Brainwash your Kids into College

Are your kids brainwashed?  The answer to that question is a profound yes.  Kids are brainwashed by what they see on TV, what they hear on the radio, and what they follow on their social media. There are all kinds of influences shaping their minds every second of the day, and the question that we must ask is this.  Who is brainwashing them for their future?

What I mean is this. 

There are so many students who have no idea what it takes to go to college. They think college is only for those with money or those who have the best success in the classroom. The fact is 1 in 17 students of poverty will actually go to and graduate from college. What about the other 16 kids? What is their college and career future? Who is brainwashing them into believing that they can go to college and make something of themselves?

If we take the 1 in 17 statistic and look at it through the lens of students being brainwashed, here is what it would look like. One in 17 students of poverty is brainwashed into the notion that they can go to college and make something of themselves. That means the other 16 are brainwashed against college. They are brainwashed to believe that they are not bright enough for college. They are conditioned to know that they don't have the right stuff for a successful life.  

But Here's the REALLY Important Question.

Are you brainwashed? Yes, you!!!. Are you brainwashed into the notion that only a few select kids have the ability to have a successful college and career future. Do you think that a student's socioeconomic status, background knowledge, lack of language, home life, or any other excuse is the deciding factor in whether or not a kid is college material. Do you believe that you have little to no impact on a child's future?

Do you believe that college and career counseling is only the responsibility of the counselor?  Do you say to yourself, "I don't have the knowledge or skills to counsel a student into believing that they can go to college"?  Do you actually believe that you don't have time to talk to students about college and career because you have to much content to cover?

Well the Reality is This.

We better start making time.  Our job isn't to cover content. Our job is to guarantee learning, and that guarantee is not dependent on passing a standardized test each year.  Sure, a student's success can be measured in weekly, monthly or yearly academic growth, but the pinnacle of academic success is revealed when we talk about students who made something of themselves in life.  We all have students that have done amazing things with their lives and we take pride in knowing we played some role in that success.

We must never forget that we are here to inspire kids to know that they control their own destiny, and they hold the key to their future.  Yes, we will connect with some kids more than others.  I know... Not every kids is suited for every subject, but here is one thing I do know.  Every kid can become a productive and contributing member of society.  Some have more obstacles to overcome than others, but if the school can work as a system to intentionally brainwash every kid to find their inner potential and purpose in life, and if every teacher will use their one year of instruction with kids to brainwash them into believing in their future and potential, and if every campus and district leader will create systems that flood students' minds with endless examples of the positive benefits of college and career pathways, then I firmly believe that academic success will not only be accomplished.  It will become more meaningful to our children because they will have something to shoot for beyond passing their classes.  

How to Build a STEM Lab without Money

My job is so much fun.  This past week, our primary Media and Information Technology Specialist, Veronica Wilkerson, came up with a great idea to create a STEM Lab completely from recycled items from home.  Instead of asking for donations or money, she decided to have a "STEM Lab Supply Drive".  Since most people have the basic items in our vision of the STEM lab at their home, we decide to host an event similar to a canned food drive to generate the necessary supplies for the STEM Lab.

Here is a link to our post about the STEM Lab 

If you'd like to see how we are engaging the community, here's a link to the Google Form to sign up for the STEM Lab Supply Drive.

Why This is Cool!

What I like about this idea is that it challenges the paradigm that you have to have a lot of "stuff" to get STEM up and moving.  STEM is not about stuff.  It's about innovation and the purest form of innovation is being able to create things without being able to buy stuff.  I also like this idea because it solicits support from community without asking them to spend money.  In essence,  we are building a STEM lab with the STEM mindset.  That's why my job is so much fun.

#STEMakerspace

9 Requirements for Future All-Star Athletes

Over the last 10 years, I have seen lots of students beginning their involvement in select athletic teams and competitive cheer and dance teams. I think that's great that parents want their children to excel in an area that they have talent. After all, being in these organizations teaches strong work ethic and perseverance in the quest to excel.

Where pushing kids to develop their talents goes awry is when students are conditioned to believe that their athletic talent is their only future. These phenoms are conditioned to place all of their emphasis and all their effort into developing their physical talent without putting the same level of effort into developing their mind. 

As a high school principal and teacher, I can't tell you how many talented students I knew whose talent took them no further than graduation day. Some of them were Division I athletes absent of Division I academic abilities. Because they failed to develop their academic prowess in school, their athletic talent took them nowhere. Sadly they believed that their life was set because of their athletic talents alone.

Below is a chart that tells the real story about athletic potential.  The chances of capitalizing on our athletic talents pales in comparison to the potential found in our intellectual potential.  Not many employers want to know our success as a player.  They want to know our skills as a producer.

College is the Best Plan A.

We have to teach kids that...

1.  The strongest muscle in the body is the brain.  After athletic talent has exceeded its potential, the only way that kids will be successful as adults is completely dependent on what is inside their brain. 

2.  The greatest skill that all athletes must master is the ability to read and think critically. 

3.  The greatest attribute that all athletes must possess is sportsmanship. Being a good sport is a life-long skill that will benefit athletes long after the game is over. 

4.  Winning isn't everything, but the will to win is. Life is not about winning but responding to loss. How you handle a loss will make you or break you. 

5.  Colleges look at your academic ability before your athletic ability. Talented athletes are a dime a dozen. Colleges recruit talented AND intelligent athletes. 

6.  Your character is your most important commodity. The way kids learn to treat people will take them a long way in life or cut their career short. 

7.  Being a good teammate is not just important for winning games.  Employers are looking for collaborative employees. If you are a bad teammate, you will probably not be very collaborative and will not be very employable.  

8.  Your body will eventually give out. What you possess after that is called your future. 

9.  Your Plan B is more important than your plan A. Your plans after your reach your athletic plateau or your knees give out is called your Plan B. Make sure that your Plan B is better than your Plan A.

The Ultimate Team

All of us aspire to be the next LeBron James, Russell Wilson or Leonel Messi in our area of talent.  These icons are unbelievable athletes who consistently deliver championships.  There's nothing wrong with striving to achieve that level of excellence on the field of battle, but we must let our athletes know that the deck is stacked against them.  While there is a chance to become a professional athlete, it is a small one.  Their lives can't be completely dependent on becoming a world-class athlete because there are so many variables and so few spots on the roster.  We must also push our athletes to aim for a spot on the ultimate team by becoming world-class workers with all-star intellects and championship character.  That is the real team we want all of our children to make, and we (parents & educators) hold the key to ensuring that they make that team.