Early-October Articles of Interest: Steve Jobs, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, assessing Virtual Schools, & Rugby World Cup

Sunday, 9 October 2011

Greetings Upper School Community:

Here is early-October’s edition of “Articles of Interest” for your reading enjoyment.

In Sunday’s Business section of the NYTimes, Steve Lohr pens a worthy tribute to the legacy of Steve Jobs in “The Power of Taking the Big Chance”.  Also of note are Thomas Friedman’s eulogy/essay “Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?”   and Steve Jobs’ “my three stories,” from the 2005 Stanford University Commencement Address, delivered in the visionary’s own words.

Last April, the MVS chapter of Amnesty International showed the film “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” to the upper school community.  The film narrates the grass-roots efforts of women, spanning diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, in uniting through non-violent protest against the exploits of Liberia’s then dictator Charles Taylor (now deposed!).  One of the leaders of that movement, Leymah Gbowee, will share the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.  How very cool (and typical of MVS) that our students are aligned with the Nobel Prize!

The increase of on-line and virtual schooling organizations, and the promises they claim towards boosting student achievement, has made for heated discussions.  Today’s NYTimes front-page story, Grading the Digital School: Inflating the Software Report Card, provides interesting perspective to the on-going debate: 

And with the Philadelphia Phillies now sadly out of the Playoffs, my attention returns to the 2011 Rugby World Cup, underway in Wellington, New Zealand.  Here are a couple stories to better familiarize you with the unique draw of international sports:

·      The Official Rules of Rugby, from ActiveNewZealand.com: 

·      (also note the video: 2011 Travel Warning.  NZ truly is more than a nation of 16 million sheep):

·      With Rules Tweaked, Rugby Recaptures Attacking Spark,

·      And the main website of the International Rugby Board.

Enjoy October’s delicious weather, happy reading, and keep in touch!

Sam Wagner

Head of Upper School