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We’ve written earlier about Anders Ericsson’s research on talent, and we’ve blogged on the subject repeatedly. Ericsson’s thesis is that raw talent is overrated, and that experts in a given field (be it hockey or music) accomplish excellence primarily through “deliberate practice.” Nicholas Kristof wrote yesterday about a new book about I.Q., also reviewed here, by Richard Nisbett. He argues that I.Q. is only 50 percent heritable and that the controversial racial I.Q. gap is environmental rather than genetic. Nisbett offers some suggestions to parents to raise their kids’ I.Q.: “praise effort more than achievement, teach delayed gratification, limit reprimands, and use praise to stimulate curiosity.” He is also strongly in favor of the intensive early-childhood programs favored by our new education secretary.
Practicing Your Way to a Higher I.Q. – Freakonomics Blog – NYTimes.com
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As seen in the April 16 edition of Call Newspapers.
Picture by Bill Milligan.
Diehl, Ocello top vote-getters in election for two seats on Mehlville school board
Diehl, Ocello plan to continue moving school district forwardApril 15, 2009 – For the second consecutive time, Mehlville School District voters have elected Tom Diehl and Micheal Ocello to three-year terms on the Board of Education.
Incumbent President Diehl and incumbent Vice President Ocello won a five-candidate race for two board seats in the April 7 election. Diehl and Ocello, who first were elected in 2006, have been re-elected to serve until 2012 on the school board.
They were challenged by William Klemm, Linda Mooy and Gary "Brit" Rose.Diehl received 7,568 votes, or 39.37 percent; Ocello received 5,751 votes, or 29.92 percent; Mooy received 2,306 votes, or 12 percent; Rose received 1,916 votes, or 9.97 percent; and Klemm received 1,648 votes, or 8.57 percent, according to unofficial election results.
Diehl said he is grateful for residents’ support and pledged to build upon the improvement the district has seen since 2006.
"I just want to thank all the voters for supporting our efforts to move the Mehlville School District forward," Diehl said. "Everyone on the school board has been working hard these past few years to be responsive to the community and meet the needs of our children."
Ocello also was pleased to be re-elected and vowed to keep the school district moving in the same direction since he and Diehl were first elected in 2006.
"I am pleased and appreciative," Ocello said. "I appreciate the people who came out and voted for us and supported us. And my goal is to continue the progress as promised. We’ll continue the direction we’re moving."
Diehl, Ocello top vote-getters in election for two seats on Mehlville school board
As seen in the April 16th Edition of Call Newspapers…
Letter writer upset by anonymous ‘hate-mail flier’ pertaining to Ocello
April 15, 2009 – I was very upset to find a hate-mail flier pertaining to Mehlville Board of Education Vice President Mike Ocello on my front door.
I didn’t find it until the day after the election in which I voted in favor of Mr. Ocello and Board of Education President Tom Diehl.
This attempt at character assassination was entirely uncalled for. I am aware, as many other voters are, of Mr. Ocello’s business enterprises and though I don’t patronize them, as long as they are legal in their present jurisdictions, I see no reason to raise any complaints.
Mr. Diehl and Mr. Ocello along with the other present Mehlville Board of Education members and supervisory personnel have done a superb job of leading our school district back to respectability.
As long as our district schools continue to show improvement, I see no reason other than pure malice and maybe a little jealousy to engage in such a disgraceful political attack.
If Mr. Ocello is such a dastardly character as portrayed in this flier, why didn’t the gutless "Concerned Citizens of the Mehlville School District" sign their names instead of hiding behind anonymity?
Edward E. Krite
Oakville
Letter writer upset by anonymous ‘hate-mail flier’ pertaining to Ocello
Mehlville School District First in region to become certified as Red Cross Ready – StlToday.com
April 9, 2009
Image by Vidiot via Flickr
MEHLVILLE SCHOOLS > All are certified as Red Cross Ready — The Mehlville School District became the first in the region to have all of its schools certified as Red Cross Ready Rating members. This means every school is preparing for emergency situations, such as dangerous weather to pandemic illness, based on Red Cross criteria.
The district has had crisis plans in place, but with the Ready Rating Program, the plan includes more parental involvement at school and home, the district says.
The free service is open to any business, group or school. Schools that join earn a yearly $300 safety stipend to help with emergency planning. For more information about the Red Cross Ready Rating Program, visit readyrating.redcrossstl.org.
04/08/2009 – Education Digest > 4/08 – STLtoday.com
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Teachers Learn to Help Kids Behave – WSJ.com
April 9, 2009
This is pretty good. I am always on the lookout for some creative ways to keep the kids eyes forward and brains open.
Behavior problems among small children are a growing issue. The possible causes are many: pressure on teachers to stress math and reading over emotional skills; family instability; a decline in playtime; heavy use of child care; or a rise in learning problems such as attention-deficit disorder. Based on preliminary findings from a federal child-care study, discussed last week at a conference for the Society for Research in Child Development in Denver, the slight increase in behavior problems found in children who spent lots of early time in child care persists all the way to age 15, in the form of more impulsivity and risk-taking.
But now, some novel teaching programs are showing great promise in solving the behavior problems, and perhaps in reducing ADD diagnoses. By giving children more time for dramatic or pretend play, and by building into the school day more lessons in self control, researchers are seeing both big reductions in bad behavior, and gains in cognitive skills. The findings have value for well-behaved children too; research shows behavior problems among a few children tend to drag down other kids’ conduct.
Mehlville School Board Results – 2009
April 8, 2009
DIRECTOR MEHLVILLE SCHOOL
Vote for 2 (WITH 49 OF 49 COUNTED)
BRIT ROSE . . . . . . . . . . 1,916 9.97
LINDA MOOY . . . . . . . . . . 2,306 12.00
WILLIAM KLEMM . . . . . . . . . 1,648 8.57
TOM DIEHL . . . . . . . . . . 7,568 39.37
MICHEAL OCELLO. . . . . . . . . 5,751 29.92
WRITE-IN. . . . . . . . . . . 35 .18
