“Today we are turning a page of the book of life and entering a new chapter.”

Commencement is defined in the dictionary as the beginning of something new but it is also a continuation. Rather than leading to a new chapter every graduate must realize that the learning experience, formal and informal, will continue throughout life. Lifetime learning has become a reality of the 21st Century.

It is estimated today that more information will be generated in one year than in the previous 5,000 years. The amount of new technical information is doubling every two years. By the year 2010 it is predicted that it will double every 72 hours. Perhaps the most important lesson today’s students can learn is that they will always be training and learning. For those who are starting a 4-year technical or college degree program in 2008, one-half of the information they learn in their first year of study will be outdated by their third year.

Graduation at every level (high school, technical school or college) is a great achievement but is only the beginning. Facing the reality of lifelong learning requires educators to cultivate positive attitudes toward learning. Taking mandatory classes and passing tests can result in superficial or negative motivation. Rather than the desire to learn the subject matter, the student is motivated by the fear of negative results. The likely consequence to this negative orientation is a lack of motivation to engage with course material. This experience may reinforce a feeling of incompetence and lead to poor performance in the classroom. It is probable that students in this category will shy away from lifelong learning. As educators it is our mission to turn negative motivation into a positive desire to learn.

D. Stipek in his book Motivation to Learn states the obvious - “Individuals always do best when learning is enjoyable.” Learning becomes enjoyable when students engage in learning for their own intrinsic reasons (i.e. because they want to rather than have to). Positive motivation will result when a student develops a positive feeling from mastering subject mater with challenging material. Then by internalizing achievement values the student will also engage in academic activities (mandatory courses) that may be of low interest.

How does an educator motivate his or her students to become ready for lifelong learning? There is no answer that applies to every student but it has been well established that we learn better when the subject matter relates to a real-life situation as in the following example.

The geometry teacher invited a construction engineer to speak to his class. The engineer took the class to an outdoor area. Using string and state-of-the-art surveying equipment he helped the students lay out the foundation lines for a house. This exercise reinforced the importance of calculating accurate angles i.e. geometry.

Such a real-life application of subject matter makes learning enjoyable, practical and long-lasting. The student is also introduced to a career that actually applies the subject matter to a real-life experience. The human resources available in every community are an asset to the educator and help to reinforce the relevance of subject matter.

“Commencement” is definitely a step forward but the path of learning continues. Knowing that there is always more to learn creates a positive energy and excitement as we face the challenges of the future.

Jim Leatherwood is the author of Facing the Future Together: Forming Successful School-Business Partnerships. Website: Successful School Business; E-mail: thebrookepress@aol.com.

Founded two and a half years ago, Classical Comics first title was Henry the V in November, 2007, followed by the launch of a Macbeth graphic novel in February, 2008. The Macbeth title received the endorsement of Shakespearean actor, and former Star Trek, The Next Generationstar Patrick Stewart. Upcoming titles for the remainder of 2008 include: Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, and a Christmas Carol. Seven new titles are planned for 2009.

Unlike prior educational efforts, Classical Comics’ titles come in four text options: the original text of the play or novel, plain text translation, a quick text for younger readers, and, a blank text where readers may fill in the captions and bubbles. The first titles are also accompanied by detailed study guides, aimed at the British equivalent of grades kindergarten through middle school. While the titles are too new for the company to have collected readership data, the original version would be likely targeted at ninth and tenth graders with the translations to be more popular with younger readers. I will know better shortly, as the company has shipped me a box of the titles. I have been warned that it will be a very heavy box!

Classical Comics’ managing director Karen Wenborn, a marketer and self-professed avid reader said that the first titles have been well-received because of their high visual quality, substantial feel (gloss paper, much like hardbound graphic novels) and efforts to be true to the period of the story. From viewing covers for the titles at Classical Comics’ website, artwork and action are quite similar to the modern superhero genre. Wenborn pointed out that past efforts to represent classical literature in comics have faltered because the artwork had not been kept up to date; she added that while those titles are being reprinted in the original art, their largest market in the U.K is nostalgia buffs, as opposed to students and educators.

