All posts by Walter

Causes and Friends, Communication, Uncategorized, Using social media

Memorial Day, Where Are You?

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Something is missing. Since I often say, “Nothing is ever lost as long as it’s remembered,” I should perhaps explain. What seems to be missing or lost this year are the formal opportunities to remember and honor those who (if we’re going to be precise) died in the service to our country, at least according to some sources.

Like so many things, Memorial Day has “evolved.” Thanks to technology, it’s not too difficult to trace the official history, but the subtle history can be a bit more elusive. As originally conceived (Decoration Day) in 1868, it was meant to be for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the military.

By the time of my earliest recollections, it seemed to have “morphed” into a day for honoring and mourning military personnel who died, not necessarily while serving in the military. Perhaps because of the day’s roots as “Decoration Day,” the focus seemed to be maintaining the graves of those who served–those who died in service and those who died since serving. We spent, literally, hours improving grave sites, planting flowers, and placing flags. Parades often ended in cemeteries. in a sense, we “decorated” graves with our presence.

Thanks in part to social media, some are trying to restore the original meaning. Perhaps with this blog post, I have joined that informal group. But when I read the posts and comments, I disagree with many.

One that makes sense but is also troubling points out that today is for those who have died and instructs us “not to thank a living veteran, today is about honoring those who died in service to our country.” My grandfather and dad would be left out based on that technicality. Sorry, but that doesn’t feel right. Both were proud veterans, and both paid a price by serving.

Many died while serving, more are dying since serving, and many are currently serving. Is there an occasion when we should NOT be grateful to those who have served and those who are serving?

Another “suggestion” is that we “remember that Memorial Day isn’t about picnics and having fun.” My earliest recollections are of a day that was both somber and fun. Those emotions are not opposites.

And, perhaps more importantly, if we stick to the original definition of who we honor, I think they would be pleased to know we are having fun. They died so we could. Having fun honors them.

I find it difficult to criticize anyone who celebrates the meaning of this day in some way. Distance means I can no longer visit my father’s and grandfather’s resting place and make sure they “look right” for this day. I may not find a parade to watch this year. But I will hang out the flag tomorrow and spend some time in contemplation and remembrance.

And I will have some fun, if only because I can. You should too!

The “decorated” graves of Walter Boomsma, Sr. (served in WWII) and his father Jan Boomsma (served in WWI). Jan served in the Australian Expeditionary Force, thus two flags.

Causes and Friends, Learning, Mental Health, Mental Hygiene, Teaching, Using social media

Twain on Training

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I couldn’t resist the alliteration, even though this is about education (which many think is different from training).

“Covid Crazy” isn’t on the DSM yet (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), but I won’t be surprised when it appears. I wish I could remember who said, “We got used to staying home, and it’s like nobody wants to crawl out from under the blankets.” Most of us have days when that sounds good–the pandemic seems to have increased the trend geometrically. It will be fifty years before we even begin to understand the impact of the pandemic and our collective response to it, including how it impacted our happiness and enjoyment.

He’d be tarred, feathered, and lynched in today’s world, but my college psych professor was memorable for saying, “If rape is inevitable, you might as well enjoy it.” It is a horrible statement, but he was trying to make the point that we should approach things we have to do with an upbeat attitude. There’s probably a better example, but it was memorable. (I also remember him biting an apple and throwing it at the class.)

I taught a course years ago that aimed at increasing job satisfaction. Many people became so focused on hating work they were missing opportunities. It was/is a question of focus. At the time, I coined the phrase “ritualistic complaining.” One of the ideas behind the course was to get out of the habit of focusing on the negatives.

We’ve scratched on the surface of its effect on education, but education has had some systemic issues for at least fifty years.

I am often disappointed with how many students attend educational events with a “let’s get it over with” attitude. I’ve always believed part of my job is to make the experience enjoyable and meaningful, even for those who came with a “let’s get it over with” attitude.

Most people enjoy learning. A lot of education takes the joy out of learning. It’s also human nature to want to learn. If we didn’t, we’d still be crawling around on our hands and knees. There are a lot of Facebook users who never attended a class, but they are adept at using it. Some of those same people complain that they don’t get good training at work.

Mark Twain quit school when he was 11. He later said things like, “Don’t let schooling interfere with your education.” Another favorite is, “Some people get an education without going to college. The rest get it after they get out.” The longer I’m in the education business, the more apparent it becomes that the model could stand some improvement. He also said, “One can be both entertained and educated and not know the difference.”

(I’ve not vetted these quotes, but they sound like something he’d say.)

A proverb (not attributed to Mark Twain) suggests, “Ignorance is bliss.” It has some value as a coping mechanism. We can avoid unpleasantness if we hide under the covers and remain ignorant. Perhaps it would be more accurate to suggest we can avoid thinking about things we find unpleasant. It doesn’t change the things we are avoiding, but it does change our feelings about them. A non-clinical term for it is “sticking our heads in the sand.” If you’d like to go clinical, Google the Dunning-Kruger Effect.

I occasionally acknowledge I’m prone to being a crusader. I don’t think I have a messiah complex. I definitely have no desire to become a martyr; apparently, that often involves dying. But I just might become an education reformer.

“If ignorance is bliss, why isn’t the world happier?”

Mark Twain
Causes and Friends, Communication, Mental Health, Personal Growth, Using social media

What Are You Plugged Into?

