Dear Reader,

    It has been awhile since I wrote you. I was a bit "preoccupied"
    with the Summer Program at the school (def: polite way of saying
    "busy with something else"). The children and us had a great time
    this summer. We performed more teaching miracles at the school ^_^
    I will tell you more about it in the next issue when I have had a
    chance to put Summer Camp pictures and video's on the
    jacksonfive.com.tw website.

    We have found the additional Chinese staff that we needed. Thanks
    for everyone's help and concern. Mai is a very good candidate and
    will be of great asset to my school. She spent 7-8 years in the US
    and has perfect pronunciation. At the same time, we have added an
    additional English teacher, Rosemary. I'm very lucky to have her
    join us. She is an extremely experienced elementary school teacher
    from Canada who has also written language curriculum for the
    Canadian School Board. Most importantly, both of them REALLY love
    children!
  (597K MP3 recording,
    http://www.path2english.com/Reference/MP3-051-01.mp3 or
    http://home.pchome.com.tw/education/path2english/MP3-051-01.mp3)

    Sometimes, when I email readers to help me find staff, there might
    be a "misconception" (def: mistake in belief or judgment). The
    misconception is that "staff often leave my school." Actually, far
    from it. Like you, teachers and staff here really believe in our
    teaching philosophy. After coming here, no one really wants to leave
    or work at another school. The real reason why I add staff often is
    because we are a growing new school. We are always improving the
    teaching system, and I don't want anyone too overloaded with this
    that they can't enjoy it. I'm also very selective of who I add to
    the JacksonFive Team so I need to interview many people before I
    even hire one person ^_^

    On the home front, my wife Angel is certainly looking very pregnant,
    five months pregnant in fact ^_^ She doesn't have morning sickness
    anymore and can feel the baby move at times. She says this is very
    rewarding. We don't know yet if it is a boy or girl. The baby's legs
    always seem to be crossed during ultrasound so the "place in
    question" isn't viewable. Not knowing the baby's sex, my mother, the
    grandmother, is having a hard time buying clothes for the baby.
    However, my brother in Ottawa says the things she is buying is
    starting to go pinkish so she must be hoping for a granddaughter ^_^
    (My mother didn't have any girls)

    Thanks for all your well wishes and advice about the baby.

                                               Cheers,
                                               JacksonFive
  (896K MP3 recording,
    http://www.path2english.com/Reference/MP3-051-02.mp3 or
    http://home.pchome.com.tw/education/path2english/MP3-051-02.mp3)

THIS ISSUE's FEATURED TOPIC:

    "Purpose of Education" (part 2)

  I have asked our readership this question. I have posted their
  various answers and my comments here.
  http://www.path2english.com/Reference/Education.htm

  These readers have made some good comments and suggestions for
  education. In my own opinion, education should develop a student's
  potentials and life-long love for learning. Almost all of the readers
  have expressed this same viewpoint in one way or another. However,
  the sad reality is that in most cases education has become a big
  "Rat Race" where "Who is #1 and moves on to the next level of the
  game" is much more important than what the student is actually
  learning. Education should free your mind, not trap it!

NEXT ISSUE's FEATURED TOPIC:

    "My Summer"