I bet if you think back to your early school days, you don’t remember many specifics about the lessons you learned. You remember the games you played and the creative projects you were proud of. Recently, however, there has been a trend in education to cut back on playtime in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. This time is being replaced by more formal lessons because the education system is now pushing for teachers to get cracking right away. There’s concern that if reading and math aren’t taught as soon as possible, students will forever fall behind.

While this may seem logical, the importance of play should not be underestimated. The format of lessons, as I discussed in my first blog post, is critical. If children can learn without even realizing it, they will not only absorb important information faster, they will have a more positive experience doing it. Their relationship with education will begin on a good note, rather than experiencing the stress that is associated with earlier formal schooling.

This trend is in alignment with other recent education movements that push teaching to standardized tests over creativity in the classroom. The frustration that teachers are feeling as a consequence of this came up in both interviews with educators that I had the honor of conducting for this blog. But the government and administrations are focusing in on scores and benchmarks over individual experiences with education. There are obviously reasons behind this approach, including America’s performance in comparison to other countries and the need to stay competitive in a globalized world.

However, the statistics aren’t showing that taking out play time is accomplishing these goals. As I see it, this will only hurt students in the long run. A child will be spending many years in school; their first impression of it should be a good one, rather than a stressful one. The presentation of material should make students want to learn, at any level. Thus, I believe that these stricter education trends should be reevaluated.  

-Samantha Phillips

Do you believe ‘the earlier, the better’ for formal education or that play time has long-term benefits in a child’s education?

Source: 
New York Times: Let the Kids Learn Through Play

Below is a list of the ten happiest jobs as well as the ten most hated jobs.

Ten Happiest Jobs (as reported in a General Social Survey by the National Organization for Research at the University of Chicago)

1. Clergy

2. Firefighters

3. Physical therapists

4. Authors

5.  Special education teachers

6. Teachers

7. Artists

8. Psychologists

9. Financial services sales agents

10. Operating engineers

Ten Most Hated Jobs (as reported in a CNBC article where Daniel Bukszpan draws on a survey of hundreds of thousands of employees conducted in 2011 by CareerBliss)

1. Director of Information Technology

2. Director of Sales and Marketing

3. Product Manager

4. Senior Web Developer

5. Technical Specialist

6. Electronics Technician

7. Law Clerk

8. Technical Support Analyst

9. CNC Machinist

10. Marketing Manager

It’s notable that money doesn’t equate to happiness, according to these lists. Studies have found that money is only important to the point that you can meet all your basic needs. Therefore, money can buy security but not much more. In fact, extra money does not make you happier. To be happy at work, you should actually look for a job that will make you feel that you are making a difference and is a ‘flow activity.’ This means that you become so absorbed in what you are doing at work that time seems to pass more quickly. The below graphic describes the two categories and shows that they matter because they’re connected to your long-term satisfaction, rather than short-term fulfillment. 

As for which countries are happiest, the Happy Planet Index explores several categories, including ‘experienced well-being.’ This attempts to measure the number of happy lives per unit of environmental output in 151 countries around the world.  The top three countries are Denmark, Canada, and Norway. America ranks 16th on the list. It seems that the opportunity for finding happiness at work exists, and is relatively common in our country. Just remember to pursue your passions once you've covered the basics.

-Samantha Phillips


What do you think about the presented research? Do you agree or disagree? 

If you’re looking to make some extra cash over the summer and boost your resume at the same time, now would be a good time to start your summer job search.

While it would be beneficial to look for a position that would be relevant to the field you might be interested in pursuing, this isn’t a necessity. Exploring a new field and finding out that you aren’t in fact a fan can be just as useful in your future job search as finding something by which you are intrigued. A realization that you don't want to further pursue a type of work means narrowing your search and learning more about yourself.  

Whatever opportunity you end up landing, you can pick up skills from it. Say you wind up as a receptionist at a local office. You’ll be walking away from that summer position with better communication and people skills while also becoming familiar with operating in an office setting. Maybe you want to be a camp counselor instead. Well, you’ll be sure to gain experience in a leadership position and develop problem-solving skills as well. All of these abilities make you look more employable to a company the next time you’re on the job hunt.  

