Jim Parsons – författare

Fair Park Deco is a fascinating tour of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition. Like every American exposition in the 1930s, it began in economic depression. Although its economy had been buoyed by major oil discoveries in the early '30s, Texas agriculture was hard hit by the Great Depression. By the middle of the decade, state officials had set their sights on a great centennial celebration to help stimulate the economy and attract tourist dollars. “If during the next six months the people of the state could become filled with the idea of holding a big celebration on the one hundredth anniversary of the establishment of Texas independence,” the state’s centennial commission speculated in July, 1934, “it would have the effect of creating a general forward-looking spirit through the state. It would be more stimulating than anything we can think of, and this effect would be immediate.”This book focuses specifically on the Art Deco art and architecture of Fair Park—the public spaces, buildings, sculptures and murals that were designed for the 1936 exposition. Most of the chapters in the book represent different areas of Fair Park, with buildings and artwork effectively arranged in the same order that a visitor to the Texas Centennial Exposition might have seen them. The art and architecture are featured in original photography by Jim Parsons and David Bush as well as in historic photographs.Fair Park is one of the finest collections of Deco architecture in the country, but it is so much more: the embodiment of Texan swagger, it is a testament to the Texanic task of creating a dazzling spectacle in the darkest days of the Depression.

Teacher research in Canada: Although the job might be hard the quest is worth it. It is about teacher power. We trust teachers and we believe they have powerful knowledge, insight, and experience that should be shared widely-and we mean to attempt that sharing. We are a community, bound by an ethos: we care about children and we want to help them learn. We also believe that teacher research is important and that not enough of it is done. We hope to correct that poverty. Our work is based upon three beliefs about research: 1) the WHAT is important-we need to seek and create knowledge and that knowledge should be based upon our best inquiry; 2) the SO WHAT is important. We are a community of critical action. We need to consider how what we learn SHOULD be applied; & 3) the NOW WHAT is important. We have to actually engage children in the best ways we know how, with the best of what we have learned. This is what The Canadian Journal for Teacher Research is all about. Our goal is to transform teaching in Canada.

Writing this book has not been a labor of love or a desire to become independantly wealthy,but simply a personal account of my years spent in the restaurant industry and growth as a husband,Father, and fellow human being. The book''s main theme is diversity in all it''s forms.From the particular guests,employees,managers,and all who will always be part of life''s simple pleasure ,an escape from the daily grind of life,of going out to eat. If this lifetime of journey can spark a memory, or stir an emotion within,or satiate a curiosity, then that is all the satisfaction I can hope for.Remember life is about diversity,compromise and acceptance,in the spirit of this just Call Me Purple.

You don't need a tweed jacket to be a researcher--in thousands of schools across North America, practising teachers conduct studies on best practices, alternative approaches, and effective learning strategies. Classroom teachers have experiences and opportunities unavailable to researchers in a university setting, and action research--site-based, teacher-conducted research--can have a valuable impact on the educational community. Yet many teachers don't see their work as real research, and many other teachers have great ideas for research projects but don't know where to begin. For these teachers, Engaging in Action Research demystifies the world of educational research and provides support, guidance, and encouragement. From creating a research plan to reporting findings, this book provides step-by-step instructions to help teachers conduct research projects in the classroom, using strategies that work. Get ready to investigate, analyze, and share!