumni brought their children to meet him and Don’s service to the school and its generations of students was recognized, celebrated and appreciated It was…
Just in time for curriculum evenings …
The world is moving at a tremendous rate. Going no one knows where. We must prepare our children, not for the world of the past. Not for our world. But for their world. The world of the future. – John Dewey (seen saying just that in the film below) Progressive education in the 1940s: I don’t know who made this…
Pangea Day
“You have a voice, you have a vision, you have a story worth telling.” Can film bring the world together? The people behind Pangea Day hope that it can. It all began here with TEDTalks prize winner Jehane Noujaim. This is her one wish for the world and her idea for achieving it. (Highly recommended.) What do you think? (Click…
Creativity and Learning How to Learn
“Modern studies indicate that creativity is not a rare, magic gift visited upon the isolated genius; it is the natural birthright of every human child and is a series of cognitive skills that can be taught, harnessed and applied to unleash what we are now discovering is the infinite creative capacity in every child. Learning How to Learn and Creativity…
Season of Mists
“Modern studies indicate that creativity is not a rare, magic gift visited upon the isolated genius; it is the natural birthright of every human child and is a series of cognitive skills that can be taught, harnessed and applied to unleash what we are now discovering is the infinite creative capacity in every child. Learning How to Learn and Creativity…
Off and Running
We added Cross Country to the athletic choices this fall and the team is off and running and doing very well. Clearly we have some outstanding and enthusiastic runners in both middle and high school. The first meet was the Oakwood Friends invitational – the season opener for the Hudson Valley Athletic League. Here are some of the photographs of…
Google docs, Social Networking and RSS in Plain English
Three more useful short videos from those very helpful clever teachers at Common Craft: Google docs (no more email attachment versions), Social Networking and RSS – all in plain English. George Orwell would be pleased. And if you are not using RSS (real simple syndication) yet to manage your surfing and internet habits here is your chance to find out…
Google Docs and RSS in Plain English
Three more useful short videos from those very helpful clever teachers at Common Craft: Google docs (no more email attachment versions), Social Networking and RSS – all in plain English. George Orwell would be pleased. And if you are not using RSS (real simple syndication) yet to manage your surfing and internet habits here is your chance to find out…
Dangerous Stereotypes
It can be a worrisome sign when Dilbert cartoons start appearing in the workplace!Here are the first two frames of Dilbert cartoon that a colleague brought to my attention on Friday.