GIRLS RULE

More About Underachieving Boys

This topic is no stranger to this column: where are the boys? College admissions for males have dropped to 42 % and is seen going lower. Nearly 80 percent of high school drop outs are male. And, most sad, the current suicide rate for boys is 5 times the rate for girls.
Being smart is not cool and boys have made this attitude their mantra. The new culture of “hip-hop” with its message of easy money and disdain for discipline is as prevalent among white males as any ethnic group. With males’ natural inclination to be more boisterous and physical, it is no wonder that over 80 percent of discipline problems in schools belong to boys.
Add to the above the final ingredient of sports and the coddling that comes with being a good athlete and the teacher has little chance of closing the gender gap. Men for decades have taken boyish charm and “firm handshakes” to create job opportunities in manufacturing, construction or other physically demanding jobs. The new world order demands “smarts” in a technology driven environment and that message has been broadly embraced by women but not men.
Experts are suggesting such things as:
1. Hire more male teachers especially in communities where a male presence, such as a father figure is missing;
2. Create same sex schools where the curriculum can be tailored to the learning needs of male students;
3. Start boys one year later in kindergarten to provide more maturity in later years;
4. Create more attitude building programs that reward all males not just athletes.
The idea that boys won’t or can’t learn may be a cultural myth. American-born Asians of both sexes graduate at a rate 8 to 10 percent higher than all students. Asians also dominate graduating from college and hold over 50 percent of all conferred diplomas in the US according the 2003 US Census.
The difference is the attitude of parents toward education in Asian homes versus that of white parents. As soon as white parents and their children believe that the world will continue to thrive without them, attitudes toward education will revert to the dedication seen in the years following World War II.
Thinking is the new economy.

The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it’s unfamiliar territory. --- Paul Fix, actor

Are Dropout Rates Causing Watered Down Curricula?

With less than 70 percent of all students graduating high school this past year, will school administrators begin to lower standards and make it easier to graduate? Who owns this problem of students not completing school? Is it really a learning issue or a cultural issue? Will lower standards undermine those who do apply themselves in school? Is it a problem of too much despair and not enough hope?
Graduation rates by ethnicity:
Asian: 77%
White: 76%
Hispanic: 56%
Black: 52%
American Indian: 47%
Many questions, many facts, many theories but few answers.

Visit www.3MinuteLearning.com
GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE
© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC

THE DIRTIEST JOB

Germ-Phobics Need Not Apply

According to the Discovery Health Channel, the occupations that expose people to the most bacteria that cause illness are --- Teachers! Doctors are fifth on the list of exposure, behind such innocent occupations as banker and accountant. The CDC estimates that 1.5 million cases of acquired infections occur each year. Lost productivity due to illness is estimated at $10 billion per year.
So if you are a teacher and reading this interesting tidbit, get ready for your 2-3 colds this year. The little (or not so little) rug rats that you over see every day are waiting to spread their joy around. And do your co-workers and the other students a favor and stay home for a day or two until you are not sneezing or coughing on a regular basis. Unfortunately for your family, the incubation period where you are contagious occurs before the symptoms of a cold show. Make your apologies and some hearty chicken soup (definitely shown to be more helpful than most cold remedies!). Use tissues and wash hands frequently even after you are feeling better.

High Cost of Bad Hire

When an employee doesn’t work out, the costs involved such as recruiting, training, severance, lost productivity and the search for a replacement, is 2-3 times the annual salary for that position. For “high-end” positions, the loss can be as much as 5 times the salary. (By the way, the US median salary is about $42K.)
This is one of those factors not accounted for when companies slow hiring. Human resource people simply cannot pick the right candidates with high enough proficiency to avoid being wrong too often. This means that companies are slow to hire and slow to fire. One solution is to use the Workforce Investment Act that offsets salaries during training.
Another is to place people in an extensive orientation program. Once hired, companies can test people for reading and math skills, observe interpersonal interactions and account for such easily measurable factors such as timeliness, courtesy and communication efficiencies. As most companies have a 90-day no-fault policy, bad choices can be identified and eliminated.
The problem in most companies is the placement of new employees without orientation or a mentor. By the time incompetency becomes obvious, a year or more may have passed and now the company’s loss is much greater and cutting the employee may be more difficult. Productivity has definitively been affected and people around the incompetent worker may have also had diminished efforts.
The hiring process tries to be thorough but it is too easy to miss the right person. Mistakes can be corrected through an orientation program.