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According to the Pew Research Center, about three in ten adults say they are “almost constantly” online. Teens spend up to nine hours a day watching or using screens. *

Those numbers don’t surprise me. What surprised me was that I hadn’t until recently discovered The Unplug Collaborative until recently and that March 3/4, 2023, is a National Day of Unplugging. An email from the CEO of US Cellular gets some of the credit. They have introduced “Phones Down for 5,” a challenge built around a simple action: taking a phone break for five days, five hours, or even just five minutes to reset the relationship we have with our devices.

That’s not an unreasonable challenge, although I know a few folks who would suffer anxiety if they couldn’t look at their phone for five minutes!

And there are good reasons to do it. Note that this isn’t a call to reject technology. It is a call to manage it. If you do some research (using technology, ironically), you’ll find some references to “digital detoxing” and “media fasting.” I liked one suggestion that we “put down our phones and listen to nature.” But we might also put down our phones and listen to our friends and our children.

If you’re more concerned with scrolling through Facebook than paying attention to the people right in front of you, it may be time to unplug. Even if you only commit to one hour per day.

The collaborative has over 200 unplugging ideas. One I particularly liked was creating a smartphone “napsack.” It’s a small drawstring bag that you can put your phone in. The idea behind it is that you give your smartphone a nap while you become more awake and alive.

Technology has the potential to bring us together, but it also can separate us. One story I read while researching this post was written by a young girl who lives in New York City. She described the change she experienced when she took her earbuds out and put her phone away while walking on the streets of the city. It started with some smiles and she’s now running a non-profit organization called Knock Knock, Give a Sock. In her Instagram Post, she says, “When I unplug, I’m able to give a smile.”

Maybe it’s time to unplug from the Internet and plug into those around us.

*Unplug Collaborative (n.d.). Why Unplugging Matters. Global Day of Unplugging 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023, from https://www.unplugcollaborative.org/why-unplugging-matters

Classes and Courses, Personal Growth, Teaching

Re- What?

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I recently announced that after nearly two decades of teaching real estate, I’m “retiring” this spring! For the past several years, I’ve limited myself to teaching QE (qualifying education—“pre-licensing”) courses only. I will be teaching the Sales Agent and Associate Broker Courses in March/April for the last time.

Among the comments I heard were, “I can’t picture you retiring.”

I confess I had some trouble myself. One of the people I talked to while considering the decision was a good friend and colleague, Jack Falvey. I met Jack in the late 1970s. I’ve been a few years behind him ever since. He’s one of the most down-to-earth people I know, and he has a fantastic ability to cut to the chase. One of his bits of advice was to stop referring to the event as “retirement” and shift to the word “repotting.” He explained, “You’re just going to grow in a different place.”

He was prophetic.

Shortly after the announcement of my retirement repotting, I was offered a position with Beal University. My new “pot” is their Addiction Counseling Program, where I’ll be an adjunct instructor.

One of the more exciting aspects of the position is that Beal University’s curriculum and practice closely follow the flipped or inverted classroom approach. A somewhat oversimplified explanation is in a flipped classroom, what was traditionally done in class is now done at home (online), while what was done as homework is now done in class under the guidance of the instructor.  This appeals to me greatly.

I’ve become increasingly aware that SMEs (subject matter experts) are often disadvantaged in the teaching and learning environment. For one thing, students tend to focus and depend on the instructor’s knowledge, and the instructor gets caught up in being “the sage on the stage,” attempting to dispense that knowledge. There’s been much talk over the past decade of moving from the “sage on the stage role” to a “guide on the side” role, but it’s a tough transition.

The source of the quote is debatable, but its accuracy is not. “College is where a professor’s lecture notes go straight to the students’ lecture notes, without passing through the brains of either.”[i]

It’s actually not limited to college—and, in fact, many colleges are flipping their classrooms in ways that diminish the need for subject matter expertise and increase the need for facilitators who can make learning happen.

For those worried about my qualifications, you can check out some of my certifications and read my teaching philosophy. Don’t miss the short story of my day teaching second-year Spanish—a language I do not speak. Another short story involving my young friend Amish friend Hanna Rose makes an important point for anyone who claims the moniker “teacher.”

On an even more personal note, some may know that I remain good friends with my high school English teacher, Tony (“Mr.”) Russo. He’s now an adjunct with several online colleges. I can’t wait for his reaction to this announcement.

And I’m interested in your reaction… While exploring this opportunity, I told several people, “I think I’m ready for academia. But I wonder if academia is ready for me?”

[i] There’s an interesting discussion of the variations and attributions of this quote at https://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/08/17/lecture-minds/.

Classes and Courses, Substitute Teaching, Teaching

An Announcement!

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After nearly two decades of teaching real estate, I’m “retiring” this spring! For the past several years, I’ve limited myself to teaching QE (qualifying education—“pre-licensing”) courses only. They are the next to go. I will be teaching the Sales Agent and Associate Broker Courses in March/April for the last time.

I will continue to teach my substitute teachers’ workshop, suicide awareness program, and substitute teach the kids at Piscataquis Community Elementary School in Guilford. So I can’t honestly say I’m retiring from teaching. In a sense, I did that a few years ago when I switched to an emphasis on learning. (Giving Up Teaching, March 2012)

Those of you who’ve taken real estate courses have heard me say, “I don’t have any former students.” Even though I won’t be actively teaching, I will continue to support “alumni” for the foreseeable future. Do not hesitate to reach out and stay in touch!

This decision certainly has a bittersweet aspect. It gives rise to nostalgia and retrospection. I have some great memories! Don’t get me started.
Thank you for being part of those memories. Stay in touch, and we’ll make some more!