I agree with Karen that visual quality is essential for the success of these titles. Super heroes are actually “old” characters in the United States, for instance, Batman and Superman characters from the 1940’s. Spiderman, Hulk and Ironman are creations from the early 1960’s. Yet these titles succeed, not because they have been made into cartoons and movies, but because their look has been considerably freshened up to appeal to adults (who bought the titles as kids) as well as children. Characters from the 1940’s and 1960’s have had to keep up with the times, as well as technology.

A graphic novel of a classic book, by comparison, does not need to be “updated,” but artistic techniques, combined with historical research, make the story truer to the time it took place. The reader will be comparing their first exposure to these stories with movies that use computer-generated images. A plain text book with no illustrations or one of the original comics will appear dull compared to the visual representations kids see today in comics, video games and movies.

However, Karen explained that Classical Comics are more expensive to produce than similar graphic novels because of the research required for powerful visual effects as well as translations. I see only two obstacles to success: cost to schools versus a more traditional book (which is serious in times of tight budgets in U.S. public schools) and past beliefs about comics among individual educators. I have to ask if librarians might be a stronger market for U.S. expansion; they are more likely to promote the entertainment value of reading than teachers. However, if I were a teacher, and especially if I were the head of a high school English department, I would be trying to negotiate a fair price on original and basic text versions of these books. I know they would entice students to read other titles on their own.

Karen told me that the titles have been very well received in the U.K; they have received the endorsement of Shakespeare for Kidz, an international non-profit organization that provides Shakespeare education to children through a variety of media, and the National Association for the Teaching of English.

I look forward to seeing these titles and reviewing them for you.

Contact Stuart Nachbar at Educated Quest, a blog on education politics, policy and technology or read about his first book, The Sex Ed Chronicle, a novel on education and politics in 1980 New Jersey, at Sex Ed Chronicles.

Things You Need to Consider:

Once you decide to avail of a student card, ensure to consider a few things. First, you need to ascertain the annual fees of a bank issuing credit cards. It is the amount that a credit card company charges on their card every twelve months. Some student credit cards do not have such annual fees.

Before applying for a student credit card, understand how this credit card works and how you can avoid getting yourself in troubles. Usually, credit cards offer loan on purchases. You may purchase anything without paying instant cash using your student card. Eventually, you need to pay such purchase charges with certain interest to credit card companies. Most companies permit 30 days to repay the due amount.

If you fail to repay this amount within a certain stipulated period, the credit company may charge an interest on your card. Usually, credit card companies charge a percentage of interest on the overdue amount. Hence, if you have a balance of $100 and if your credit card company charges 15% interest on your credit card, then you owe $115 to your credit card company. You also need to consider the interest rate and other charges levied on your credit card. Most of the credit card companies also charge penalty fees for going beyond the credit limit.

The interest rates charged on student credit cards are rising since the past few years and hence, if you possess any student credit card, you need to ensure yourself by paying the minimum amount due duly to avoid any sort of hefty interest on your credit card. Hence, it is advisable to get enough knowledge on the ins and outs of credit cards and a credit card company’s interest charges on their cards.

At times, if you spend more than your credit limit, your credit card company may charge some amount of interest on your excessive amount. This not only triggers additional fees on your credit card, but also suggests that you no longer can make use of your credit card. If you pay more attention to the different norms and conditions of student credit cards, you can choose a suitable one for usage.

Suggestions:

Avoid spending more than the credit limit, since it is likely to cause to pay more than your budget and damage your credit standing. Student credit cards are an ideal way to build credit standing. However, one needs to be very careful while using them. Ensure to use them only when need arises. Try deriving maximum benefits from them and avoid calling for any difficulty.

Find a student credit card and more of Tom’s work at FINDcollegecards.

Exaggeration

If your contact on a free dating website seems inclined to exaggerate in speech or attitude, you should be cautious about further interaction with him or her. While everyone is allowed to feel positive about their accomplishments, when you find someone who always does everything better than anyone else, it can get very annoying in a hurry. You should not continue to associate with such a person, since dishonesty in this area may carry over into every aspect of the person’s character and lifestyle. There is always a certain amount of trust in any online relationship, but if you find constant exaggeration from your online contact it may be overcompensation for serious defects in character.

