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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Hudgens
Center at Gwinnett Tech offers Montessori classes
By Lauren Anderson
for Gwinnett Technical College
Special to GwinnettForum
LAWRENCEVILLE, June 30, 2006 -- We all learn at our own pace. When
it comes to children, some learn best in a group setting, while
others advance better through individual initiative and creativity.
To impact and educate all children in the method that is best suited
for them, Gwinnett Technical College's new D. Scott Hudgens, Jr.
Early Education Center will offer a Montessori class in addition
to the more traditional classroom structure when the facility opens
July 10.
The Montessori classroom, as well the other classrooms and the
rest of the facility, will be available for touring during two upcoming
Open Houses. The Open Houses are scheduled for Thursday, July 6,
from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m., and from 3:30-5:30 p.m.; and Saturday,
July 8, from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. The Hudgens Early Education Center
is located at 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville, on the campus
of Gwinnett Technical College.
Becky Olson, director of curriculum at the Hudgens Early Education
Center on Gwinnett Tech's campus, says that the Montessori classroom
will have an "extensive collection of learning materials that
match the developmental capabilities, interests and needs of the
children enrolled in the class. In addition to various modes of
learning and discovery, a minimum of two continuous hours of work
time will be provided each day. Two hours of work time allows a
child to immerse themselves in an activity and see it through without
interruption. This is an important aspect of the Montessori philosophy."
The Montessori philosophy to teaching is named for Dr. Maria Montessori,
an Italian educator who in the early 1900's advocated for a child-centered
approach to education. The Montessori method acknowledges that children
learn at different rates, and therefore, emphasizes the uniqueness
of each child's needs and talents in their educational development.
Olson says: "The Montessori approach is a valuable teaching
method that more and more parents are finding works best for their
children. We are pleased to be offering an array of educational
options that will touch a wide audience with varying needs."
The Hudgens Early Education Center will be a learning environment
for a total of 215 children, including two state-licensed Pre-K
classes. The Montessori classroom will have 20 children aged 3-5
years with two teachers.
The opening of the 26,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility
on the college's campus in July will provide students studying early
childhood education a hands-on experience in a quality learning
environment, as well as serve as a nurturing educational center
for children aged 6 weeks to 12 years. Early Childhood Education
students from Gwinnett Tech will be able to observe and participate
in three different philosophy/curriculum models at the center: Montessori,
High Scope and Creative Curriculum. Exposure to various models will
best prepare GTC students to work in a variety of child care settings.
In addition to the Montessori program, the Center will also provide
infant, toddler, preschool and before- and after-school care, plus
a Pre-Kindergarten program, following the National Association for
the Education of the Young Child (NAEYC) accreditation standards.
All programs will support each individual child through active learning
opportunities throughout the day provided in a warm and nurturing
environment.
To learn more about the D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Early Education Center
or the Open Houses, call 770-685-1250 or visit www.GwinnettTech.edu.
To pre-register a child for the Center, log on to www.GwinnettTech.edu/heec.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
How in the world do grandchildren come up
with your name?
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
JUNE 30, 2006 -- Every potential grandparent faces it, with the
topic usually discussed thoroughly, even before the offspring arrives.
Brack |
"What are you going to have the baby call you," people
want to know.
Most grandparents have definite ideas before the baby arrives on
what they want to be called. I think the best name we have heard
a grandparents wanting to be called came from a former neighbor
of ours, Harry Wood, when we lived in Jesup. Harry, very much the
proper parent in raising his three children, was a precise engineer.
He knew what he wanted in every situation, and in this case, wanted
to be called "Grandfather, Sir." We suspect, without asking
him, that he did not get his wish.
We all hope to avoid being tagged with cutsey names from our grandbabies.
Everything from the simple "Grandpaw" to "Grouchy"
or "Gramps" or "Pa Pa" and no telling what else.
I was rather liking the "Grandfather, Sir" handle Harry
came up with for myself, when we, too, were "expecting."
And so the grandchild arrives, for the first year or so, since
the baby can't talk, you may be referred to by the adults in the
family in the formal "Grandfather" style. You almost get
used to it.
