Willard Daggett in Middletown

Dr. Willard Daggett's presentation at our November in-service urged teachers to recognize the challenges of education in the 21st century. We were persuaded to emphasize rigor, relevance and relationships in our schools. As a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, I agree wholeheartedly. Perennial, practical problems have guided the FCS curriculum for generations. Wise use of resources requires critical thinking skills. We must continue to advocate for Family and Consumer Sciences education for ALL students. We need the support of our administrations and communities to continue to teach students the skills needed to raise happy and healthy children, to build and maintain successful relationships with spouses and co-workers, to manage household finances, and to promote an acceptable quality of life for all people. The challenges of the present economic and environmental crisis can only be met if students are equipped with the reasoning ability to face difficult choices in their lives.

Hot, Flat and Crowded

Having just finished reading Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman, I'm looking forward to sharing some sections with my students. In particular, chapter 8 summarizes the interconnectedness of the planet's energy system and the global economy in a less fatalistic style than most of the book. My favorite quote is "Emulation is always more effective than compulsion." I agree with Friedman's proposition that Americans must harness every creative impulse to tackle the tremendous challenges that confront us in the 21st century. Although the political environment must support the endeavors of the innovators, the bottom line is the collective groundswell of consumer demand. Two summers ago, I was discussing climate change with a friend from England, who seemed to think that people around the world were eager to work together to confront the global warming challenge. I reluctantly told her that most of the Americans I know were not concerned at all about the ramifications of rampant energy usage. For a brief moment this summer, I thought I was mistaken because "green" seemed to be the watchword of 2008. As gas prices at the pump have dropped, we hear less and less about energy management. I'm hoping that we do the right thing even without the impetus of high prices. It's time to enlist the tremendous enthusiasm of our young people in solving this most basic resource problem.