Educational Issues
- Community Colleges Popular
- Tuition Woes For Older Parents
- MySpace Suicide Indictment
- Vitamin D Deficiency In Children
- Wind Turbines And School
- Tutoring Not Effective
- Google and ADD
- 7 Ivy Leagues Admit Immigrant
- Death By Choking
- ACT Prep Backfiring
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
Community colleges nationwide are seeing record enrollments. Junior colleges tuition costs are half of state universities.
Instead of going directly to a four-year college, students are choosing to attend the first two years at a junior college and later transfer. How much of a savings is it?
Tuition Costs
The average tuition rate at a junior college is $2,361 for 30 credit hours. At a public university, tuition averages nearly $7,500. Students can attend two years at a junior college for less money than one year at a state university. Couples that have children at an older age don't want to go into debt 5-7 years prior to retirement and choose junior colleges as a way to keep debt down.
Class Closeouts
Traditionally, large universities have problems with classes filling up leaving students on a waiting list. Now, junior colleges are beginning to have the same problem. With record numbers of students on campus and tight budgets, junior colleges have waiting lists for students to enter certain programs.
Technical jobs are hot and the place to get training is also at junior colleges. And, Baby Boomers are sending their youngest off to colleges in record numbers. This adds to the congestion. But, these big numbers are not expected to last so colleges don't want to build and hire only to fire.
Tuition Costs
The average tuition rate at a junior college is $2,361 for 30 credit hours. At a public university, tuition averages nearly $7,500. Students can attend two years at a junior college for less money than one year at a state university. Couples that have children at an older age don't want to go into debt 5-7 years prior to retirement and choose junior colleges as a way to keep debt down.
Class Closeouts
Traditionally, large universities have problems with classes filling up leaving students on a waiting list. Now, junior colleges are beginning to have the same problem. With record numbers of students on campus and tight budgets, junior colleges have waiting lists for students to enter certain programs.
Technical jobs are hot and the place to get training is also at junior colleges. And, Baby Boomers are sending their youngest off to colleges in record numbers. This adds to the congestion. But, these big numbers are not expected to last so colleges don't want to build and hire only to fire.
Tuition Woes For Older Parents
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
Parents are having to choose between saving for college tuition and their own retirement plans. Why is this happening now?
College tuition has always been a struggle for parents. After receiving thirteen years of free education in public schools, price tags of $26,000 per year are staggering. However, recently there is a new crunch. Why?
Parents Are Older
Women are choosing to have careers first and become parents later. With the recent trend of women becoming first time mothers in their late 30's and early 40's, the college issues comes much later in life.
Student Loans Less Available
Private loan companies are cutting back in the loans they give for college. Many banks do not issue private students at all. And, in the recent low interest era, many companies will lose money if they issue loans. In the past year, 50 lenders have pulled out of the student loan business.
College Tuition Rising
While everything is rising in costs, college tuition has recently risen much faster than inflation and parent income. Over the last 40 years, incomes have risen 304% but college tuition has risen much more. Public college tuition has risen 844% and private college tuition has risen 778%. So, if it seems much harder for parents to pay for college--it is! In some cases, college costs have tripled from what their parents paid for their college expenses after allowing for inflation.
Age Factor
Now throw in the fact that parents are taking out loans at the age of 55 or 60 instead of 40 or 45 and we find a crises. The FAFSA does have an age factor built into it. The older the parents, the less they are expected to take out in loans. However, colleges are not obliged to honor the FAFSA's Expected Family Contribution. Parents are now being forced to take money from their retirement funds to pay for college, leaving them underfunded for the golden years.
Source: Sue Asci, InvestmentNews.com, June 30, 2008
Parents Are Older
Women are choosing to have careers first and become parents later. With the recent trend of women becoming first time mothers in their late 30's and early 40's, the college issues comes much later in life.
Student Loans Less Available
Private loan companies are cutting back in the loans they give for college. Many banks do not issue private students at all. And, in the recent low interest era, many companies will lose money if they issue loans. In the past year, 50 lenders have pulled out of the student loan business.
College Tuition Rising
While everything is rising in costs, college tuition has recently risen much faster than inflation and parent income. Over the last 40 years, incomes have risen 304% but college tuition has risen much more. Public college tuition has risen 844% and private college tuition has risen 778%. So, if it seems much harder for parents to pay for college--it is! In some cases, college costs have tripled from what their parents paid for their college expenses after allowing for inflation.
Age Factor
Now throw in the fact that parents are taking out loans at the age of 55 or 60 instead of 40 or 45 and we find a crises. The FAFSA does have an age factor built into it. The older the parents, the less they are expected to take out in loans. However, colleges are not obliged to honor the FAFSA's Expected Family Contribution. Parents are now being forced to take money from their retirement funds to pay for college, leaving them underfunded for the golden years.
