Simon's Reflection on Integrity

I actually went to the Wikipedia dictionary to look up the meaning of the word, "integrity." What I saw is that "integrity" is

(1) Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code,
(2) The state of being wholesome; unimpaired, and
(3) The quality or condition of being complete; pure.

I was faced with a challenging situation last week, with one of the universities I teach in. There was an assignment due Sunday a week ago. By about the following Friday, 5 days later, a good 40% of the students have not yet submitted the assignment. This is when we (the other faculty person and myself) have posted - in our online learning environment for the course - a notice saying that by now it is too late, the situation is quite unacceptable, and we are planning to fail the students who have not submitted the required assignment. Mind you, these are students who have been in the program for about a year and a half, both in our course, as well as other courses as well; as such, they are not novices to the environment and to the learning guidelines and standards we have. We have also expressed our disappointment in the lack of students' commitment and responsibility about communicating with us about being late; there were a few students who did let us know they are going to be late (which is fine, when the reasons are valid). Interestingly, I also had a bit of an emotional reaction when posting the note on the late submissions - feeling a bit like being ignored, dismissed, and discounted.This opened up a very rich, authentic, and engaging dialogue with (at least some of the) students in our course. A couple of students also contacted me directly, completing the assignment (and several other pending tasks of several weeks) in less than a weekend, asking for a passing grade. By this point, I was faced with a challenge, as I really don't like giving a failing grade, while seeing the effort and knowing how much pressure there is in other courses as well. Not to mention the rest of life.Now what do I do?:: "If you walk towards the sun you leave the shadows behind." - from India

I spent a big part of the weekend agonizing over the upcoming decision. To fail or not to fail. I know the students, I could see their efforts, I know how stressful the program is overall. I could hear the whispers of my Jewish Mother heart, "Be nice, be gentle, let them pass." It would have been so easy to do.Yet, I couldn't. There was something that I couldn't even articulate clearly, until later. Something that didn't feel right in doing so. That something was the state of being complete, wholesome, feeling good about my own integrity. Once I understood, I explained it clearly to the students who were asking me to reconsider - my dilemma, my contemplations (more like "agonies"), and my decision. The reply of one of them made it all worthwhile:
"I appreciate your stance in making and keeping your personal and professional commitments to your integrity and expectations of standards. I 100% support that. I would be surprised if you caved in to any professional standards as you seem to me a man of your word, a man of honor."What a relief! And a whole new understanding of what integrity is for me.

What a relief! And a whole new understanding of what integrity is for me.A sunny week to you all, inside and out.:

: From The Four Corners:: This is a new section of the newsletter, featuring news, ideas,:: moments of inspiration of something someone somewhere is doing:: that is making a difference in the world.Nothing specific crossed my eyes as of recent... though I am open to suggestions...:: Simon’s Reflections newsletter is published on a:: bi-weekly basis and contains writings that touch:: the heart, provoke the mind, and inspire action.:: And I do welcome your thoughts and comments.SimonArchives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SimonsReflectionsListAbout Simon: http://www.simongoland.com/-- “Kiva lets you lend to a specific entrepreneur in the developing world - empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty.”http://www.kiva.org/app.php__._,_.___
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"I had to share this from Simon's reflections (which he e-mails me monthly).......it means sooooo much to me to finally see, hear and feel integrity.

diabetes

By Shelly


Hi I’M Shelly and I have type 2 diabetes I just finished 1 year as I diabetic so I thought I write something for the coast post on what it like to have diabetes. To have diabetes is to have to test your blood sugars everyday and take pills or insulin but that not all as a diabetic you have to watch what you eat and make sure to do some exercise everyday. Having diabetes put you at risk for many other conditions like eye disease and heart disease but if you look after your self you may not have any of problems. The next thing you have to do as a diabetic is have a ac1 test this is a blood test done every three months to see how sugar in your blood you want the sugar to be around 7 but you need to ask your doctor what number they want you at. To know it your diabetic you will a blood test and if your blood sugars come back over 7 or higher you maybe diabetic. November is diabetes month and on November 14 it is world diabetes day. There is the Canadian Diabetes Assoc ion and there website is http://www.diabetes.ca/ this is a good site as it for Canadians and you can get some some great information. I just had my ac1 test done and it was 7.5 so it good but I want it at 7 so I will keep working at it. This has been a great first year as a diabetic but I still got a ways to go. I just hope one day a cure is found. Thank you Shelly

write

Hi Everyone it's lilly better to some as shelly. I hope some of have been reading our blog and We hope you enjoy it and keep on reading. We would love to hear from you?

