19May 2023 by CJ
True Learning Cannot Occur if Books are Ban

True Learning Cannot Occur if Books are Ban

Information & Education
"Change is the end result of all true learning." - Leo Buscaglia. Even though I've been out of the classroom for over 30 years, the older I get, the more I understand that we're never done learning. Whenever a subject matter emerges from an article I'm reading or a documentary I'm watching that is beyond my current knowledge level, I seek a credible text or scholarly essay to support true learning. What I mean by "true learning" is an unbiased education based on factual information and historical data, not narratives designed to sway the reader's opinion in one direction or another, also known as propaganda. But today, true learning is under attack as conservative politicians across America seek to control and influence the education our children experience to protect them…
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01May 2023 by CJ
Three Coping Tips for Those Who Find Themselves Unemployed

Three Coping Tips for Those Who Find Themselves Unemployed

Information & Education, Life & Living
I'm not a hiring manager, human resources professional, career coach, or self-help guru. However, I am part of a concerning number of individuals across the United States who now classify themselves as "unemployed." While countless resources are available online for dealing with this unexpected reality, I wanted to share my three coping tips for those who find themselves unemployed, which are helping me navigate this unfamiliar territory. First, I'm always consoled by the profound words of others, which is why I often share positive quotes relating to any subject in my posts. Here are a few quotes regarding unemployment that I found to be particularly encouraging. "The hardest work in the world is being out of work." Whitney M. Young, American Civil Rights Leader "Being unemployed is the true test…
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16Mar 2023 by CJ
Insecure Leaders Often Limit Employee Contributions

Insecure Leaders Often Limit Employee Contributions

Information & Education
Did you ever wonder what it means to work with insecure leaders? Let's first start off with a quote from internationally known thought leader Britt Andreatta who writes, "Exclusion lights up the same regions of the brain as physical pain." I read Andreatta's words repeatedly, eventually going from confusion to frustration after realizing her meaning and its applicability to my life. After all the years of managers and supervisors telling me that exclusion is not personal it's just business, one short sentence forever vindicates me of my inner feelings towards the subject. In other words, if I'm wondering why exclusion sometimes feels so unbearable in the workplace, that's because science reveals that our brains associate that feeling with physical pain - which we all know can impair us and be…
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25Jan 2023 by CJ
The Purpose of Learning Is Growth Which Can Change the World

The Purpose of Learning Is Growth Which Can Change the World

Information & Education
I've been fortunate to spend the last 22 years wedded to a high school special education teacher who has not only inspired countless students who've sat inside her classroom but myself as well, with the conviction that the purpose of learning is growth.   Along with that conviction, she encourages empathy and compassion among her students, to be respectful of each other's differences, and humble in our relations. All with the understanding that advancing and expanding one's ignorance is how meaningful transformations and solutions are created in our homes, communities, and the world.      In June of 2012, she was honored with her school district's Teacher of The Year award, something she regularly and modestly overlooks. We worked together on the speech she delivered during their high school graduation ceremony,…
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02Nov 2022 by CJ
Stochastic Terrorism is Nurtured by Extreme Politicians

Stochastic Terrorism is Nurtured by Extreme Politicians

Information & Education, Life & Living
Malcolm Forbes is best known for the prominent American business magazine which bears his name. He once remarked, "Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one." While I agree entirely with Mr. Forbes, a new expression I learned today called stochastic terrorism reinforces that even those with fully cultivated minds can still be empty. Stochastic terrorism is defined as "The use of mass public communication, usually against a particular individual or group, which incites or inspires acts of terrorism which are statistically probable but happen seemingly at random."  Today's extreme politicians – spearheaded by supporters of the MAGA Republican movement – are taking this country down a dangerous and alarming path. One infested with conspiracy theories, misinformation, and smear campaigns, which continue to fan the flames of hate,…
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