Musing on Graduation

Graduation is in 471 days.

I remember when it was 667 days away, and that was 196 days ago, so I figure time is moving at a decent pace. I never like to say that time goes by too fast. That always sounds as if we are trying to pass up part of life. I often feel time is actually rather slow. For example, I’ve been married for three-and-a-half years, but it feels a lot longer–and not in a bad way. This is just my life. This is what I know, how I remember things, and it seems normal.

I barely remember the two years between my master’s graduation and when I started Peabody–best known as the two years I didn’t have homework. I do recall exercising a lot. What will it be like, May 2010? I remember as a sophomore in college, I wanted a job, a house, an adult life. I have some of those things now. And, yet, I am still a student, and strangely have lived in a residence hall for almost four years–and not as an undergrad. Time is a curious thing.

I am counting down.

-Teresa Bagamery Clark

Check, Please

A discussion we began early in the Ed.D. program and continue even this semester is the price of tuition and how students pay it. An article in The New York Times suggests students foot more of the bill than ever before while the dollars their colleges spend on them have declined. Even though the article admits, and we learned in Dr. Doyle’s class last fall, that students still don’t pay the actual cost of what it takes to educate them. It seems, though, they pay more of it than they once did. Other sources we’ve read for the program include that students are taking out more loans than ever before as well. The article indicates more money is now spent on administration and less on instruction than formerly.

This is just one of the real-world dilemmas that we wrestle with in class and finds its way to the pages of the newspaper. The Ed.D. program prepares us to not only understand national issues in higher education but also to address them in order to improve the system. Those are the sorts of problem-solving exercises we engage in on the weekends and through our research projects.

-Teresa Bagamery Clark

The big day is finally here

It’s Inauguration Day, 2009, and I, as well as what looks like most of the nation(as noted by the 1,000,000 people in the lawn awaiting the ceremony and lined up along Pennsylvania Ave.), am excited to see what this Presidency will bring to us. As much as I would love to lay in bed all day and watch the ceremony, I just can’t. I have readings to finish, projects to begin, and my day just can’t completely stop as much as I wish it could. Ah, the life of a grad student. For any of you in the same boat as me, Mayborn 207 is streaming the entire Inauguration Day live, so you can stop by between classes or appointments. Thanks to the HOD Dept for setting this up!

-Kristina DePue

Too cold for school

So, school (K-12) has been canceled.  Not because of snow, but because it is too cold.

The kids are thinking, “Yes, a chance to play all day!”

I’m thinking, “Yes, a chance to catch up on my reading for my classes!”

Ah, the luxuries of youth.

-Ted Murcray

Yes, You Should

It’s remarkable how often I hear people say they want to go back to school to earn their doctorates. For example, I attended a friend’s birthday party Saturday evening after meeting for my first weekend of the class, The College Student. I was openly tired but eager to answer questions about the Peabody program from party guests. One lady, in particular, expressed the desire to go to law school. I encouraged her to go for it. Also, a friend continued her ongoing discussion with me about wanting to go back to school for her doctorate. I have talked with her about Vanderbilt several times, as I know the Ed.D. program is a good fit for those of us who work full-time.

So, if you find when you hear others say they are working on their doctorates that you wish you could take that step. You can. The staff in the Peabody office are more than happy to help you with the transition back to school. There will be challenges and stress along the way, I will not lie, but chances are you will be glad you made the choice to pursue your doctoral degree. You can do it!

-Teresa Bagamery Clark

Bullying in Schools

I distinctly remember being in the cafeteria during 4th grade and gripping my tray as I walked back timidly to my seat. Why was I so terrified? There was a group of kids who used to tip over tray’s, trip people, and perform the all-too-typical poking “fun of” others in the lunch room. I’m not quite sure if this was a traumatic experience for me or not, but I find it interesting that of all the many experiences I could remember from that time frame…this one comes to mind. I bring this up only to highlight the huge issue that is facing our school systems today: bullying. For any of you who work in schools or are interested in the topic, The Holy Rosary Academy is hosting a workshop about it. Here is the information I have:

Bullying in the Schools: What parents can do

January 21, 2009 @ Holy Rosary Academy, 190 Graylynn Dr., Nashville, TN 37214. (615) 883-1108.

 

Holy Rosary Academy is hosting a guided discussion on bullying. Parents (no children please) from all area schools are invited to attend. If you think your child is bullying others, being bullied, or witnessing bullying, this discussion is for you. Several panelists will answer questions such as, “What are the differences between bullying behavior and ‘normal’ childhood conflict?”, “Can bullying lead to more serious problems later in life for the bully and/or the victim?, “How have other schools addressed this issue?”, and “What can I do to help my child or my child’s school address this issue?”. Questions and comments from the audience will be encouraged.

The panelists include Rodger Dinwiddie, Executive Director of Students Taking a Right Stand (STARS); Tom Riss, the Executive Director of Performance and Quality Improvement, Department of Children’s Services (DCS), in addition to adults who experienced bullying as children. Sponsored by Holy Rosary Academy’s BETTER committee: Bullying Education Team Teaching Everyone Respect, a team made of parents, teachers and administrators working together to prevent bullying.

-Kristina DePue

A True Student Athlete

During my usual ritual of breakfast and SportsCenter this morning, I saw the best college athletics story in recent memory. Myron Rolle, a safety for the FSU Seminoles, has decided to forgo a full bank account and the NFL for Oxford University and a degree in medical anthropology. I remembered hearing about this late last year, as Rolle was late to a game because he was interviewing for the Rhodes Scholarship. I thought it was great then that a student athlete was up for such a prestigious academic award, and I think it is even greater now that he is actually accepting it and furthering his education.

Rolle will probably end up in the NFL before all is said and done, and that is fine. I’ve seen him play, and he’ll have success at that level. I’m just glad that he is choosing to improve his chances of having a successful life after football, which is something that cannot be said of all athletes, especially the ones that have the potential to play professional sports. For me, this is definitely the feel-good higher education story of the year thus far.

-Landon C. Clark

English Only

There has been a lot of attention here in Nashville over the last few weeks about the ballot initiative for Nashville government to go English-only. It is receiving heavy opposition from high ranking political officials, as well as most (if not all) of the presidents of colleges and universities here in Nashville. I even received an email today at my institution asking for additional names to be added to a public letter voicing opposition to English-only.

My wife and I have been a little torn over the issue, mostly on account of our lack of knowledge on what the overall effect might be if the initiative passed. After reading some more about the possible negative side effects, I tend to be in agreement that it would be a step backwards for Nashville, and I’ll probably be adding my name to the letter from my institution in opposition.

-Landon Clark

Week in Numbers

700 – miles driven
55 – hours worked
42 – hours slept
12 – hours in class
3 – bright and talented teammates for group project
1 – Very tired me

 

-April L. Mollerberg

A little over my head . . .but I’m hangin’ in

So this is the first class on quantitative analysis.  We explored the beginning of research questions, learned the basics (the real basics) of a computer program, and got into groups to begin the process of creating a research project that we will take all the way through.

At first, I was concerned that it would be hard.  Then the professor did a great job of explaining things and made me think, “Oh, I can do this!”  Then we got together in groups and started talking about what we would research.  Let me tell you something. . .not as easy as it sounds.

Before this program I would think, why isn’t there any research on (insert important topic here).  Now I know why.  It takes so long to come up with a good question that people like me gave up.  Only a few diehards remain, and they can’t do all of the research for us.

Our professor says at the end of the class we will have a love for quantitative research.  I’m not sure I’m buyin’ what she’s sellin’.

So, let’s here from the diehards out there.  What’s you favorite part of the research design process?

-Ted Murcray