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Speech by 17 Year Old Student

Speech Liam Berell

A standardized test is not a true measure of what a student can accomplish

We all know that feeling when you get a bad mark for a test. Your stomach sinks and the stress becomes overwhelming. What will my parents say? How will I get into a university? What did everybody else get? We start to beat ourselves up and compare our results to the rest. And through this obsession, we allow them to define us.

We are all good at something. Some of us can draw, some can surf, some can cook and not one of these skills requires being able to find the average gradient of a line. Of course education is important and don’t get me wrong, I am not at all going against it. However, I do disagree with the marking system. Marks put a label on us. All of us are expected to get amazing numbers and if we don’t we are punished. Personally I have become used to the wooden spoon so now they’ve decided to send me to extra
lessons for basically every subject- far more painful. What society fails to realize is that some of us are just not made to be doctors, lawyers or accountants. This situation fits perfectly with the quote “ Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid ” Many of us just were not created to get good marks and when we are judged off of them, we believe that we are stupid.

For those of you who know me, I have grown a burning passion for photography and videography, however, I have always looked at it as something I can only do on the side. I can’t say I have got 83% for photography but I can assure you that I am pretty good at it. The funny thing is I didn’t learn how to take photos or edit videos by writing tests. I learnt through a genuine passion and urge to learn about something that I really enjoyed. This is precisely the opposite of what marks teach us. Marks teach us that we don’t have a choice. They shape our understanding that we have to be good with numbers and words otherwise we will not get anywhere in our futures. We are never taught to do what we are passionate about or what we are actually skilled at. As a result, a lot of us fall into the 9 to 5, get married, have kids and settle down kind of life. Not that there is anything wrong with this, there are plenty of people who live this life and are happy, but a lot of us feel that we have to live like this, while actually we seek a more adventurous and spontaneous life which is not as planned out.

I read the other day that around 32% of students in a school have depression and 27% of it is caused by school stress. As a student, our stress levels are always through the roof and with stress there is depression. We are constantly trying to do well in school on top of doing homework on top of playing sports and on top of having a social life. Many of us become obsessed with getting good marks because that is what we are told to do and as a result we often begin to move away from certain things that make us happy or what we are actually good

at. Bad marks also cause us to believe that we are worthless compared to everyone else. We become highly critical of ourselves and some of us lose motivation to try and do anything at all. I have become a victim of this and I have found that my obsession over my marks drives me away from photography and hanging out with my friends.

What do marks actually measure? To be honest I don’t think that most of us even understand the work we are taught. We are loaded with so much information that we end up parrot learning everything for a test and forget all of it by the next week. Most of the information isn’t applied into our lives either and so none of it sticks. I’m also one of those people who get really stressed before a test which often results in a bad mark. Not because I don’t know what to say but because I read incorrectly or I forgot to put something in my answer. Surely that is not a true measurement of what I can achieve.

Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg, Charles Dickens and so many more dropped out of school. They realised that school didn’t teach them what they needed to know and so they dropped out to become extremely successful people. I’m not trying to say that dropping out of school is the answer because for every one successful drop out there are hundreds that have remained unemployed, bankrupted themselves, lost everything. Marks have proven to be the safest way to secure a future, even if it is a future you may not have dreamt for yourself. However, I am telling you that your standardised test marks do not measure what you can accomplish.

So now the question is, how do we change the marking system? Through some research, I found an academic system called Ungrading. In this process, work is marked as it traditionally has been, then, through revision and repetition, is gradually improved. Eventually ‘lesser’ performance is replaced by better work, but without the marks. Schools should also start to offer a broader range of subjects and renew the current education system to be more relevant. Students are then able to choose subjects more suited to them and learn helpful knowledge and skills which they will be able to apply to their lives

So a message for my peers is don’t worry so much about your marks. I know most of us have strict parents and stressful teachers and the mark system probably won’t change anytime soon however you all have that one thing that you’re good at. Keep working at it and remember that a standardized test is not a true measure of what you can accomplish.

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PART-TIME MATH EDUCATOR AT PONO

Pono is currently looking for a part-time teacher to lead virtual math lessons for small groups of students, ages 11 to 15. A background in mathematics education and experience teaching math are required. Compensation depends on education and experience.

This position needs to be filled by April 1, 2021.

To apply to any of our open positions, submit a cover letter, current resume, and any additional information you think we should consider in evaluating you as a candidate. Strong applications will address the following questions:

  • What makes you a good fit for Pono?
  • What makes you a strong candidate for this position?
  • What support would you need to excel in the position?

All inquiries and materials are to be submitted electronically to Dr. Maysaa Bazna.

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The Salmonberry School is seeking a permanent, full-time lead teacher for our 2 nd /3 rd grade multi-age class.

Salmonberry School founded in 2001. We are a small, holistic community school. The pedagogy
draws from progressive, Reggio, Waldorf, Expeditionary, project-based, thematically integrated
and place-based approaches. Salmonberry School is serious about its holistic approach to
teaching and learning. Teachers’ highest imperative is the joyful engagement of all students.
We emphasize the arts, immersion in nature, and play-based approachesto education.

