Educational Issues
- Eating Disorders Contagious?
- Teaching How Boys Learn
- Christian Tolerance Extinct?
- MySpace 18 Months Later
- 70 Year Old In First Grade
- Eliminate F Grades
- Dropouts: Who Are They?
- Schools Going Green
- Kansas Targets Cyberbullying
- Gunman Plan In Schools
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
International Journal of Eating Disorders, April 2008, is concerned that dying to be thin comes from our friends.
After analyzing 15,349 students, a study concludes that there is a similar pattern with friends and eating disorders. If there is one eating disorder, there are more within the peer group or a school. Therefore, the study concludes that instead of working with individual students, education should be throughout a school.
Eating disorders characteristics may include
More information on Eating Disorders: Eating Disorders 101, Bulemia
Eating disorders characteristics may include
- severe food intake restriction
- dieting
- excessive exercising
- diet pill use
More information on Eating Disorders: Eating Disorders 101, Bulemia
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
Would you know how to teach boys differently than girls? Learn where to go for the latest information on gender teaching.
There has been so much information recently on how boys learn differently than girls do. While most of us have heard or read about academies for boys springing up all over the nation and same sex classrooms, do we really know how to teach girls and boys differently? Some books are being written on this topic to enlighten us.
Principal Kelly King has written the book, Strategies for Teaching Boys and Girls. Her school was recently mentioned in the Newsweek article on educating boys. This information comes in both elementary and secondary levels.
Other books are Teaching the Male Brain: How Boys Think by Abigail Norfleet James; The Boys and Girls Learn Differently by Michael Gurian; The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Failure by Michael Gurian and Why Gender Matters by Leonard Sax. Strategies for Teaching Boys and Girls—Secondary level: A Workbook for Educators by Michael Gurian is a guide for teachers using Gurian Institute’s research. The books are rated by readers on Amazon.com.
Who knows? Little changes in how we teach each gender could make a difference to our students.
Principal Kelly King has written the book, Strategies for Teaching Boys and Girls. Her school was recently mentioned in the Newsweek article on educating boys. This information comes in both elementary and secondary levels.
Other books are Teaching the Male Brain: How Boys Think by Abigail Norfleet James; The Boys and Girls Learn Differently by Michael Gurian; The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Failure by Michael Gurian and Why Gender Matters by Leonard Sax. Strategies for Teaching Boys and Girls—Secondary level: A Workbook for Educators by Michael Gurian is a guide for teachers using Gurian Institute’s research. The books are rated by readers on Amazon.com.
Who knows? Little changes in how we teach each gender could make a difference to our students.
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
A student is suing the Madison, Wisconsin school he attends for violation of the First Amendment when he wanted to make a cross in art class.
A Tomah High School student, named only A.P., was in art class. The assignment was to draw a landscape which he did. However, he added a cross with the words, "John 3:16 A sign of peace". His teacher, Julie Millin, asked him to remove the reference to the Bible and he refused. In fact, when she showed him a policy he had signed giving up his constitutional rights, he tore it up. He was given two detentions. [Todd Richmond, journaltimesonline.com, March 31, 2008]
A.P. has hired David Cortman, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal advocacy group. Cortman says, "Where is the tolerance for religious beliefs? The whole purpose of art is to reflect your own personal experience." [Todd Richmond, journaltimesonline.com, March 31, 2008]
While A.P. is not allowed to show any religious beliefs or symbols, the same school has the following on display within the building:
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A.P. has hired David Cortman, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal advocacy group. Cortman says, "Where is the tolerance for religious beliefs? The whole purpose of art is to reflect your own personal experience." [Todd Richmond, journaltimesonline.com, March 31, 2008]
While A.P. is not allowed to show any religious beliefs or symbols, the same school has the following on display within the building:
- Buddha figures
- Hindu figures with a teacher passionately promoting this belief
- Medusa
- The Grim Reaper
- Six-limbed Hindu woman
- Sorcerer
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
What has been the fallout since Megan's suicide in October 2006?
The world was stunned to learn of Megan's suicide in October of 2006 in St. Louis, MO after it was revealed that she was duped by a fraudulent MySpace account that involved an adult neighbor in the on-line harassment.
