Why Would the EPA Do This?

I received an email this week from Dr. Ray Dorsey and his Parkinson Warriors in his fight to end Parkinson's Disease. Dr. Dorsey, along with Dr. Todd Sherer, Dr. Michael Okun, and Dr. Bas Bloem, all co-wrote the book, "Ending Parkinson's Disease." In this book, the authors spend an entire chapter on the use of Paraquat, a pesticide that is very dangerous to use and has a direct link to Parkinson's Disease in humans.

In his email, Dr. Dorsey stated that this past week, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has just re-approved the usage of Paraquat in the United States. "Every 15 years, the EPA reviews all herbicides and pesticides to confirm they are safe for use. This review process takes several years and has many steps. The latest round of pesticide review and reapprovals, known as interim decisions, finalizes the EPA’s assessments of human and environmental impact and allows the pesticide to be bought and used until it is reviewed again." states the Michael J. Fox Foundation website.

This is what we know about Paraquat (from Dr. Dorsey's page).

1. Paraquat increases the risk of Parkinson's Disease by 150%
2. 32 countries, including the European Union, Brazil and China have banned it.
3. Paraquat is so toxic that the EPA's own website says that "one sip can kill."
4. 1.1 million American's have Parkinson's and 200 more will be diagnosed today.
5. Paraquat is being used here in Iowa and particularly in the midwest. Check out the Pesticide Use Map from 2017 here.

My questions are simple ones: Why do you suppose the EPA allowed this to happen? Aren't they suppose to protect the environment, as well as the people who live in this country? Is the farming lobby so strong that the EPA succombs to the pressure? There are approximately 60,000 Iowans living with Parkinson's. There are only a handful of Neurologist who are movement disorder specialist. We need our government to protect its people.

As Dr. Dorsey mentions in his book, we, as Americans, have fought the government to overcome sickness and health issues in the past, fighting for and winning the battle against HIV and Polio. We have also fought and are nearly winning the battle against breast cancer as well. We have to make Parkinson's important to the average American, like Polio did decades ago and as we are currently doing with breast cancer. 

I highly endorsed this book "Ending Parkinson's Disease" for anyone who is interested and is living with the disease, caring for a loved one who suffers from it or just interested in the relationship between the government and how it interacts with the people. In fact, if you'd like a copy of this book, simply email info@endingpd.org and ask for a free copy.

Press On!

The Title of this blog might raise some questions.

 

Hey gang!

 

Hey gang? What kind of greeting is that? Please allow me to explain. I believe that we are all part of a “gang.” Some people call them groups, families, communities, whatever. To me, a gang symbolizes a group of people with all the same rugged determination, the same purpose, the same agenda. My gang consists of people with Parkinson’s Disease. My bride of 46 years, Victoria, has had Parkinson’s since 2003 and it has become a part of our lives. I say “our” because as her care partner, it affects me as well. I hope to share with you all, different perspectives on Parkinson’s, being a care partner, and what I have read and/or been told from doctors and trusted sources what is happening in the Parkinson’s world. With full disclosure, I must add that both Victoria and I have been on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA, for short) since 2013 and I have served as its Board President since 2016. We have been fortunate to be associated with the APDA and other outstanding organizations that are working tirelessly to rid this world of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). In future blogs, I will delve into some medical aspects of PD from a layman’s point of view.

 

Now, about the title of this blog, “Not the Status Quo.” Before I retired and became a full-time care partner for my Victoria, I was involved in education. I have served just about every position in this fascination field. I started as a teacher and coach, moved into athletic administration and finished my career as a high school principal for 9 years followed by the superintendency for another 10 years. All told, I was in education for 39 years and while there were certainly some bumps in the road, it’s a great profession and one that we, as a nation, must hold in high regard. Annually, as a superintendent, I held “back to school” meetings with our staff in the fall before the kids would arrive. I always called this my “State of the School” address. One phrase I consistently used every year was the title of this blog, Not the Status Quo. I used it because I don’t believe there is such a thing as the status quo. Status quo simply means everything remains the same, no better and no worse. I believe, and I still do, believe that we, as a school, society or gang, are either getting better at what we do or we’re getting worse at what we do. As a superintendent, I was not about to let our organization get worse, so we would always strive for continuous improvement, getting better every year. I will explain more in a future blog.

