Secondary School Solutions

Wow! What happened the last few months? Our country is in a whirlwind. The economy is deteriorating by the second. People are losing jobs. At the same time, we voted to elect the first African American president of the United States.

We are nervous about what is ahead of us but do not give up hope. We are in the midst of major change.

It is also a time of great interest and concern in the future of our country and world. The youth of America, who voted in record numbers, are taking an active role in the social issues of our times.

Considering recent events, it is only appropriate we address a topic that will receive more attention in the near future.

Social Entrepreneurship and the School: Four Easy Ways to Get Involved

Know and understand this area of education because the times they are a changing. Get involved!

Social Entrepreneurship and the School: Four Easy Ways to Get Involved

#1: Understand social entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurship is the work of a social entrepreneur. A social entrepreneur is someone who recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create, and manage a venture to make social change. Whereas a business entrepreneur typically measures performance in profit and return, a social entrepreneur assesses success in terms of the impact s/he has on society.

A social entrepreneur identifies and solves social problems on a large scale. Just as business entrepreneurs create and transform whole industries, social entrepreneurs act as the change agents for society, seizing opportunities others miss in order to improve systems, invent and disseminate new approaches and advance sustainable solutions that create social value.

A more extensive definition of social entrepreneurship is available.

#2: Become friends with the social entrepreneurship world

Visit websites listed to learn about social issues, increase awareness, and connect with others.

Change
take social action, network to learn about causes, connect to people, and take action

Echoing Green
funding and support for social entrepreneurs

Skoll Foundation
connecting and celebrating social entrepreneurs

Omidyar Network
opportunities for people to make a difference

idealist
people and organizations exchanging resources and ideas

social edge
by social entrepreneurs for social entrepreneurs

global giving
donors connecting with community based projects

social actions
taking action, finding actions, creating actions, funding actions, and social actions

HandsOn Bay Area
volunteers becoming engaged citizens

TED
inspired talks by the worlds greatest thinkers and doers

#3: Learn about entrepreneurship programs for secondary students

SAGE (Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship) Global community of teenage entrepreneurs, and their supporters, sharing a common purpose: to make the world a better place.

BizWorld - Challenges and engages children across the cultural and economic spectrum through experiential learning programs that teach the basics of business, entrepreneurship, and money management. Promote teamwork and leadership in the classroom.

National Foundation For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Young people from low-income communities build skills and unlock entrepreneurial creativity.

The NFIB Young Entrepreneurship Foundation - Promotes the lessons of free enterprise in the classroom. Educates young people about the critical role of small business and the American free-enterprise system. A guide for students interested in small business and entrepreneurship further their education.

Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education - For teachers, instructors, program developers and others who help students of all ages find their own entrepreneurial opportunities.

DECA - High School Division - Open to students with a career interest in marketing, management, hospitality, finance, entrepreneurship, and/or business administration. Programs are co-curricular and complement nationally recognized curriculum standards in the classroom and incorporate realistic educational experiences not available through classroom instruction alone. Provides specific programs for the classroom teacher to use in student development and achievement.

#4: Model positive practices. Involve students of all ages. The green initiative is a good example.

Climate changes, energy concerns, and environmental issues have encouraged schools to “go green.” Districts are modeling practices that increase student awareness. Classrooms are incorporating curriculum and activities and, in the process, creating future social entrepreneurs.

Green Schools Program - Engages students in energy-saving activities in their schools, using hands-on, real-world projects.

Green School Alliance - Works with and through schools to take action on climate change and the environment.

Eco Friendly Schools Offer Students Fresh Lessons - Public schools receive certification as “eco-friendly” and offer ways to save energy, improve air quality, and educate students about the environment.

It’s Easy To Be Green - Seven steps to a healthier school.

Campuses Moving To Forefront Of Green Buildings, Education - A range of green policies and programs implemented in San Francisco.

Miami-Dade County Schools Endorsing Many Green Initiatives - Given the nation’s newfound awareness over climate change, energy and other environmental issues, South Florida educators have witnessed an increased appetite among students and parents to “go green.”

