Effective Parenting

There is now an Effective Parenting Initiative. It has always been known in Christian churches that parenting is important. Our society is better understanding the link between poor parenting skills and many social ills, such as dropping out of school or joining gangs. Change.org has a proposal to Make Parenting Education a National Priority.

The Plano ISD has a free course for parents from the Love and Logic organization. Here is a notice regarding the most recent class schedule. Here is a sample of Parenting Tips from the course.

This parenting class is another fine effort from the Plano ISD to help the children of Plano, Texas.

Robert Canright

PS: I attended a Love and Logic seminar when I was a public school teacher. I can testify they do teach useful methods.

Plano Senior High Debaters Advance in International Contest

From the Dallas Morning News, Education Notes, Sunday December 28, 2008:

"The Plano Senior High debate team has advanced to the "Sweet 16" round of the Bickel & Brewer/New York University National Public Policy Forum, an international contest that makes them eligible to win the $10,000 grand prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City for the final. More than 100 schools from 14 foreign countries and 32 states entered the 2008-2009 NPPF competition."

It is fabulous to see Plano students debating public policy at the international level. The article says the contest is sponsored by Bickel & Brewer, a law firm with offices in both Dallas and New York City. Here's another link describing the contest.

Even more important than the success of the debate team is their participation in public policy debates. The people of DFW, the people of Texas, need to start thinking globally and not let New York City think tanks like the Council on Foreign Relations control America's interaction with the world.

If we believe in the principles of free market competition, then we should apply the principles of competition to foreign policy and public policy. I believe we should start a Texas Diplomacy Project. The people of Texas, the people of DFW, and the people of Plano need to engage in foreign policy and public policy at the national and international levels. We should not continue to cede the steering of our nation to the New York City establishment.

So when our Senior High students debate public policy at the international level, it's not just another debate competition, it's a step towards moving Texas onto the world stage.

Robert Canright

TxVSN: A New Resource for Your Children

The Texas Virtual School Network is a new resource for your children, provided by the state of Texas. It allows your child to take school courses for credit online. Why would anyone other than a home schooler need this? Here are some reasons:

Need to make up lost credit.
Wish to accelerate learning.
Homebound due to illness or other health related issues.
Want to take AP courses.
Courses not available in the students home district.

Here's a link to a press release from the Texas Education Agency regarding the TxVSN.

I heard about this resource from David Hall's weekly email on education. Mr. Hall sends out an email every week on education. If you would like to be added to his distribution list, email him your request to
dhall.planoisd@gmail.com

He also has a blog:
http://www.dhall-planoisd.blogspot.com/

It's great that our State Legislature and the Texas Education Agency try hard to provide a good education for our children. And we are lucky to have people like David Hall who work to contribute to our children's welfare.

Robert Canright

Follow up:
I have heard of one home schooling family that tried the virtual school network and quit it.
One complaint was that learning was disjointed. The curriculum hopped around a lot. I can understand that problem because I see it in the PISD math curriculum. The public schools do have trouble teaching in a coherent fashion, so a virtual public school on a computer network could easily manifest all the curriculum failings of the public schools.

PISD's Advocacy Program

PISD's Advocacy Program is a great idea. Plano ISD's priorities for the 2009 legislative session are published at this site and in the school district's official 2009 Legislative Brochure. Citizen involvement is the foundation of our democratic society.

The Plano PTAs are involved in their own Advocacy Project to inform the public about the 4x4 Program: 4 years mandatory of math and science. The Shepton HS PTSA has written about it. The Plano PTA has a short presentation and a more detailed presentation addressing the problems with the 4x4 program.

All Plano parents should be involved in contacting their state legislators about 4x4 because it narrows our childrens options, puts undue stress on the schools, and is 20 years behind the times.

Our children need more education in Economics, Finance, and History to deal with tomorrow's challenges.

This is fine work by both the PISD and the PTAs/PTSAs.

Robert Canright

Planning Session a Success

Plano parents met and discussed goals we would like for children's and grandchildren's future.

It was a great experience. Time flew by as we put together a list of goals. The list of goals is available here at this link.

We plan to meet again and work on this list.

We forget we do not need to be empowered, we only need to care and become involved!

Robert Canright

Brainstorm Your Children's Future

I worked with parents in another town to brainstorm their children's future.

Everyone there really got into it and they generated a lot of good ideas.

If you live in or near Plano, come to the Davis Public Library on Sunday Sept. 14 at 3pm to brainstorm what we can do to help our children have the best possible future.

The Davis Library is at 7501 Independence, between Legacy and Hedgcoxe. The meeting will run from 3pm to 5pm.

Robert Canright

Plano Parents Brainstorm Their Children's Future

Have you ever worried about your child's future? Have you wondered what jobs will be available for your child as jobs are being sent overseas? Have you wondered how TAKS testing or Robin Hood is diminishing your child's education?

Let's get together on Sunday September 14, 2008, to brainstorm about our children's future. We can decide what concerns us most, and then we can brainstorm what to do about out concerns.

If you have no worries about the future, but you are interested in your child's success, please come and discuss what we might do to promote a great future for our children. If your children are grown and your interest is for your grand children's future, please come.

Please meet me at the Davis Public Library, from 3 pm to 5 pm.

Please come even if you are not living in Plano. All our children face a difficult future.

In brainstorming, all topics are fair game. If you worry about the fall of the American republic -- whatever your worries -- come and share them.

Robert Canright

Plano Parents Join Forces

I am lucky to know great parents here in Plano, Texas, that have helped me help my children. Some parents told me of a math program they had enrolled their son and I enrolled my daughter in that same program. That program made a big difference in her math skills. Other parents have helped me by sharing ideas. I have helped other parents by helping coach their children in chess or math.

We Plano parents can best help our children when we share ideas about education, sports, and the child rearing experience.

Many parents are concerned about their children's future. So many jobs are being sent overseas, how will our children earn a living? What can we do about it?

We see deficiencies in core subjects in school, but what can we do about it?

Whether you are concerned about your child's education or concerned about your child's future with corporations and banks going bankrupt and the economy imploding on a regular basis, let's meet and talk.

If you have no concerns, but want your child to have the best opportunities for success, let's talk.

We are strongest when we are united.

Let's meet an discuss how we can share ideas to help our children:
Sunday September 14, 2008
3 to 5 pm
Davis Public Library
7501 Independence Pkwy
Plano, TX 75025