exploring the details (and trying to be kind)

“We’re lying to our children when we tell them they’re proficient, but they’re not achieving at a level that will prepare them for success once they graduate.”

Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
(from this release)

So as parents, teachers, and grown-ups…

• Let’s stop lying.
• Let’s work harder at encouraging a work ethic (with our kids and with ourselves).
• Let’s care more.
• Let’s let it get ugly and uncomfortable more often (in the interest of the long run).
• Let’s lead by example and hold each other accountable to higher standards (as parents, teachers, and grown-ups).
• Let’s be badasses and encourage our kids to be badasses (and I mean that in the loving badass way of the truth).

Let’s wake up and stop mouth breathing our way through the day.

Aren’t we tired of mediocrity? Of lying?

Here’s an NPR story about Providence St. Mel — a school of 212in’ Smovers in Chicago. Worth the 3-minute read. From its founder and principal, Paul Adams…

“I think one of the misnomers is that we have some kind of miracle going on. We spend more time teaching,” Adams says. “We’re in school six days a week. If I could figure out a way to raise enough money, I’d have it seven days a week. Students are in the building from 7 a.m., sometimes even earlier, to 5 and 6 and 7 o’clock at night.”

How hard are you working?

TGIS (thank God it’s Smonday)

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Hey, kids… If we don’t push you or hold you accountable, do it for yourselves. Don’t wait. You matter and you have a verse to contribute. Count!

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One more from Paul Adams (principal)…

“I think I have an obligation to do the very best I can because I stand on the shoulders of many people who have died, who have sacificed and I think that is my contribution to civilization… to move it to the next level.”

We need to stop looking into our hands so much.

Cells, berries, and ithings get too much attention.

Five days ago, I decided to try an experiment. It’s part of my real world immersion program.

I’m doing my best to make it so no one knows I have a cell phone. No checking for emails or messages when people are around me. No answering a vibrating phone (a ringtone? please) if I’m in a face-to-face conversation with another human being (which I rarely do but have — ruuude man).

My thinking here is this’ll make me more available to the people in front of me and the life around me and also help me focus more. I’m guessing it’ll also help me improve my real world communication skills (listening is a part of communicating) and consequently help me help others better.

The only downside I can think of is not being instantly available for a real emergency (but this is possible several times throughout the day anyway).

So far, it feels good. (update after 2 months below)

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(It’s scary that people text and read while they drive (grown-ups are especially surprising given that we’re not supposed to be that stupid)… make-up application too (yeah, I saw you taking that turn putting on your mascara in your rearview). I’m sure it’ll slow down as we personally know more and more people who have accidents (severe or not) but we’ll probably have to stick our finger in the socket a few times before we get disciplined.

If you’re up for a frightening (and very disturbing) awareness video on the topic (I’ve shared it with my 15-year-old who is with driving friends now, but I’m pretty hardcore as you likely know if you read my stuff), here’s 4 minutes. Do not watch it if frightening and disturbing are not your things. It’s a British PSA.)

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Update: Nothing but great things to say about the device diet. In fact, I downgraded to a regular phone a couple weeks after this post. The phone still has great keyboard features, etc. but it’s less of a distraction now (and I save $500 a year in usage fees). I did violate the diet a couple weeks ago though and got a lesson — classic bad dad moment. I was looking up something on the phone at my son’s basketball game and missed his one basket of the game. I’m pretty confident I won’t pull that again.

We were running a scrimmage during a soccer practice last week (11 year olds).

On the field next to us was a group of about 20 men playing a game. At one point, a ball flew from their field through our field and down a hill about 50 yards.

One of my players immediately (almost instinctively) ran down the field to get the ball and return it.

I asked, “Why did you do that, Adam?”

“I was closest,” he said.

I don't enjoy the towel guilt trip at hotels but it does work on me (I definately think before using another towel that I probably don't need to use).

This sign next to my double shower head on a recent trip asks me to refresh myself and restore our world…

"One of your Heavenly Shower heads has been turned off in an effort to minimize water usage and protect one of our most precious natural resources.

To experience the most out of your Heavenly Shower, you can turn the second shower head on by pushing the small button behind the lower head. (Of course, only if you're an @ss#ol&.)"

Parenthetical is written in invisible ink.

Where along the way did someone in the room not say, "Hey, wait Bob. I think maybe we should either remove the fancy shower heads or just encourage people to use it. I mean we're about hospitality and luxury, aren't we?"

I'm guessing someone did but they didn't push it (or kept the thought in their head).

Not tragic, of course, just a little business sad.

(truth is better)

My 12-year-old found it. Doesn’t it remind you of Munch’s Scream painting?

We’ve put it in glass along with our other freaky finds. Bidding starts at 1 milllllllion dollars.