Connecting dots

This one is really weird. It all started with bits and pieces of pictures (thought pictures)thrown in a basket (that is my head) and tossed about until I didn't know what day it nor month or anything that was going on from one moment to another.

My reality was seeing my husband....he seemed to be the one constant (on going item thing or place) that saved me!So ....from the time he left for work to the time he got home I was in termoil....of course I couldn't tell him that!

I started to believe that I this is what "insane!" feels like? I was believing in my own thoughts....and staying in my thoughts not really knowing what was reality.....(even my husband was not making any sense to me anymore). or was I dreaming it all? Obviously I wasn't dreaming !

The mind is very complex. I coudn't find my way around and I couldn't make heads or tails of my life and I was sooooo scared finally I just wanted to die....to be at rest with self is all I wanted...I yes......... I did the worst thing ever..... I ....

Yes I am alive and getting much better. My therapist is guiding me through the termoil that is my mind.

How did it happen?...I was so sane?...I had it all together? I thought I knew what I was doing? Where did I go wrong?

I lost my constant. I call it my constant because I found out that my mind needs something to touch base with. I need this to make sense of what I am doing or what I am going to do next?.

I changed my constant to a place rather then a person. Ihad to learn to take responcibility for my own actions....there also has be a lot of trust and I have very little trust in myself.

(a peculiar eye)

St. Patrick's Day
We all know that when three-leaf clovers come out, it's St. Patrick's Day. This Irish holiday is always celebrated on March 17th, which is the day that Saint Patrick died. He was a missionary way back in the 4th century who converted the Irish to Christianity.
St. Patrick's Day - The History
Saint Patrick was born around 385 AD in the United Kingdom. His real name is believed to be Maewyn Succat (he took on Patrick, or Patricus, after he became a priest). When he was 16, he was kidnapped by a group of Irish raiders and sold into slavery in Ireland. During his six-year captivity as a shepherd, he began to have religious visions and found strength in his faith. He finally escaped to France and became a priest - and later a bishop. When he was about 60 years old, Saint Patrick returned to Ireland to spread the Christian word. He used the shamrock, which resembles a three-leafed clover, as a metaphor to explain the Christian concept of God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

St. Patrick's Day - An Irish Holiday?
The first St. Patrick's Day parade didn't take place in Ireland, but actually in New York City on March 17, 1762. Now, over 100 US cities have St. Patrick's Day parades. New York should be called the Big Shamrock instead of the Big Apple because their parade usually puts the rest of them to shame.
St. Patrick's Day - Did U Know?
· Green is associated with St. Patrick's Day because it is the color of spring, Ireland and the shamrock.
· Leprechauns are also associated with St. Patrick's Day, although the only reason they are is because they're Irish. Leprechauns are usually mean little creatures - with the exception of the Lucky Charms guy.
· People give Saint Patrick credit for chasing all the snakes out of Ireland. The truth is that snakes are not indigenous to Ireland.

eagles

the reason i chose the eagle as the picture to go along with my paragraph about my apartment is that it is so distinct. it's coloring is so perfect. it's one bird you can really spot really easily.it's wing span and the way it glides through the air is something to see. there is quite a large population of eagles in b.c. i think more or less they are a north american bird. i don't know if they are an endangered species but i think they are protected. i think the eagle feeds on small rodents. i haven't seen too many eagles in the wild. a lot of companies use the eagle as part of their logo. i don't know for sure but i think native people view the eagle as part of their spiritual beliefs. another reason i chose the eagle as part of my paragraph is that it looks so strong. i think the eagle is a sign of independence.