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Rise of the tweet
Reflections on education
A look at how Twitter flew from obscurity to fame.
In his final Learning Curve column, Robert Nott taps the brain of his predecessor.
TeCH, A-8
eDUCATION, A-9
EDUCATION
Monday, September
Never a dull mo ment in educat ion A
16, 2013 THE NEW MEXICAN
Digital age take on imaginary s toll friends
A-9
Question: Several months back, son invented an our just-turned 3-year-old worried becauseimaginary friend whom he fter three years, calls The Learning Curve obsessed with he seems involved to the point Larry. We’re column comes him. He plays How did his journalism to with Larry almost of being talking to him but please check an end this week, career all work as a high constantly, out my Learning Curve blog at to pretend that the while. When we go somewher school literary-art inform his but it’s how they http://santafe Larry is coming “It’s easy to get s teacher? e, I have learningcurve. line at setting bogged down tricts and to the filter down to local diswordpress.com. a place at the tablealong, too. I’ve drawn the as a teacher people working thinking that problems I’ll use it to keep explaining to our tell the real story,” for him, there that you face he said. in the classroom after he’s gone son that I feed Larry education-relatedyou posted on I hear myths about to bed. When news and are yours alone. or in a school Santa Fe’s south-side our son is with other children stories in The schools being My experience New Mexican tough his age, he or scary, a reporter helps as — well, but has a as well as recounting me bring a wider to say, based on my experienceand I have sort of take-it-or-l plays various perspective to attitude toward experiences I not true. Similarly, s, it’s a classroom: I have in the schools. play dates. I’ve eave-it a lot of people just have mispercep certain struggles, that some kids heard I can think of no harbor this tions about Española age have imaginary better way to certain struggles, my school has friends, but this say goodbye to High School, John Valley the column than said. trict. But we are so does the disdo you think? seems a bit much. What profile my predecesso to “A lot of people not alone in facwho grew up ing these … and Answer: I think He served as educationr, John Sena. tell you a story nobody’s of leaving our here can moms, especially today’s parents — for The New Mexican reporter Robert Nott up with a solution of whatcome communit and going somewher — worry entirely we from the much about anything should do. I am e else in the state y too summer of 2005 John telling people always rememLearning Curve and that seems to to the summer you’re fall even a tad bering that we 2009 before becoming of Rosemond getting a comment from Española and outside are a freshman of normal behavior. the boundaries this simultaneo all working on or a look,” he English teacher you get the idea usly.” Living With That tendency at Española Valley really quickly said, “and exacerbated by is But he acknowled School. That school High have a good view they don’t the Children ges there is a downside: “I graduated John we seem to have fact that as a culture, after which he still we deal with still of us. That’s something forgotten that earned his journalismin 1998, that I carry with have that nose for news can be odd at today here at our at New Mexico me, so I get frustrated times, some morechildren degree school. “But like those State University. when I don’t know a child may be south-side Santa Speaking by phone cause for concern,than others. Lots of odd in everything happening schools, kids are in my district merits more than kids, and for the Fe but one odd thing last week, John or at the me that what he our kids are doing a most part rarely liked about serving told I’ve read comments state level.” I’m actually glad tolerant shrug. cation reporter what they have. the best they can with to hear that there from educationa was, “You immerse as edu- journalists and who I’ve never once possess magnificen are still kids out in everything specialists suggesting l here. Discipline yourself find felt unsafe there t imaginatio that video games and has very rarely the real story you’ll I learned so much is going on in education. other electronic ns. Before television, issue for me in been an friends were commonp tol of every state of eduction in the capiabout the schools my classroom, suppressants, the issues and and I think imaginary that’s true of a and lace. Both the nary playmates Department of or in the United States lot of teachers I started in 2005, problems we face. When . Eric had Jackson of my children had imagiEducation’s headquarte here. That is not to deny or Shinyarinka Sinum. Washington, D.C. Jonesberry and ignore rs in like been going on No Child Left Behind had John referred Amy had No kidding. so many others that our community — seemed quite for blog post at www.eduw to a recent real to the kids, These playmates, who testing craze was a while and the whole lems that we can’t — has its share of probonk.com — occupied lots which was just resource, by the ignore. But that of their time, fine cal side: the boardgoing. I also got the politiway — that suggestsa good mean that our Another factor with their mother and me. actually playing meetings and kids are dangerous doesn’t it’s decisions that I think has contribute political out or stupid.” What does he the affect what teachers rooms, classroom in local school board imaginary d to the playmate is the principals do every and teacher? “There’slike best about being a ents who play corresponding demise of dents. “You can s and the homes