Cinderella: Great Beginnings

With over 170 people in attendance on two nights, the first drama production at Bios was a unanimous success. The encouraging attitude and theater skills of first year drama teacher, Mrs. Dominguez, were very evident throughout the evening. Enthusiasm, well rehearsed lines, and entertaining acting from her students brought for all who attended a great time. Beginning with Cinderella and the troupe from the Bios Drama Club then completing the night with three ten minute shorts, or "Duos", played by the high school drama class, the plays exemplified the teamwork and diligence of all on stage. We all look forward to the second semester show. Thank you to everyone for their support.

Mr. Klein and Education Reform

"Finally, we need to innovate, as every successful sector of our economy does. The classroom model we have used since the nineteenth century, in which one teacher stands in front of a room of 20-30 students, is obsolete. We should make the most of new technology and programs that help teachers deliver personalized instruction and allow students to learn at their own pace." So wrote Joe Klein, the outgoing chancellor for the New York City public schools.

Mr. Klein, in his letter written for the Wall Street Journal last Saturday, discussed his goals for changing the schools and his basic reasons supporting them. Ideas that should be taught to every aspiring teacher in education colleges. Like the notion that poverty and family circumstances are no excuse for limiting educational potential. Or student outcomes and teacher accountability go hand-in-hand. And he had more to say about the challenges he faced to make the improvements needed. It is a great article to read. But it leaves out a very important part of a successful education, character development.

Many years ago, a friend and I went to the YMCA to see if we could start a team in their elementary age basketball league for our school kids. And since we did not have enough players from our own school to provide for a complete team, we needed to allow players from outside our school on the team. That was fine for us. It meant more players to win with. But when we mentioned to the league supervisor that we would be praying with our players during practices and games, we were told prayer was not allowed because kids from different religions were in the league. When we pointed out that they advertised Christian values, the supervisors answer was that while it was true they held to Christian values, those values excluded prayer, but included behaviors such as treating others with kindness and so on.

The point to the above story is that the YMCA lost their focus - their commitment to Christ. Christianity separates itself from the world because our focus is not on behaviors. No, our focus is on God and our relationship to his son. Our behaviors are a result of that faith and our desire to please him. Without a clear moral compass, gyms and education serve little purpose but self-seeking betterment.

Though Mr. Klein has excellent goals for a successful educational program, its success is hindered just as the potential success of the local YMCA is using general cultural norms for behavior. The YMCA behavior expectations have little effect on people because their grounding is based on a cultural consensus not the solid truths of their creator.