Neag Center Home Page | News & Views
Valuable learning opportunity—or violent animal abuse? That's the debate currently underway regarding the practice of animal dissection in secondary-school classes, and some of the debaters are students themselves:
www.csmonitor.com/2004/0608/p14s01-legn.html
TV for "tweens": Nickelodeon had recently launched a new channel, "the N" with programming oriented to the interests—and concerns—of viewers aged ten to fourteen. But critics, including parents, worry that the network may do too good a job, addressing real-life issues more bluntly than some parents find appropriate:
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/06/09/DDG2E727VS1.DTL
"Making license plates" isn't just for prisons any more: in North Carolina, the state senate voted to allow its high schools to earn money through license plates bearing the schools' insignia and mascots:
www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1317649p-7439735c.html
Investing in the future: a new report looks at the impact of education on economic development:
www.kwfdn.org/ProgramAreas/Facilities/weiss_release.html
The sense of the census: a report by the US Census Bureau indicates that school debt had increased by 12% in the 2001-02 school year. These figured predate the No Child Left Behind Act and the expenses incurred:
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/06/08/national1910EDT0768.DTL
Most of us want our children—be they students, offspring, or neighbors—to be well-informed and concerned about world affairs. But with the release of news such as the shocking images from the Iraqi war, parents and others wrestle with how much to share with their children, and how to discuss what they do see. This website from the National PTA offers some helpful guidelines:
www.pta.org//parentinvolvement/parenttalk/iraqphotos.asp
Multiple Intelligences: milestone or myth? For twenty years, Howard Gardner's concept of multiple intelligences has framed the way many people think about ability and learning. However, the theory is not without its critics. This article discusses some of the ways the theory has been misapplied and misunderstood:
www.educationnext.org/20043/18.html
In Seattle, one school district is making the most of the age-old tradition of the science fair, held in a local museum. The museum also used the opportunity to hold a benefit for the district's science teachers, many of whom were suffering from budget cuts:
seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2001948374_science05m.html
The National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC) recently unveiled a new program aimed at meeting the educational needs of at-risk youth. This new tool consists of criteria and self-assessment methods for use in helping educational programs improve their service delivery:
www.nyec.org/EdStrategies.html
Profiles in courage—from the proverbial mouths of babes: every year in Boston, sixth graders write about courage as part of the Max Warberg Courage Curriculum. Winning essays are published in the Boston Globe.
The Young Women's Leadership School of Chicago, a one-of-a-kind all-girls school designed to meet the needs of inner city at-risk young women, recently graduated its first senior class. Oprah Winfrey, one of the school's biggest boosters, delivered the commencement speech:
www.ywlcs.org
An online "yardsale" helps users turn unwanted goods into much needed education money. The site, Classroom Classifieds, raises money for the Falmouth Education Association by having posters donate a percentage of their profits to the group:
www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlife/2004-06-07-education-auction_x.htm
In some Massachusetts schools, math teachers are taking a page from Singapore's highly successful new math curriculum. The method, called, appropriately enough, "Singapore Math", is gaining popularity among state schools:
www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/mcas/articles/2004/06/10/schools_import_singapore_math_stylea
Recent graduates of Oregon's largest alternative high school have overcome more than the usual hurdles to accomplish this goal. Their principal has a better understanding of their obstacles than most, having herself survived many of the same ones:
www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/metro_east_news/1086782239233840.xml?oregonian?en
When it comes to learning a second language, it's never too early to start. This Oregon column advocates foreign-language instruction in the primary grades:
www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1087301115179230.xml?oregonian?yedcrl
ETS isn't the only one going online with testing: Tennessee school officials estimate that all standardized testing in their state will be computerized by 2010:
tennessean.com/education/archives/04/06/52878863.shtml?Element_ID=52878863
In another chapter of the ongoing struggles with the charter school systems, the Ohio Education Association has filed a lawsuit charging that charter schools are unconstitutional. The lawsuit states that charter schools violate the equal protection clause of the Constitution because they receive more aid per pupil than traditional schools:
www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/1086859807169781.xml?nohio
