Senior Dad

Bill Glasser is a psychiatrist who developed Choice theory he also has a position on redefining mental health. There are 12 schools in the country designated as Glasser Schools which means the teach the Choice theory as part of their curriculum. Bill is truly one of the great creative thinkers of our time and in this first part of our multi-part conversation with Bill we learn some of the events that shaped his thinking. Up and coming children's book author Connie Lee Berry chats with us about how she creates children's books and what inspires her. Katy Franklin, San Francisco mother of an autistic child joins us for her final segment on experiences she had while raising her son. Katy puts us all on the spot with simple questions that compare the treatment of children with autism with segregation. Is there a difference? Stan learns another lesson from a soon to be six year old.

Marie Hoemke was a school nurse for almost 40 years. She tells us what the Health Department was like 40 years ago and how it changed and why. Candid, unabridged and straight from her heart. Part 1 Michael Klonsky is a small school advocate. He has worked for the University of Illinois, Chicago for years and took part in the small school studies of the 1990's. In this first part of a two part conversation Mike tells us about small schools and why they were started. Bill Glasser is a psychiatrist who developed Choice theory he also has a position on redefining mental health. There are 12 schools in the country designated as Glasser Schools which means they teach the Choice theory as part of their curriculum. Bill is truly one of the great creative thinkers of our time and in this second part of our multi-part conversation with Bill we learn about what Bill thinks we should teach in schools. Stan learns "No, mountain too high".

Joan Williams-Director, Center for WorkLife Law University of California, Hastings has made a study of arbitration's related to discharges because of mandatory overtime and family emergencies. We all could be one sick child away from being fired Marie Hoemke was a school nurse for almost 40 years. She tells us what the Health Department was like 40 years ago and how it changed and why. Candid, unabridged and straight from her heart. In part 2 she tells us what is not happening in the schools. Does this create a danger for staff and children? You decide. Michael Klonsky is a small school advocate. He has worked for the University of Illinois, Chicago for years and took part in the small school studies of the 1990's. In this first part of a two part conversation Mike tells us about small schools and why they were started. Stan learns "Why couldn't I play with the car door?".

The environment that a child learns in can determine outcome. At school how we treat the child not only effects how the child learns but also teaches the child how to treat others. If a teacher uses power, force or abuse to teach, that is what a child will learn. The Grand Traverse Academy in Traverse City MI uses none of these. It is a Bill Glasser inspired school and it uses "a gentle way to teach". Kaye Mentley the superintendent of the school district tells us how they do it What is safe for children’s skin has changed over the years. New information and safety precautions come out all the time. Is there such a thing as a good tanning salon? How do I protect my child at day camp? Just how much protection does my child need? Does diet control skin blemishes. Does sun block keep out the vitamin D my child needs? Should I allow my child to tan to hide blemishes before a big date? Wow, a lot to learn. Dr. David MacGregor San Francisco Dermatologist brings us up to speed on the latest news on the skin care front. He answers all the questions above and more in “Make my children safe from the sun” A large number of African American students in the San Francisco Unified School District are behind academically. This week I attended the SF Public Defender’s Juvenile Justice summit. The summit made it clear how these youths view SFUSD. Bennie Wright did not attend the conference. Her four children (three adopted) have never been involved in the Juvenile Justice system. Bennie is a native San Franciscan. She went to the public schools here and is a college graduate. She is involved in her community and shares with us her views of the school system and how well we are serving the African American community. This is part one of a multi part view. Stan gets pinned down

A large number of African American students in the San Francisco Unified School District are behind academically. Bennie Wright an African American is a native San Franciscan. She went to the public schools here and is a college graduate. She is involved in her community and shares with us her views of the school system and how well we are serving the African American community. This is one part of a multi part view. Meet Shawna DeNofa, during her eighth month of pregnancy she found out that her first child had autism. It lead to the most trying year of her life. Adjusting to a new world she and her husband learn to adjust and adjust and adjust. Now, several years later she helps strangers become new friends (other parents who have children with autism) by answering questions on a autism listserv. Shawna is on constant lookout for any information that might benefit her son. Shawna’s strength and devotion to her family makes Shawna someone you are proud to know. Pat Howey has been an advocate for children with extra needs for over twenty years. This week we talk about every child having an IEP and then we move on to the best ways to teach children in a school environment. We hear plenty of Pat Howey stories that help us understand how school officials view things Stan makes a mistake

Holly Seerly is the mother of a child with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Dyslexia. She faces the issues that normally confront a parent with a child with those conditions, but when he was in middle school, a new condition arose; Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSS), and Holly’s challenge was intensified. We’re all venerable to having a child or parent with PTSS. Holly shares what it is like. Jose Barillas is the Principal of Thurgood Marshal Middle School in Chicago IL and is a hero. I thought about our conversation for 1 month after we recorded it before I could edit it. His story so gripped and troubled me I needed the time to gather perspective. He has taught for 30 years. His school which is a small school (400 students) has been selected one of the “Schools to watch”. Now in the sunset years of his career he looks at what has changed and what needs to be done. Jose’s school has 97% free lunch and 85% Latino. Jose helps us understand what is happening with parental involvement at his school and how it affects the children. Stan makes a mistake