Schools Get Smart, Go Green: First Zero-Energy Classroom Debuts In Boston - Showcased in a “School of the Future” demonstration project, FROG Zero incorporates the ideal learning environment into the greenest, most sustainable commercial building solution available.

About Us: Dr. Patricia Fioriello is an education consultant specializing in secondary school solutions.

Copyright © 2008. You may reproduce this article by including the copyright, and if you reproduce the article electronically, please include a link to http://www.drpfconsults.com.

Secondary School Solutions: Does a degree really set you up for life?

It’s an interesting topic and we can debate it forever. But what I really want to talk about is the role of educators in modeling what we sell, promote, and offer to students.

Think about it. We continuously tell students that getting an education is important. We are in the business of selling a product: an education and how it can change your life. Part of an education is acquiring degrees and certificates. Whether we like it or not, this is how we indicate the completion of work; the accomplishment of a goal.

I don’t get it. Why are educators not practicing what they preach? How can we have superintendents who do not have doctorate degrees?

Not all educators need to go completely through the education system but many of us should, especially educators who are in key leadership positions. What are we telling students when we do not have the discipline or think it is important enough to acquire a degree?

But we ask students to do it. Shame on us. We should practice what we preach. Model what we expect from students.

I must be honest. At times, I have difficulty blogging about education. I desperately want to share information that is new and innovative. Not the same tired, saturated information filtered down from government, politics, and just about everyone and anyone who is NOT in education.

Educators are so concerned about being “politically correct.” We are trained not to express or reveal our true feelings.

But what do I have to lose?

Today on the internet I came across this article. Bravo, tell it like it is! And so will I.

Do you work at a high school? As we all know, senior year is often a wash and many students can complete high school in fewer time and fewer credits.

Why do we insist students stay until the end of 12th grade? Money. ADA. Services. Keep them on a class register for two periods and claim them as a full time student!

Well if that is the case, then provide challenging classes that prepare students for life after high school. Or change the rules. Do something because if I talk to another 11th or 12th grade student who claims “classes are boring…waste of time…my schedule is all elective classes…three periods of student aide….”

We are not negating the good efforts and accomplishments of some schools and districts to do things differently. In fact, we are on a quest to find and share the folks who think out of the box and challenge a system that has been in place to long without question.

We need to ask why are we do we have this program, does it make sense, and if not, what can we do differently.

I’m a changed educator. From this point on, nothing but the cold honest truth. No more accepting educational practices because it is the way things are done. Promise.

Patricia

Visit www.educatorhowtoguide.blogspot.com and share what you feel are important issues in education.

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Education in Second Life: Explore the Possibilities

Just to keep you informed.

The number of schools in California making “adequate yearly progress” plunged from 6,488 to 5,113 since last year.

…in nearly a decade. What else can I say?

SAT scores stay at lowest level in nearly a decade

School headlines that are making the news

As we prepare to open schools across the country, here are a few of the headlines making news. I’m not sure what the solution is…

Texas school district to let teachers carry guns - I guess guns ARE allowed on campus?

Fla. town backs ex-principal in gay student case - Whatever happened to supporting ALL our students?

I don’t know what to say. Wish it was different. I wonder if we will have time for reading and writing?

Patricia

“Everyday Solution #15: How Can Something So Crooked Be So Perfect?”

Administrators have a general philosophy regarding every group they work with. Or at least we convince ourselves that we have a certain belief.

The students, the parents, the teachers…they may be imperfect at times but we have been trained to believe in them. Never give up hope. The children are beautiful on the inside and out. The parents want to help. Maybe sometimes they just do not know how. And you know, the teacher is learning. We see the good in everyone.

The last Everyday Solution (#15) is not about the student, parent, or teacher. It is about us and our inability to treat ourselves the same way we treat others.

Realize you will make a mistake once in a while. You will say the wrong thing at times. And you will forget (not very often) to do something, but you know what, YOU ARE PERFECT.

Give yourself a break and realize that your ways (or as you would call imperfections) make you unique. Look at Pisa.

Patricia