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Mauritius: Competition
The abolition of ranking in 2004, the introduction of compulsory schooling from five to 16, the A+ debate, the unanimity of pedagogues on allowing children to learn at their own pace without the pressure of career-determining exams at 11, the emergence of the first draft of a national school curriculum, all refer to the place we wish to give to competition at school. Let's revisit this subject at about the time CPE results are coming out, with, for the first time, A+ as a criteria. Competition as an activity has much to offer in education. Thus a school, which offers a healthy and diverse set of competitive events, is positive, whereas a total lack of competition may lead to think that students are not encouraged to do their best. Competition becomes absurd when the odds to be ranked are so severe as to be totally stressful to those seeking that rank.
Scholarship used to research bushfires
THE inaugural scholarship in the name of conservationist and champion of farming and Aboriginal interests, Rick Farley, has gone to a student researching the impact of bushfires on wildlife. Mr Farley's wife, NSW MP Linda Burney, nominated the Australian Bush Heritage Fund to create a memorial scholarship for young indigenous Australians to encourage excellence in conservation and cultural management after her husband's death his year. The first winner, Wandandian man Darren Brown of Jervis Bay, will complete a conservation and land management traineeship while working with Professor David Lindenmayer from the Australian National University. Prof Lindenmayer's research project on the traditional lands of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal community, at Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast, is one of the largest studies to look at the impacts of bushfire on wildlife.
Harbaugh Has Tough Job Ahead at Stanford
Jim Harbaugh faces a difficult challenge in his first major college head coaching job. The former NFL quarterback was given a five-year contract to turn around struggling Stanford, coming off its worst season in more than four decades. Harbaugh had spent the last three years as head coach at San Diego, a non-scholarship Division I-AA program that is a long way from the Pac-10. He led the Toreros to a 29-6 record, winning 27 of his final 29 games. This job brings him back to the site of his first summer job when he was a student across the street from Stanford Stadium at Palo Alto High School. While his father was an assistant for the Cardinal, Harbaugh spent his summers painting numbers at the stadium and cleaning the pool, dreaming about the opportunity to someday represent Stanford.
Thanks to supporters of Scholarship Fund
November 23, 2006 - Thanksgiving will seem a little sad as I reflect on the loss of my father this year, as well as a few other family members and close friends. However, I still have much to be thankful for, and this Thanksgiving Day I reflect joyously on my many blessings, including the generous contributions of so many to my annual Scholarship Fund for local high school students. The Eddie Lucio Scholarship Fund idea originated at a Rio Grande Valley Vehicle Park Association meeting back in 1990, when I was still a member of the Texas House of Representatives. I was invited to address a group of RV Park residents. Those kind folks offered to raise money to help my campaign efforts. I suggested that they go ahead and raise the money, but that the funds be used for scholarships. They willingly accepted the challenge and for a few years, they raised money and distributed the checks to deserving students.
Thumbs up, thumbs down
Thumbs up: To Donahue Gas and the Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department for setting up a recent seminar to give firefighters advanced training in handling fires involving liquid propane and natural gas. Thumbs up, thumbs down Thumbs up: To Donahue Gas and the Richland Township Volunteer Fire Department for setting up a recent seminar to give firefighters advanced training in handling fires involving liquid propane and natural gas. Bryan Frank, an assistant chief for Richland Township, pointed out that there are tankers transporting fuel every day on Indiana 9. Others noted the number of rural households and farms that use propane. The level of interest was high, as the session drew firefighters from several other counties besides Madison. It's a matter of being prepared to fight these fires safely.
Intel's Barrett wins 2007 Horatio Alger Award
Intel Corp. Chairman and Arizona resident Craig Barrett is among recipients of the 2007 Horatio Alger Award. The award, given by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc., is given to individuals who have overcome adversity to achieve success through the American free enterprise system -- contemporary examples of people who have achieved the American Dream. Other winners are: Thomas Brokaw, NBC Nightly News; Jenny and Sid Craig, Jenny Craig International; Craig Hall, Hall Financial Group; Clarence Otis Jr., Darden Restaurants; Richard Rosenberg, Bank of America; David Rubenstein, The Carlyle Group; Howard Schultz, Starbucks Coffee Co.; Roger Staubach, The Staubach Co.; and Chris Thomas Sullivan, OSI Restaurant Partners Inc. Barrett was born at the end of the Great Depression in San Francisco.
TESDA, PIA finalize tech-voc scholarship to empower Region 8 media
Tacloban City (December 8) -- The Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Regional Office 8 and the Philippine Information Agency met yesterday to make final arrangements for the free training of the Region 8 Media. Director Juan Sabulao, Jr. through Mr. Eliseo Padagdag met with Director Olive Tiu to determine the training needs of the Region 8 media practitioners. Through these trainings, it is hoped that the media practitioners will be able to develop or enhance the skills needed in the practice of their profession. It would be recalled that TESDA Director General, Secretary Augusto Syjuco during his visit to Tacloban to advocate the Ladderized Education Program of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, instructed Director Sabulao to facilitate the fulfillment of his promise to Director Tiu and the media of Region 8 to give free trainings.
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