 

I hope you subscribe to this blog and share it with your friends on social media. I am trying to limit my blogs to around 500 words as I believe if it’s much longer, you will choose to do something else rather that read this. Please leave a comment, question or anything, I guess, in the section provided. I hope we have a long and fruitful relationship. Onward!

Training vs. Development

As some of you may know, I retired from being a school superintendent this past summer. It was a great career and I will cherish forever. However, too many people keep asking me, “So, what are you going to do now?” I have no answer. I will be spending much time with my bride of 40 years, Victoria and will be teaching a couple of graduate level courses for Buena Vista University this winter in Des Moines. 

Victoria’s uncle Terry asked me the same thing the last time I saw him and he told me to blog more. He’s read this blog before but I have been lax in getting anything written for some time.

I have been intrigued by the book I am currently reading, “Hacking Leadership” by Mike Myatt. I’m still very interested in leadership and all that it entails. Both of our children hold leadership positions in the current careers and I imagine they always will. One section of the book talks about the difference between training and development. Here is a listing that Mr. Myatt created to point out the main differences between training and development.

• ·        Training blends to a norm – Development occurs beyond the norm.
• ·        Training focuses on technique/content/curriculum – Development focuses on people.
• ·        Training tests patience – Development tests courage.
• ·        Training focuses on the present – Development focuses on the future.
• ·        Training adheres to standards – Development focuses on maximizing potential.
• ·        Training is transactional – Development is transformational.
• ·        Training focuses on maintenance – Development focuses on growth.
• ·        Training focuses on the role – Development focuses on the person.
• ·        Training indoctrinates – Development educates.
• ·        Training maintains the status quo – Development catalyzes innovation.
• ·        Training stifles culture – Development enriches culture.
• ·        Training encourages compliance – Development emphasizes performance.
• ·        Training focuses on efficiency – Development focuses on effectiveness.
• ·        Training focuses on problems – Development focuses on solutions.
• ·        Training focuses on reporting lines – Development expands influence.
• ·        Training places people in a box – Development frees them from the box.
• ·        Training is mechanical – Development is intellectual.
• ·        Training focuses on the known – Development explores the unknown.
• ·        Training places people in a comfort zone – Development moves people beyond their comfort zone.
• ·        Training if finite – Development is infinite.

As an educator, we've all had good training's, bad training's, good professional development and bad professional development. As you reflect back on these training's and professional developments, what made them good and what made them bad? Can you spot things on this list that resonates with you? We must never stop growing and developing, whether it is professionally or personally.

Onward…

Punching Holes

As we approach the end of the school year, there seems to be many opportunities to honor people. As you know, this is Teachers Appreciation Week as well as Nurse’s Day today and Lunch Lady Appreciation Week. May is also School Board Appreciation Month. Yes, all rolled into one.

I was told this morning that it “must be nice to be a short timer and be able to tell people what you really think.” It is nice and I am going to take this opportunity to tell you all what I think. I hope you take the time to read the whole thing.

I picked up on a theme yesterday in church from Pastor Jon Anenson at Hope Des Moines Campus. It made me think about the world in which we all have chosen to live, the world of education. There is a lot of darkness in our world and whether you wish to view it as our world of education in Pleasantville or the entire world, I think it would fit either way. When I speak of darkness, I speak of things such as poverty, kids making bad choices, adults making bad choices, government interventions and mandates and we could go on and on. Many people might ask, “Why is there so much darkness?” I would suggest that we need to turn that around to ask, “Why isn’t there more light? How can we create more light?” Richard Alvey wrote a blog about Robert Louis Stevenson, the acclaimed author and it spoke to me about education.  Here’s an excerpt:

Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of classic books like Treasure Island, spent his childhood in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the 19th century. As a boy, Robert was intrigued by the work of the old lamplighters who went about with a ladder and a torch, setting the street lights ablaze for the night.

One evening, as young Robert stood watching with fascination, his parents asked him, “Robert, what in the world are you looking at out there?” With great excitement he exclaimed, “Look at that man! He’s punching holes in the darkness!”

When we invite students into our lives, we are punching holes in the darkness.

When we sacrifice our comfort, our family’s comfort and our own resources to help our kids, we are punching holes in the darkness.

