The past few days of my life are to be lived in what was the past not the right here and now. Why is it so hard for the mind to be fully present? Why do I allow fear and worry to take over my life? I had a complete moment of clarity while in a downward dog; not sure what happened or what snapped in my body and/or mind but this just sort of clarity oozed out of my being. I think it was something that the yogi said or maybe it was what was not said. Why do we let outside get so in that we cant get out?
Small Class Size Shows No Significant Impact on Student Achievement
According to Washington D.C. Public Schools Chancellor, Michelle Rhee, the research shows that “class size shows no significant impact” on student achievement. If the argument simply is that class size alone will not close the achievement gap, then fine, lets end this discussion right here and now. I wholeheartedly agree; however, if the argument is that class size has no significant impact on student achievement, engagement and retention for high school students, then there is not only research that supports small class size, but also my personal experience as a classroom teacher reveals that students needs, particularly in urban areas, can fall far short and lead to poor academics for youth. The reason why President Obama recently mentioned both Communities in Schools and the Met Center in Providence, Rhode Island as both organizations and schools who models were closing the gap, is because operationally, these programs and sites understand that urbanized youth need more than just lined rows of desks, with a teacher at the front of the room lecturing for 50 minutes before the standard drop out factory swallows another generation of compliant, ill-prepared students for the challenges of the 21st Century. What Big Picture and Communities in Schools understand is the need for relationships as the crucial cornerstone for students to thrive both academically and socially. 