Source: Sue Asci, InvestmentNews.com, June 30, 2008
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
Missouri didn't have a cyber-bullying law on the books but that didn't stop a federal grand jury to bring charges against Lori Drew mid-May.
Lori Drew, the mother who posed as a teenage boy on MySpace, is not being charged with cyber-bullying. She is being charged with
What are the chances of the prosecution being successful? Some lawyers feel there is a very good chance. This is a story that will be unfolding with ramifications far into the future.
- conspiracy
- 3 counts of unauthorized access to a computer
What are the chances of the prosecution being successful? Some lawyers feel there is a very good chance. This is a story that will be unfolding with ramifications far into the future.
Vitamin D Deficiency In Children
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
Symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency are invisible unless a blood test is taken. Advanced stages include broken bones and weakened immune systems.
Children's Hospital in Boston performed research on 380 children ages 8 months to 2 years. How many were found to be deficient in vitamin D? 40% of children failed to have an adequate level of the very important vitamin.
What is necessary for prevention?
Canadian research recently discovered that breast cancer patients with lower levels of vitamin D were more likely to have the cancer spread or even die.
Sunshine is a factor because vitamin D is produced by the body when sunlight hits the skin. Children should be outside often and avoid drinking soda instead of vitamin D fortified milk.
Source: Andrew Stern, Yahoo! News, June 2, 2008
What is necessary for prevention?
- drinking fortified milk
- taking vitamins
- keep weight at a normal level
Canadian research recently discovered that breast cancer patients with lower levels of vitamin D were more likely to have the cancer spread or even die.
Sunshine is a factor because vitamin D is produced by the body when sunlight hits the skin. Children should be outside often and avoid drinking soda instead of vitamin D fortified milk.
Source: Andrew Stern, Yahoo! News, June 2, 2008
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
The Wind For Schools program is installing wind energy on school grounds to teach students about this alternative source of energy.
The Midwest is known for wheat, hogs, cattle, soybeans, corn and wind. The large open spaces which make the land great for farming with 24 row equipment also leaves little to reduce wind. The U.S. Department of Energy is promoting a national initiative to help students understand the renewable power of wind.
The states involved in this initiative are
Iowa and other states are already sprinkled with long ribbons of wind towers helping to create electrical energy. Wind does not pollute and is renewable. The Midwest is going "green."
Source: www.kcstar.com, June 9, 2008
The states involved in this initiative are
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Montana
- Nebraska
- South Dakota
Iowa and other states are already sprinkled with long ribbons of wind towers helping to create electrical energy. Wind does not pollute and is renewable. The Midwest is going "green."
Source: www.kcstar.com, June 9, 2008
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
Federal law prescribes free tutoring for students in struggling schools. But, studies show that students are not improving in spite of the tutoring.
The federal government had Plan B in place for failing students--tutoring. Plan B isn't working very well. A recent study shows that in
How much money is involved? For 2006-2007, $595 million went to nonprofit and for-profit tutors. Under No Child Left Behind mandates, schools that don't meet academic goals must allow students to transfer to higher-performing schools. In many large cities, high-performing public schools are difficult to find and permission has not been given for below par students to attend high-performing parochial schools.
Schools that fail to make academic progress for three years are to provide free tutoring. If progress does not occur, strong sanctions are taken against schools with replacing teachers and administrators a strong possibility.
A Rand Corporation study shows that tutoring is beneficial adding confusion as to what really works. So, what are the factors? The tutors? The school? More time needed? The length of tutoring sessions? Parental cooperation and encouragement? Collaboration between teachers and tutors?
As Congress tries to appropriate funding for what works and what doesn't, what data will be considered?
Source: The Washington Post, Maria Glod, June 13, 2008
- Virginia
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Tennessee
- Michigan
How much money is involved? For 2006-2007, $595 million went to nonprofit and for-profit tutors. Under No Child Left Behind mandates, schools that don't meet academic goals must allow students to transfer to higher-performing schools. In many large cities, high-performing public schools are difficult to find and permission has not been given for below par students to attend high-performing parochial schools.
Schools that fail to make academic progress for three years are to provide free tutoring. If progress does not occur, strong sanctions are taken against schools with replacing teachers and administrators a strong possibility.
A Rand Corporation study shows that tutoring is beneficial adding confusion as to what really works. So, what are the factors? The tutors? The school? More time needed? The length of tutoring sessions? Parental cooperation and encouragement? Collaboration between teachers and tutors?
As Congress tries to appropriate funding for what works and what doesn't, what data will be considered?
Source: The Washington Post, Maria Glod, June 13, 2008
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
Does reading short articles and blogs on the internet actually make us dumber? Carr believes it does.
Nicholas Carr recently wrote an article in The Atlantic Monthly stating that reading information on the internet has actually shortened our attention spans. Carr believes that when we click and scan, we are creating a habit that will discourage us from reading in depth.