Annual Grocery Bill

According to the US Census, annual spending for groceries is highest in the Northeast ($6049) and lowest in the South ($5142). Initially, the numbers seem to make sense as colder climates means people are indoors more often and probably eat more often. But, the West at $6051 and the Midwest at $5338 confuse that logic. The West is certainly warm and as health conscious as anyplace in the south while the Midwest is cold, much colder considering Upper Michigan, Minnesota and the Dakotas, than the Northeast.
I guess the bottom line is you are looking for lower cost of eating, move to the South or the Midwest.

Letterman Fun

From the famously funnyman David Letterman:
1. The longest yard ever measured was 3 feet, 2 inches
2. A pound of feathers is 2 ounces lighter than a pound of cement
3. Canada is an Indian word for north of the border
4. It was so hot in Washington DC yesterday that President Bush spoke to the NAACP just for the cold shoulder!

Visit www.3MinuteLearning.com
GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE
© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC

CALL ME POOCH, PART 2

Watch a Dog for Better Health and Success

To finish some thoughts about what we can learn from our pet friends, the most important trait is unconditional love. Your dog will always love you, even those poor dogs left out in the cold and not allowed in the house. They still wag their tails, will be excited to see the owner and will stand watch trying to protect its home. Even ignoring them won’t deter their ability to forgive.
If people were just slightly more like dogs, there would be more attempts to negotiate and fewer instances of discriminatory behaviors, including war. The ability to offer unconditional love rarely exists in humans but is the mainstay of dogs. Unconditional love is the only mandatory commandment of Christianity.
Other attitudes we can observe in our friends include running to greet people when they come home, practicing obedience when it’s called for, enthusiasm, loyalty and avoid biting when a growl will do. Dogs have been shown to have a positive influence on older persons living in isolation, children with obsessive compulsive disorder and with hospitalized patients of ages.
Is it any wonder we spend so much time and money on our pets? If you would like some enjoyable reading, pick up Marley and Me.

Visit www.3MinuteLearning.com
GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE
© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC

CALL ME POOCH!

Watch a Dog for Better Health and Success

A dog can teach us to be more successful and to have better health. Recent research is suggesting that people are withdrawing from others and only have 1 or 2 friends and family. Dogs want to be friends with everybody and see them regularly. While it is not very appropriate to sniff people or wag your tail, certainly a big smile, a warm hello followed by good eye contact and firm handshake are acceptable equivalents. This openly friendly behavior will go far in today’s workplace and help make you very popular.
Another area worth watching our four-legged friends will affect your health. For example, every time you get out of a chair or get up in the morning, stretch. Watch a dog: as soon as they get up, they stretch. Stretching feels good and gets the body ready for some activity.
Once the stretch is done, they start looking for something to do, like going for a walk or getting some water. Not a soft drink or a beer but water and lots of it. And if they are heading for the food bowl, there’s a good chance you’ve given them a hearty blend of vegetarian kibble. Quality grains low in fat and salt with just enough roughage to keep the intestines clean and regular.
Dogs work and play hard and then take a break. Even though our schedules don’t allow for the lengthy breaks dogs enjoy, power naps will refresh you and give you more energy for the long day ahead. A power nap may be five minutes or less but it is just enough of a pause to energize your mind and body. Other cultures have long realized the value of breaking for a short time during the afternoon. Unfortunately, our American culture frowns on the need to take time out. Somehow, someway, exercise this idea with secrecy and caution but get it done.
One final suggestion for today, when you are criticized or someone makes you feel bad, don’t pout. Get right back up and make friends. You control your emotions, not someone else; only you can make you feel bad. So shake it off and start running with the pack right away.
In summary, stretch, walk, take breaks, drink water, eat whole grains and control your emotions. Not bad advice coming from wo/man’s best friend!

Visit www.3MinuteLearning.com
GROWTH <> LEADERSHIP <> EXCELLENCE
© 2006 3 Minute Learning LLC