"Slinging Stones..." Blog by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

A Bowl of Oatmeal Anyone? By Mrs. Dorothy Barron

A Bowl of Oatmeal Anyone? By Mrs. Dorothy Barron

     Parents Taking Charge in Education Blog: School Principal- Is Your School worth Saving by Mrs. Dorothy Barron at: http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com/2011/09/school-principal-is-your-school-worth.html 

                      

For the last five days (Friday, a week ago until Tuesday of this week) each meal for me consisted of a bowl of oatmeal (with raisins/couple of days, chopped nuts). Although nourishing in many ways to the body both inside and out, oatmeal does not alone provide all necessary nutrients for the body.

Let me preface what I am about to say by saying, changes are occurring within government under President Obama's administration, but due to both the scope, depth and length of years the problems have been allowed to exist, they will not be rectified immediately.

I will list five reasons as the result of and why oatmeal has been the only meal for five days as well as an empty refrigerator?

1. Dumping of the total burden on relatives who cannot sustain the total burden
2. Lack of the state complying with federal mandates
3. Lack of agencies and individuals that have been funded to assist people who are eligible and approved for those services
4. Disability Agencies and Organizations whose mission is to assist those with Disabilities
5. Inability, unwillingness and/or lack of those agencies and organizations that have been funded to assist people with disabilities
6. Lack of regulatory oversight

Health and education (learning) are two of the most important factors needed to sustain a society; lack of either or both and a society perish. However, I want to concentrate on those with disabilities in this post and bring attention to situations that need changing. I choose not to view myself as a person with disabilities, simply a person with some limitations, because I strongly believe the manner in which one views self ultimately becomes the essence of self. In other words, as a man "… thinketh in his heart, so is he…" (Bible, KJV, Pro. 23:7).

Very often the adverse situations or plight in which persons with disabilities find themselves are not of their own making. In my particular situation, A bus operator's act of retaliation aboard MARTA caused my disabilities; Yet, at the point of settlement and according to the law firm which represented me, the lawyer who handled my case disappeared and I, the injured party received nothing. Of course if you read Parts I - VII of my series, *Education: Live Case Study- 9Year Government "Back to Work" Case with No End or Resolution in Sight, you have seen the travesty involved with my trying to return to work under at least two government back to work programs. My Slinging Stones… Blog can be found at this link: http://www.dorothybarron.com and the series, here: http://www.dorothybarron.com/slingingstones/2011/06/education-live-case-study-9year-overnment-back-to-work-case-with-no-end-orresolution-in-sight-by-mrs-dorothy-barr.html Where does such leave one? Following are where one may find him/herself:

Dumping of the total burden on a relative(s) who cannot sustain the total burden

Very often funding forthcoming from the federal government to the state to assist people with disabilities is not forthcoming. Often, the state dumps the total burden off on relatives instead. Relatives can and may assist, but many cannot take on the total burden of one's care and would not have to if mandates which the government has in place were adhered to. My relative(s) did not cause my disabilities, nor prevented my going back to work as I have fought and struggled with the system for over 10 years to do so. Let me also note, had I been able to complete my back to work training program, I would now be self-supporting and able to hire individuals to assist me with my disability needs. Instead, this one relative must bear the burden of trying to take care of two households, work at more than one job and pay back school loans. The relative could not shop for me this week, cook or wash; car problems prevented such. Oatmeal was my sole meal for the last five days.

Lack of the State complying with Federal mandates and the law

I live alone, am non-ambulatory and due to the nature of the disability which was a top priority upon evaluations performed by the state, approved services were forthcoming for years when and after the state was forced to comply with mandates of the law. But, how many impoverished and/or poor people know enough of the law to hold those accountable to the law? Hence, the state collects federal monies and often dumps the total burden of the person with disabilities on the care of relatives or others. The state has taken federal funding to transport Medicare beneficiaries to medical appointments, but will only transport one within a 20-30 mile radius. Such is fine if one's physician(s)' is/are within that radius; if not you are on your own. I have not been able to get crucial medical care or annual tests prescribed for women for over three years, or physical therapy for over four years.

