My name is David Daymude (one of those rare surnames that occurs less than 1 in 3 million when you try to search for it on genealogy sites) and I am originally from here and there. My father was in the Air Force when I was a kid - which meant that I was also in the Air Force - as a dependent. I was born in Everett, WA and lived there until I was 2 or so. I have also lived in Alexandria, VA (just across the Potomac River from Washington DC); Alconbury AFB, England; Lakenheath AFB, England and Vandenberg AFB in California. Those were just my elementary school years! I went to high school in Santa Barbara. I have also attended eight colleges: UCSB, Santa Barbara City College, National University, Alan Hancock College, Miracosta College, Palomar College, CSULB, and I just acquired my bachelor’s in Social Science from CSUSM. I will be in the teacher-credentialing program in the fall. So, yes, I have been here and there, but mostly there.
In terms of technology, I am somewhat competent with technology, but times have changed faster than I have and I am currently in a learning curve to catch up. In the early 1980s I was cutting edge! LOL. Yeah, I know, that’s the dark ages in terms of technology. I am absolutely a Mac person. I use a Power PC G4 running 10.4. I hate the new Microsoft Office suite (and Microsoft products in general) and use Office 2004 for Mac. I depend on technology daily (as everyone does) and use texting, IM-ing and email almost daily. CSUSM has given me beginners experience with Excel and PowerPoint. I have a fair knowledge of the workings of the web and I crawl there daily for news and just plain peeking into corners.
The COE Mission Statement has a section stating that the school is committed to social justice. Although this is a highly worthy statement and goal, I find it difficult to see how public schooling, which is certainly the most politicized institution in any nation, can be very effective in achieving this goal. Our nation is founded and holds dearly to the notion of individual freedoms and rights and many, many parents will fight tooth-and-nail for the “maintaining” of “social standards” and other notions of conservative thought processes that are antithetical to this notion of justice for all. Many parents believe that justice is only for them, their children and others that think and look like them. For them, conservative “standards” must be maintained or reverted back to, and that notions of social justice are but a loosening of standards and the bane of civilized society and the “American way of life”. So, although I personally may agree with the notion of social justice as a goal, to put it in a mission statement of a public higher learning institution seems to be somewhat overly idealistic. The COE mission statement was not a factor in my decision to apply to CSUSM, but it is certainly a grand set of worthy goals to try to achieve—even if they are pie-in-the-sky idealistic goals.