Now that you know that you can learn something useful almost anywhere you’re hired, I’m sure your next question is how to go about getting a job. The job search can definitely be a stressful process, but it is doable! See if your parents or teachers have any connections in the community that could lead to you getting an interview. Networking will get you far, and it isn’t cheating -- it’s using your resources wisely. However, if that doesn’t pan out, don't fret. Check out these useful websites to kick off your search:

Coolworks.com
Snagajob
Summerjobs.com
Camp Channel

Apply to a healthy amount of positions (dedicating time and effort to each and every application), prep for your interview by researching the position and company thoroughly, and act professionally. Come fall, you’ll be far ahead of the game since you’ll have used your summer wisely by getting work experience. Good luck with your search, and get ready for a great summer! 

-Samantha Phillips

Mr. Rodney Thomas, who works in the law enforcement field, is a 4T's alum. As a youth, he greatly contributed to establishing the foundation of the organization as well as its growth. Mr. Thomas believes that 4T's helped him get on the track to entrepreneurship and continues to recognize the importance of education in his life and in the lives of youth today. Below is an interview with Mr. Thomas about his experiences with entrepreneurship and education.

-Samantha Phillips
 
1.      Can you provide a brief overview of your career – positions, companies, etc.? What motivated you to pursue this career path?

I’ve been in law enforcement since 1993. My first law enforcement job was with the New York City Hospital Police working at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx. My first arrest was for a guy brandishing a weapon. After that I was hooked. Then in May of 1995 I got a job with the Dept. of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons as Correctional Officer working out of Metropolitan Correctional Center in Lower Manhattan. There I learned how to talk and deal with violent situations without using a weapon.

Then my career took a sudden turn. In 1996 I received an opportunity to work real investigations cases working for the Dept. of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service in Miami Florida as a Federal Officer. I conducted High Risk Escorts of Criminal Illegal Aliens overseas and throughout the United States. I also developed policies and procedures to start a Gang Intelligence Unit working in Miami, Florida. Here I learned so much about a variety of cultures. I loved working and having the ability to actually take bad guys off the streets. 

In 2000 I left law enforcement for personal reasons and returned in 2001 back in NYC working with the Federal Reserve Police conducting dignity Protection for government officials as a Federal Police Officer. I worked Federal Reserve Police until 2008.  I guess I just fell into this career. I actually never wanted anything to do with law enforcement. This is the one career that chose me.

2.      Can you provide a brief overview of your education and how it did, or did not, prepare you for your career? 

I am now pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Psychology. Forensic Psychology for me plays a very important role. I have dealt with so many individuals with different mindsets, from a person who has committed a minor offense to your Felony driven individuals. Knowing the criminal element is so important for me.

3.      Could you describe your experience with 4T’s and how it may have benefited you?

I started with 4T’s back in 1990, brainstorming with Mr. Kayode Bentley in his room back in the Bronx. Kayode brought an idea to me about fashion shows and empowering our youth. I didn’t know anything about fashion nor did I did know how to reach the youth. I was still young myself. Kayode gave me a blue print to follow and the rest is history. He gave me an opportunity to change lives in a positive way.

The benefits I received from 4T’s are I learned how to be an Entrepreneur -- being a business owner is what I learned from Kayode Bentley and 4T’s. 4T’s gave me the ability to start my own business using the skills that I acquired from my law enforcement career.

4.      Why should someone consider participating in 4T’s programs or learning more about the organization?

I would suggest to anyone who is serious about learning how to survive in this world by being able to pursue your dreams that 4T’s is an organization you want to be a part of. 4T’s teaches you how to obtain your dreams and how to conduct yourself. Reaching the youths of today is not easy. 4T’s exudes style, class, finesse, and also True to The Trade.

