Blogs on Physical Education

Editor's Note: Today's guest blogger is Michelle Hlubinka, the Education Director for Maker Faire and Make magazine.

Maker Faire is a combination DIY festival and project showcase, sponsored by Make magazine, where "makers" of all ages convene to show off a spectacular array of projects that combine science, art, performance, creative reuse, and technology in varying degrees. Not surprisingly, an increasing number of educators are getting involved in these events which are currently held in the Bay Area, Detroit and New York. There are also many independently organized Mini-Maker Faires around the country. Maker Faire Bay Area is this weekend, May 21 - 22nd.

There is something about a dogpile that makes people smile. It touches a chord deep within anyone who has accomplished something extraordinary after long, hard effort. You may have seen a major league dogpile -- a gathering of 25 or so men who spontaneously turn into boys and pile on top of one another to celebrate an extraordinary triumph at the end of a season that runs as long as a school year. Learning should be fun and exciting. So why not replace the funereal pomp and circumstance march with high fives and maybe a dog pile or two?

Last Saturday, a celebration of life was held at the 19,000 seat HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, to honor former high school football coach and math teacher, Charlie Wedemeyer. Another celebration is scheduled this weekend in Honolulu, where Mr. Wedemeyer starred in baseball, basketball, and football at Punahou School and was named Hawaii's Prep Athlete of the decade.

Editor's Note: Joel Kirsch, age 62, is two weeks into an arduous journey, half of it on his hands and knees, that could last four to six weeks more -- all in the name of better education.