The Wisdom of Deb Meier One of the founders of the modern day small schools movement Deb Meier looks back at the small school movement and sees dangers she never envisioned. Still a supporter of small schools she sees nonetheless a possibility for oppression. Deb tells us what she thought when she started the modern day small school movement years ago in Harlem. Rich Bruni has been a High School history teacher in the San Francisco schools for over twenty years. Teaching has been a second career for Rich he was an auto mechanic. Tinkering with motors trained him to tinker with minds. He is out spoken, bold, acerbic, opinionated and sometimes down right irritating but through it all he is an observer of our times. In this segment we talk about gangs. grandma comes to visit

David Alexander went to Public School 152 in Brooklyn New York. He later became a physician, ran two hospitals, and most recently has been appointed CEO of one of the most prestigious children’s health foundations in the nation, The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health. David has learned from the journey and shares with us his vision for the future, and where he would like to lead the Foundation. A helping hand for children’s health Alison Davis and her husband have 3 boys with Autism. In the eight years since the first child was diagnosed her family has grown stronger. Alison believes that the mercury that was used as a preservative in inoculations she received before and during her pregnancies has a relationship to her children's autism. Alison has learned how to be an effective advocate for her boys. She spends a large amount of time looking for new ways to help her boys. She shares her knowledge with many people through email and continues to speak out for action against this raging epidemic. Alison Davis a voice from the front lines. Grandma has help

Mel Levine didn’t do well in elementary or grade school. He had a sense of humor and made his classmates laugh. When his classmates came to his house to play he told his mother to tell them he wasn’t home. He would rather play with his animals and play in his own mind. His older brother got into Harvard and had Mel visit him on weekends. These visits excited Mel’s mind and he became an A student from then on. Mel’s brother found the way in to help Mel learn. Mel graduated first in his class at Brown, became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, went to Harvard Medical School and is now the Director of the University of North Carolina Center for the Study of Development and Learning. Mel is one of the leading figures in the world in the study of the different ways that people learn. Mel doesn’t believe that one way or 5 ways or 10 ways fits all. There is a way to reach every child we just have to follow the clues. Mel spurns labels like “Autism”, “Bipolar”, “ADHD” and likes to visualize the child as they will be at 24. Mel founded the All Kinds of Minds Institute and has changed the way we view learning, all because a kind older brother took the time to find the way in. We learn who Mel is and what he thinks of the world around him. The divorce rate among parents with children with extra needs is reported to be 85% within the first five years of diagnosis. Mary McFarland nationally know Oakland California based Psychotherapist discusses these startling figures. We explore the possible reasons for this and actions that couples can take to reduce the chances of divorce. Although this show focuses on parents with extra needs children it can apply to all parents. Stan views the start of the school year

If being a teen is so hard, why does it have to be hard for the parent as well? Dr. Anthony Wolf is a nationally known author and child psychologist specializing in Teens. We discuss some of the behaviors we can expect from our children as they become teens, why they appear to hate us and what conflict is going on within the teen. We also discuss a parent/teen education program that Anthony is working with to engage parents and teens in discussing risk behaviors centered around driving. John Gilmore is one of the architects of Autism United the collaboration of several New York area autism organizations. The held a fund raising walk on Long Island to fund a joint project. John tells us how it all started and how the walk came together. Cathy Moriarty is their national spokesperson and John tells us about Katie Wright’s help during the walk. Stan shares his impressions of the “Jenny on Larry King” and explains his “losing the dream syndrome”. They both discuss the autism collaborations and mergers of the future. Stan learns about peanuts

Sir Ken Robinson is one of the foremost critical thinkers in the world today in the fields of creativity, ingenuity, and education. He is to those fields what Stephen Hawking is to physics. We learn Sir Ken’s views on the best direction for education to change, including No Child Left Behind, Inclusion, ADHD, education and the arts, education for the workplace and equality in schools. Sir Ken has sampled first hand different types of educational methods. He was born into a modest income family in Liverpool, the fifth of seven children. He contracted Polio when he was four and was sent to a school for disabled children. Later, he was included in a regular school, went on to university, and then on to an outstanding career in education. We learn how his background shaped his ideas and provided the foundation for his insightful understanding of education and creativity today. Marcella Pixley was bullied when she was a girl in middle school. She had a different developmental clock than the other girls her age, which exposed her to taunting. As an adult Marcella teaches middle school and sees how much has changed and how much has remained the same. She views daily how preteens relate to each other. Marcella wrote a hard hitting, truthful gritty novel about her experiences called “Freak” to help young girls and parents understand this difficult growth stage. We talk with her about the book, how she writes and the effect writing the book had on her. She also shares her hopes about the effect of the book will have on parents and young people. Stan tells of the slinky tale

