Tribute to Children

To: Dr.Mihail

From: Carl M. Ploense III

Re: F-14 Tomcat data

The F-14 has a cost of $38 million per plane. It requires teams of engineers (20-30) to take the plane from the drawing board to the flight line. These Engineers are responsible for systems such as navigation, propulsion and armaments. While moving and navigating in its environment, the plane is capable of tracking 20 objects at a time, establishing whether these are friend or foe, and engaging six objects. This is a close replication of human movement as embodied in a machine.

It is interesting to note that when a child first learns to walk and talk, it is capable of these things and more. A child who first learns to walk has navigation skills, can visually and audibly identify objects (more than 20), can coordinate its navigation skills with its propulsion system, and move from one point to another. A child can engage multiple objects (carry on conversations or play with a number of other people). The price of a child... you figure it out.

Sources: (1) Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1994; (2) http://www.chifno.navy.mil

This is a memo sent to my favorite professor this past semester. This was written before e-mail; its an actual memo. My professor explained the importance of early childhood education and ended his lecture with this. I don't know the writer of this document but it has so much truth packed into it I had to share it. Sometimes my university weakens my love for people, it makes me think they are all ignorant. However, this warmed my heart. Placing value on a child's life is a good place to be. It has been hard for me to take in the contradicting lessons being taught by my university. On the one hand we have Special Education; Every child/adult with a disability has potential, they just need more support to reach it. There is tremendous value placed on human life. Even in the case of parents finding out their child will be born with a disability, there are organizations in place advocating for the child's life. When I go into my next class we talk about abortion like its just a fact of life. It's the Burger King slogan except its talking about life "Have it your way."

Semester wrap up...

As this semester is about to end I would like to reflect upon all the reflections I have written. Reflections had always been an enjoyable experience. I love talking, writing is no different. Pouring over everything I learned through class lectures and observations were once fun. Now I feel like there is nothing new coming out of me. I have not witnessed anything new from my observations. They ask the same questions, telling me the same answers. I can only repeat myself so many times in so many different ways.

I am burnt out and I'm not finished. My longest project is due Monday. I feel like everything I have written in the past week sounded as if a 3rd grader wrote it. My brian has been overloaded with paying attention. I can't do it anymore. No more paying attention, if this carries over and it seems like I am ignoring you, I am. But not on purpose.

I'm supposed to me writing a paper right now, whoops.