Gail Gillette Blog » Education

Black Out

Gail — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:30:47 +0000

I knew darn well that there were a ton of websites that were participating with the blackout in protest of the SOPA bill that is threatening so much of what we do online. Didn’t I feel stupid when I tried to help my daughter with a homework question and tried to find the answer on Wikipedia.com only to find it in the Blackout. Come to find out that there would have been a way to find the answer, but learn of it until later last night when it was on the news, sigh……

Campbell Soup Labels for Schools

Gail — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:58:35 +0000

My mother just emailed me asking me to turn in all of the Campbell Soup labels that I have been collecting since school let out last summer. My little sister is not doing very well in English and my mother just found out the her English teacher is offering extra credit to her students in trade for these money making soup labels. And since I will be making an appearance on Christmas day I might as well bring along the baggie that is overflowing with these soup cans that I use a lot of,

Schools are really hurting for money as well as most of the other important businesses these days, so I have no problem saving these labels and doing my part in helping in the many fundraising opportunities that they school have to offer. And if my little sister can get some extra credit for my effort, I’m all for it!

The Pillars Of The Earth

Gail — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 23:47:14 +0000

There’s a book I’m interested in, It’s called “The Pillars Of The Earth” by Ken Follet. I haven’t read it yet, but I’ve heard good reviews about it. It seems interesting enough so I think I’m going to start reading it. From what I’ve heard it starts in the 1120′s, and I usually like stories that place in the far past. So, hopefully I’ll like it!

Too Much Education

Gail — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 23:25:45 +0000

Many parents prefer to send their children to private schools, although I am a product of public school and I think I turned out OK.

One of the guys I work with was talking about his 6 year old daughter. She is in the first grade at a private school. Evidently, her classwork includes teaching children in the first grade how to write in cursive. He was expressing his frustration in his daughter’s sloppy penmanship.

I jumped all over him about that. Children that are only 6 years old often do not have their fine motor skills developed enough to write in cursive. This school is pushing the children too fast – there is no good reason to require first graders to be writing in cursive!

School Needs This?

Gail — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 15:29:15 +0000

My sister called to chat and I asked her how my nephew is doing in school. Their school year started back in August and he will probably be getting a report card soon. He is in the 3rd grade this year and has a birthday coming up. We are so proud of our little man!

She told me about a recent homework assignment for reading. We used to call that subject English but I guess that is no longer politically correct. The assignment asked a lot of strange questions, such as how many books do you own? What is your public library card number? What is your favorite book and why?

It seems to me that the school should not be asking these types of questions. Why is it any of their business what a child’s library card number is? That is private information, and for that matter, so is the name of my favorite book.

Protect Yourself

Gail — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:59:25 +0000

Tennessee ranks 11th in the nation in reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The state has 60 cases per 1,000 people, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control.

If you can do statistics, that means 6 out of every 100 people in Tennessee have some type of STD. But beyond numbers, that means that at least 6 percent of the people who live here are continuing to have unprotected sex. Condoms are about more than just birth control. They protect you from STDS. Get your head out of the sand and protect yourself!