Verbal Impulse or Word Vomit?

A few years ago while I was on my lunch break at work, I opened the door to the break room and stopped dead in my tracks with my mouth agape and my eyes wide, staring at the girl on the other side. "Oh my-- Ew!" I blurted. The girl had the worst set of teeth I had ever seen. My first thought was that she was wearing those hillbilly teeth that can be bought from the quarter machines in the grocery store. They were crooked and brownish-yellow, and stuck out at odd angles from her overbite. She must have been self-conscious about them because she seemed to know exactly why I had made my rude remark. She looked so hurt and disappointed I wanted to cry. But instead, I merely nodded to her and walked on through the door as if nothing had happened.

I didn't mean to humiliate the poor girl, but unfortunately for her, my mouth tends to override my mind, especially when I'm caught off guard. And, unfortunately for me, my verbal impulsivity happens quite frequently and often ends embarrassingly for others, as well as myself.

Everyone experiences impulsive behaviors occasionally, but for some the impulses come with much more frequency. When the impulses only happen occasionally it sometimes feels nice to just give into them. It's fun, right? But for people who suffer from disorders such as bipolar disorder or ADHD, among many others, the impulses occur way too often, particularly the verbal ones. It's unclear what precisely causes the impulsivity in individuals with these disorders, but I've read that researchers believe that out- of-whack dopamine levels (chemicals in the brain) may be the culprit.

In today's society, people who speak their mind seem to get a certain level of respect, but sometimes the respect is not worth the consequences. A lot of times the speaker is left feeling horrible and regretful for whatever it was they've said. I've been in many situations in which I verbalize my thought without even being aware of it, and then kicked myself hard in the rear afterwards. If a friend asks, "do these pants make my butt look big?", most people would say no, regardless of the truth. But someone like me may volunteer the painful information that their butt does, indeed, look enormous, without even being asked their opinion. Of course, the friend is absolutely crushed and will likely have a complex about their big rump afterwords, not to mention ill feelings towards the insulter. Consequences can be a little worse than a scorned friend, though. I've been suspended and even expelled from school, simply because I hadn't the ability to keep my big mouth shut.

My verbal impulses can be controlled to an extent, so long as I'm not caught off guard. But people only notice when I can't control them. My mom used to say, "For God's sake, Jazzie! Why can't you just hush for once?" Easier said than done there, Mom. It's at times like these the impulse bus has made an abrupt stop in front of me, and no matter how quickly I slam on the brakes, I still end up in a horrible collision that sends me and my unintended victim to the proverbial E.R. Just as no one plans to be in a real collision, I don't plan for my words to hurt anyone's feelings. I don't even realize what I'm saying until the words have crossed my lips and it's too late to suck them back in.

Though Some might see my verbal impulsivity as being out-spoken, frank or simply honest, I, personally, like to call it "word vomit". Whatever its label, the aftermath can be humiliating for everyone involved, and may hinder personal, social, or business relationships. Even though the girl with the bad teeth finally forgave me after a few months of deadly looks, I feel that my word vomit may have annihilated any chance we might have had at a friendship.

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Three Events That Will Shape the Future of Nigeria in 2011

As the year gradually draws to an end, the entire citizens of Nigeria are hoping and praying for a better tomorrow. The aspiration of a new year has suddenly disappeared and in its place a renewed determination for a better country in the year 2011.

In this article, I will be highlighting three fundamental events that would shape the future of the most populous nation in Africa. Some of the revelations will amaze even the most passionate followers of history.

Power Sector Reform
Nigeria presently generates an average of 3500 Mega Watts of daily electricity, which is not enough to drive the nation economy. This figure has continued to fluctuate in the past two years, with the Government even threatening to declare a state of emergency in the power sector. The importance of power in any nation's economy cannot be disputed, as it acts as a catalyst to drive small and medium-scale investments.

According to a time-table released by the federal Government of Nigeria, the power sector would be fully privatized by 2011; giving room for foreign investors to inject
Funds into the sector and install new independent power plants to boost power generation to more than 10,000 Mega Watts. The success or failure of the power sector reform will shape the future of Nigeria, as majority of Nigerians are already anticipating a revolution in that sector.