Lice. Even saying the word can make your scalp itch. I can remember that creepy feeling each time we received a note form school informing us that lice have been detected in our school. Check the heads, wash the linens and heads with toxic soaps and think unkind thoughts about the children that brought that unwelcome vermin into our environment. And then do it again 10 days later. Dale Clayton is an entomologist, a professor at the University of Utah, and he tells us new things about lice, and shatters common accepted beliefs about the little pest. Dale teaches us that a new way to treat lice that can come to market in less than a year, with no consumables. A real money saver for schools as children don’t miss school and the per diem funding doesn’t slow down. Dale Clayton, lousebuster. Amanda Cockshutt is a PhD, a university professor, a parent, and an advocate for parent’s rights. She lives in eastern Canada and has worked with her local schools to gain a voice for restoring family time. We chat about language immersion programs, homework, child discipline, and teacher re-education. Amanda exposes us to some evolutionary ideas and actions by some progressive educators. Amanda Cockshutt, moving forward softly. Stan tells of boyfriends at 6

Heddi Craft is an educator. She has taught school on most levels K-6 and has been a consultant for the Curriculum Leadership Institute. After moving to Santa Cruz, California, and beginning to raise a family she noticed how quickly her son learned the lessons from his $12-20 puzzles. Looking around for a better solution than purchasing more learning tools at the pace of her son’s voracious appetite, she founded the Educational Resource Center of Santa Cruz, a membership based lending library of educational toys, games, and learning materials. In conversation with Senior Dad, Stan Goldberg, she shares her ideas of “No Child Left Behind”, homework, teacher retraining and actions for parents. Heddi Craft reaching children differently Nancy Kalish is an education activist. She frequently appears on the Op-Ed page of The New York Times. She co-authored “The Case Against Homework” with Sara Bennett, a contributor to Senior Dad.  In conversation with Stan Goldberg she alerts us to a key reason our teens seem to be asleep the first period of the day.  After that she fills us in on what’s been happening around the country as homework policies change, including new ideas about school work at home and why some of our children are not learning to love to read.  These topics and more in “Nancy Kalish—Unvarnished Truth”. Stan tells of raisons

Do school districts lie to parents of extra needs children? Joann Collins thinks so. An extra needs advocate for over 15 years and a mother of two grown children with extra needs she has written a book about it. "Disability Deception: Lies Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game". JoAnn Talks to Senior Dad Stan Goldberg about the book and how parents can be effective when working with schools and school districts. They talk about the shocking Autism numbers in the San Francisco schools where 1 in 48 Caucasian children are diagnosed with autism. JoAnn’s view of the current extra needs landscape will open your eyes. Warning to parents of typical children: you will be shocked to hear what your school district (country-wide) is doing in this emerging civil rights issue. There was a time that Robyn O’Brien never gave a thought to what she or her family ate. One day at breakfast, her fourth child ate a scrambled egg, turned red, started looking like a blown up balloon, and changed Robyn’s view of allergies and nutrition forever. Nutrition education became a basic of Robyn’s family. As Robyn learned more about how food is produced, she was alarmed by all the dangers we are never told about. She shares what she has learned in a conversation with Senior Dad Stan Goldberg, as they talk about what to feed your family, the links from genetically engineered milk hormones to breast cancer, prostrate cancer, and ovarian cancer. They talk about government penalties to organic growers, and about school lunches. Robyn O’Brien, “The Mighty Nutritionist” Stan tells of pets

What if all your family’s medical history could not be accessed? Not for you parents, nor your grand parents. It would definitely make it difficult to figure out to which illnesses your child is susceptible. Unfortunately, this is what has happened to medical research and illness data in this country. Derva Davis, author of “The Secret History of the War on Cancer”, and is the Director of the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, talks with Senior Dad Stan Goldberg about the negative effects of censoring and withholding information by our Federal Government. She describes the very real risks we face as we follow this dangerous policy. Are fear, intimidation, and donor profits now the main driver of government funding? How can we change the course? Derva Davis- A voice of courage. Every parent wants to have a happy child. Some are born happy and some are not and that’s that. Maybe not. Christine Carter, Director of the Greater Good Science Center at University of California at Berkley, shares techniques that you can use to make your child happier. A child’s feelings of happiness can be adjusted as much as 40%. Senior Dad Stan Goldberg chats with her about happiness habits, the happiness set point, learning how to correct a child’s mistakes without damaging the child, how to raise emotionally literate children, and benefits from altruism. Christine Carter- Teaching your child happy ways. Stan visits Mc Donald’s