Since early fall, it has been my privilege to be engaged in an e-mail correspondence with Kumar, of Hyderabad, India. Kumar (as he has encouraged me to call him) located our Institute through a web search, inquired about information for a workshop he was planning, and we have become fast (if not distant) friends through the marvel of technology. Recently, I had feedback from Kumar on an article I had written, entitled “Dear Dr. Laura,” in which I raised some issues relating to public and private school education.

Kumar sent me the following response and was kind enough to react affirmatively when I asked his permission to pass along his thoughts to you:

Dear Don,

I am glad to go through your analytical and thought provoking write-up on public-private schools. I agree with your comments and views. I wish to share the following about the situation in India:

1.Children of middle & upper class families go to private schools (PS) only.

2. Children of the poorest sections generally go to public (government) schools (GS).

3. A small percentage of government schools enjoy a good reputation.

4. Children of GS are less complaining about their problems as compared to those from PS.

5. The percentage of intelligence levels are similar – the management of private schools being better, the results are better in private schools.

6. Extracurricular activities are more and better in PS leading to better development resulting in better careers.

In our school (GS) we are able to witness significant improvements due to some special initiatives.

The real challenge before us is to search for solutions to improve the situation in GS. From the fact that some GS are performing as good as PS, it can be concluded that solutions are possible.

Regards and good wishes,

Kumar

Kumar is a Senior Surveying & Mapping professional actively associated with a Government Aided School, in Hyderabad, India with about 800 students from the lowest economic strata of the Society in classes I to 10 in Hindi & Telugu media.

The author welcomes comments, feedback, reactions of any kind to the thoughts expressed (above).

Please feel free to forward this message to a friend or colleague. If you know someone who would like to be put on the list, please send a message to Don Mesibov at dmesibov@twcny.rr.com.

The Institute is currently registering the limited number of teams that will be enrolled for the 2004 summer conference. Don’t miss the opportunity for this unique conference that models the constructivist behaviors that teaches are using increasingly in the classroom. Check out the website of The Institute for Learning Centered Education: www.learnercentereded.org or, e-mail a request for information.

Copyright (c) 2003, Institute for Learning Centered Education. All
rights reserved.

Here is my favorite poem (reprinted from the past two years). I have told my children that I could have no finer legacy than to believe that I have influenced them to adopt the philosophy of life implicit in this poem about “Cliff Klingenhagen”:

CLIFF KLINGENHAGEN
by Edward Arlington Robinson

Cliff Klingenhagen had me in to dine

With him one day; and after soup and meat,

And all the other things there were to eat,

Cliff took two glasses and filled one with wine

And one with wormwood. Then, without a sign

For me to choose at all, he took the draught

Of bitterness himself, and lightly quaffed

It off, and said the other was mine.

And when I asked him what the deuce he meant

By doing that, he only looked at me

And grinned, and said it was a way of his.

And though I know the fellow, I have spent

Long time a wondering when I shall be

As happy as Cliff Klingenhagen is.

I wish you all greetings of the season. In the spirit of whatever holiday you celebrate, it is my hope that by practicing the selflessness of Cliff Klingenhagen we can all model behaviors we wish to pass along to children and, in so doing, bring happiness to our own lives.

The author welcomes comments, feedback, reactions of any kind to the thoughts expressed (above).

Please feel free to forward this message to a friend or colleague. If you know someone who would like to be put on the list, please send a message to Don Mesibov at dmesibov@twcny.rr.com.

The Institute is currently registering the limited number of teams that will be enrolled for the 2004 summer conference. Don’t miss the opportunity for this unique conference that models the constructivist behaviors that teaches are using increasingly in the classroom. Check out the website of The Institute for Learning Centered Education: www.learnercentereded.org or, e-mail a request for information.

Copyright (c) 2003, Institute for Learning Centered Education. All
rights reserved.

Two hundred years from now, how many people in America will remember the name of Donald Trump? And what percentage of the people in the world will these few Americans represent? Of the buildings now bearing his name, how many will still be standing – and if they are standing, how many will still bear his name?

How many great singers of the 18th century can you recall? or composers? or doctors? or plumbers?

Thousands of years from now, a person’s life may be influenced by something you did, a value you passed along through your children, students, or others. This is immortality. Immortality is when something in you affects the person someone else becomes and that person, in turn, affects what someone else becomes, and so on.

Who is in any better position to affect the lives of others and, therefore, become immortal, than parents or professional educators? Someone, thousands of years from now, will reflect something you passed along.

“A Life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”

Jackie Robinson

As a parent, as an educator, or simply as a caring individual, you experience the frustrations of a society that, despite your best efforts, does too little for too many and leaves much to be desired. But we are making progress, together, and we are having an impact. Remember this as you celebrate the holiday season. You need to celebrate your successes in order to recharge yourself for the challenges that lie ahead.

You ARE having an impact and you don’t need a building named after you, or a monument to tell you about your successes. But you do need to remind yourself that the successes you are having with children are what life is all about – it is your IMPACT, it is your road to immortality.

Happy New Year!

The author welcomes comments, feedback, reactions of any kind to the thoughts expressed (above).

Please feel free to forward this message to a friend or colleague. If you know someone who would like to be put on the list, please send a message to Don Mesibov at dmesibov@twcny.rr.com.

The Institute is currently registering the limited number of teams that will be enrolled for the 2004 summer conference. Don’t miss the opportunity for this unique conference that models the constructivist behaviors that teaches are using increasingly in the classroom. Check out the website of The Institute for Learning Centered Education: www.learnercentereded.org or, e-mail a request for information.

Copyright (c) 2003, Institute for Learning Centered Education. All
rights reserved.