5.      In your own words, why is receiving an education important?

Getting a proper education is so important today.  It’s needed to excel in corporate America. But at the same time Life experience is paramount to education as well.

6.      What advice would you give to yourself in high school?

I would tell myself, ‘Please stay in school. Get that High School Diploma. It is very important to receive.’ Which I did achieve, and I am proud that I did.

Please share your reactions to these experiences of a 4T's alum.

What does a library mean to an individual and to a society? I offer the following quotes in response:

“Without libraries, what do we have? We have no past and no future.” –Ray Bradbury

“At the moment that we persuade a child to cross that magic threshold into a library, we change their lives forever, for the better. It’s an enormous force for good.” –Barack Obama

“Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life. Libraries change lives for the better.” –Sidney Sheldon

A public library is an invaluable source of information which is open to all individuals. It encourages and enables the process of learning. Someone can find who they are through the resources in a library and access tools to help them achieve success. The library has the chance to spark imagination and provide a safe place for anyone who needs it. It is a tool which leads to an informed public, covering all of history to current events while also addressing important issues. It is a portal to countless places, both real and fictional. You can travel to new worlds and different times from a library. It is also a community-based sphere. Events happen in a library to bring people together, educate children, entertain adults, and more. The library has no limits to its potential. 

4T’s is proud to partner with the New York Public Library and to be part of all a public library has to offer to those who take advantage of it. Check out past panel discussions that 4T’s has held at the New York Public Library here or see when the next one will take place here. 

-Samantha Phillips

What have been your experiences with the library? Do you feel that the public library system offers all that I described in my post?

Employers are setting new standards in the job application process with the use of personality tests. These tests are typically required online at the beginning of the application process. Their purpose is to help identify a candidate who will be a good fit for the position, the department, and the overall company. This is meant to reduce turnover and lead to happier employees. 

Yet many applicants are dissatisfied with the idea of being written off based on a technical, automated process without the chance to explain who they are in person. Additionally, while the job search process is shortened prematurely for job seekers, it is extended to new lengths for employers. However, many companies have cited that waiting for a more cohesive match will pay off in the long run, making holding off to fill the position worth it. Yet this isn’t the only thing slowing down the search. Employers are becoming more reluctant to raise wages as well as pickier about misalignments between applicants’ skills or education and the demands of the position. The overall formula for workplace success is growing in complexity, while employers are less willing to take chances on applicants who don’t fit the mold.

The personality test trend has come about due to the availability of “powerful data tools and inexpensive online software,” which has led to lower costs and more accurate results. In 2001, 26% of large U.S. employers used pre-hire assessments. By 2013, 57% did. This is making it more difficult, especially for young adults and the long-term unemployed, to get hired.

And the tests are getting more thorough. In the past, companies hoped to simply glean broad personality traits. Now, applicants’ technical abilities, communication skills, and personalities are being assessed in minute detail.

What does this mean for those currently seeking jobs and those who will be applying in the future? While the tests can make mistakes and complicate the application process, they also mean that you will be hired in a position and at an organization where you will lead a happier, longer, more successful career. You will be less likely to quit and to be fired, which is a positive for both parties involved. It seems to me that the best way to prepare is to know yourself and your strengths well, which 4T’s programs are designed to accomplish. Check out 4T’s programs here. And good luck in the job search! 

-Samantha Phillips

What is your reaction to using personality tests in the job application process? Have you had any personal experiences with them?

Sources:
The Wall Street Journal: Today’s Personality Tests Raise the Bar for Job Seekers

After facing a life-threatening condition after a decade of "pseudo-teaching," Ramsey Musallam, a chemistry teacher in California, walked away with 3 rules he decided to use in his future teaching to spark learning, which he shares in the above Ted talk.

Musallam shares a picture of his four year old who is in the stage of constantly asking, ‘Why?,’ as well as a video of his student, Maddie, who went home after one of his lessons and continued to explore the concept covered in class. He juxtaposes these two examples with the issue of youth dropping out of school, whether it’s “the senior who's checked out before the year's even begun or that empty desk in the back of an urban middle school's classroom.”

