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I am amazed at what I am hearing on your program! Plastic bags are made of a waste product we are getting from natural gas. What a great way to recycle!

I use plastic shopping bags as trash bags in our house. I do not buy plastic trash bags. We recycle, we compost our food waste (we have five backyard chickens and a compost pile), and we use the smallest trash barrel available from the garbage company. I view this practice as another way to recycle, because otherwise I would be buying plastic trash bags that do generate a cost to the environment to produce.

I understand that the pollution from discarded plastic bags is a serious problem. I am not convinced that banning them is the right solution.

Thanks,

Lori in Redmond, OR

posted 3 years, 3 months ago
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The point of education is to teach, and also to instill a love of learning in all students. Whatever academic subject it may be that a student gravitates toward should be encouraged.

Once a student has a love of learning, they are more likely to seek out more information, be self-motivated, and achieve more. That's not to say they will work independently at all times, nor should they be expected, but that the motivation comes from within and carries that student further in life.

That should be the goal for all students.

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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I like what you said, ashalas. Teachers cannot account for what students are doing outside of the classroom. What you said about values, and how it would look if parents and students took responsibility for all that time spent in front of the tv, video games, the mall, etc. That is a big part of it, I think!

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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I was a TAG student in the small community of Yamhill in the 1980's when I was in grade school. I attended the summer TAG camp at the University of Oregon for three summers as well. Now that my daughter is in first grade in Redmond, I am coming to find out what many already know: TAG programs are not the same where ever you may be in the state!

I just found out my first grader reads at the sixth grade level. Obviously she needs support to continue to read at that level, and to stay interested in order to comprehend what she is reading. I'm very involved, but feel let down with the school because there is very little going on with regard to TAG. I want to know what I can do - because I'm very willing to be involved - to bring an enriching, academically rigorous TAG program to my daughter's school for her and for all the kids who would benefit.

I think that each state should implement at least a blanket directive for TAG programs in the state, and then let each school district work out the details. Schools vary from region to region. I think that No Child Left Behind is a good idea in theory, but in practice it doesn't do what it is supposed to do because there are so many variables. I think we ought to do what makes sense, and provide EACH STUDENT with whatever they need to be challenged academically at WHATEVER THEIR ACADEMIC LEVEL. There is no reason students should graduate from grade school without being able to read, write, or understand basic math. There is further no reason why students performing at below average rate could be brought up a level, or for above-average students to continue to excel.

Thank you.

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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