Good Intentions Ease Pain, Add to Pleasure is the title of a report on a new study that finds — unsurprising, it would seem to me — that the people’s intentions affect how others perceive their actions: “The results confirm that good intentions — even misguided ones — can sooth pain, increase pleasure and make things taste better,” the study concludes. It describes the ability of benevolence to improve physical experience as a “vindication for the power of good.” ….this study shows that physical events are influenced by the perceived contents of another person’s mind.”It seems we also use the intentions of others as a guide for basic physical experience,” Gray writes in the journal. I don’t think it’s a great reach to apply these findings to the classroom. I’m adding this info to My Best Posts On Why It’s Important To Be Positive In Class.
Here is a portion of California Governor Jerry Brown’s “State of the State” address today that dealt with schools: Given the cutbacks to education in recent years, it is imperative that California devote more tax dollars to this most basic of public services. If we are successful in passing the temporary taxes I have proposed and the economy continues to expand, schools will be in a much stronger position. No system, however, works without accountability. In California we have detailed state standards and lots of tests. Unfortunately, the resulting data is not provided until after the school year is over. Even today, the ranking of schools based on tests taken in April and May of 2011 is not available. I believe it is time to reduce the number of tests and get the results to teachers, principals and superintendents in weeks, not months. With timely data, principals and superintendents can better mentor and guide teachers as well as make sound evaluations of their performance. I also believe we need a qualitative system of assessments, such as a site visitation program where each classroom is visited, observed and evaluated. I will work with the State Board of Education to develop this proposal. The house of education is divided by powerful forces and strong emotions. My role as governor is not to choose sides but to listen, to engage and to lead. I will do that. I embrace both reform and tradition—not complacency. My hunch is that principals and teachers know the most, but I’ll take good ideas from wherever they come. Here’s a news story about the event.
Simple Booklet, a very easy tool to create online “books” without registering, is now back online. It hadn’t been working the last few times I checked it and its creator — Middlespot — has closed its excellent excellent search engine. But it’s working now, and I’m adding it back again to The Best Places Where Students Can Write Online.
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