When an adult took standardized tests forced on kids By Valerie Strauss This was written by Marion Brady, veteran teacher, administrator, curriculum designer and author. By Marion Brady A longtime friend on the school board of one of the largest school systems in America did something that few public servants are willing to do. He took versions of his state’s high-stakes standardized math and reading … Continue reading What’s Wrong With Standardized Tests
When I’ve produced stories in the past I’ve always been on location with my crew. But times in television, well sometimes, they are a changing. This story about the serious problem being caused by an overpopulation of Moose in Newfoundland was a collaboration between cameraman Greg Locke of Straylight Media in Newfoundland and me in Colorado. We met via Google. I set up the story … Continue reading The New Normal: Moose in Newfoundland
Very early on the morning on May 5, 2007 I got a call from NBC News to hurry from Denver to Greensburg, Kansas. There had been a huge tornado and the town was devastated. Go! Go! When I pulled into the town six hours later I was stunned to see wreckage so complete that even the bark had been pulled off the trees. These skeleton … Continue reading The Greening of Greensburg
K’NAAN is one of my favorite musicians. He inspired people around the globe with his rousing “Wavin’ Flag” during the World Cup in South Africa and now he has written a powerful op-ed piece for the New York Times about a journey he took home to his native Somalia. It’s an urgent call to action in case we are forgetting the famine already. A Son … Continue reading A Son Returns to the Agony of Somalia By K’NAAN
There are some things I never forget. The day President Kennedy was assassinated. The day the Challenger exploded. Columbine. What I was doing on 9/11/2001. My husband called me and said turn on the television. I got there in time to see the second plane hit the tower. I watched with my hand over my mouth then turned to my little son and said “Kyle, … Continue reading 9/11 Ten Years Later
My mother always had her head in her art. One of my earliest recollections growing up was her gluing tiny glass stones into mosaics of colorful peacocks. Then she shifted to ceramics and for years our cars could not park in the garage because of her kiln and workshop. When I sang in a choir called Na Kani Pela we needed to raise money so … Continue reading Going Back to Paniolo Country
My friend, Niza Knoll, has an art gallery in the Santa Fe Arts District in Denver. Knoll Gallery is a fantastic array of creativity and is emerging as one of the best galleries in Denver (in my humble opinion.) Each year Niza does a juried exhibit featuring art on dogs. Gone to the Dogs 3 opens this Friday, August 19, and runs through September 17. … Continue reading Gone to the Dogs
I’m reading Keith Richard’s book “Life” and came across a passage that really speaks to me. It’s about how one needs to walk the walk before they can be authentic and talk the talk. Keith Richards is writing about the early days of the Rolling Stones when he and his band were still teenage nobodies dreaming of creating the epic blues sounds of their idols, … Continue reading “Life” Lesson
JonBenet Ramsey would have been 21 years old today. I covered this story for years for NBC News. For a time the world could not get enough of this murder mystery. Was riding a train in Italy one day and mentioned to my seat mates that I was from Colorado. All they wanted to know is “Who killed JonBenet?” Fifteen years later we still don’t … Continue reading Happy Birthday, JonBenet Ramsey
I must have been out of town when the Denver Post yanked “Doonesbury” along with “Peanuts” and some other comic strips. I’ve been thinking I should write in or call or say something because I miss “Doonesbury” and I’m annoyed, but I haven’t and apparently neither have many others. Westword wrote a blog about this. http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2011/06/denver_post_yanks_doonesbury_peanuts.php For more information on Vicky Collins visit Teletrends Television … Continue reading Where’s Doonesbury?
Vicky Collins Online 