Is Your Child's School Lacking Leadership?

You might be surprised to hear that one of the most concerning trends in education isn’t about curriculum or test scores, it’s about leadership. According to a recent study by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, schools around the world are experiencing a lack of leadership.

Not only are principals across the globe overburdened, underpaid and nearing retirement, the study says, but there are fewer qualified applicants ready and willing to step into those empty slots. And without strong leaders, students suffer the consequences.

Herb London, Ph.D., professor emeritus at NYU and president of the public policy research organization The Hudson Institute, says the key to school leadership is raising the bar for student performance. ”The maintenance of that standard requires courage and determination,” he says. “The problem we have in the U.S. is that there are relatively few leaders and relatively few people with the courage to maintain the rigor that is necessary in our schools.”

Courage isn’t all it takes, according to Elnardo Webster, Ph.D., Superintendent of Roselle Public Schools in New Jersey. He says an organizational plan in which everybody’s role is clearly defined is also a key part of being a successful leader and ensuring student success. “When everyone is working together efficiently and understands all of the goals we have as a district and what our plan is for achieving them, that’s when we’re able to maximize resources. When that happens, there is a prevailing positive attitude in our schools and the students benefit,” Webster says.

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The Hidden History of Nursery Rhymes

Many of the nursery rhymes that we have read to our children have their origins in British history. Rhymes were written for many different reasons. Some rhymes were written to honor a particular local event that has since been forgotten, while others were written to express feelings of love. Rhymes were also used to hide real meanings, such as when someone wanted to express displeasure toward the government or the sovereign without being executed! Another reason for rhymes is that they’re easy to remember, and therefore could be spread by word-of-mouth—an essential feature for a large population of people who could not read or write. Here are some common nursery rhymes that have interesting interpretations regarding figures and events in British history. But be warned, they are not for the faint-hearted!

Old Mother Hubbard - The Old Mother Hubbard rhyme allegedly refers to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey and his unsuccessful attempt to get an annulment for King Henry VIII. Old Mother Hubbard is Cardinal Wolsey. The cupboard is the Catholic Church. The doggie is Henry VIII. The bone is the annulment Henry wanted in order to end his marriage to Katherine of Aragon.

Mary, Mary Quite Contrary “Mary” is referring to Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII. The Catholic queen received quite a bad reputation during her short reign for executing Protestant loyalists. The garden in the rhyme is referring to the growth of a graveyard. Silver bells and cockleshells are believed to be euphemisms for instruments of torture. The “maids” is slang for a beheading instrument called “The Maiden” that came into common use before the guillotine.

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Six National Parks Off the Beaten Track

You probably drive past them every time you travel along an interstate. You may even live close to one, unaware of the treasures it holds. National Parks are dotted all over the country, and are as varied as the landscapes they posses. And although there are a few, like Yellowstone, that get all the attention, there are many others with only a small trickle of people enjoying their bounty.

National Parks make a great way to vacation with a family, since they are usually very inexpensive and full of a variety of activities. Kids love the Junior Ranger Program that most parks offer, with booklets and guided lessons, and even badges for each child.

So this summer, get out the map and find one of these buried treasures to enjoy with your family!

Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Set among the mixed-grass prairies and amazing canyons, the Badlands National Park in South Dakota is home to an amazing number of incredible fossils. In the 381 square miles of rapidly eroding layers of earth, visitors can see ancestors of the modern-day cat, pig, rhinoceros, and horse and can also watch bison roam freely on the grassy terrain.

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Tennessee/Kentucky
The Cumberland Plateau in eastern Kentucky and Tennessee is home to beautiful scenic gorges, bluffs, and overlooks. Hiking, horseback riding, white water rafting and fishing make this an ideal camping destination. Families will love riding the Big South Fork Scenic Railway into a restored 1940s coal mining camp, where ghost structures provide an ideal setting for this outdoor museum.

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