Eventually after about 18 months, the baby begins forming not only
words, but short sentences. The baby also starts recognizing people,
and has in his or her mind some association you may never realize
with that person, which produces some sound referring to that person.
And that may be where the names come in. For the baby somehow early
on starts calling you a name you don't recognize.
"Froof."
"Kowzow."
Or some other unintelligible name, like "Zoomsaw."
That may go on for a while. Yet as the baby gains a few more months,
somehow set in the mind of the youth will be a most definite name
that now even you can understand. And it gets repeated constantly.
For me, I can forget "Grandfather, Sir."
My name is "Pop-Pop." Nobody can determine why that name,
or why it is repeated.
The other morning, about 8 a.m., I got a call.
"Avery wants to talk to you," my son says. So she gets
on the phone and says something like this (she is nearly three):
"Pop-Pop, I am now twininiking you."
I didn't understand.
My son came back on line: "Did you understand? She says she
is tickling you."
So now she comes back on the phone, and I start laughing like she
is ticking me. And on the other end, I can hear her laughing at
my laughing.
Oh, the beauties of grandfatherhood, even though they may call
you funny names! That from me, "Pop Pop."
ABOUT
OUR SPONSORS
 The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is Hayes Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep
of Lawrenceville, Gainesville and Baldwin. General Manager Mike
Hayes of Lawrenceville, Tim Hayes of Gainesville and Robin Haynes
of Baldwin invite you into their showrooms to look over their line-up
of automobiles and trucks. Hayes has been in the automotive business
for over 30 years, and is North Georgia's oldest family-owned auto
dealership. The family is the winner of the 2002 Georgia Family
Business of the Year Award. Hayes Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep is affiliated
with Hayes Chevrolet in Baldwin. Check out their web site at: http://www.hayeschrysler.com
or http://www.hayeschevrolet.com.
For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm
McLEMORE'S
WORLD
Identity theft
The latest great cartoon from Bill McLemore:
FEEDBACK
6/30:
Feels those in nursing deserve far better on the pay scale
Editor, the Forum:
By keeping nurse pay scales in line with one another instead of
raising wages to attract more nurses to the profession, hospitals
are putting the bottom line before quality patient care.
As a patient involved with nurses, I think back when I had serious
surgery and could not get myself to the bathroom. These women and
men worked not only long hours, but the amount of time that it took
for them to assist me, while having seven or more other patients
to care for, was sometimes so difficult for them just to make their
appointed schedules of medications.
With them around, I felt that I was blessed to have anyone at all
to help me. Dealing with patients that are less than reasonable
takes up even more time for the nurses.
Sometimes we forget that these Angels of Mercy are human. We pay
some craftsman better than we do nurses, who have our care in their
hands. Many of these young nurses, with the stars in their eyes
when they first come to their profession. Many leave after the reality
sets in that the long hours and short staff makes their jobs almost
impossible.
Give incentives and pay to these people well and you will see that
there are those willing to devote their lives to helping those in
recovery. God bless those that have taken up the profession. Shame
on the professional administrators and politicians who callously
disregard their service by underpaying them.
-- James Hunter, Lilburn
6/30: Feels district
attorney in Durham is far out of line
Editor, the Forum:
Do you have an opinion on Durham, N.C. District Attorney Mike Nifong?
You couldn't print mine in a newspaper and get it past the editors.
To me this guy is the biggest dirtbag in the legal profession,
a disgrace to the law and is trying to ruin the lives of three innocent
college students for political gain, groveling for votes. I felt
from day one that this was a "phony-baloney" prosecution.
It's another Ray Donovan case. Remember him?
Nifong knows he has no case but is too stubborn or stupid to admit
it. There should be some way to remove this out-of-control creep
from office. He'll probably walk away without paying a price, same
for Crystal Gail Mangum, the "victim." And why not release
the names of those who bring phony charges?
-- Marshall Miller, Lilburn
UPCOMING
Gwinnett
Glows expands to include old Courthouse Square
The annual Independence Day celebration, Gwinnett Glows, will be
better than ever this year as it expands to include the Historic
Courthouse Square in Lawrenceville.
