=0D
Godspeed, Ted.=0D
=0D
=0D
=0D
-Stacey=0D
=0D
=0D
=0D
***************=0D
Anastasia Giordano=0D
Academic Dean=0D
The Albany Academies=0D
135 Academy Rd=0D
Albany, NY 12208=0D
518.429.2423=0D
518-429-2438 fax=0D
=0D
The Albany Academies is committed to developing the potential of the=0D
whole individual by building a community that fosters scholarship,=0D
leadership, character, service, and creativity.=0D
=0D
-----Original Message-----=0D
From: A forum for independent school educators=0D
[mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Peter Gow=0D
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 10:57 AM=0D
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU=0D
Subject: Ted Sizer=0D
=0D
At the risk of adding unnecessary clutter to our lives, I have been=0D
musing a=0D
bit on the life and work of the late Ted Sizer and how it made a=0D
personal=0D
difference in my life.=0D
=0D
It occurs to me that there is a whole generation of us in the ed biz for=0D
whom Sizer's HORACE books came along just as we were likely to have been=0D
entering our mid career doldrums. Grumpy about the compromises we had=0D
been=0D
making, even at our idyllic independent schools, we empathized with=0D
Horace=0D
over his. And then along came HOPE and even the promise of a new way of=0D
doing SCHOOL.=0D
=0D
Some of us sought new schools, some of us changed what we did in our=0D
classrooms, and I think a lot of people on this list started looking for=0D
ways to change our schools. Looking for support, good ideas, or just a=0D
sense=0D
we weren't alone, we joined this list, which our Wise Founders created=0D
at=0D
just the right moment to facilitate the growth of what we didn't then=0D
call=0D
our Personal (or Professional) Learning Networks.=0D
=0D
A few of our schools affiliated with the Coalition of Essential Schools,=0D
and, even if your school didn't, I am betting that just about everyone=0D
who=0D
reads this looks at those Ten Common=0D
Principles<http://www.essentialschools.org/pub/ces_docs/about/phil/10cps=0D
/10cps.html>as=0D
the most perfect statement of educational common sense we are ever=0D
likely=0D
to encounter.=0D
=0D
I ran across Ted Sizer's work just when I needed to reinfuse my work=0D
with a=0D
powerful elixir, and I realize that I owe him--and Nancy, whose work has=0D
been enormously valuable to me--a huge debt of gratitude for shaking me=0D
up=0D
and showing me a new way. We all stand on the shoulders of giants, and=0D
Ted=0D
Sizer has been one for me.=0D
=0D
If you don't know the Sizers' work directly, take a few hours and enjoy=0D
THE=0D
STUDENTS ARE WATCHING. Or take a couple of days and visit the Francis W.=0D
Parker Charter Essential School <http://www.parker.org>. Or look around=0D
at=0D
what we call best practices in so many areas of school organization,=0D
curriculum, and school culture.=0D
=0D
A moment of silence, and then three cheers for Ted Sizer!=0D
=0D
All good wishes--Peter Gow=0D
=0D
=0D
=0D
-- =0D
Peter Gow=0D
Director of College Counseling and Special Programs=0D
Beaver Country Day School=0D
791 Hammond Street=0D
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467=0D
www.bcdschool.org=0D
617-738-2755 (O)=0D
617-738-2747 (F)=0D
petergow3 (Skype)=0D
=0D
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please notify the sender by email and immediately delete the communication.=
=0D
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