Being that PR is my passion (after my kids, of course) and finance is my husband's passion (after our kids, of course), this article in yesterday's WSJ was just...exciting. Finally something that combined our interests.
If you are interested in PR, I suggest you read it because it is a short course on why transparency is critical. I have a few clients that grapple with how much information to make available. One in particular has a gadfly who is a retired lawyer (bad for us, good for her copious writing) and challenges every step we take. Her presence forces us to consider every word and regard every email message as fodder for her angst. It has also pushed us to take extra steps in making information available.
While these extra steps may be cumbersome and expensive, the organization is taking the right steps: making more information available to its constituents as they have never would have before. From a PR perspective, we realize that much criticism directed at organizations (public and private) is due to their constituents feeling that they are being left in the dark. These "impressions": sap the constituency's confidence and suggest that shady back-room deals are going on even when they aren't. I suspect that this issue of impression is much of the problem in our economy; We are suspicious. We fear that a privileged few are getting special deals and we don't fully understand how the whole system works.
Isn't that the cardinal rule in investing?? Know what you are getting into? Do your research? By not knowing what the government and the Central Bank are doing we are reluctant to reinvest in the "system" -- the "establishment".
Bernanke is taking an unprecedented step in lifting the veil. I think it will work but I would encourage him to do more. Start producing documents the public can read, that they can sink their teeth into. Let us LEARN how it works. Produce a television show. Produce videos for YouTube. Use our fabulous Web 2.0 to get the word out in the great open forum we now have. My industrious, idea-charged mind is bursting with ideas!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
LA Times - Gov. Schwarzenegger offers assurances for federal education funds
Gov. Schwarzenegger offers assurances for federal education funds
Stimulus money earmarked for California school districts won't be reallocated to balance the state's budget, according to a letter to the state's congressional delegation.
Stimulus money earmarked for California school districts won't be reallocated to balance the state's budget, according to a letter to the state's congressional delegation.
WSJ Article - Tech Giants Help Clients tap Stimulus Funds
An excerpt from the article re education:
"...Over the last four weeks, Microsoft has trained its U.S. education sales staff to help customers identify eligible stimulus funds and apply for them, said Anthony Salcito, general manager of U.S. education business at the Redmond, Wash., software maker. Oracle, of Redwood Shores, Calif., this month will hold an event for customers offering advice on how to tap stimulus funds, according to its Web site. ..."
"...Over the last four weeks, Microsoft has trained its U.S. education sales staff to help customers identify eligible stimulus funds and apply for them, said Anthony Salcito, general manager of U.S. education business at the Redmond, Wash., software maker. Oracle, of Redwood Shores, Calif., this month will hold an event for customers offering advice on how to tap stimulus funds, according to its Web site. ..."
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Schools to Begin Receiving Economic Stimulus Money
Schools To Begin Receiving Economic Stimulus Money
The Associated Press
4/2/2009
The Obama administration has released $44 billion, the first round of school dollars from the economic stimulus package.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan made the announcement Wednesday at Doswell Brooks Elementary School in the Maryland suburbs, just outside of Washington.
"It's critical the money go out quickly, but it's even more important this money be spent wisely," Duncan told a group of kids, teachers and state and local leaders in the school library.
Video Footage here: http://video.ap.org/?t=By%20Section/U.S.&p=&f=NYONI&g=0401dv_school_stimulus_money
Monday, March 16, 2009
Real Money Begets Real Change
From the Wall Street Journal - Obama's Education Chief Knows Stars Are Aligned for Real Change
http://online.wsj.com/wsjgate?subURI=%2Farticle%2FSB123723145666945761-email.html&nonsubURI=%2Farticle_email%2FSB123723145666945761-lMyQjAxMDI5MzE3NjIxMzYxWj.html
My take? Education has seen some wonderful isolated examples of change happening throughout the country. It will be wonderful to have enough money to spread these programs further. I'm a parent and a pragmatist, however. A parent or guardian's role in their child's education is vital to success regardless of if a child is lucky enough to be in an innovative program or not. My son is in a small school in the less affluent section of our town. We are a mix here because we live in the historic district and we have families who span all degrees of economic prosperity. Many of our neighbors have placed their kids in magnet schools or private schools. We prefer being a part of our neighborhood and so our son (and our daughter will as well) goes to the little school up the street.