Salmonberry School is located in the village of Eastsound on Orcas Island, WA. This is a ferry
serviced island, approximately two hours north of Seattle, with a year-round population of
5,000 residents. The island and the school offer intimate and close-knit community. Orcas
Island has a large grocery store as well as a smaller food co-op, a movie theater, an
independent bookstore, and a growing town with many retail stores and restaurants.

This position includes a salary range of $40,000-$60,000 DOE and includes medical benefits and
paid leave. The ideal candidate will hold a current valid WA State teaching license and will have
several years of experience teaching at the elementary level in a public or private school. We
are looking for someone who is confident and capable, as well as ready to work with a highly
collaborative faculty as they continue to study and grow towards holistic teaching. The
candidate should be energetic, creative, reflective, with excellent communication skills. Most
importantly, we are seeking a teacher who can engage individual students and inspire their
growth and development.

If interested, please thoroughly explore Salmonberry School’s website:
http://salmonberryschool.org
Send resume and cover letter to info@salmonberryschool.org
Currently accepting applications
Interviews begin mid-April
Position filled May 1

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Earth Guardians Seeks Executive Director

To apply please submit a resume or CV and cover letter to Hiring@EarthGuardians.org

The Executive Director is the key management leader of Earth Guardians (EG). The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the administration, programs, and strategic plan of the organization. Other key duties include fundraising, marketing, and community outreach. The position reports directly to the Board of Directors. Earth Guardians is an intergenerational organization with youth at its center that trains diverse youth to be effective leaders in the environmental, climate, and social justice movements across the globe – using art, music, storytelling, on the ground projects, civic engagement, and legal action to advance solutions to the critical issues we face as a global community. EG supports overarching initiatives including training, lawsuits, actions, and campaigns. Through strategic partnerships with local and international organizations and institutions, we work to guard the Earth. Earth Guardians receive both private and public funding. EG has an annual budget of ~$800,000. EG employs a staff of 12 part-time staff (3 of whom are international staff, the rest live in the USA).

Responsibilities

  • The Executive Director is responsible for the management and direction of Earth Guardians.

1) Leadership: Works with the board in order to fulfill the organization’s mission.

  • Report to and work closely with the Board of Directors to seek their involvement in policy decisions, fundraising and to increase the overall visibility of the organization. Work with the board chair to organize reports and materials for board meetings.
  • Responsible for the hiring and retention of competent, qualified staff. Manage and oversee those staff, administration, and organizational activities.
  • Formulate and implement policies and procedures.

2) Financial Performance and Sustainability:   Develops resources sufficient to ensure the financial health of the organization.

  • Raise funds and secure grant awards for EG, including both public and private grants.
  • The ED negotiates contracts and agreements for EG with donors, partners & staff.
  • Ensure that EG has a sufficient budget for operation by working with EG financial and operations team on cash flow, budget, and donor coding.
  • Oversee and review the development, implementation, reporting, and execution of Earth Guardians program/ strategic plan.
  • Review and approve grants and project plans for EG. 
  • Oversee proper use and management of EG resources.
  • Ensure that all reporting functions (programmatic and program financial) for EG and EG donors are done. This includes ensuring that core reports for donors and audits and financial reports are completed on time and filed per grant agreements and best practices standards.
  • Responsible for fiscal management that generally anticipates operating within the approved budget, ensures maximum resource utilization, and maintenance of the organization in a positive financial position.

3) Organization Mission and Strategy:  Works with the board and staff to ensure that the mission is fulfilled through programs, strategic planning, and community outreach.

  • Review and conduct due diligence on EG projects, partners, and staff in the field.
  • Ensure that the supervision and management of Staff & activity management is being done properly.
  • Promote the professional development and empowerment of EG’s staff and project partners. Oversee marketing and other communications efforts.

4) Organization Operations: Oversees and implements appropriate resources to ensure that the operations of the organization are appropriate.

  • Review and contribute to program evaluation and sector assessments in coordination with the Program Directors.
  • Review and approve consultant assignments including budgets and terms of reference.
  • Maintain open and clear communications about EG’s work and program with the board, donors, and Staff.
  • Hire and fire staff. Review all of the staff contracts and conduct annual staff reviews.

Qualifications

  • Strong work ethic with a high degree of energy.
  • A Master’s Degree or equivalent leadership and management training.
  • Transparent and high integrity leadership.
  • Five or more years of senior nonprofit management experience.
  • Experience and skill in working with a Board of Directors.
  • High-level strategic thinking and planning. Ability to envision and convey the organization’s strategic future to the staff, board, volunteers, and donors.
  • Strong financial management skills, including budget preparation, analysis, decision making, and reporting.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills. Ability to effectively communicate the organization’s mission to donors, and volunteers.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated track record of working as a team player in diverse, multilingual, and cross-cultural environments.
  • A history of successfully generating new revenue streams.
  • Active fundraising experience. Excellent donor relations skills and understanding of the funding community.
  • Previous success in establishing relationships with individuals and organizations of influence including funders, partner agencies, and volunteers.
  • Solid organizational abilities, including planning, delegating, program development, and task facilitation.
  • Experience with consensus decision-making.
  • Environmental and youth activist experience preferred.

To apply submit a resume or CV and cover letter to Hiring@EarthGuardians.org

We look forward to hearing from you.