Lack of agencies entities and individuals that receive government funding to assist people who are eligible and approved for services

Instead of the many agencies which have been funded by the federal government to assist those with getting required and/or necessary services, some would rather lie and/or falsify the individual's records to prevent their doing so. The State of Tennessee has an agency, Adult Protective Services whose purpose is to investigate cases, access and provide protection and services to adults with certain disabilities/limitations who suffer from abuse, neglect and/or financial exploitation (Adult Protective Services). My experiences with this agency in times past (due to lack of assistance- neglect), resulted in the agency director's failure to assist, because and according to her, "I have a history with the agency." Of course they will not put this foolish statement in writing and supply to me in order for me to present it to the federal government. It will take too much time to relay their shenanigans and deceptions, here and now.

As for physicians throughout this city and in some surrounding areas, once reported of violations and unlawful medical treatment, one is blackballed. I was in my former Nashville primary care doctor's office when my back failed to support me and I had to immediately get into a supine position. After nurses informed the physician, I was informed that there were no empty evaluating rooms. I was forced to lay on the floor in this physician's waiting room as his patients stared in unbelief. Some even walk out without treatment shocked and disgusted by the doctor and his staff's treatment.

At one emergency room's hospital, the results of one of my tests was so alarming, the technician immediately sought assistance and informed me such was the case. I waited and waited and waited; no one return. An orderly finally appeared and placed me back in the emergency room cubicle. The direct words the emergency room treating physician's spoke to me regarding my test results were, "you're clear as a bell."

I have published in an earlier blog post treatment of my emergency room visit by some at Summit Medical Center located in Hermitage, TN. The emergency room doctor who treated me deliberately wrote a prescription for a drug that could have killed me had I taken it. The 2 Part blog post titled, Jumping through the Hoops Pt.2A- Crumbling Foundation: The State of Healthcare - Medicare and Medicaid Entering 2011 by Mrs. Dorothy Barron begins here: http://www.dorothybarron.com/slingingstones/2011/01/jumping-through-the-hoops-pt2a-crumbling-foundation-the-state-of-healthcare-medicare-and-medicaid-en.html . Need I continue?

So now with lumps in the body which should not exist, I turned to Disability Agencies for assistance to find assistance with getting to my primary care doctor's office.

Disability Agencies and Organizations whose mission is to assist those with Disabilities

Referral and Advocacy is virtually all most do. Most care very little of the disability community; instead their jobs, the retaining of their funding and insuring that the disable not receive needed assistance in order to keep government funding rolling in are their top priorities. They refer one from one agency to the next without meaningful results and with all their advocating, what many of us within the disability community know for a fact is that little changes for us. Most often those within the disability community will receive more assistance from little known and even less funded disability agencies/organizations that assist the disabled.

In need of finding assistance to travel to my primary physician, I recently contacted the Tennessee Disability Coalition (TDC) for help with obtaining assistance. I was referred to another agency. The referrals provided by the referred agency were of no assistance. Upon my having informed the Director of TDC of the results, I was given a spiel that TDC's mission was public policy research and advocacy along with "…45 member agencies to identify and work on policy solutions to issues facing people with disabilities" (C. Westlake, Director). My plight became even more serious without any assistance in the home or meals. I then requested the director supply me with a listing and contact information for the 45 member agencies. She replied that she would be out of the office for the week and I could go to their website and archives to locate the requested information.

I am in pain; I was hungry and physically weak; yet, asked to go through a website at the Tennessee Disability Coalition and search for information that this director was too callous to provide or get someone within her office to do so. Some of these same individuals profess to care about their mission and the disability community; their actions profess otherwise.

Lack of regulatory oversight

For too long, the ultimate and desired goal here in America has been "failure." Failure is profitable and a sure way of getting continued government funding. Some months ago, Vice-President Biden announced a new initiative for Cutting Waste in government. It is time to cut some waste in the area of Disability Agencies and ineffective program services some offer the Disability Community. Policy research entities and organizations abound; we know what the problems are as well as the desired solutions. The solutions require funds and funding. Many agencies provide the same services and for what most accomplish, their services/referrals can be placed on an automated system.