I believe that even our small school does a great job despite being just a "plain old public school." The difference in my son's education? Me. I take responsibility for making sure he has good opportunity and he has enrichment or remediation when needed. But I'm different than the average person. I have access to this information.
I'd love to see a shake up in education. I think creativity is a good thing and I'm glad to see the government is willing to put big bucks behind innovation. My children are going to get a good education regardless of where they go because I'll make sure they do.
http://online.wsj.com/wsjgate?subURI=%2Farticle%2FSB123723145666945761-email.html&nonsubURI=%2Farticle_email%2FSB123723145666945761-lMyQjAxMDI5MzE3NjIxMzYxWj.html
My take? Education has seen some wonderful isolated examples of change happening throughout the country. It will be wonderful to have enough money to spread these programs further. I'm a parent and a pragmatist, however. A parent or guardian's role in their child's education is vital to success regardless of if a child is lucky enough to be in an innovative program or not. My son is in a small school in the less affluent section of our town. We are a mix here because we live in the historic district and we have families who span all degrees of economic prosperity. Many of our neighbors have placed their kids in magnet schools or private schools. We prefer being a part of our neighborhood and so our son (and our daughter will as well) goes to the little school up the street.
I believe that even our small school does a great job despite being just a "plain old public school." The difference in my son's education? Me. I take responsibility for making sure he has good opportunity and he has enrichment or remediation when needed. But I'm different than the average person. I have access to this information.
I'd love to see a shake up in education. I think creativity is a good thing and I'm glad to see the government is willing to put big bucks behind innovation. My children are going to get a good education regardless of where they go because I'll make sure they do.
Friday, March 13, 2009
More Money News
From Technology & Learning Magazine on March 13, 2009
http://www.techlearning.com/article/16414# Follow the Money...
From eSchool News on March 12, 2009
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?I=57692
From THE Journal on March
http://www.thejournal.com/articles/24124
Ed Tech Funding Up in Newly Enacted Omnibus
http://www.techlearning.com/article/16414# Follow the Money...
From eSchool News on March 12, 2009
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?I=57692
From THE Journal on March
http://www.thejournal.com/articles/24124
Ed Tech Funding Up in Newly Enacted Omnibus
Following passage in the United States Senate Tuesday, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 was signed into law March 11 by President Barack Obama. The act brings significant funds to education and education technology for the remainder of fiscal 2009 above and beyond those provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. But just how much?
News Release - U.S. Schools Look to SAM Learning as Example of an “International Best Practice” in Education
On BusinessWire this morning http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090313005144/en
U.S. Schools Look to SAM Learning as Example of an “International Best Practice” in Education: Student-driven Learning is Unique and Refreshing
ORLANDO, Florida — March 13, 2009 — SAM Learning U.K. quietly began pilot testing its high school exit exam prep program in a Bronx high school last summer. The company hoped that its student-driven learning program — which is used by nearly 50 percent of the U.K. high schools — would be as well received here as it is in British schools. Now that over 32,000 hours have been logged at pilot schools from Florida to New York to California, it seems the U.S. students are just as excited about SAM Learning as the Brits.
U.S. Schools Look to SAM Learning as Example of an “International Best Practice” in Education: Student-driven Learning is Unique and Refreshing
ORLANDO, Florida — March 13, 2009 — SAM Learning U.K. quietly began pilot testing its high school exit exam prep program in a Bronx high school last summer. The company hoped that its student-driven learning program — which is used by nearly 50 percent of the U.K. high schools — would be as well received here as it is in British schools. Now that over 32,000 hours have been logged at pilot schools from Florida to New York to California, it seems the U.S. students are just as excited about SAM Learning as the Brits.
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