I am sad to say that Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin announced her resignation today according to the Eastern Michigan University website. According to EMU her resignation will take effect July 7th. Susan Martin has served as President of the University since 2008.
According to EMU Dr. Martin will take a year sabbatical before becoming a professor in the EMU School of Accounting.
As a proud EMU alum I am a big fan of hers and feel she has a done a terrific job serving as president of the university. I also know that the students absolutely love her. I am glad that she will remain at the university as a full professor.
Stay tuned for more information regarding her resignation
Jeff Brown
Editor PWP
Ypsilanti, MI based Local, State and National News & Views.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
PWP MUSIC BEAT! New Ringo Starr album out today!
Good old Ringo. As soon as a new Ringo album is released I buy it! Today, March 31, Ringo has a new album that has been released. The album is titled Postcards From Paradise and it is his 18th studio album release. Eleven of the new songs are written by Ringo.
I have always loved Ringo and have all of his solo albums! Brighten up a dreary March day in Michigan and buy the latest Ringo album. Look for his new album in stores today!
Jeff Brown
PWP
I have always loved Ringo and have all of his solo albums! Brighten up a dreary March day in Michigan and buy the latest Ringo album. Look for his new album in stores today!
Jeff Brown
PWP
Thursday, March 26, 2015
M-Step Standardized Test Is Step In Wrong Direction
I've never been a fan of standardized testing in schools. I didn't like it as a student, a teacher or as a parent. Recently, the MEAP test has been replaced by another standardized test called M-STEP. Schools will be implementing M-STEP this spring. There is a growing number of parents in Michigan who are opposed to students taking the M-STEP test and I'm one of those parents. I love what Michigan teacher of the year Melody Arabo had to say recently to Mlive. "Some students don't do well on standardized tests because they don't have standardized minds".
Standardized tests like MEAP and M-STEP stress the hell out of kids. I know this because they stress out my cheerful and enthusiastic ten year old son. I also hear from other parents that their kids get stressed out by these kinds of standardized tests.
In my opinion all kids and adults for that matter learn differently and in their own unique way. As Stuart Smalley said on SNL, "And that's okay." Some do well on standardized tests and some like myself do not. But that's beside the point.
The point is why this obsession on the part of the Republican Michigan Legislature with standardized testing? It comes down to the national mandate of No Child Left Behind. The act requires that 95% of students in school be assessed through some form of standardized testing. If states don't meet this requirement schools in the state will lose funding for the next year. Wow. What a punitive educational system we have in this country. But that is for another article. No wonder everyone from kids to parents to teachers are so stressed out in this country. Everywhere you look there are scare tactics and looming punishments coming down from above, particularity for under appreciated teachers.
There is too much stress on kids. Look. I'm just glad I was a kid back in the late sixties and seventies. Standardized testing only leads to more stress for kids who are already stressed out half of the time. At the ripe old age of 51, I have young kids who are in elementary school. When I compare my children's lives to the the life I led as a kid, holy mackerel! There is no comparison. Today kids' lives are filled with pre-planned, organized activities all week long. And then there are play dates. Ugh! I can't stand the term! My gosh, even hanging out with their friends is pre-planned and mico-managed by adults. Bring into the mix standardized testing and you have one big recipe for miserable, over scheduled and stressed out kids. Let's abolish standardized testing for students. Too much pressure. I'm glad I'm not a kid today.
Jeff Brown
Editor
PWP
Standardized tests like MEAP and M-STEP stress the hell out of kids. I know this because they stress out my cheerful and enthusiastic ten year old son. I also hear from other parents that their kids get stressed out by these kinds of standardized tests.
In my opinion all kids and adults for that matter learn differently and in their own unique way. As Stuart Smalley said on SNL, "And that's okay." Some do well on standardized tests and some like myself do not. But that's beside the point.
The point is why this obsession on the part of the Republican Michigan Legislature with standardized testing? It comes down to the national mandate of No Child Left Behind. The act requires that 95% of students in school be assessed through some form of standardized testing. If states don't meet this requirement schools in the state will lose funding for the next year. Wow. What a punitive educational system we have in this country. But that is for another article. No wonder everyone from kids to parents to teachers are so stressed out in this country. Everywhere you look there are scare tactics and looming punishments coming down from above, particularity for under appreciated teachers.
There is too much stress on kids. Look. I'm just glad I was a kid back in the late sixties and seventies. Standardized testing only leads to more stress for kids who are already stressed out half of the time. At the ripe old age of 51, I have young kids who are in elementary school. When I compare my children's lives to the the life I led as a kid, holy mackerel! There is no comparison. Today kids' lives are filled with pre-planned, organized activities all week long. And then there are play dates. Ugh! I can't stand the term! My gosh, even hanging out with their friends is pre-planned and mico-managed by adults. Bring into the mix standardized testing and you have one big recipe for miserable, over scheduled and stressed out kids. Let's abolish standardized testing for students. Too much pressure. I'm glad I'm not a kid today.
Jeff Brown
Editor
PWP
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Amnesty International organizes March In NYC For Police Accountability
I was glad to learn yesterday that Amnesty International organized a march in New York City demanding police accountability. Marchers crossed the Brooklyn Bridge and were inspired by the recent deaths of Eric Garner, Akai Gurley and and Shereese Francis. All of whom lived in New York.
I did not personally see any national news coverage of the important and necessary event and wanted to pass it along.
Jeff Brown
PWP
I did not personally see any national news coverage of the important and necessary event and wanted to pass it along.
Jeff Brown
PWP
Monday, March 23, 2015
Demonstrators In My Hometown Of Flint Protest City's Water
Members of the community organized a demonstration in downtown Flint Sunday protesting the city's water. The demonstration coincided with United Nations Water day. This according to a Flint Journal article posted Sunday. Protesters gathered by Flint City Hall and marched to the Flint River several blocks away.
I know that for months residents of Flint have been up in arms over the quality of the city's water supply and rightfully so. During recent months there have been many demonstrations protesting the quality of the cities water.
Here is a quote from Flint resident Andre White. Andre was a classmate of mine back in Junior high school in Flint. Here is a quote from Andre, I corresponded with Andre Sunday night." GM left, and those of us who stayed here, survived that. Now we're getting water from our own back yard and being charged five times what Detroit charged us." Andre perfectly summed up the entire debacle and speaks for many.
As stated in The Flint Journal there is an organization in Flint called "Water You Fighting For". Check them out on facebook. I will. Stay tuned for updates on the matter.
Jeff Brown
Editor in Chief
I know that for months residents of Flint have been up in arms over the quality of the city's water supply and rightfully so. During recent months there have been many demonstrations protesting the quality of the cities water.
Here is a quote from Flint resident Andre White. Andre was a classmate of mine back in Junior high school in Flint. Here is a quote from Andre, I corresponded with Andre Sunday night." GM left, and those of us who stayed here, survived that. Now we're getting water from our own back yard and being charged five times what Detroit charged us." Andre perfectly summed up the entire debacle and speaks for many.
As stated in The Flint Journal there is an organization in Flint called "Water You Fighting For". Check them out on facebook. I will. Stay tuned for updates on the matter.
Jeff Brown
Editor in Chief
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