The Present Tense of Education

Recently, I have come across two provocative publications about the current state of education. It has sparked much debate in my own mind, and I'd like to share with my readers (small in number, yet high in devotion).

Study: Achievement Gap Narrows between White, Black Students

A CNN report that reveals recent numbers about the achievement gap. Here are two notable quotes that I believe are true. "Society can pay for it now, or they can pay for it later," Newell said. "And they can pay for it by looking at our prison system, by looking at a shortage of talent in our workforce. And so when they look at it, not preparing all of our children now will affect us all later." Later, Kevin Huffman stated, "Aside from the short-term scores-oriented effect of narrowing the achievement gap, the long-term effect is one of a moral and economic obligation."

Should Everyone Go to College

A balanced and thought-provoking commentary about the utility and accessibility of higher education.

That's all for now. Rereading this, I feel incredibly idealistic and youthful, but the issues should be on the table, even if only blogged by 22 year-olds.

Present Tense-- Contest!!

I'm getting a little bogged down in my research, and to make matters more stressful, I just got summoned for jury duty (Not complaining, I'm happy to do my civic duty- it's just bad timing). Trace is in the thick of her summer semester and grinding through long days of class. In short, we need a pick-me-up.

So, to rejuvenate ourselves (and to secretly see if Present Tense has more than a 4-member audience), we're holding the first ever PRESENT TENSE JOKE CONTEST.

Here's how it works: Over the next week or so, feel free to submit as many awkward moments, humorous anecdotes, or fictitious tales as you would like. Google jokes, ask friends, or think it up... Whatever it takes. We will even accept pictures or video clips. You can post your joke as a comment to this post or email it to me (leohwhite@gmail.com) or Tracy (tc.bialis@gmail.com). Just make us laugh. Note: although I love them, Trace isn't a fan of vulgar jokes, so let's keep it quasi-clean. After a sufficient amount of entries, Tracy and I will judge them and declare a victor.

What's in it for you: If you win, we will publish your picture in an upcoming PRESENT TENSE post. And we will mail you 5 Dollars (I know it's not much, but whatever, we're poor). In sum, We are offering you fame and fortune .

That being said, let the contest begin. Make sure I can contact you in some way if I don't readily have your email or phone number. If we receive more than Naomi's interrupting cow joke, I'll be happy. So go on and be funny!

Pictures from Planes

Tracy and I have collected a few pictures from flights over various cities. I think they are worth sharing. Enjoy.

San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge on the left and the park on the right

Another View of SF: Bay Bridge at the top and Golden Gate Park at the bottom

Los Angeles at night

On the coast of the East Bay

Space Needle, Seattle

Somehwere between San Francisco and Seattle

Mt. Rainier!!

A month ago, at Louie and Naomi's wedding, Daniel Jessee flippantly mentioned that he was heading to Washington for an REI event and to climb Mt. Rainier. He invited me to go, and without considering the possibility, I told him that it sounded like an amazing trip (for him, not me). A week later, I remembered the conversation and started to give it some real thought. Flights were reasonable, I had some experience at 14,000 feet, and Daniel had already scoped out dates, routes, gear lists, etc... So I went for it.Now fast forward three weeks, a flight to Seattle, and an approach climb to Camp Muir at 10,000 ft.: On June 26 at 11:30pm, I woke after an 1.5 hours of sleep. Daniel and Jamie arose with me. We put on our helmets, cramp-ons, gaiters, and harnesses. We picked up our packs and ice axes and tethered ourselves to one another. We left camp and started toward the summit of Rainier at 12:45am. The first scare came as falling rocks bounced down the incline; we heard them first and saw them in the last second as they entered the scope of our headlamps. Next, we scampered up the loose rock fields. Still in the dark, we navigated around the (seemingly) bottomless crevasses. Scared and out of my comfort zone, I kept drudging forward and trying to stay focused on the task ahead.

As the hike wore on, Jamie, Daniel, and I got into a better rhythm and I gained more and more confidence. At 415ish AM, I witnessed the most majestic sunrise that I have ever seen. At 555am we summitted Mt. Rainier (14,441 ft)!


Looking back to the casual invitation from Daniel, the trip was so much more than I could have imagined then (or blog about now). Rainier was a formative and memorable experience for me. I learned so much about Mountaineering, respecting the outdoors, and my friends, Jamie and Daniel. My dad loves Mountaineering and lent me much of my gear, and I found myself thinking of him throughout the trip. He would have loved this trip (as most of my family would have). In the end, it was also a good test for me, and I feel accomplished to have completed the task.