From me, to you

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Author

"Slinging Stones… Blog" by Mrs. Dorothy Barron:

http://dorothybarron.com/slingingstones or

http://mrsdbarron.typepad.com/slingingstones

Parents Taking Charge in Education Blog: http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

Twitter: Follow Mrs. Barron at  http://twitter.com/mrsdbarron

Our New Economic Horizon and Landscape by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Our New Economic Horizon and Landscape by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

The advent of the scope, various systems and speed of the Internet has changed our entire economic horizon and landscape. At one point, for most becoming wealthy was out of the question. However, a measure of wealth could possibly be acquired if one obtained a professional degree, worked hard and netted a mid to upper income. Such is not necessarily the case any longer.

Got an idea, a marketable product(s) or even someone else's product? One can become wealthy beyond one's imagination. Have you notice the new horizon of wealth and how that wealth is being made? This new horizon is seemingly comprised of young people below thirty (30) years of age and it is being made from/through the Internet. I am not advocating that everyone dash to the Internet and forget about serving customers/clients, marketing and offline business. Shortly, I will briefly provide you with reasons why I do not presently advocate placing your total business and business endeavors solely via the Internet?

Let us look as what could be considered as some advantages and challenges of this new generation of young, wealthy entrepreneurs. Some Advantages:

1. The young are willing to take risk.

2. Many are pioneering and charting the future

3. They are amassing wealth in what appears unprecedented numbers

4. They are the new wealthy generation and possess some of this country's greatest individual wealth. Some are using their wealth to assist and benefit the nation, its people and society in general.

Some Challenges:

1. Some of the young wealthy entrepreneurs lack experience, maturity and often wisdom that come only with age.

2. It appears that many are single and may not have children or family responsibilities and thus are rootless and rudderless

3. Integrity is a problem with some (although not solely a problem among the young)

4. Some with wealth and who are not rooted, vested or have ties within community do not understand the need or responsibility to give back to community or invest in people and programs which build the country and the country's future.

Do not misunderstand, nor do I wish to discourage those of you who through your talent, abilities, integrity and hard work have become financially successful, but please realize that such cannot replace the experience and wisdom that comes with age. Society requires both as pointed out in the blog post article titled, "We should have left Farmer John on the Farm" by Mrs. Dorothy Barron http://www.dorothybarron.com/slingingstones/2009/06/we-should-have-left-farmer-john-on-the-farm-by-mrs-dorothy-barron---now-before-anyone-takes-offense-let-me-explain-we-sh.html .

There are no free rides; others in the past made sacrifices and gave back for you and I to possess what we now have. We each must also give back to sustain the next generation. There is a large segment of the population out of work and numerous individuals/families have lost their homes. Exactly, how America or society's landscape will change as a result of the amount of wealth in the hands of those below 30 years of age is yet to be seen.  

Presently, the reason I do not advocate that one places all his/her proverbial "eggs in one basket" or the "Internet" is because the Internet is not yet a level and equally accessible tool for and to all. It has yet to be equipped to safeguard all individuals' personal and intellectual property. Presently, systems can be put in place to copy or duplicate one's intellectual property, download and upload one's websites, change one's computer operating system and redirect all information input and output elsewhere. At this time no matter how much anti-virus, anti-spy ware, changes of passwords, etc., and etc., technology now available can bypass any and all, wreaking havoc on some who would use the Internet for both personal and business purposes. I have written on this subject in the past. See blog post titled," A Free and Open Internet" by Mrs. Dorothy Barron at http://www.dorothybarron.com/slingingstones/2011/05/a-free-and-open-internet-by-mrs-dorothy-barron.html . The Internet is a great and powerful tool; systems and software allows it to outpace man. It is the designated tool of the present and future; it is expected to be used by most, if not all within society and therefore, imperative that the Internet be safeguarded to insure that each and all who use it as well as their possession and intellectual property be protected and safeguarded as well. Thanks to all who work toward this becoming a reality.  

From me, to you

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Author

"Slinging Stones… Blog" by Mrs. Dorothy Barron:

http://dorothybarron.com/slingingstones or

http://mrsdbarron.typepad.com/slingingstones

Parents Taking Charge in Education Blog: http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

Twitter: Follow Mrs. Barron at  http://twitter.com/mrsdbarron

 

Education Reform and Turning Failing Schools Around by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

Education Reform and Turning Failing Schools Around by Mrs. Dorothy Barron

"We cannot keep doing the same thing and calling it Reform or expecting a different outcome" (Mrs. Dorothy Barron).