Reticence

A free dating website contact who seems unduly reticent about themselves may also be one that you should be cautious about getting too close to. If the person is simply reserved or even shy about social contact perhaps it will be worth the effort to get to know them better so that you can enjoy their perspective on life. But, if the person is simply secretive because they have something to hide, you should trust your instincts to not have anything more to do with them. If there is no trust on either side, this is not the best type of relationship to be developing.

Implausible

Another characteristic that should raise questions in your mind about the veracity of the contacts you make on a free dating website is claiming implausible feats or characteristics for oneself. If you find it hard to believe that a person has appeared in hundreds of movie stunts or has been a mentor for a famous musician, it is easy enough to check. For those claims that still seem implausible, you sometimes will have to trust your instincts.

Outright falsehoods

Of course, you should never countenance a free dating website acquaintance who telling an obvious lie. The difficulty lies in knowing when it is a lie. For example, a picture of an attractive adult female included with a profile that is somewhat explicit in the description of favorite activities may be dangerous for an adult male to arrange to meet if she is actually a sixteen year old rebelling from overly controlling parents. You won’t always know if you are being lied to but it is better to be safe than to be involved with a person who feels the need to lie about appearance, age, or wealth.

Oversize ego

Another type of person that is very annoying to find on a free dating website is one who has an overly large opinion of their own appearance or characteristics. Sometimes you will find this in males and sometimes in females. The person who points out that they graduated with highest honors from a prestigious university and doesn’t want to be contacted by anyone with lesser achievements is unfortunately, probably not going to get many responses to the profile. If the filter is set to exclude anyone you do not consider to be on your level, you may not receive many responses to your profile.

Finding the best information about any free dating site can be achieved if you locate and use the best resource site on the internet. This can be found at Free Dating Website or Dating Website where you can join absolutely free sites.

Just as the title says, free dating sites don’t ask you to haul out your credit card. You don’t pay for the privilege of hanging out on the web site. You place your picture and your profile where others can see and review it. If they like what they see, they can contact you and you don’t have to pay anything for the contact, for posting your picture or anything else associated with the free site. These sites are funded by the advertising that is placed on the web site. The sponsors hope you will recognize their contribution and patronize their products when possible.

The supermarket concept

When you go into a large supermarket, you find a wide variety of products and sometimes many different brands of each product. The same thing is true of free dating sites. There are many different people who have added profiles to the web site and you can pick and choose those with interests that are similar to yours. You can even be adventuresome and contact people with interests that you would like to become more familiar with. Because the site is free, it certainly doesn’t cost you anything to look over the contacts that are available on the site. You may just find your heart’s dream.

Safety features

Today, with all the screening and other safety features that are found on the internet, you may not have as many concerns about an unwanted person gaining access to your personal and private information. With responsible free dating sites, you don’t need to waste your time worrying about such things. You can block or remove names of people that you don’t want further contact with. You should, of course, take responsibility of not rushing into a face to face meeting until you are satisfied that the person is one who you want to get to know better.

Variety

The variety of people and interests that you find on free dating sites is truly amazing. Just do a search on keywords and you will find people that have used that information in their profiles. If you really don’t want to date someone with green hair and red eyes, you can exclude them from your selection. Just as in the supermarket, not everyone likes broccoli but if you want to find specific characteristics you can set your profile searches very narrow. Or you can take advantage of the tremendous variety of people and characteristics and make a lot of new potential internet dating contacts.

Narrow your options

It’s certainly no secret that the more people you meet, the more likely you are to find someone that you want to spend more time with in a romantic sense. But, if you don’t meet the people in the first place, you certainly will be missing out on opportunities to improve your dating life. Free dating sites allow you to increase your social and dating life in perfect safety. You know what you are looking for in most instances, and these internet sites allow you to pursue looking without making any type of commitment before you are ready to do so.

The resources that are available on free online dating sites are extensive, but when you choose to link up with a dating site, make certain that you pick the one with the most possibilities. It’s found at Free Dating Sites or Dating Sites where you can join free sites and start dating.

