REVIEW: NESTA TUOMEY'S, THE STRAW HAT and other STORIES

5.0 out of 5 stars

 Irish Short Stories to Warm the Heart

I was fortunate to take a tour of Ireland in September of 2012. Breathtaking scenery, traditional Irish music and dancing, in addition to learning about the history, people, and culture of Ireland made for an awesome adventure. That is why I recommend reading The Straw Hat and other Stories. These are moving, well written short stories that will appeal to everyone, especially visitors to Ireland, Irish Americans, or anyone blessed enough to have their roots in Ireland. Ms.Tuomey is a natural storyteller. Her stories evoke a variety of emotions in the reader. The settings and dialogue are so authentic, one gets a true sense of Irish life. Read The Straw Hat and Other Stories. You will not be disappointed.

Meg

South Carolina

DISGRACE

On April 1, 2015,  Alan Blinder’s New York Times’ article shouted, “ Atlanta Educators Convicted in School Cheating Scandal.” 

This does not come as any surprise. I often wondered what dire consequences educators would pay as a result of high stakes standardize testing.

The cheating scandal is a case in point. The Atlanta educators included Superintendent of Schools,  Dr. Beverly L. Hall (deceased), principals, testing coordinators, and teachers.  After reading several accounts of the trial and convictions,  it is evident that Superintendent Hall created an environment which fostered cheating throughout at least 44 schools, which comprise 43% of all school sites in Atlanta. Even one school is one too many.

 Unfortunately, Georgia isn’t the only state in which this appalling practice occurs. A new survey by Fair Test reports, “Confirmed cases of test score manipulation in at least 37 states including Washington, D.C. were found in the past four academic years. The analysis by the National  FairTest Center reports there are at least 50 ways in which educators manipulated test scores during that period.”  This behavior is reprehensible.

(http://fairtest.org/fact%20sheets)

If this isn’t a wake up call for all citizens, I don’t know what is. Our national educational system is a disaster. All students have the right to the best education possible; one in which each student will reach his/her  full potential.

“Teaching to the test is an educational practice where curriculum is heavily focused on preparing students for a standardized test.”

“Opponents of this practice argue that it forces teachers to limit curriculum to a set range of knowledge or skills in order to increase student performance on the mandated test. This produces an unhealthy focus on excessive repetition of simple, isolated skills ("drill and kill") and limits the teacher's ability to focus on a holistic understanding of the subject matter."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

What some schools are doing to inflate their standardized test scores is criminal.  Not everyone who is an administrator or teacher is guilty and should not be judged as such. Behavior such as we have seen in Atlanta is a disgrace and must be stopped.

Live simply.

Speak gently.

Love unconditionally.

AWARENESS

I live in a small town with an even smaller  University Campus. There is a two lane road 

dividing the University and additional parking lots. Before crosswalks and speed limit signs 

were added, there were several serious accidents.


The requisite crosswalks were painted, in hopes that students, staff, and visitors would be 

safer.  However, both pedestrians and drivers have responsibilities. Drivers must 

observe the speed limit, be alert, and drive defensively.  Pedestrians must be observant, 

cautious, and use common sense.


I have seen students not use the crosswalks at all. They just meander across the street 

expecting people will stop for them. Some walk blithely across the street texting. 

Others step off the curb without hesitation. Do they not understand that they, too, must 

perform an action to keep safe.  



All is not lost. I applaud those who stop and look before  proceeding. I, especially, appreciate 

those who wave or smile a thank you.  Common courtesy  is still alive and well.


All drivers and pedestrians whether in small towns or large cities must be aware of how their 

actions impact  lives, theirs and others.

Live simply.

Speak gently.

Love unconditionally.