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My mother was not a reader. She was a looker! She observed her world. Once, when asked what book she would recommend to others, her answer was, "the Book of Nature--just look around!" I've thought of that idea often. Of course, mother seemed to assume that she couldn't do both: read books and read life. To me, there is no such conflict, but she lived as if there were. She'd look around, and not down into pages. She'd be the adventuress, and not the armchair adventuress. And her legacy? [...]

Here's a really important piece about the fact that little children have way too much screen time. Their noses are in the screens--not outside doing life. It's bad for children. Yet, many parents think it's great and are proud of how well their little ones can push buttons.... Pass this article on--especially at this time of gift giving. Buy blocks instead of IPhones. Give them crayons instead of televisions. A ball instead of...you get the idea. Let children be children, creative in [...]

Several years ago, I was at Starbucks, buying a pound of coffee to take home. I then asked the barista, "Don't I get a free cup of coffee when I buy a bag in bulk?" “It’s only if you ask,” was her reply. I was taken aback. Apparently, the system was set up to create a conversation. (Starbucks' policy seems to have changed. The last few times I've asked I was told that I can only get a free cup of coffee with my purchase if I use a Starbucks card...). Too bad for me, as I don't have one [...]

Several years ago, when I took the "T" (Boston's subway system) on a crowded afternoon, I saw the token guy standing near the turn style with a basket. He said, in a rather loud and friendly voice, "If you have exact change, put it in here. Don’t give it to me or I’ll go to jail. I you have exact change, put it in here. Don't give it to me or I'll go to jail. If you have exact change, put it in here......" Wow. What excellent in-service training. His job was to help the public. He [...]

I love Subway sandwiches--especially the tuna with everything on it except onions and green pepper. So, I walked into the Subway at the student union at Stanford. I say to young man at cash register. “Wow you are always busy.” “You should have seen it 30 minutes ago, " he replied, pointing to the door. "The line was out to there.” “Well, you have a good product.” He, with a big smile. “You gotta eat fresh!” I was so impressed! He got the company message. "You gotta eat fresh." [...]

"We don't have dogs in here." "Oh." The 'customer' started to walk away... The young, and obviously clever, barista responded, "Would you like me to bring your coffee to you out here?" "Sure." The customer was smiling now... and the dog was happy, too, I presume. Problem solved. Fabulous customer service. We need more of that everywhere--including in schools. And sometimes, it's not even that hard!

I happened upon a citizenship ceremony in San Francisco's Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium. It was 2005 and 1445 new citizens were to be sworn in. I watched along with families and friends and crying babies and balloons and flowers and flash cameras. "This is the country where you can achieve anything that you set out to do," the presiding official told us. When we stood to sing the national anthem, I choked up. More than 50 years since I landed on these shores in Hoboken New Jersey, I am [...]

Again, I'm sorry for the lapse in blogging. What have I been up to? Actually, I'm of counsel at my lawfirm and have more time to ruminate, clean out my office, write, agitate for reforms, speak, and remain active. I can also take more time to see and observe stuff and spend as much time as possible with my little granddaughter. Life is good. So today, I walked through a playground on my way to work. It was around noontime and one of the teachers was ‘dragging’ her little charges along [...]

Ah, finally, here's a case with rumblings about test validity. Validity in testing requires that tests be used only for the purpose they were created. Here's a lawsuit about the exam used by NYC to select students for its 8 exam schools have not been validated for the purpose they are being used. The complaint alleges that the exam is not validated to predict success in the selected schools--and thus should not be used as a criteria. Go forth! I have argued for years that validity in [...]

Who, you say, is Betty Hart? I suspect you know her by her work. She and Todd R. Risley were the researchers who discovered the fact that many middle and upper class parents talk to their babies far more--and in more positive and encouraging terms--than do many parents in poverty. And, that the lingering effect of this uneven early language development stays with children for many years and is very difficult to overcome. The fact that early childhood education focuses on helping parents [...]