Carr argues that reading for information on the internet
Having information with just a few clicks on the computer is a wonderful tool as long as it doesn't make us dummer!
Source: National Public Radio, June 20, 2008
Related article: Miracle-Gro For The Brain, Bullying Linked To ADHD
Carr argues that reading for information on the internet
- shortens our attention spans
- inhibits our ability to read long articles and books
Having information with just a few clicks on the computer is a wonderful tool as long as it doesn't make us dummer!
Source: National Public Radio, June 20, 2008
Related article: Miracle-Gro For The Brain, Bullying Linked To ADHD
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
What a success story! A short time ago Lukasz Zbylut began 7th grade with very limited English. Today, he chooses between 17 prominent colleges.
Occasionally we hear about a student having a perfect ACT score of 36 when it makes the news. And, that is a big deal. But, a Polish immigrant really has people scratching their heads.
Five years ago, Luke (Lukasz in Polish) entered a New York 7th grade with poor English-speaking skills. Today, the 18-year-old has been accepted by
Luke states, "Schools in Poland are very rigorous, as you can imagine." European schools have a different structure than in the United States. In middle school, students split into technical areas and college prep.
In addition to working very hard at academics, which is obvious, he was very active -- which is what colleges are seeking. Colleges want leaders with character. Luke's accomplishments are
Luke was a self-starter and a leader with terrific academics. He was the perfect choice for Ivy Leagues.
So, which school did he pick? Harvard. And, what will he study? Politics, law and philosophy. Congratulations, Lukasz, for showing us what hard work and tenacity can accomplish!
Source: TodayShow.com, Bob Considine
Related articles: Becoming An American Citizen, Recruiting College Students
Five years ago, Luke (Lukasz in Polish) entered a New York 7th grade with poor English-speaking skills. Today, the 18-year-old has been accepted by
- Columbia
- Cornell
- Dartmouth
- Georgetown
- Harvard
- New York University
- Penn
- Stanford
Luke states, "Schools in Poland are very rigorous, as you can imagine." European schools have a different structure than in the United States. In middle school, students split into technical areas and college prep.
In addition to working very hard at academics, which is obvious, he was very active -- which is what colleges are seeking. Colleges want leaders with character. Luke's accomplishments are
- co-captain of the United Nations team at his school
- founder of the school's debate team
- president of the mock-trial team
- editor of the school newspaper
- soccer
Luke was a self-starter and a leader with terrific academics. He was the perfect choice for Ivy Leagues.
So, which school did he pick? Harvard. And, what will he study? Politics, law and philosophy. Congratulations, Lukasz, for showing us what hard work and tenacity can accomplish!
Source: TodayShow.com, Bob Considine
Related articles: Becoming An American Citizen, Recruiting College Students
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
Asphyxia games just claimed another death on the news today. Sunday after church a young girl was found dead and her parents want others to be watchful.
Choking games are not new. Signs are bruises or red marks around the neck. Students often do this to each other taking turns but sometimes they try and duplicate the sensation on themselves.
Today's news story just brings our attention back to this routelle game...you may make it and you might not. Young children do not realize they may die playing this game. Even when told, they think it can't happen to them.
Related article: Cutting
Today's news story just brings our attention back to this routelle game...you may make it and you might not. Young children do not realize they may die playing this game. Even when told, they think it can't happen to them.
Related article: Cutting
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
"When 40% of instructional time was used to prep for the ACT, scores actually went down. What is going on?
It is assumed that "better" students prep for the ACT. They buy the official ACT study guide or take the expensive prep classes from Sylvan or Kaplan. Which students are declining in performance?
A Study
The lead author of from High School to the Future: ACT Preparation--Too Much, Too Late, Elaine Allensworth, states that the study revealed three problems:
The Best Prep
According to Ed Colby, a spokesman for the Iowa-based ACT Inc., "ACT prep is learning the material you're being taught in your classes." Taking class time to teach the ACT is backfiring because students are taking less time to learn the concepts on the test.
Recommendations
Related article: College Entrance Scores Down,, ACT Scores Falling
A Study
The lead author of from High School to the Future: ACT Preparation--Too Much, Too Late, Elaine Allensworth, states that the study revealed three problems:
- too much classroom time was devoted to preparing for the ACT
- attention was diverted away from analytical and problem-solving skills
- test preparation that most teachers use is inferior
The Best Prep
According to Ed Colby, a spokesman for the Iowa-based ACT Inc., "ACT prep is learning the material you're being taught in your classes." Taking class time to teach the ACT is backfiring because students are taking less time to learn the concepts on the test.
Recommendations
- Schools should make sure students are use real practice tests under real conditions instead of teachers teaching random information.
- Schools should teach students to better understand the connection between their studies and the real world.
- Move ACT test prep outside of school hours leaving time for academics between 8-3.
Related article: College Entrance Scores Down,, ACT Scores Falling
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