Please and thank you...
2. Let's open a proverbial can of worms...Common Core. Are you familiar with the term (talking education reform in the USA)? If so, care to share your thoughts? In your opinion, what is one of the biggest issues schools (in your home country) face today?
Rote memorization is creating a citizenry who cannot think for themselves. They work to the grading rubric - no more, no less. Teaching freshmen can be very frustrating at times because of this. They are afraid to express and defend their own thoughts because that has been so frowned upon during their earlier school years.
Nothing drives me more insane than when students just care about what is on the test, not about what they are learning, where they could apply these lessons one day, or how these ideas could be even modified and spun into innovation. While I understand students need to understand the basics, they are being taught in a vacuum without context because of a series of tests. Good teaching comes from students engaging the materials not for a grade but rather because they see value in the lessons which are being taught and memorizing a bunch of random facts for a test does not qualify as that.We are moving into an economy where innovation and creation are going to the cornerstones to success, so what is our education system doing? Taking our best and brightest and making them little automatons who are good at doing what they are told.
3. Name a celebrity whose fashion sense you admire and share why.
I have no idea and they would take my man licence away if I did.
4. How are you affected by the changing seasons?
I live in the sunny south. The change of season is not as severe here. I appreciate though 75 degree weather with little humidity in the spring and summer though.
5. Scariest book you've ever read?
The War of the Rats, a historical novel about the battle of Stalingrad, was a pretty freaky book. I could not imagine having to live through such nastiness. Over two million people were either killed or casualty in that battle. That is a real horror show.
6. What time of day are you most hungry? What's your go-to snack?
I am a big fan of lunch. I guess my go to snack is Coke (the drink not the narcotic)...
7. Do you lean more towards being too needy or too independent? Which do you find harder to deal with in others?
I am definitely an independent soul. I do need a lot of 'me' time to think and ponder. I have the biggest problem with overly needy people though I have learned to deal with it well over the years being a professor especially one who teaches freshmen.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Welcome to my array of family and friends who have come down to Charleston to visit this week. I am sorry that I am not going to see you much.