Our students aren't the only ones facing high-stakes testing. In France, students in their last year of high school recently began "le bac"—two weeks' worth of baccalaureate examinations, which serve as a combination graduation exercise and college entrance test:
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/06/10/international1429EDT0651.DTL
The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development is offering a new online professional development opportunity. The 7-lesson course deals with communication between school and home:
pdonline.ascd.org/pd_online/new/course_description.cfm?sid=64
A new kind of treasure map: in Michigan, some students have the opportunity to participate in high-tech treasure hunts. Aided by GPS devices, the students create and locate caches of hidden treasures:
www.detnews.com/2004/schools/0406/14/b04-182511.htm
In Pennsylvania, some school districts are up in arms over cyberschool funding. Pennsylvania law requires districts to use local money to pay tuition for students enrolled in cyberschool courses. Some districts, however, feel that the state should pay the entire cost:
www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2004-06-14-cyberschool-funds_x.htm
When we think about students getting expelled, the image the comes to mind is most likely that of a high school student—but it's a concern for preschoolers as well. In Michigan, programs have been developed to help unruly preschoolers stay in school:
www.freep.com/news/education/expel3_20040603.htm
Learning—and teaching—on the job: In Des Moines, a school has hired one of its own students to manage its computer systems. The young man, now a junior, has been on the job for three years and has received recognition for his work from some of the companies working with the school:
desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040603/NEWS02/406030338/1004
It's not just girls who primp for prom! In San Francisco, more and more boys are gearing up for the big night, or nights, with expensive clothes and other amenities:
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2004/06/03/moneytales.DTL
Nothing to fear but fear itself? A new report shows that today's youth may actually be better off than they were five years ago:
www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-06-02-us-children_x.htm
Does retention work? A study by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development looks at the research:
www.ascd.org/cms/objectlib/ascdframeset/index.cfm?publication=http://www.ascd.org/publications/researchbrief/volume2/v2n11.html
Latin for fun? That's the goal of a new software program put out by Cambridge University—and it seems to be working: schools testing it indicated that enrollment in Latin classes doubled after its implementation:
education.independent.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=526963
Taking a stand against (the misuse of) standards: This petition from the Council of Essential Schools encourages those concerned with education to make their voices heard by speaking up against the misuse of standardized testing:
www.essentialschools.org/cs/about/create/ces_hst
Pathways—to success: this website provides access to a wealth of information about ways to improve the lives of America's most at-risk young people:
www.pathwaystooutcomes.org
Nearly a quarter of American adolescents are reading below grade level—a condition which puts them at serious risk. This website discusses the importance of good adolescent literacy programs—and how to know one when you see one:
www.all4ed.org/press/pr_060204.htm
Early childhood and preschool education initiatives are near and dear to the hearts of many policy makers these days. But not all programs are created equal:
www.ewa.org/offers/publications/earlychildhoodreform.pdf
Another area of serious interest, especially for gifted students and those who work with them, is the dual enrollment option, which allows students to take classes at two institutions at once. This report, from the Community College Research Center at Teachers' College, Columbia University, outlines dual enrollment legislation in all 50 states:
www.tc.columbia.edu/ccrc
One of the roles of a school psychologist is to implement interventions for the purpose of helping students to alter problem behaviors. But when an intervention fails to be effective, is it the fault of the student—or a faulty implementation of a potentially effective intervention? This report looks at a new protocol for measuring the treatment integrity of interventions:
www.wcer.wisc.edu/projects/project.asp?project_num=2243&subnum=0&catID=13
In California, a new study found that just under a quarter of California high schoolers passed through the core college-prep curriculum with a grade of C or better. However, almost three-quarters finish high school in four years, putting California on a par with the rest of the nation:
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/06/04/BAGJ370QUK1.DTL&type=printable
Quid pro quo can be a good thing! A recent online Gallup poll showed students were more willing to work hard for teachers who worked hard for them:
www.detnews.com/2004/schools/0406/04/a09-173712.htm
Experience history through the eyes and voices of those who lives it! Through the Library of Congress, the Veterans' History Project is making the stories of veterans available online:
www.loc.gov/folklife/vets/stories
Also, read an article about this project here:
www.csmonitor.com/2004/0602/p25s01-stin.html
In Massachusetts, academic disciplinary actions are on the rise, to a recorded high of almost 2000 students expelled or suspended last year. Some blame the increase on larger classes and few services for students in trouble:
www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2004/06/04/school_discipline_actions_on_rise
It's the principal of the thing: In New Jersey, when administrators needed help with new technology, they turned to their resident experts—computer-savvy students in their own schools:
www.ascd.org/cms/objectlib/ascdframeset/index.cfm?publication=http://www.ascd.org/publications/class_lead/200406/twomey.html
In Texas, students' scores on the state assessments went up—but their scores on the ACT and SAT dropped. Officials hope a new state test will be more in line with college expectations:
www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/education/2610999
It's almost a no-win situation: with 96% of Massachusetts students passing statewide tests, the state education commissioner insists that the tests need beefing up, while critics of the plan fault this approach for not giving enough credit to teachers and students:
www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/mcas/articles/2004/06/08/mcas_pass_rate_inches_up
Computing progress: According to a new study, preschoolers who use a computer several times a week showed better school readiness and greater cognitive development than those who don't:
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5156124
The San Francisco Board of Education has decided to standardize school days for kindergartners. These students will now attend full-day kindergarten:
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2004/05/26/BAG0F6RSG91.DTL
When you think of a student-run radio station, the students that come to mind are usually in college. But radio stations run by high school students are also thriving, and some have been around for longer than their student DJ have been alive:
www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/05/25/high.school.radio.ap/index.html
Calculators may play a significant role in student math performance, a new study finds. Fourth grade students accustomed to using calculators showed a marked drop in their scores on basic math skills when required to perform without the calculator:
www.detnews.com/2004/schools/0405/26/d06-164049.htm
Everyone knows that "children can't vote"—so adults need to vote for them! That's the purpose behind the National Association to Protect Children (PROTECT): to mobilize voters to stand up for children's legal rights and protection under the law:
www.protect.org
American educators aren't alone in their difficulties—in England, new studies suggest that the biggest problems facing British schools are government-mandated testing programs and poor student behavior:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/05/27/nscho27.xml
In Colorado, the state Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether to extend the state's voucher system. Critics argue that school districts should not be required to give money to programs over which they have no control:
insidedenver.com/drmn/education/article/0,1299,DRMN_957_2914560,00.html
A new report by the National Center for Fair and Open Testing provides a comprehensive overview at how the provisions of No Child Left Behind leave a lot of school and their students behind:
www.fairtest.org/Failing_Our_Children_Report.html
Students aren't the only ones suffering from problems with NCLB's evaluation standards for them: the American Federation of Teachers has recently released a report which critiques NCLB's definition of a "proficient" teacher:
www.aft.org/privatization/reports/index.html
Are you in the process of choosing a school for your child? Look here first—the "Picky Parent's Guide" provides helpful suggestions on what to look for in a school:
www.pickyparent.com/pages/six-steps.html
Since the Stonewall riots of 1969, the gay rights movement has come a long way. This article takes a look at the changes the past 35 years have brought—and the distance still to be gone:
www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2004/05/06/building_a_sense_of_harmony
Every child wants someone they can talk to, someone they can trust—and that need is greatest for children whose families are in crisis. But children living with such problems, including domestic violence, are often the least likely to seek out help. This article discusses the problem:
www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=5211
Virginia legislators have lost a skirmish in their battle with No Child Left Behind. The US Department of Education rejected two of the state's proposals regarding modification of NCLB's testing processes:
www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031775742135&path=%21news&s=1045855934842
When we think of the impact of globalization on young women in developing countries, we expect it to be positive. But that's not the case in many parts of the world, according to this article—in many places, the pressures of globalization are causing mother to pull their young daughters out of school to help with factory work or housekeeping:
allafrica.com/stories/200405270559.html
In San Francisco, some schools are trying to make student government elections less about popularity and more about issues. As a result, the student leaders being elected are more likely to innovate:
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2004/05/28/EBG9T6R9B41.DTL
It takes a village—or does it? This edition of ASCD's Educational Leadership takes a look at the role of community in education:
www.ascd.org/cms/objectlib/ascdframeset/index.cfm?publication=http://www.ascd.org/publications/ed_lead/200405/holloway.html
In Florida, a new website tries to lessen the "digital divide": links4youth.com offers lists of resources and help with homework and state exams to youth in need:
www.links4youth.com/index.htm
One of the requirements of NCLB is for better communication between schools and parents. But a new study shows that many parents, in part because of language and cultural barriers, often don't know what's going on in their children's schools:
www.csmonitor.com/2004/0601/p11s02-legn.html
One of the most important components of being a good speller is knowing your . . . history? That's right, according to past winners of the Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee. Read more about the competition here:
www.indystar.com/articles/1/151393-4331-009.html
It's 3 pm—do you know where your parents are? Not at home, according to a new study that finds that as many as 14 million children are "home alone" after school:
www.afterschoolalliance.org/america_3pm.cfm
An escape—on paper: this article takes a look at the realities behind NCLB's school transfer option:
www.christiansciencemonitor.com/2004/0519/p03s01-usgn.html
It's always money: a new report finds that education reforms are driven by present economic needs rather than past failures:
www.ets.org/news/04042601.html
To innovate, or conserve—that's the question facing many public schools. This article takes a look at the tides of change in American education over the years.
www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2004-05-18-oppose_x.htm
In Illinois, teachers and parents face off over the issue of gym class. Some parents want their children to be able to opt out of phys ed as long as they are engaged in other physical activities like sports, while some teachers are concerned that this may lead to unhealthy habits later in life:
www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040420/NEWS0107/404200315/1004/NEWS
Many Americans may consider schoolyard bullying a time-honored tradition, or even a first taste of the real world. But even before the rash of school shootings exemplified by the events at Columbine, experts had warned of the dangerous consequences of bullying:
www.csmonitor.com/2004/0512/p01s03-ussc.htm
Serious problems call for serious change. These articles look at the need for radical reforms to America's high schools:
www.asbj.com/current/research.html
www.ascd.org/publications/ed_lead/200405/noguera.html
Tallying up the balance sheet: this article explores the gains and losses in American education over the years:
www.megaskillshsi.org/gains.htm
Starting from day one: this article discusses the need for teacher induction programs for new teachers that will help to keep them motivated:
www.principals.org/publications/bulletin/bltn_0304_wong.cfm
Acting on recommendations from an education task force, the state of Tennessee plans to increase its budget and services for gifted children. New services will include online course options and lesson plan banks:
tennessean.com/education/archives/04/05/51582720.shtml?Element_ID=51582720
Blood pressure checks aren't just for grownups any more: a new health report urges pediatricians to keep an eye on their young patients, who may be at risk for hypertension and other ailments, not least due to the rise in obesity among young children:
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5015894
A new kind of exercise: a new study has found that a series of exercises designed to stimulate brain function may help dyslexics:
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2004%2F05%2F21%2Fndys21.xml
Free speech—or plagiarism? A new California law cracking down on online "term paper mills" which provide prewritten papers to students draws fire from critics concerned about the actual authors' right to free speech:
www.sacbee.com/content/news/education/story/9399305p-10323631c.html
Video games aren't just for couch potatoes anymore! A new game called Dance Dance Revolution is getting kids on their feet:
www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-05-23-video-health_x.htm
Single-sex schooling may help boys as well as girls. But some educators are concerned that the Bush administration's modifications to Title IX, which make it easier to establish same-sex schools, may also lead to sex discrimination:
www.csmonitor.com/2004/0525/p11s01-legn.html
Privacy protection—or stonewalling? Critics argue that a new policy in San Francisco schools which restricts school board members' access to incident reports, may be an effort by the superintendent's office to limit access to key information, not just to protect students' privacy:
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/05/25/BAGMH6R5LK1.DTL
A new issue of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development's ResearchBrief takes a look at the role of retention in student achievement:
www.ascd.org/cms/objectlib/ascdframeset/index.cfm?publication=http://www.ascd.org/publications/researchbrief/volume2/v2n11.html