When we take time to listen to our kids, really listen, we are punching holes in the darkness.

When we overlook bad choices made by others and love them anyhow, we are punching holes in the darkness.

The people associated with the Pleasantville Schools do a tremendous job of punching holes in the darkness and creating more light. This is such a great place and you all have such a great moral imperative to help our kids. I really, really appreciate all you do for our kids, be that in a classroom, an office, a lunchroom or at the Board table. You have created light for our young people and will continue to do so. God Bless you in this extremely important life journey that you have chosen. Thanks!

National Honor Society Speech

I want to offer my congratulations to all the students here tonight for being named to the Pleasantville National Honor Society. This is quite an accomplishment and something both you and your family should be very proud of.  

When Josh Day asked me to address this crowd tonight, he told me that most people talk about character. Let me tell you why I'm speaking tonight and not Coach Koerselman, some flimsy excuse of his son moving to Kansas City and he and his wife needing to go and help him find an apartment. Boy, some guys will do anything to get out of a speaking gig. Actually, though, I am honored to be here tonight, to speak, even if ever so briefly, to such a wonderful group of kids. Please don’t feel embarrassed about being called a kid, I call everyone a kid, since I'm so much older than everyone. 

All of you have proven successful as test takers, to be able to meet the standard of the National Honor Society's Scholarship requirement. You've all done marvelous work on your classroom test taking abilities. There are, however, some tests that you haven't taken yet, or at least some of you haven't. That is the test of character. You will be tested on your character and it's not a paper and pencil test. It is a hands-on, real life test that you might not even know you're taking until it's done. Many of you will pass with flying colors. Others might struggle. The key is having the ability to figure out that you are taking the test when it happens. When you're asked to do something that you know you shouldn't do, be somewhere you know you shouldn't be or be involved with something you know is wrong, will you have the character to make the right decision? Some will while others won't. Experience is a great teacher. You'll look back at your decisions and ask yourself, why did I do that? I know I still do today because I've certainly made my share of mistakes. We are all challenged and we will all continue to be challenged. Age has no restrictions on character. It is easier to start strong and stay that way versus starting weakly and trying to bring yourself back up to the high standard that we all expect to have. Your character will be instrumental in determining your next criteria of the NHS, leadership. My kids still make fun of me today, at home, privately, about reading leadership books. As a matter of fact, I'm expecting a new book called "Hacking Leadership" to arrive any day now. When I was the principal at Forest City High School, I taught a class on leadership, working on such things as building consensus, learning to be understanding, having the ability to listen to others and putting that ability into action. I want to highlight two books that I would recommend to you to read, whether you are planning on going to college of some sort, the military or going right into the work force. You see, I don't believe in graduation, particularly from high school. I believe in preparation. High School should be preparing you for your next chapter in life - be that college, military or the work force. Anyway, I digress. The two books I think everyone here should read are "Good to Great" by Jim Collins and "The Servant" by James Hunter. These books will give you a firm grasp on what leadership is truly about with concrete examples of how to put them into place. 

The four components of the National Honor Society, Scholarship, Character, Leadership and Service will always be a factor in your lives. You will find that these four components basically will run your life. They will act like a giant flywheel in your life. Since you all are in the National Honor Society, I'm sure you know what a flywheel is, but for those of your little brothers or sisters here tonight who might not know, I'll explain it to them. A flywheel is like a large wheel that goes around and around, making other wheels go around as well. It is very hard to get started, in fact, it takes a great amount of effort to get the flywheel started but with each rotation of the wheel, it gets a little easier and easier, until there's not much effort at all to maintain its momentum. To move this flywheel, it takes a tremendous amount of discipline. Not the type of discipline where you get in trouble for not taking the garbage out or missing an assignment, the other type of discipline. Doing the right thing all the time. That type of discipline. You see, to be successful in this life, it takes disciplined people with disciplined thought doing disciplined action. There are no shortcuts to success. For some of you, academic success has come very easily while for others, it took many long and hard hours of work - you know - being disciplined. 

