In the midst of this environment, Kovacic made it her goal to create equitable learning conditions that successfully supported a culture of academic risk taking, intellectual curiosity, and development of both scholars and citizens — all in an effort to
change the lives of students like Brittany.
In urban schools
students come and go all day.No 45 minutes is
like the time that preceded it or the time that will follow.Urban schools report 125 classroom interruptions per week.Announcements,
students going,
students coming, messengers, safety aides, and intrusions by other school staff account for just some
of these interruptions.It is not unusual for
students to stay on task only 5 or 10 minutes in every hour.Textbook companies and curriculum reformers are constantly thwarted by this reality.They sell their materials to schools with the assurance that all the
students will learn X amount in Y time.They are continually dismayed to observe that an hour
of school time is not an hour
of learning time.Many insightful observers
of life in urban schools have pointed out that it is incredibly naive to believe that learning
of subject matter is the main activity occurring in these schools.If one observes the activities and events which actually transpire — minute by minute, hour by hour, day in and day out — it is not possible to reasonably conclude that learning is the primary activity
of youth attending urban schools.What does the process
of changing what one does every 45 minutes and even the place where one does it portend for fulfilling a job in the world
of work?If one is constantly being reinforced in the behaviors
of coming, going, and being interrupted, what kind
of work is one being prepared for?
According to several news outlets, the next rate increase is expected to be announced this week — and the
change will affect many facets
of our economy,
like mortgages, credit card rates, and some
student loans.The fact is, however, that a lot
of us who aren't completely sure what a Fed interest rate hike means for our everyday
lives.
TAPS teaches the public about spay / neuter and other animal issues; advocates for animals through the Animal Law Guild, a think tank
of attorneys and law
students whose mission is to
change the world for animals through legal advocacy; protects animals in any way they can; and supports other
like - minded organizations to help save as many
lives as possible.