Democratic Elections
When in 1999 Nigeria conducted her first elections after the military Government handed over to Civilian, nobody gave her a chance to sustain the nascent democracy. Three successive elections have since been held since 1999 and the results of such elections have always been disputed in the court of law by opposition parties, with some elected officials losing their seat in the process. As we approach another election year, there is so much apprehension in the 36 states of the country, with the presidential elections attracting the most attention. The main Peoples Democratic Party (P.D.P) is presently engaged in a stiff contest to determine which party controls the Lower and upper legislative arm.

The independent National Electoral Commission headed by Professor Attahiru Jega has already released election time-table for elections at all levels of the country. In the past, the issue of election violence, ballot snatching and vote rigging has marred results which have made next year election even more critical in the continuous existence of the nation. Pundits are already predicting a massive transformation in the political equation of Nigeria, considering the recent agitation for electoral reforms and lose of power by the Peoples Democratic Party in some states in the country. Which ever way the pendulum swings politically, a democratically elected president will be sworn in on the 29th of May 2011.

FIFA Women World Cup Germany 2011
Football remains a unifying factor in Nigeria, as it has brings together the more than 200 tribes that make up the country. The national U-20 female team popularly known as the Falconets created history this year when they won Silver in the FIFA U-20 Women World Cup hosted by Germany. Their U-17 counterparts, the Flamingoes were Quarter finalist at the U-17 tournament hosted by Trinidad and Tobago this year. The Senior National female team- The Super Falcons made history when they lifted the African Women Championship a record Eight times when the tournament was hosted by South Africa from the 31st of October to the 14th of November 2010. These performances have brought a renewed expectation of a triumphant performance by the Super Falcons as they prepare to storm Germany for the fourth consecutive time. If the golden girls from Nigeria eventually lift the elusive trophy, it will be the biggest feat ever achieved in Nigeria's football history. It will definitely determine the future of Nigeria football in 2011 and the year ahead.

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Right Wing Republican Revise Thanksgiving As Propaganda For Unfettered Capitalism

On Tuesday March 23rd, Republican Representative of Missouri Todd Akin revised the history of Thanksgiving. He made the following statement:
 

It might be helpful to think back and say, there's more to Thanksgiving than the Pilgrims. [...] They came here with the idea that after trying socialism that it wasn't going to work. They realized that it was un-biblical, that it was a form of theft, so they pitched socialism out. They learned that in the early 1620's.

Republican Representative Akin's statement is simply a lie. The pilgrims came to America to flee religious persecution not to embrace capitalism. Nowhere in the bible is capitalism embraced nor is middle class centric policies rejected. In fact if we follow Jesus' works and deeds it is much more in line with the liberal point of view. He fed the hungry understanding that most do not go hungry because they are lazy or evil but because of circumstances beyond their control.

This type of propaganda and revisionist history is the same tactic used by the oligarchs and plutocrats in third world countries to control the population's minds that ultimately convinces them to vote for politicians and policies against their own interests. Republican driven supply side economics and lax regulation has incentivized corporations to outsource a large percentage of America's manufacturing base. This has caused millions of middle class Americans to be unemployed or under employed.

Republican instituted policies that we are still living with are being challenged by the Obama administration to level the playing field. This presents an affront to the corporations, oligarchs, and plutocrats. They are intent on either changing the narrative or creating a new history even attempting to use the bible and/or revisionist history to lie and make their point of view seem plausible as they demonize the policies that would actually help the middle class.

Going forward it is imperative that false information, that lies, that revisionist history be exposed and actively refuted. We fail to do this at our own peril and existence as a real prosperous democracy.

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Home Schooling

Some home schoolers hold the belief that grading and learning don't mix, that grades and grading, being a fairly recent innovation used by schools, should be avoided at all costs. Over the years, teachers have been accused of "teaching to the test" to gain professional recognition and merit pay. Some instructors have actually been found guilty of tampering with student's answers on standardized tests to insure certain outcomes were achieved.

While all of the above may be true to some degree, "grades and grading" are still the standards by which students are evaluated at middle and high school levels. It's the standard means by which GPAs (grade point averages) are established. Presenting a one-page transcript to a college admission's staff member that lists courses taken and grades earned makes their job easier when it comes to considering your student for admission. GPA's and SAT scores are often combined and serve as the way colleges and universities extend financial awards and scholarships to students they believe will succeed at their institutions.

The question then for most of us, certainly at the high school level, is not if we will grade, but how we will grade. It's important to evaluate your student's work in such a way that the grade earned reflects effort and performance.