of stusingle day.” never a dull moment. with their children. increase in parhave all the mandates exciting.” between parent the federal level It’s Some playful interaction at and and even at the child is fine, of course, crossed at which state level, but a line can point the child Contact Robert be the parent for becomes dependent Nott at 986-3021. entertainm upon to entertain themselve ent. When children were expected s for the most to be much more part, they were creative and imaginativ forced seem, on the whole, Monday e than today’s to be. kids Unobstructed Saturday The Big Year the imaginary by electronics or over-invol Ratatouille 11:30 a.m. ved friend usually Namu, the Killer makes his or her parents, around a child’s 4:30 p.m. on on HBO 10 a.m. on TCM Whale appearance third birthday. FAM Sunday the kids in question These friends are quite real to — call them “functiona Eat something The Incredible — evidenced Bird-watching Before Willy and before l hallucinations” may by this. Patton Oswalt you watch 4:30 p.m. on s the most involving not seem like indignant, even the fact that a child is apt to was Namu, star Shamu, there FAM provides become subject upset, the voice of Remy, of this 1966 family for a if someone denies quite comedy, but director ally exists. adventure. The a rat that his friend David Frankel killer whale scares bent who is nothing with a culinary This is one family (The Devil Wears actuthe pants off Imaginary friends local fishermen pack family. When like his rat to worry about that won’t have an all-star trio: Prada) assembles he wanders are a positive when important ways. Halloween cosSteve Martin, influence in from rated from them he gets sepatumes. Once public Jack Black and Owen into a cove, and the open sea and winds up and a stimulant Most obviously, they are both a number of superheroes, Wilson, as rivals restaurant kitchen, they want to put in a Elastigirl and to spot the most to Mr. him out of their he’s in heaven. expand children’s imagination. They exercise a product of But can he save misery. A naturaldown and recede Incredible settle course of a year. species over the ist argues Namu’s the restaurant The stars’ varying also help develop creative capacities. These and help to from repetitive critical eye. But from society’s styles of humor fictional friends compelling: His case, which is and boring food? after three children make them novel and-take. They social skills, especially the With the help mate is injured and no action, to watch together. ability to giveof a young man promote self-relianc seeking shelter, Bob and The 2011 film to self-occupy, (voice of Lou and he’s simply Parr gets restless “Mr. Incredible” also features Romano) following her. which is obviously e; specifically, the ability Emmy Lee cook, Remy becomes who can’t cret organization and joins a sechildren. Because Parsons and Oscar winner Jim good for both Robert Lansing Meriwether, . When he gets a top chef. children talk constantly parents and winners AnjeliAdditional voices and Richard Erdtrouble, it’s up ca Huston and friends, they strengthen man star. to his family to in Dianne Wiest. Janeane Garofalo, include Ian Holm, him. Voices include save language skills. to their imaginary everything good Brad In Craig short, Garrett T. Nelson, and nothing bad there’s Peter Sohn. and Holly Hunter, companions. They Jason Lee, Spencer about Fox and Sarah usually disappear these hallucinatory but even the occasional Vowell. by the fifth birthday, appearanc nothing to be concerned about. e beyond that point is My advice: Relax and enjoy the break.
Family best bets
© 2013 by Vicki Whiting,
Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics
Rain continues as cleanup work begins in N.M.
Another round of rainfall moved across the state on Sunday, renewing the threat of heavy runoff from already saturated soils. PAge A-10
Vol. 29, No. 40
Have a friend give you NOUNS, ADJECTIVE S and VERBS. Then read story aloud. Preparethe silly for big laughs!
My Aunt Betty is famous for her apple pie recipe. She has won
ARROYO HONDO
Uranium in water concerns residents Stomach cancer cases raise questions about link to community wells
Bark beetles carry a fungus that usually kills the trees it infects, like this one that was removed Thursday from a property in Las Campanas.
Piñon pests resurface Surge in fungus-carrying beetle population threatens region’s drought-weakened trees
By J.R. Logan
The Taos News
Pam Harris knew something was up a couple of years ago, when she started feeling a painful pressure in her belly after eating. The Arroyo Hondo resident insisted on undergoing several tests, and in June 2011, doctors eventually found a tumor in her stomach. That same year, Harris said, two neighbors just down the street were also diagnosed with stomach cancer. She said they both died soon after finding out. To Harris, the sudden rash of cancers in her small community was a red flag. She started to wonder if it had something to do with the water that all three were regularly drinking — water that has contained elevated levels of uranium for at least the past 10 years. Harris’ suspicions are just that. There’s no way she can be sure the water had anything to do with her cancer. She doesn’t want to scare anyone, although she encourages people to watch for suspicious symptoms. After having the tumor in her belly removed, she and her husband hauled water in one-gallon jugs for a few months. It turned out to be too much for the elderly couple to handle, and now they’re back to drinking from the tap. Harris still worries. “I think we are in trouble,” Harris said. “I don’t want to lose any more neighbors.”