The term Astrology came from the Greek word “astron” which means “star”, and “logos” meaning “study”. Astrology also means knowing or learning about the traditions and beliefs. This is where in an information of the relative positions of different kinds of celestial bodies plus its associated details are held very useful in accepting, interpreting, and arranging personalities, human relationships, and other earthly matters.

A person who studies astrology is usually called an astrologer, or, sometimes an astrologist. A number of traditions for these relative astrological ideas that arose along the initial period of the third millennium even Before Christ are, up to now, being applied. Aside from this, Astrology played a major role in shaping our culture, as well as in instilling other teachings throughout our history.

Astrology and astronomy is sometimes impossible to differentiate especially in the modern era. With the belief in foretelling and divinatory information, this made it become one of the basic influential factors for astronomical observation. Thus, Astronomy, subsequent to this, started to move away from astrology and follow a period of slow division from the Renaissance even up to the eighteenth century. In the long run, astronomy identifies itself as a methodical study of astronomical objects and phenomena which lacks the regard for the astrological assumption of these phenomena.

Astrology is also commonly defined as the study of hypothetical influences of the cosmos living on earth. Modern astrologers describe astrology as an emblematic language, an art form, and lastly a form of prediction. In spite of various differences of definitions, a most common theory of astrology is the use of outer space or celestial placements in order to clarify past and present events as well as predict the future. The overwhelming mass of the scientific society considers astrology a fallacy. Faith in astrology remains prevalent, with 30 to 35% of Americans trusting in it. Thus, according to a separate study, 40% considers it scientific.

The beginning of the astrological technique that would later build up in most parts of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East are found in the middle of the ancient Babylonians and their classification of celestial omens which started to be compiled approximately in the middle of the 2nd millennium BCE. This classification of famous celestial omens were later on spread also indirectly or directly all over the Assyrians and Babylonians as well as to other places such as the Middle East, India and Greece, where in, it merged with pre-existing native forms of astrology. This so called Babylonian astrology went to Greece as early as the middle part of the 4th century BCE. Then during the early part of the first century BCE, just right after the Alexandrian conquests.

However, this Babylonian astrology was somehow mixed with the Egyptian custom of decanic astrology in building horoscopic astrology. This new type of astrology, which originated in Alexandrian Egypt, rapidly reached across the prehistoric world of Europe, the Middle East as well as India.

Here are some tips on How to Interpret Astrology Charts

Step 1

The initial step is to accept the Chinese astrology chart by knowing the significance of the 12 houses, where in, each house represents at least one feature of your life. Almost all of the houses are evidently defined, describing to such areas like “Health”, “Children” and specially “Wealth”. You can check out “The Life Palace” which usually represents one’s personality and even foretells one person’s destiny.

Step 2

The second step is the study of the stars. Based on the order of thought, there are between 100 up to 115 stars used in the Chinese astrology charts, where in, each would represent a certain side of your life. These types of stars are mathematical symbols which represents different kinds of energies that greatly affect your life experiences.

Step 3

Look for certain patterns. Often times the patterns created are more significant than the individual stars on the chart.

Step 4

You should interpret a Chinese astrology chart with lots of intuition. Comparing their patterns and at the same time, their groupings. You can asses how these stars would go down in its corresponding houses. Thus, Chinese astrology usually leaves more space to have a meditation period about the result as compared to the conventional Western astrology.

Chinese Astrology:

In Chinese astrology, the zodiac of the twelve animal signs represents twelve different types of personality. You can actually check your year of birth in order to find out what your Chinese astrology is.

1. Rat: 1900 1912 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 2020. Straightforward, disciplined, systematic, careful, charismatic, hardworking, diligent, charming, eloquent, friendly, shrewd. Can be manipulative, heartless, dictatorial, rigid, stingy, obstinate, critical, over-confident, ruthless, intolerant, crafty and sturdy.

2. Ox : 1901 1913 1925 1937 1949 1961 1973 1985 1997 2009 2021. Dependable, calm, systematic, patient, hardworking, resourceful, conventional, steady, humble, logical, resolute, persistent. Can be headstrong, narrow-minded, materialistic, firm, and demanding.

