CNN.com - Teacher pay: Tenure or performance-based? - Oct 31, 2005

Every month or so you can count on an article regarding performance pay for public school teachers. The most recent comes from our friends at CNN.com. This is regarding a program in the Denver schools.



Part of me thinks that performance pay is the way to go. Why not subject teachers to the same pressures that exist in the corporate world. Produce or perish!



However, the other side of me says, "wait! Teachers are the last line of advocacy for our children. Do I want their jobs and paychecks forever being used against them when they should be advocating for change?"



I don't care of John and Sally corporate live their lives as yes-men/women. Most modern businesses live and die by their innovation in the field. The market will determine whether they survive or not. Education is propped up by our tax dollars. Even when it fails, people get paid.

Craig.....Daniel Craig

It's official folks, I'm the new 007! Yep, just call me Bond...James Bond that is.

I have been dreading this moment for years now. A few years ago, a couple of my sites were on the first page of Google results for "Daniel Craig" and "Dan Craig". One terrible day I noticed that fan sites were pushing me out for this guy "Daniel Craig." It's about to get worse. Daniel Craig has been a name in British circles for quite a while now, but his appearances in movies such as Tomb Raider and Road to Perdition have gone nearly unnoticed by the American public. This is about to change, however.

Daniel Craig was just announced as the new James Bond. This means that his fame is now going to be global. Just hanging the Bond moniker on him will boost his exposure world-wide taking him from that guy in that movie to Daniel Craig...you know. The new James Bond.

You may be wondering, "Why is this guy so worried"? Well, if you haven't noticed this blog is on my domain...danielcraig.com. I've received a number of fan emails in the last day since the announcement and I'm sure it will just get worse. I guarantee that the comments here will be filling up with either fans or trouble-makers in the near future. Neither of which I am too excited to have as visitors. This is a site for language and educational technology professionals (as well as some personal postings) and I don't want it to become a repository for fan-spam. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

However, I would also like to congratulate him on scoring this role. I've enjoyed him in a number of movies and talk show appearances and look forward to seeing him as 007.

Scott Craig Shaking It Out to YMCA

I'm going to stray a little from the topic of ESL, but this might still be on target for instructional technology. The following video was shot with an old digital camera with a questionable video function. There was no sound, so that was added using Adobe Premeire 6.5.

Not only does this show what can be done with shoddy video equipment, but it could also be used as a visual at the next intervention for a student with substance abuse problems.

Unfortunately, I just noticed that this video is nearly impossible to make out on my CRT monitor (the old fashioned kind of monitor). On my LCD it's not as bad. Try boosting the contrast if you have a problem.

Strange Brew

My favorite coffee shop (Strange Brew--Greenwood, Indiana). It's right around the corner from my house, which makes it a nice walk on a sunny day.

This is really my default office throughout the week. I tend to get up and work through emails, breakfast, bills, and other home "stuff" then I head over to the coffee shop. It is a locally owned, small business that I am more than happy to support (I try to always support small businesses in the area). It doesn't hurt that they make a mean cup of Joe! As well as other nice treats, including bubble teas, iced esspresso drinks, and the like.

They also offer free wireless through a G router which means that the service here is better than I get at home through my wireless (wimpy B). I therefore have the ability to access the Web, which is a good idea when most of my work and research is done online.

Party at rich's

Molly and Rob listening intently to Dad expound on life and love at the 'tween party....party in between Monica and Aaron's Wedding and Reception :)

Courtesy of Blogger Mobile (go@blogger.com). I'm really starting to fall in love with this feature. All I have to do is take a picture on my phone and send it to go@blogger.com. It is keyed off of my phone number and sends any pictures/messages to this blog by default. I really hate keying in messages on my phone, but I can send the pictures immediately and edit the content later.