Gurley Lions Club serving the Gurley community since 1948

Madison County Middle School
Picture taken in 2002 by Vincent G. Schneider during BSA troop 96 aviation merit badge requirements.

He who ceases to learn cannot adequately teach.
Gaston Bachelard

I have over 25 years of experience on both side of the Atlantic and I can notice that USA is not achieving the dramatic improvements needed for the new generation of middle-class Americans to confront the new age they will have to face. Here is a selection of links to prove that the rest of the developed world is moving at a faster and more effective pace. We need to act fast and efficiently if we want to give our new generation a real chance to maintain and improve American prosperity.

Multicultural & Language Proficiency
World & Environment Exploration

The challenges imposed on the world by the new conditions require our children to be educated and prepared to respond to the demands of the 21st century and face the Generation E. Today education will determine future American's prosperity and the success of the USA. We are at the dawn of a new age (Since at least 1998) where the USA may not be the main leader. Political domination is and will be harder to obtain (if not impossible) as we go forward. Four of the 7 major industrial countries G-7 votes are European nations and agreements as the Kyoto Protocol demonstrate a change in the world political leadership. The Euro (European Economic and Monetary Union - January 1 2002 - Austria, Belgium, Finland, France (except Pacific territories using CFP franc), Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain) is another instance of the new emerging world challenging the US Dollar. Language proficiency, multicultural knowledge, physical, mental, and emotional challenges will make the difference for our children. They must set high standards. We need to help them build character, to train them to be participating citizens, and develop personal fitness. We must educate our children in foreign languages, arts, moral and ethical values through programs that bring challenges. Only then they will be able to stand up for what they believe in. 

Example of major financial players, challenges, achievements, and harsh competition:

See the International Labor Organization of the United Nations, and the Washington Branch office of the International Labor Organization for more information.

Fantasy Playhouse Children's Theater -Huntsville, AL
The Academy is committed to providing original, creative and high quality theatre education to students of all ages, cultures, abilities and levels of interest.

Madison County is in desperate need of families willing to take older children
http://www.therapeuticprograms.org

Worldwide International Business Relations

A must for future generations... no question about it!

GIS, Mapping, and Geospatial Solutions by Intergraph
Intergraph and Dassault in shipbuilding software alliance
Z/I Imaging - Digital Photogrammetry and GIS Imaging Solutions
Team GeoMedia Geospatial Network
http://www.geospatial.net/  Intergraph’s IntelliWhere™
Intergraph WMSViewer gives you powerful tool to search, view, analyze geospatial data
Intergraph France Intergraph Worldwide
International GeoSpatial Worldwide

Customized Learning Solutions http://www.erroyo.com/
erroyo creates customized learning and training solutions through the use of rich media tools including video, CD-ROM, the Internet, print, and live instruction.
Welcome to Eduscreen http://www.eduscreen.com/
Partnership with Duke University

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS)

SEDS is an independent, student-based organization which promotes the exploration and development of space. SEDS pursues this mission by educating people about the benefits of space, by supporting a network of interested students, by providing an opportunity for members to develop their leadership skills, and inspiring people through our involvement in space-related projects. SEDS believes in a space-faring civilization and that focussing the enthusiasm of young people is the key to our future in space.

FAMS - YOU CAN MAKE A SEA OF DIFFERENCE
Foundation for the Advancement of Marine Sciences

The non-profit Foundation for the Advancement of Marine Sciences (FAMS) is dedicated to educating children and teaching teachers about the diverse aspects of marine life, marine activities and how the marine environment affects essentially all life on Earth. FAMS offers hands-on, interactive marine science educational programs designed to foster critical thinking about the complex yet delicate systems that make up the Earth’s oceans.

”What we human beings are all living now, whether we are volunteers or not, is an extraordinary but exceptionally dangerous adventure. And we have a very small number of years left to fail or to succeed in providing a sustainable future to our species.” - Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Fall Festival for the Madison County Elementary School

Why teaching foreign languages to children in Alabama?

We need to support schools and teachers in Alabama that are teaching foreign languages.

Here is a view about reality:

The challenges imposed on the regional economies by the new conditions of global competition and technological change require our schools to improve their teaching of second languages. Alabama should be prepared to respond to the demands of the 21st century economy. The Third Industrial Revolution will be mainly dominated by worldwide microelectronics, robotics, computer science, and services industries. Soon, a strong technical curriculum will not be enough. Language proficiency and multicultural knowledge will make the difference for our children. Consider that only about half of the people who use French daily live in France. The others live in locations all over the world: North and South America, Africa, the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Some of these locations are major economic and industrial powers and also major US trading partners (Some others will be soon). 220 million people live in countries where French is the official language. French is the native language of over 8 million Canadians and the official language of Quebec. Montreal is the second largest French-speaking city in the world.
French is necessary when dealing with diplomatic relations, numerous economic and industrial world powers and countless main industries as: aerospace, aircraft, biotechnology, chemicals, communication, computers, software, electronic equipment, textiles, transportation (trains, planes, ships...), exporting, importing, trading, food processing (wheat, crops, livestock, dairy products, wine, vegetables...) metallurgy (iron, steel...), machinery (mechanical, automation, robotic...), nuclear (uranium...), oil platforms, undersea cables, petroleum refineries, health (pharmaceutical), military armament, fashion (make-up, beauty products, perfume, clothing, furnishing, antiques...), art (music, theater, composing, painting...) It is also one of the two official languages of the Olympic Games and the United Nations.
French is the official language in the following countries:

Here is a list of countries and territories in which French is widely spoken and is a great asset:

List of Sites for Children

Bilingual Children / Enfants bilingues

Line drawing, Sheet music, Illustrated words with tune, activity for young children. Apprendre le Français en musique. Planning Your Own Festival. Songbooks, Arts and Crafts Projects

Page posted August 2000