3. Tiger : 1902 1914 1926 1938 1950 1962 1974 1986 1998 2010 2022. Can be unpredictable, rebellious, bright, powerful, passionate, bold, impulsive, vigorous, enjoyable, sincere, affectionate, altruistic, and generous. Can be restless, rash, impatient, irritable, obstinate, and selfish.

4. Rabbit: 1903 1915 1927 1939 1951 1963 1975 1987 1999 2011 2023. Gracious, kind, sympathetic, soft-spoken, amiable, refined, reserved, cautious, creative, thorough, tender, confident, keen, compassionate, flexible. Moody, detached, shallow, self-indulgent, opportunistic, and sometimes slothful.

5. Dragon : 1904 1916 1928 1940 1952 1964 1976 1988 2000 2012 2024. Generous, stately, vigorous, powerful, self-assured, vain, noble, direct, dignified, enthusiastic, fiery, passionate, positive, pioneering, ambitious, charitable, loyal. Can be arrogant, imperious, dictatorial, demanding, eccentric, pretentious and extremely bombastic, biased, dogmatic, over-confident, violent, impetuous and bold.

6. Snake : 1905 1917 1929 1941 1953 1965 1977 1989 2001 2013 2025. Can be deep thinker, wise, visionary, graceful, soft-spoken, arousing, creative, prudent, quick, ambitious, elegant, careful, responsible, calm, powerful, constant, and purposeful. Sometimes loner, bad communicator, jealous, hedonistic, self-doubting, and deceitful.

7. Horse : 1906 1918 1930 1942 1954 1966 1978 1990 2002 2014 2026. Most of the time cheerful, popular, quick-witted, variable, earthy, perceptive, loquacious, agile mentally and physically, captivating, intelligent, astute, ductile, open-minded. Can be inconsistent, anxious, rude, trustful, stubborn, lack stability and determination.

8. Sheep : 1907 1919 1931 1943 1955 1967 1979 1991 2003 2015 2027. Can be righteous, sincere, sympathetic, pleasant, shy, artistic, lovely, gentle, compassionate, patient, determined, self-satisfied, and generous. Can be moody, indecisive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, grumble.

9. Monkey : 1908 1920 1932 1944 1956 1968 1980 1992 2004 2016 2028. Inventor, motivator, imprudence, quick-witted, inquisitive, adaptable, innovative, problem solver, confident, sociable, polite, reserved, competitive, objective, accurate. Can be egotistical, vain, egoistic, cunning, envious, and suspicious.

10. Rooster : 1909 1921 1933 1945 1957 1969 1981 1993 2005 2017 2029. Keen, neat, meticulous, neat, self-assured, decisive, traditional, critical, perfectionist, attentive, zealous, practical, systematic, responsible. Can be over enthusiastic and critical, puritanical, arrogant, and abrasive.

11. Dog ; 1910 1922 1934 1946 1958 1970 1982 1994 2006 2018 2030. Can be honest, intelligent, straightforward, faithful, sense of justice and fair play, good-looking, amiable, unpretentious, friendly, open-minded, idealistic, righteous, practical, and affectionate. Can be hostile, lazy, unfeeling, judgmental, despairing, worrier, stubborn, argumentative.

12. Pig : 1911 1923 1935 1947 1959 1971 1983 1995 2007 2019 2031. Sincere, simple, gallant, powerful, sociable, peace-loving, diligent, loyal, hard-working, trusting, honest, calm, understanding, pensive, scrupulous, passionate, bright. Can be naive, over-reliant, wicked, gullible, fatalistic, and sometimes materialistic.

Signs in WESTERN ASTROLOGY:

• VIRGO – Aug 22 up to Sept 23

• SCORPIO – Oct 24 up to Nov 22

• LIBRA – Sept 24 up to Oct 23

• ARIES – Mar 21 up to Apr 20

• AQUARIUS – Jan 21 up to Feb 19

• GEMINI – May 22 up to June 21

• LEO – Jul 23 up to Aug 21

• CANCER – Jun 22 up to Jul 22

• PISCES – Feb 20 up to Mar 20

• CAPRICORN – Dec 23 up to Jan 20

• TAURUS – Apr 21 up to May 21

• SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23 up to Dec 22

For more information on Astrology Charts: Its Origin and Interpretation please visit our website.