This teacher attributes the difference between these extremes to the ability and willingness of teachers to engage with their students’ curiosity. He explains, “Questions and curiosity like Maddie's are magnets that draw us towards our teachers, and they transcend all technology or buzzwords in education. But if we place these technologies before student inquiry, we can be robbing ourselves of our greatest tool as teachers: our students' questions.”

Musallam outlines three rules to help instructors reach this goal:

The lecture closes with this last thought: “If we as educators leave behind this simple role as disseminators of content and embrace a new paradigm as cultivators of curiosity and inquiry, we just might bring a little bit more meaning to [students'] school day, and spark their imagination.” 

Oftentimes teachers can get stuck in the routine of their lessons, especially with the recent focus of administration and regulation on teaching to standards. I think Ramsey Musallam’s talk offers some great points about keeping vitality in the classroom in order to make the work of learning a back and forth between student and teacher. This approach will go much further than simply talking at students. I personally would like to see a lot more students like Maddie and kids who want to ask questions, rather than that empty seat in the back of the room. 

-Samantha Phillips

Which school of thought do you agree with and why?

What are the responsibilities of a barber, hairdresser, and cosmetologist? 

Customers visit any one of these businesses for hairstyling or beauty services. This includes hair, face, and scalp treatments. Hair care can range from washing, coloring, cutting, drying, to styling. These positions also entail handling monetary transactions and up-keeping tools. Barbers typically provide service to male customers, additionally offering facial shaving. Hairdressers serve both female and male clients. Oftentimes they make home care recommendations, including promoting products. Cosmetologists provide scalp and facial treatments as well as makeup advice. They may also handle wigs and hairpieces or sell skin care products.  

How much would you earn in this position?

In 2012, the median hourly wage was $10.95 for these careers, with a range from $8.11 to $20.39. In 2013, the median hourly wage for hairdressers was $11.12, which demonstrates growth in the profession. The best-paid earned approximately $44,220 annually. The highest paid areas in 2013 were San Francisco and Seattle, while the highest paid sector was the performing arts. Tips are common in this profession.

Requirements:

Some skills that will help you to succeed in this career include creativity, customer-service, listening, and time-management. If you are the owner of the business, other duties include hiring, supervising, and letting employees go. General business tasks must be completed as well, such as maintaining inventory records, ordering supplies, advertising, and more.

Licenses are required for all three jobs, which means one must attend and graduate from a cosmetology program in a post-secondary vocational school. This program might yield an associate’s degree as well. After graduation, an exam must be passed, which typically involves both a written portion and a practical application portion. High school diplomas are typically required too.

Work Conditions:

Other than working in barbershops or salons, these type of positions could be available in spas, hotels, and resorts. Considerations include being on your feet for long periods of time as well as exposure to chemicals, which is why protective clothing is common. Your hours will depend on if you are self-employed or not. This is often a part-time job unless you are the owner. Evenings and weekends are typical.

-Samantha Phillips

What interests you about this career?  What other information would you like to know about it?

Sources:
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Barbers, Hairdressers, and Cosmetologists 
Money - U.S. News: Best Social Services Jobs

There is currently a campaign called Don’t Steal Possible occurring in New York which is calling for change in the NY public education system. It has the support of parents, students, teachers, and celebrities as well as some fairly staggering statistics on its side. 

Don’t Steal Possible is demanding radical change because they can’t make their kids wait any longer. The supporters are holding up an example of certain schools, district and charter schools specifically, that are currently succeeding and are asking other institutions to replicate this model.

They’re pointing out that the issue is worse in certain communities: “It is clear that our crisis of failing schools predominantly affects children of color from under-served communities… At schools where the majority of students are living at or below the poverty level, achievement rates plummet.” And they’re highlighting the consequences of ignoring the problem as well. They make the fair point that educating and empowering students to succeed is the “linchpin of any meaningful attempt to restore opportunity to every New Yorker.”