Since that time, many communities have passed laws against online harassment demanding a punishment for those that prey on others in this manner.
The girl who participated in the hoax? Ashley Grills was recently on "Good Morning America" and stated that she was so distraught after Megan's death that she tried to commit suicide herself. The Grills family now has an unlisted telephone number and doors are not opened to media.
And, what about the adult that thought this was a great idea? Lori Drew has hired an attorney and is awaiting to see if federal prosecutors will file charges against her. Thom Mrozek, speaking for the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles, states that he may not comment. Meanwhile, Ashley Grills has been given immunity to testify against Drew.
Source: msnbc
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Since that time, many communities have passed laws against online harassment demanding a punishment for those that prey on others in this manner.
The girl who participated in the hoax? Ashley Grills was recently on "Good Morning America" and stated that she was so distraught after Megan's death that she tried to commit suicide herself. The Grills family now has an unlisted telephone number and doors are not opened to media.
And, what about the adult that thought this was a great idea? Lori Drew has hired an attorney and is awaiting to see if federal prosecutors will file charges against her. Thom Mrozek, speaking for the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles, states that he may not comment. Meanwhile, Ashley Grills has been given immunity to testify against Drew.
Source: msnbc
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
Alferd Williams joins six year olds in learning how to read.
This is a great, heartwarming story on MSNBC. In the middle of the first grade classroom sits a 70-year-old gentleman learning how to read. He is surrounded by children young enough to be his great-grandchildren. They are learning together.
Born the son of a sharecropper, Alferd Williams worked his entire life and never had the opportunity to go to school. At 70 he decided to learn how to read. He commented that it is really nice to be able to read the signs in the stores instead of walking and walking to find items.
How does the teacher feel about this situation? She loves having him in class. And the students? They flock to him.
Alferd has shown us that it is never too late to learn how to read.
Source: MSNBC
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Born the son of a sharecropper, Alferd Williams worked his entire life and never had the opportunity to go to school. At 70 he decided to learn how to read. He commented that it is really nice to be able to read the signs in the stores instead of walking and walking to find items.
How does the teacher feel about this situation? She loves having him in class. And the students? They flock to him.
Alferd has shown us that it is never too late to learn how to read.
Source: MSNBC
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
Painesville, OH has taken a William Glasser-like approach to giving grades. Students are not allowed to fail.
You bomb a test and get a 40%. All your hard work has just gone down the tubes. You are getting a D in the class and it is so hard to dig out of this hole.
An F Is An Automatic I
Harvey High School is in it's second year of not accepting a zero from students nor an F. Superintendent Michael Hanlon says, "What is better, that a student drops out or a student who makes early mistakes and goes on to graduate?" [Kim Wheeler, wkyc.com, March 20, 2008] Hanlon's school gives the students that just failed a test an I for incomplete. The student is retaught and given an opportunity to retake the test by a deadline. What if they still fail? If the student has tried to learn the material but still fails, they receive a 50% and and not a zero. Zeros are devastating to a grade average and very discouraging to students. Zeros also do not give an accurate overview of the student's grade.
Controversy
Some criticize Hanlon stating he has lowered the bar. However, this attitude does not take into account a student's ability, home life, emotional state and poverty. Hanlon says if a student is failing, it is the responsibility of the school district to find out where the breakdown is and get the student help. He hopes to have a higher graduation rate.
Glasser Philosophy
William Glasser has a similar philosophy. He believes that reteaching is necessary until students understand the material. Glasser does not subscribe to the "we have to keep moving even if lose a few" philosophy that is in place in many schools. Supt. Hanlon says this move has taken the school from a teaching philosophy to a learning environment.
Source: Kim Wheeler, wkyc.com, Cleveland, OH
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
An F Is An Automatic I
Harvey High School is in it's second year of not accepting a zero from students nor an F. Superintendent Michael Hanlon says, "What is better, that a student drops out or a student who makes early mistakes and goes on to graduate?" [Kim Wheeler, wkyc.com, March 20, 2008] Hanlon's school gives the students that just failed a test an I for incomplete. The student is retaught and given an opportunity to retake the test by a deadline. What if they still fail? If the student has tried to learn the material but still fails, they receive a 50% and and not a zero. Zeros are devastating to a grade average and very discouraging to students. Zeros also do not give an accurate overview of the student's grade.