The good news is great photos can really be a snap — if you keep in mind a few important tips. I guarantee that in no time you’ll be having fun with photo sharing and easy photo printing!

Tip #1: Buy a camera you’re comfortable with!

There are many digital cameras to choose from and, with all the bells and whistles, making a selection is not easy. While all these “extra” features are great to have, ask yourself these two question: What do I really need and what can afford? Then make your selection and learn all you can about the model you buy. And keep the camera’s manual close at hand so you can continually refer to it. You’ll definitely want a camera that makes uploading photos to your computer a snap, as that allows for photo sharing.

Tip #2: Keep the camera steady

The #1 reason our photographs turn out fuzzy or blurry is that the camera is shaking. As you probably have found out, the slightest movement can be disastrous, especially when your looking for high-quality photo sharing and easy photo printing. You don’t want to waste your time taking photos or end up with blurry prints.

But keeping a steady hand is not easy. So to ensure that you take photos that are really sharp and clear every time, you can do 3 things — use a tripod (not likely but it is foolproof)…or simply put your camera on any flat surface (not always realistic)…or you can just lean back on a wall or tree and hold yourself steady.

Remember, a still holder and a still camera will make all the difference in the world if you want to produce clear, sharp photos share you’ll be proud of.

Tip #3: When to use your flash

The flash is used to eliminate dark shadows. But it’s also tends to create a barrier that can actually wash out the natural mood that’s so important to capturing mood and feel. So the important decision is when to use it — and not use it. Disregard the urge to use the flash when you camera tells you to.

Instead, whenever you can, use the natural light that’s available. In a darkened setting, instead of the flash, turn out all surrounding lights to highlight the room. You’ll be amazed at how easily your will create photos that are beautiful and poignant.

Be sure to know your flash’s range. For most cameras, the maximum range is less than 15 feet. Keep this in mind and you’ll enjoy photo sharing and easy photo printing because all your photos will be outstanding!

Tip #4: Bring your photos to life

Here’s a simple way to turn ordinary photos into unusual and interesting shots. Don’t keep your subject in the middle of the frame. Instead, simply shift the image slightly to the left or the right. You’ll be delighted with the results.

Tip #5: Turn your camera sideways!

Now why would you want to do that? The answer shouldn’t be a surprise. With a vertical shot, you can create a picture that is much more intriguing. Try it for yourself. You’ll soon be taking all sorts of vertical photos –- and enjoying the more! And the better the picture, the more you’ll enjoy photo sharing.

Tip #6: Be creative!

Don’t let the photo control you. You control the photo. Use your imagination and your creativity and you’ll get plenty of compliments.

Change locations. Add props. Arrange your subjects and photograph them in different poses. You’ll take photos that will be a source of pride and joy forever.

Tip #7: Preserve your memories

You never know where or when that next great photo op will present itself! So be prepared — carry additional memory cards. Just like a computer, you need some backup. Believe me, sooner or later, you’ll need that extra storage capacity. And when you enjoy photo sharing and easy photo printing with the people in your life and see the smiles on their faces, you’ll be glad you had the extra backup.

Photographs can help you create wonderful family keepsakes that tell the stories of your life. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll look forward to years of photo sharing and easy photo printing, and preserve a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.

CJ Carroll writes for a variety of clients, including Hoorray, a photo sharing website that offers a free online photo album to new members and is the easiest place to create a digital photo album, calendar, and more.

Some called him elitist and out of touch, but in all honesty he was correct in his assessment of the Black community.

Unfortunately, African Americans trail practically every other ethnic group across the country when it comes to standardized tests. The high school drop out rates for African American males is approximately 50 percent and the incarceration rates for that group is approximately the same.