A few thank yous: Daniel for leading and teaching, Dad for the gear and support, Blair for housing me and showing me around Seattle, Jamie for his infinite wisdom and newly found friendship, and Tracy for not worrying too too much. I've posted a few a pictures. I can show you more photos the next time I see you.

Cycling Diablo

Happy Father's Day! While I wish I could have seen my dad today, I had a great day. And here's the news of the day:

Tracy always seems to underestimate her abilities on the bike, so I thought Mount Diablo would be a good challenge for her. Last week Lou shipped her bike from Georgia, and this was our first weekend to ride together since September, 2008! Trace and I were up at 6am, and our wheels were down at 7am. I was hoping Tracy would summit, but no matter what, it was nice get outside with my girl and get some exercise.

As it turned out, Tracy rocked it! After two hours of climbing (and Tracy chatting the whole way), we topped Diablo at 9am. The views were spectacular. We stopped at the summit for a couple pictures and to call our dads. Before posting the pictures, I should confess something else. On our descent, I hit/ran over a squirrel. It was awful, because I don't think I killed it. It just dragged itself off the road. Sorry little guy. Now to the pictures...

Tracy climbing. The views are ridiculous. If you're reading this, come out and ride!

Getting out early was key, because we beat the heat and the cars. It was a quiet ascent.

Tracy's first ascent of Diablo! I was more excited than she was. In fact, this picture is evidence of that. I said, "Trace, you're doing awesome! I'm going to ride ahead, because I want to get a picture of your summit. You're killing it!" Tracy just nodded and kept peddling. I never thought I'd be that guy who needs that picture, but I'm glad I have this one. All I need now is the fanny-pack.

The person who took this had also cycled Diablo on his bike, except that he was at least 70 years old. We were so impressed. In fact, we witnessed lots of old people climbing as we descended. They were so inspirational.

Classic. Perfect day.

Papa Jim

One week after Father's Day, I will join my family on a boat off the coast of Dana Point, California, and watch the ashes of James Robertson, my papa, dissolve into the salty Pacific. 

The sound of relief, exhaustion, and nasal congestion in my mother's voice tipped me off that his time had come.  

Alzheimer's Disease stole papa's dignity from him in his last years. It stole his memory, his independence, and it stole a peaceful death. No technology and pharmaceutical advancement to date was able to stop the inevitable progression. 

Papa raised four strong, independent women. He was adored by all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a painter and a photographer. He danced anytime he heard music. He ate ice cream, had a mean Donald Duck impression, and dedicated part of his life to the Navy. Although there is so much more to papa than that, I regret to admit that this is all I know of him. I was barely old enough to comprehend before the disease had reduced our relationship to few-hour visits at a nursing home facility. 

 When we release his ashes into the ocean next weekend, I will have to refrain from being jealous of the water for having the chance to be much more intimate with papa than I ever had the chance to.

My heart is broken for my grandmother, my mom, and my aunts. Moreover, my heart is broken for the other 5.3 million Americans who have AD, and their families. 

 

I took this photo outside my grandparents' house in Dana Point, and it hung in his room. It reminds me of Papa because he was always taking beautiful pictures of flowers.

Emotions

The past month has been intense emotionally. Throughout each wedding I witnessed person after person pour their hearts out towards one another. The love of each couple resonated through everyone. During the last wedding, Louie and Naomi's ceremony, that emotion became a more personalized, less vicarious reaction. Reuniting with my home, friends, and relatives was a rush in itself. I watched my mom and dad handle the entire process of giving away a daughter. Then, realizing the change my sister and Lou were experiencing compounded it all. Experiencing those emotions within a four-hour party can be deafening and overwhelming. Only now, a week and a many miles later, have I been able to comprehend the meaning of last week's wedding. In short, I feel closer to my family* and the friends that joined Naomi and Louie. It was certainly representative of all the support they will always have. I will not forget those feelings.

I think all emotions act like that. You experience them, hold on, and only hindsight gives you some grasp of what transpired. And knowing that provides solace when experiencing any overly-emotional time--be it sadness, stress, boredom, or exhilaration. It really speaks to the truth in Tracy's "Velo Rouge" post, and it makes me think differently about the present tense.


*especially with whom I shared late-night karaoke