The last thing I want to visit with you about tonight is the idea of being a servant leader. There is no greater calling than to serve others, whether it is through your career path, your church, your family or just you individually. I have asked every teacher I've ever supervised, either as a principal or a superintendent, to be servant leaders to the kids in their classrooms. Putting others in front of yourself is a way to prove to others that you have the character you do. You will find in this life that there are many ego-centric people in this world but the ones who are the happiest, most well-adjusted are those who serve others. Many high schools and colleges are providing their students with the opportunity to serve others through some sort of class or program. This past fall, I went on such a trip to the Navajo Indian Reservation in Gallup, New Mexico. It showed me that even the smallest act of kindness and compassion, when done in serving others is as rewarding as anything you'll ever find. The Navajo people have their own way to determine success. They say that success is not determined by how much you have but by how much you give away. Please, at some time in your life, go on a service trip. You will be richly blessed for doing so. Again, congratulations to you for this fantastic accomplishment of being added to the rolls of the Pleasantville National Honor Society. Thank you for allowing me to go on and on tonight. May God Bless you in your life and lead you to great successes. Thank you. 

Why I'm Choosing to Retire

On Monday night, November 11, 2013, I submitted by letter of resignation in order to retire from education. I know these boyish good looks makes one wonder why I would be retiring at such a young age (insert sarcastic comment here). Actually, this past September I turned 60 years of age and while that’s certainly not a magic number, it did make me realize that I’m getting older.

I believe the major turning point in my decision-making process was over my birthday in September. I took a week’s vacation to accompany my wife on our first church Mission Trip to Gallup, New Mexico, to work with the Navajo Indians and the Rehoboth Christian School. Here’s what I learned.

I learned that after 39 years in education, I have had tunnel vision concerning education, education reform, educational technology and basically, all things education. I learned that there is a whole new world out there that I know nothing about. I’ve always tried to be up to date on things that are happening; and while I think I understand our country, it’s the small things that I know nothing about. I want to explore and go on adventures with my bride of almost 40 years. I want to have a hobby that I can spend time on, I enjoy playing golf, but I’ve only played a handful of times over the past three years. I want to read books that are not educational books or leadership books that my kids use to make fun of while I was reading.

I want to care for my wife, like she has cared for me over the past 40 years. She has taken such good care of me and our kids, nursed me back to health after a major health scare in 2004, taken care of our kids while I was teaching and coaching, attending a school event, and working on advanced degrees. In 2001, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. There is no known cure for Parkinson’s. I want to help with the Iowa Parkinson’s Disease Association to help find a cure.

I am so blessed to have been involved in education for 39 years and I have plenty of great friends and even greater stories about my life in education. I have put my faith and trust in the Lord and I’m sure He has a plan for the rest of my life. Now, I have to find out what it is and move on from there. Remember when I said I wanted to go on an adventure? Starting July 1, 2014, the adventure begins.

Onward.

Something new: J Term

Pleasantville Community Schools are trying something new this school year. We have implemented a “J Term” for the first seven days after we return from Winter Break (remember when it used to be called Christmas Break?) The actual length of time will be from January 2 through January 10. This was a result in building the school calendar for this school year and having a need to balance the two semesters while not starting school until the Iowa State Fair was completed on August 18^th.

            This will be for all students in grades 6 through 12 and the students will have choices as to what classes they will attend. We hope that the students will find something that they are passionate about and willing to spend some time in learning. The concept is that students will take one or two classes during these seven days that will have connections to the Iowa Core and teacher and student passions.

            Kudos to Gary Friday and the secondary staff here at Pleasantville in taking this step and trusting that it will work. There are always risks and fears when trying something new. We have modeled this after Spirit Lake’s model and hope that it will be as successful as theirs.

            What’s the biggest risk from my standpoint? I have volunteered to help teach a class. Granted, I haven’t been a lead teacher for a few years but I will have help. Angie Graham from our tech staff will be working with me. Personally, I just hope some kids sign up for our class. We are going to be developing some sort of video that can be used by the school or the city and/or a type of music video starring teachers and students to promote a specific activity. To be honest, I’m more than a little nervous about this whole ordeal. Why am I so nervous? Because I’m counting on the students to teach me how to use iMovie and the editing materials that come with it. I’ve never edited a video before.

            We hope to have the videos posted on our website and other places once we are finished and proud of our product. Our goal is to be able to have our work on You Tube and be seen by thousands. We’ll see and we’ll keep you posted on our progress.