To combat this horrific trend, Darrell “Coach D” Andrews, motivational speaker, consultant and author of books like Believing the HYPE-Seven Keys to Motivating Students of Color and The Purpose Living Teen—A Teen’s Guide to Living Your Dreams is speaking out about problems concerning education in the Black community.

Andrews has been recognized nationally for his HYPE (Helping Youth Pursue Excellence) Program, which provides hope for students and parents of color.

“Parents and schools must get over their differences and unify around synergistic goals. Reaching all of our students through effective relationship building and parental involvement should be two priorities,” he said.

“I have found that many African American and Latino parents are using their past education experiences as a foundation for their interaction with schools. If the experience was beneficial, their children usually get high parental involvement. If it was negative, they avoid the school like it was a plague and their children get little to no parental involvement,” said Andrews.

He added, “This has a damaging effect on student academic performance. My mother had a negative school experience however she did not use this as a foundation for our academic experience. She built effective relationships with my brother and I as well as the school. As a result, both my brother and I have college degrees.”

Coach D suggests three strategies to improve education in the Black community. He believes educators and parents should make student success the goal and the two groups should meet regularly to discuss the subject of student achievement.

Andrews also believes education in the Black community would improve if educators helped students identify special talents and gifts.

Lastly, he believes if students and parents receive rewards and praise for their success, it will motivate others to follow their lead.

In majority minority North Forest Independent School District in Houston, students habitually test extremely low on standardized tests, money is constantly mismanaged and the district is in now on probation from Texas Education Agency.

Classrooms are often filled with uncertified teachers and many of the district’s graduates enter college well behind their peers.

It has become so bad that many North Forest residents catch the city bus to attend schools in neighboring Houston Independent School District. This sad reality is proof that students want a quality education if they are willing to transfer districts. And although they may fail standardized tests, it is not them that are failing it is everyone else failing them.

In order for education in the Black community to become something required and demanded, it is up to adults, from teachers to parents, to demand more from themselves.

Todd A. Smith is the web master for Regal Mag The preeminent Online Magazine for African American Men

No college is perfect for everyone, and there are probably only one or two colleges that are ideal for you. Your college experience will influence the rest of your life, so you need to select carefully but without procrastination.

College costs are a huge issue, but not as nasty as you may assume. The most expensive schools all offer significant scholarships for those in need, so any school can turn out to be relatively inexpensive to you or even free if you make the effort.

Don’t rule out any school without looking into their financial aid options first. And take the initiative to ask a college or university for more money if they don’t offer you enough to make it affordable.

There are several available college assessments that rank every university according to academics, student happiness, and a number of other factors. These lists are somewhat useful to determine the general learning and social atmosphere each school provides, but they are not always accurate or sufficiently detailed concerning what the school is actually like.

Take advantage of these lists to consider how future employers will likely perceive your educational achievements there, regardless of your actual experience as a student.

Ivy League schools “infuse” your educational records with the extra boost you may need to be recognized for different job opportunities after graduation, despite that such colleges are not always as great as their reputations might otherwise imply.

The learning atmosphere is extremely competitive, but you can get the high-status connections for post-college success. There are many less well known schools with more low-key learning styles and superior educations.

One crucial consideration when evaluating your college choices is the location. Every college or university is part of its setting. Do you want to live in the city or the country? Do you want an isolated campus or one that is distributed throughout a town? Do you prefer proximity to a beach or the mountains?

Remember, you’re only in the classroom itself for so long; the rest of the time you will live in the geographical setting. Try not to feel intimidated about leaving home to live on or near campus. It can be a great experience in independent living.

When planning for college, give a higher priority to how you want to learn rather than what you want to learn. You will have plenty of time to pick a major, but for the short term focus on your preferred teaching style and the type of educational environment in which you learn most effectively. You can go to a huge university with large lecture halls and many tests, or a small school with seminar discussions and more emphasis on written essays.

Bear in mind, you can always transfer if you decide after the fact that you don’t like the college you selected. Almost half of all college students attend more than one school before they graduate.

For practical info concerning college & university options, such as the University of Phoenix online, psychology graduate schools, community colleges and many more, visit www.college-selections.com, offering great higher education insights!