Recently, Team Possible made a big move. On March 4th, 13,000 New Yorkers rallied in Albany to demand great schools for all kids. Janelle Monae performed a free public concert at the event. “It’s heartbreaking to know that there are 800,000 New York kids falling through the cracks every year,” Monae said in a statement. “I am honored to stand with families demanding an end to this crisis.” Monae isn’t alone; other supporters of the campaign include Questlove and members of the Roots, the Beastie Boys’ Mike D, and Estelle.

Even if you don’t agree with the proposed solution of the Don’t Steal Possible campaign, it’s hard to disagree with their facts: the NY public education has its faults and needs to be fixed. 

-Samantha Phillips

What would you suggest as a solution? Check out more about the Don’t Steal Possible campaign here and see what 4T’s Productions is doing to make a difference!

Sources:
Rolling Stone: Janelle Monae Playing Education Rally to Support New York Children
Families for Excellent Schools: Don't Steal Possible

What are the responsibilities of a pilot? 

An airline pilot, the type you are probably more familiar with, is expected to transport people and cargo in aircraft such as airplanes and helicopters within strict time schedules. A commercial pilot would be called upon for other reasons, including charter flights, rescue operations, firefighting, photography, and aerial applications. Pilots must monitor the condition of their aircraft, evaluate weather conditions and fuel supply, and communicate with air traffic control. They have to be capable of using cockpit instruments as well as responding to unexpected occurrences quickly and calmly. 

How much would you earn in this position?

In 2012, the median annual wage for all airline pilots and copilots was $114,200.  Most airline pilots start off making about $20,000 per year with annual increases until captain status.  In this senior position, earnings are about $55,000 per year for regional airlines and $135,000 per year for major airlines.  Additionally, airline pilots receive an expense allowance for every hour they are away from home and extra pay for international flights.  Their perks typically include health insurance and retirement benefits, and their immediate families usually can take free or reduced-fare flights.  As for commercial pilots, the median annual wage was $73,280 in 2012.

Requirements:

Some skills that will help you to succeed in this career include working well under pressure, teamwork, communication, observational, and problem-solving. Pilots interact with customers as well as small teams, including copilots and flight attendants, in close quarters. Therefore, their ability to communicate is important; they must be friendly and provide clear and honest feedback.

As for education and experience requirements, commercial pilots need a high school diploma. For certain specialties, additional requirements exist. Airline pilots are required to have a bachelor’s degree in whatever subject. All pilots must possess a commercial pilot’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration. Other certificates and ratings may be required by certain companies.

Many pilots attend some type of extra schooling to learn how to fly. This includes independent instructors, flight schools, fixed base operators, and 2 to 4 year universities. Furthermore, most jobs have on-the-job training requirements, which is usually 6-8 weeks long plus 25 hours of flight time. Pilots are not done after this, however. Tests must be passed for the remainder of their career to ensure pilots’ ability to perform certain maneuvers in certain time frames. Periodic training and medical exams also occur.

Work Conditions:

In 2012, about 64 percent of pilots worked as airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers. The remainder worked as commercial pilots. This is a fairly stressful job, as pilots may have to cope with work-related hazards such as fatigue, jetlag, hearing loss from overexposure to engine noise, high concentration demands, being responsible for other people’s safety and lives, and having to be ready at all times for emergencies or tough landings.

Pilots work all over the country, but most are based near large airports. Their work hours are regulated by federal mandates, especially pertaining to the amount of rest between flights. Airline pilots fly an average of 75 hours per month and work an additional 150 hours per month performing other duties. Schedules are often atypical, with intense days on and then several days off.

Commercial pilots usually fly between 30 hours and 90 hours per month. They typically have more nonflight responsibilities than airline pilots. Both types spend long periods of time away from home, although this is usually truer for airline pilots. All pilots are required by federal law to retire at age 65.

-Samantha Phillips

What interests you about this career?  What other information would you like to know about it?

Sources:
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Transportation and Material Moving