History in the making today

Today is an historic day in the USA. Today my family celebrates our 8th anniversary of landing in the USA. We touched-down on 1/20/2001 at 7:10 AM at JFK, on the heels of a significant snow storm. It was the first time that we had ever seen snow, and the first time in our lives that we had been this cold.

Eight years later we are still very grateful to be in the USA. This is the land of opportunity. I understand that there is also some history being made in Washington DC today, but it pales in comparison to the Botha family 8th Anniversary.

Make the most of 2009

We are coming to the end of 2008. No matter how many Decembers you set New Years resolutions that last precisely 2.5 days into the new year, this is still the natural time to review the past year and consider your goals for the future.

I provide guidance in the January 2009 Pow'Rful Presentations newsletter to help you set your goals, as well as four specific steps to make your life better going forward.

I wish you a prosperous, successful and happy New Year.

Welcome 2009.

Parents earning merit badges

This week I accompanied my son to earn his Coin Collecting Merit badge at Scouts. My wife and I supported him in this. (In fact, we put in significant effort).

I thought we were the only parents who supported their scouts to this extent. Well, it turns out that the other parents also support their scouts. To the casual eye, it may even look like the parents are earning the merit badges and the scouts are incidental in the process.

Mothers and fathers were coming over to the scout leader asking "Did Johnny pass his merit badge? Are there any other requirements?" Little Johnny was off playing tag while mom or pop were studying up on the requirements for a merit badge.

These are the joys of parenting a scout. And I love every minute of it. You should also enjoy your children and loved ones because we pass this way but once.

What I would do with 5 Million Dollars

This was the first week for students back at Ben Bronz Academy aka BBA. My wife and I enjoyed the annual pot luck dinner on Thursday evening. BBA is the school of choice for many children with Learning Disabilities in Connecticut, and is home to the smartest educators I have met in America.

As veteran parents of this revolutionary Academy, it was our pleasure to reach out and welcome first-time parents. New parents shared their war stories. We encouraged each other on the emotional and financially draining journey up the educational path that leads to BBA.

I am saddened to confirm that the sorry state of public education has still not improved over the past three years. School districts are still allowing the following to take place in schools every day:

1. Verbal abuse in the classroom of children who don't fit into the teacher's perception of "normal".
2. Punishment for inappropriate home work assignments.
3. Unwillingness to accept reports from private specialists and insisting on never-ending examinations and tests while the clock ticks and students are denied Free and Appropriate Education during the exasperating delays.
4. Preference for engaging in legal battles instead of using tax dollars to serve the community and educate children.

New parents asked "Is this situation the same in your school district". The answer is "Yes. It is the same in all districts. The level of aggravation, deceitfulness and stupidity is comparable. The only differences are the names and places involved."

This is a case of the "open door, closed mind" syndrome. Public school teachers can learn to teach children with LD, if anyone is willing to ask. (Kudos to the teachers who transfer from public systems to BBA.) The answer is available to educators all over the world to help astoundingly smart children with Learning Disabilities, if Public School educators were just willing to learn the proven teaching methods. But there are none so deaf as those who will not hear. I am not going to attempt to change the thinking of public school teachers, but wish that I could do more for the children that don't have access to the appropriate education that they deserve and are entitled to.

BBA is the best academic institution on the face of this earth, but obviously twenty or so staff members can only do so much and are only able to help a finite number of children each year.

If I had five million Dollars, I would create a foundation to spread the word on BBA. I would create a chain of BBA's across the nation, where children who need an education, and are entitled to Free and Appropriate Education under Federal Law, have access to open-minded and educated educators.

If you have 5 Million Dollars earmarked for a good cause, then consider working with me to create a foundation and expand the BBA reach.

P.S. On a side note - My message to all new parents of BBA "Welcome - This will be the best year of your family's life".