Please see WATeR, Page A-4
From left, Mario Bautista and Robert Coates of Coates Tree Service remove a dead piñon tree from a property in Las Campanas on Thursday. The tree was killed by bark beetles. PHOTOS BY LUIS SÁNCHEZ SATURNO/THE NEW MEXICAN
By Tom Sharpe The New Mexican
Today Afternoon thunderstorms. High 77, low 53. PAge A-12
Obituaries Phil Martinez, Santa Fe, Sept. 12 Martha I. Ortiz, 70, Nambé, Sept. 11
T
hey’re back — the same species of bark beetle that decimated New Mexico’s piñon trees a decade ago. Local arborists say populations of the match head-sized insect, also known as the ips or the engraver beetle, began increasing alarmingly at the summer’s end. “Fortunately, their populations didn’t explode until right at the very end of this season,” said Rich Atkinson of Southwest Trees and Landscape. “If they had gotten going in the beginning, we’d be in
greater trouble. Now, at least, folks can have warning and do something about it before [the beetles] emerge in the spring.” Robert Coates of Coates Tree Service said the main difference from the beetle infestation a decade ago is that the current one comes as the Santa Fe area finally is getting lots of rain. “We’re hoping and praying that this summer rain continues and we have a lot of snow this winter, and this thing doesn’t break out like it did before,” he said. “So far, basically, what we’re finding is clumps of a half dozen [infested] trees here and there. “It’s definitely much more than normal and, as a matter of fact, we’ve been taking out piñons every
ON THe WeB u Watch video of the removal of an infected tree online at www.santafenewmexican.com.
week. The problem we’re having is that some of the landscape companies we work with, and others, are starting to kind of panic [landowners] around town. So we’re just being inundated by panicked people, and there’s not a whole lot that can be done.” Atkinson, Coates and other local tree experts say irrigating or applying insecticide can deter the beetles from infesting drought-stressed piñons, but
Please see PeSTS, Page A-4
PAge A-10
Pasapick www.pasatiempomagazine.com
David Finckel, Philip Setzer and Wu Han Beethoven, Shostakovich and Dvorák piano trios, 7:30 p.m., Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 W. San Francisco St., $20-$75, 988-1234, ticketssantafe.org. More events in Calendar, A-2 and Fridays in Pasatiempo
Index
Calendar A-2
Classifieds B-5
School for Advanced Research seeks new president By Adele Oliveira
The New Mexican
The 106-year-old School for Advanced Research is searching for a new president, with a new vice presidential search also perhaps in the works. Former President James Brooks resigned in late June, reportedly to work on a new book. In July, the organization announced that John Kantner, one of two vice presidents at the school, also was moving on. Brooks will stay on as a research
Comics B-12
Education A-9
El Nuevo A-7
associate at SAR for the coming year. He will maintain an office at St. John’s College, in part because its library is larger than SAR’s. Kantner will become vice president of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. SAR intends to advertise the presidential position in various social sciences publications and in The Chronicle of Higher Education. The nonprofit, which studies the archaeology and ethnology of the Southwest, also plans to send a letter about the search for a new president to its alumni.
Opinions A-11
Editor: Ray Rivera, 986-3033, rrivera@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Kristina Dunham, kdunham@sfnewmexican.com
Police notes A-10
David Stuart Interim president of the School for Advanced Research expects search will last six months to a year. David Stuart, an author and professor of anthropology and archaeology at The University of New Mexico, will serve as interim president while SAR’s board of directors — along with some senior SAR scholars and staff — con-
Sports B-1
Tech A-8
Time Out B-11
Main office: 983-3303 Late paper: 986-3010
duct the search for a new president. Stuart has been involved with SAR as a lecturer since the mid-1980s and has lived in New Mexico since the 1960s. He estimated the search for a new president will take six months to a year. “As interim president, I’m presiding over a transition,” Stuart said. “In my role as associate provost at UNM for decades, I’ve dealt with transitions. I’ll conduct ordinary administrative affairs, like getting ready for the fall scholars that will be arriving, and
Please see SCHOOL, Page A-4
Two sections, 24 pages 164th year, No. 259 Publication No. 596-440