The band and children's activities, along with traditional favorites
like fire engines and police vehicles, will relocate to downtown
this year.
Daytime activities begin at 4 p.m. and offer many free, family-friendly
activities and entertainment. Downtown restaurants and onsite vendors
will provide a variety of food options for sale. The fireworks show
will be better than ever and will begin at about 9:30pm.
Live streaming at www.gwinnettcounty.com
beginns at 8 p. m.
For more information, call 770.822.7126 or visit www.gwinnettglows.com.
RECOMMENDATION
- An invitation: What
Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your
best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have
read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus
what book you plan to read next. --eeb
GEORGIA
TIDBIT
Fiddling convention was once mainstay of
Atlanta area
Some of the most important figures in the history of commercial
country music received their first significant exposure as performers
at the annual Georgia Old-Time Fiddlers' Conventions, which were
held from 1913 to 1935. Among them were Fiddlin' John Carson, Gid
Tanner (of Dacula), Riley Puckett, and Clayton McMichen, all
of whom went on to become nationally known radio and recording artists.
Tanner |
In April 1931, after a long weekend of music making in Atlanta,
Georgia's leading practitioners of traditional fiddling organized
the Georgia Old-Time Fiddlers' Association. For the next 22 years
fiddlers from throughout Georgia met annually in Atlanta for several
days of fiddling that ended in a contest in which the state's fiddling
champion for the ensuing year was selected.
These events received copious coverage from Atlanta's three daily
newspapers and attracted the attention of out-of-state journalists,who
reported on them in nationally circulated newspapers and magazines.
When a youthful Lowe Stokes defeated the elder statesman of Georgia
fiddlers, Fiddlin' John Carson, at the 1924 convention, the story
was printed in the Literary Digest. In 1925 Stephen Vincent Benét
published a poem titled "The Mountain Whippoorwill; or, How
Hill-Billy Jim Won the Great Fiddlers Prize." The similarity
between published reports of the Stokes/Carson contest and the events
recounted in "The Mountain Whippoorwill" suggests the
likely source for Benét's poem.
Unwittingly, the rustic musicians who performed at the Georgia
Old-Time Fiddlers' Conventions helped set the stage for two epochal
developments in commercial country music that would occur in the
next decade-the use of old-time musicians as recording artists and
as sources of live talent on radio broadcasts.
The annual fiddlers' conventions were held in the old Atlanta City
Auditorium (the lobby and front offices of which later became Georgia
State University's Alumni Hall) at the corner of Courtland and Gilmer
Streets. A typical convention began on a Thursday and ended the
following Saturday night. The Thursday and Friday night programs
were exhibition, or warm-up, programs and featured string bands,
comedians, dancers, singers, and other types of entertainers in
addition to the fiddlers.
The contest, held on Saturday night, was usually followed by a
square dance in the auditorium's Taft Hall (later Veterans' Memorial
Hall).
Audiences for the fiddlers' conventions included former rural dwellers
who had recently migrated to Atlanta in search of employment in
the city's textile mills and other industries. Among others who
attended to these annual musical events were local residents with
rural Georgia roots who had become leaders in Atlanta's business
and political arenas. On many occasions members of Atlanta's younger
and urban-reared citizens came in search of something different
in the way of entertainment.
With the introduction and growth of other such sources of entertainment
as radio, motion pictures, and phonograph records, the fiddlers'
conventions began to lose their audiences, and in 1935 they came
to an end. During the conventions' heyday, crowned state champions
included J. B. Singley (1913), Fiddlin' John Carson (1914, 1923,
1927), Shorty Harper (1915, 1916), John Silvey (1917), A. A. Gray
(1918, 1921, 1922, 1929), F. B. Coupland (1919), R. M. Stanley (1920),
Lowe Stokes (1924, 1925), Earl Johnson (1926), Gid Tanner (1928),
Joe Collins (1930), and Anita Sorrells Wheeler (1931, 1934).
THOUGHT
OF THE DAY
Wisdom from the fourth
president of the United States
"If men were angels, no government would be necessary."
-- Former President James Madison.
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