Correction and Clarification re Stanford

We were able to get the brochure and an abbreviated handout out Friday and will be distributing the abbreviated handout to Medford residents attending the Pear Blossom Parade today.


However, I was surprised to discover a slight error that makes for some confusion.  When I originally listed my educational experience at Stanford, I listed it as "Stanford University Fellow: Stanford Schools Collaborative between Secondary Educators/Stanford Economics Department."


Because it was so long, and a bit confusing, I asked the printer to use an abbreviated statement I provided, and the abbreviation came out (no fault of his) even more confusing:  "Stanford University Fellow: Secondary Educators Stanford Economics Department."


Let me explain just what this refers to. 


When I started teaching I was one of the few high school teachers teaching Social Studies with an Economics degree.  I wanted to teach Economics at the high school level, but when I began my career, there were few high schools that even offered economics, let alone required it.  I advocated for Economics becoming a requirement for many years, and in the late 80's the California legislature passed legislation making Economics a requirement in California.  I, of course, was delighted, but many districts were unsettled, to say the least, because most Social Studies teachers had history majors with little economics background.   I decided to visit the Stanford Economics Department and inquire if they would be interested in developing a program for high school teachers.  They not only were interested, they were delighted, in that they had received a private grant that encouraged just such an effort.  But they also wanted to provide secondary teachers an opportunity to assist university professors to improve the Stanford Economics professors teaching methods.  They anticipated the professors observing secondary teachers taking the abstract economic concepts and demonstrating how they could be taught in a way that would be more understandable.    So, long story short, we collaborated in creating  extremely stimulating, informative, and entertaining summer workshops that continued for two years, with me taking a lead role.  Over 50 secondary teachers participated, including of course, myself.   I take some satisfaction in knowing I assisted several extremely intimidated teachers, helping them better teach Economics.  As to how much influence we had on the Stanford University professors teaching methods, well, that's another story.