Parents Taking Charge in Education Blog Post: 9/2/11- Building Confidence through New Experiences by Mrs. Dorothy Barron at http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com/2011/09/building-confidence-through-new.html

Pandora's Box in Education was opened and what did we find? What did we do, what were the results and most importantly, what is the remedy? Did reform occur and were any schools turned around that were failing?

First and foremost, we should drop the terminology Education Reform and Turning Failing Schools Around. Education Reform is passé; turning failing schools around lack depth of meaning and does not inspire people to move forward and move forward we must. We have moved into the technological and space age millennium, yet our schools, education, many educators and much of the curriculum remains 19^th Century. The new terminology - Innovative Education for the 21^st Century and Beyond should replace Education Reform. We shouldn't be talking in terms of turning failing schools around, but in terms of removing barriers to allow educators and students to meet the challenges of the new millennium.

 When Pandora's Box in Education was opened, what did we find? Out flew revelations:

1. Too many schools operating little more than a babysitting service
2. Unqualified educators (both in and outside the classroom)
3. Widespread cheating
4. Students who lacks basic skills needed to become economically self-sufficient

 What did we do?

1. Society became reactive instead of proactive; each sector went on the warpath
2. There were no effective strategies in place or none that the general public seemingly could understand to combat what was revealed.
3. Pink slips were handed out to educators (many were well deserving) which may not have served the purpose if those dismissed due to below par or negative job performance still managed to collect unemployment benefits.
4. Education Funding was cut

 What were and will be the results?

1. Chaos and turmoil; much of the public have become fed up, disenchanted and despondent with the Education System and education in general
2. Low morale among Educators
3. Disgruntled Educators whose attitudes affect students and their performance
4. Disinterested students
5. Inability to get rid of all poor performing educators- due to shortage of teachers
6. Educators dusting off past proposals that were circulated among schools and tweaking to resubmit under the new education plan
7. Doling out Education funding which more than likely will net the same results

 What is the remedy?

The remedy consists of a number of important components being put in place and effective; some of which:

1. A strong support system - Parents, Educators, Education Systems, Businesses and Communities
2. Education shortage- Alternative method and means in place. Incorporate the "bloodletting" or in this case the "teacher-letting" process. According to some, we cannot afford to lose any more teachers. Instead, should not the issue and question be, how many more students can we afford to lose due to ineffective educators?
3. Curriculum- that which will provide a good foundation, tailored and appealing to all learning styles.
4. Standards- across the board- nationwide for student and educator (achievement and environmental)
5. Obtain an accurate account of student performance which can assist this generation of students or allow this generation of students to fall through the cracks and concentrate on developing an effective education plan for the next generation

 As for the remaining question, did reform occur and were any schools turned around that were failing? My request for the President's Education Initiative was not forthcoming from the US Department of Education. The individual I spoke with at the US Department of Education insisted I go online even after I explained the vicissitudes which prevents my reading in-depth and lengthy documents online.

 In addition and in conjunction with this post, allow me to refer you to two additional posts that can provide additional thought for your consideration. It Begins with the Home and the Parents by Mrs. Dorothy Barron; If the home and Parents are where it all begin in the training and nurturing of children, why are often both last to be considered?

http://www.dorothybarron.com/slingingstones/2011/03/it-begins-with-the-home-and-the-parents-by-mrs-dorothy-barron.html . The second blog post title is No one's Taking the Fall by Mrs. Dorothy Barron. Surprised to hear that possibly 4 of 5 or 80% of our schools may be failing? We advocate for transparency in government and in this instance we received it; rather sobering statistics would you not agree? Now that we understand the true state of America's Education System, perhaps we can stop the blame game, get on the same page and move forward in Education. The link: http://www.dorothybarron.com/slingingstones/2011/03/no-ones-taking-the-fall-by-mrs-dorothy-barron.html .

From me, to you

Mrs. Dorothy Barron, Author

"Slinging Stones… Blog" by Mrs. Dorothy Barron:

http://dorothybarron.com/slingingstones or

http://mrsdbarron.typepad.com/slingingstones

Parents Taking Charge in Education Blog: http://mrsdbarron.blogspot.com

Twitter: Follow Mrs. Barron at  http://twitter.com/mrsdbarron