Let's consider math.

For elementary age students, first through sixth grade, formal testing or grading on a weekly basis is not necessary. In one sense, every lesson is a "test" in which you can decide to re-teach or provide more practice for concepts they have not understood to your satisfaction. We do recommend using the ELO Quick Assessment (see our website) for your student's grade level. Having a copy now will alert you to what you should be covering this winter. It will also provide you with a sequential, objective assessment tool by which you can measure and confirm your student's progress when you test him later this spring.

For junior high and high school level students, grading math is a different matter. Here is a principle to keep in mind that makes transcripting your student's progress simple: Grade on a quarter system.

Let's say your student's math book contains 120 lessons. At the end of the first quarter which is typically nine weeks in length from the time you start, lessons 1 through 30, including tests, should be completed. The grade earned for this first quarter should be seen as a grade in progress. That is, it's not recorded on the transcript.

At the end of the second quarter, lessons 31 through 60 including tests should be completed. Typically the grade for this second quarter is averaged with the grade of the first quarter to get a semester grade, the one that goes on the transcript and is part of the permanent record. Some parents decide to weigh the second quarter a little more heavily than the first if the student is performing better. Since most math concepts build on previous instruction, and if the student is showing improvement and a higher degree of mastery, this is certainly an acceptable decision.

So what might this look like? Here's an example. Let's say your student is studying Algebra 1 this year. His daily work combined with test scores comes out to a 73%, a "C." He knows he can do better. In the second quarter, he puts more time into this course and makes sure he understands the concepts before taking each test. His strategy and effort pay off. In the second quarter he raises his overall grade twelve percentage points to an 85%, a strong "B". With strict averaging of both quarters, however, his semester grade results in a 79%, a high "C", but a "C" nonetheless.

So, do we simply let the numbers speak for themselves and put a "C" down for his first semester? In my way of thinking, the grade isn't exclusively based upon or about "the numbers." it's about what has been learned and achieved. I would justify giving him a "B" by weighting the second quarter more, maybe 60%.

Here's what the formula looks like:

Previously weighing each quarter 50%
50% of 73 percent (.5 times 73) is 36.5
50% of 85 percent (.5 times 85) is 42.5
Final Grade: 79%, a C

Now weighting the first quarter 40%, the second 60%

40% of 73 percent (.4 times 73) is 29.2
60% of 85 percent (.6 times 85) is 51

In fact, if the grade I thought the student earned and I wanted to give was a "B," I wouldn't hesitate to adjust the system further to arrive there. Academic legalists, whose notion of "fairness" I may have offended, might cry "foul" in light of my actions, but hey, if not this, it will be something else.

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E-Learning - The Next Generation Education

E-learning is nothing but erudition using a computer with a network connection and provides the opportunity to educate at any given point of time and in whatever place you are in. It is also used as synonym for abbreviations like CBT (Computer-Based Training), IBT (Internet-Based Training) or WBT (Web-Based Training). E-learning is, as opposed to the traditional education, an experience that gratifies new skills and capabilities. E-learning is growing popular amongst the students, which is why every college and organization confers their students with attributed online degree, professional programs in profusion.

Geographical blockade is no more a problem enhancing the education horizon. E-learning boasts various benefits like e-Learning is self-paced hence allows the student to grab information as per their speed. E-learning opens up a variety of topics to choose from. This helps each and every student to get glued to the learning hence increasing the retention as compared to the traditional classroom learning. E-leaning is planned around the learner which grabs his attention and keeps him interested unlike the traditional learning. E-learning comprises of various learning methods customized for various learners. This type of learning is accessible to a learner 24/7 which gives 100 percent attendance. It also helps improve your internet and computer skills.

E-learning is developed on the basics from hundred years of established academic philosophy. Moreover, the travel time and other maintenance costs are reduced giving you a cost-effective learning method. It also reduces the training costs for the companies. With E-learning and the technological devices, collaborative learning is easier and exciting for the students' community. E-learning opens a door for the online global learning community for various career opportunities. E-learning is flexible in terms of choosing mentor-led or self-study method, skipping topics that you are already familiar with and focusing on the ones you are keen on.

It's really fascinating how times change. Now students, just with a click, can attend their lectures, give examinations and even interact with their mentors. So, start using this new e-learning technique and brace yourself with the world of opportunities.

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