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Blog Entry 24 of 128 Buzz by Barbara

I think about a lot of things. I have opinions about most. What good are thoughts and opinions when not shared? I'll show you mine if you'll show me yours. Issues related to education really get me going. I love to dine on the hot potatoes of school accountability, standardized testing, corporal punishment in schools (outlawed in only about 28 states), scrutiny of school staff before hiring, teacher performance standards, and the weeding out of bad apples in education. I promote fitness as the miracle drug most of us seek. No pill will duplicate the health benefits of working our bodies. I strongly support the adage, "Don't breed or buy while shelter animals die." The world does not need more puppies or kittens. A visit to a local shelter is proof. I consider myself schooled in basic personal money management, the entrepreneurial spirit, domestic adoption, motherood in middle age, Baby Boomer issues, Southern culture, and how to cook a meal in twenty minutes. Whew. So, where shall we start?

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School with the world's longest name - it's open

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Contributed by: Barbara Neff on 8/30/2006

The name of the school won't fit in the YourHub blog title line. It is "Douglas County Renaissance Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound Magnet School." Let's hope we call it Renaissance Elementary School for short.

It opened today after a two week delay. Fanfare was not spared.

The Douglas County High School Band occupied the sidewalk near the entry and played with verve. Their music was loud, beautiful, inspiring and exciting. Children and adults alike were wide-eyed. And dewey eyed. It is a very big day.

This magnet school, which means a public school with a specific philosophy of education, will teach students based on the principles of Outward Bound. The operative words seem to be "student responsibility for learning," and I like that a lot.

However, even I, as a parent of a student now attending this school, am unsure how the principles of Outward Bound will translate into elementary education. My impression is this school endeavors to be more dynamic than traditional, more learn-by-doing, more out-of-your-seats, more out-in-the-community, more fun. I hope my impression is accurate. In my opinion, what "expeditionary learning" can offer students is just what the majority of students need. This isn't the 1950's.

My son, Carson, could barely get to sleep last night he was so eager to start his new school. He talked and talked about the playground, the library, his new classroom, the fact the school is right across from a skateboard park (major plus if you are an eight-year-old boy) and his new teacher, who seems to be the ultimate in cool because she told my son she snowboards. He is hooked.

This is an exciting time for students, teachers, staff, Douglas County Schools and the community of Castle Rock. One more innovative thing has come to our community. One more reason to celebrate a town that serves the needs of its citizens in countless creative ways.

Renaissance Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound Magnet School. May my son and all the students thrive there.

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Showing 1-4 of 4 comments

Submitted By: Delete Me

posted on 9/18/2006 @ 2:07:05 PM

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Where exactly is Outward? I am bound to go there someday if ever I could find it on a map.

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Submitted By: Barbara Neff

posted on 9/4/2006 @ 8:56:27 AM

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Joe, thanks for chiming in. We parents of students at Renaissance have high hopes for our children as the principles of Outward Bound are applied to their elementary education. I'll keep you posted.

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Submitted By: Joe McDaniel

posted on 9/2/2006 @ 4:59:05 PM

Rated Blog Entry

MELOBMS sounds like a great place to send a child. I was both a student and, later, an instructor at Outward Bound and benefited enormously from both experiences. I could only have dreamed of spending years under the same teaching philosophy. I look forward to hearing progress reports.

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Submitted By: Brendan Leonard

posted on 8/30/2006 @ 12:02:31 PM

Rated Blog Entry

I'm trying to imagine football cheerleaders starting out with, "Gimme and R! Gimme an E!" It's hard to imagine anyone being able to carry the enthusiasm through to "What's that spell?" "Renaissance Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound Magnet School!"

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Barbara Neff

Castle Rock , CO

Barbara Neff has posted 128 blog entries and 820 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. Barbara Neff 's average blog rating is 4.97.

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