Controversy
Some criticize Hanlon stating he has lowered the bar. However, this attitude does not take into account a student's ability, home life, emotional state and poverty. Hanlon says if a student is failing, it is the responsibility of the school district to find out where the breakdown is and get the student help. He hopes to have a higher graduation rate.
Glasser Philosophy
William Glasser has a similar philosophy. He believes that reteaching is necessary until students understand the material. Glasser does not subscribe to the "we have to keep moving even if lose a few" philosophy that is in place in many schools. Supt. Hanlon says this move has taken the school from a teaching philosophy to a learning environment.
Source: Kim Wheeler, wkyc.com, Cleveland, OH
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
Why are students leaving school without a diploma? Who are these students? The NEA statistics are in.
The National Education Association has developed a 12-point plan to help students stay in school. The points are well-founded but how is this to be funded? One point suggests offering a graduation center for students ages 19-21 that want to return and get a diploma. Another point suggests that students should receive individual attention. That is very difficult in a large school and can even be challenging in a small school. Funding is key to implementing the NEA Plan.
Demographics
Who are the students that drop out?
Source: www.nea.org
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Copyright article 2008 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
Demographics
Who are the students that drop out?
- 11.6 % male
- 9% female
- 6.8% white
- 11.8% African American
- 23.8% Hispanic
Source: www.nea.org
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Copyright article 2008 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, sets guidelines for Ohio schools. Prospective school buildings must follow the U.S. Green Building Council's scale.
Building a school in Ohio just became a little more complicated. Not only must it be safe and functional--it must now be green. Schools that do comply with the LEED specifications are found to use
Source: Denise Smith Amos, cincinnati.com, March 2, 2008
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Copyright article 2008 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
- 30-50% less heat
- 30-50% less electricity
- 30% less water
- green roofs with dirt and vegetation growing on them
- natural lighting
- more insulation
- fewer materials that emit toxic fumes
- recycled materials
- solar panels
- skylights
- geothermal heat and cooling
- wind energy
- recycled rainwater
Source: Denise Smith Amos, cincinnati.com, March 2, 2008
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Copyright article 2008 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
All Kansas districts are required to have a policy addressing cyberbullying.
A new bill passed the Kansas Senate mandating cyberbullying be included in all bullying policies. The schools already address bullying but will now also address cyberbullying. What is cyberbullying? "Bullying is any intentional gesture or written, verbal or physical threat severe enough to create an abusive atmosphere." [The Kansas City Star, Feb. 26, 2008]
Just what is included under this new bill?
Kansas is a neighboring state to Missouri which has had some high profile cases of cyberbullying that ended in teen suicides. Megan Meier and Brandon Myers both killed themselves to escape from the pain of bullying. A Tonganoxie, Kansas teen dropped out of school because of sexual slurs.
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Copyright article 2008 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
Just what is included under this new bill?
- cell phones
- blogs
- instant messaging
- text messaging
- pagers
- online games
- Web sites (i.e. MySpace, Facebook)
Kansas is a neighboring state to Missouri which has had some high profile cases of cyberbullying that ended in teen suicides. Megan Meier and Brandon Myers both killed themselves to escape from the pain of bullying. A Tonganoxie, Kansas teen dropped out of school because of sexual slurs.
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Copyright article 2008 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
Posted by
Barbara Pytel
Barbara Pytel
The time has come for children in schools to have a plan when faced with an armed gunman in the building.
Cook County's Sheriff Department is giving seminars to school administrators on what to do in case the school is under siege by someone with a gun. Detective Robert Carroll says, "You are far less likely as a student to die as a victim of fire than you are of violence."
The seminar did not give schools specific instructions on how to safeguard students but it did emphasize that schools need to have a plan customized to each classroom within the school.
Many schools are doing the following to improve safety:
Source: Patrycja Malinowska, Chicago Sun-Times
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Copyright article 2008 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
The seminar did not give schools specific instructions on how to safeguard students but it did emphasize that schools need to have a plan customized to each classroom within the school.
Many schools are doing the following to improve safety:
- Steel doors, not wood
- Doors lock from inside the classroom
- Public address systems for all-calls
- Designate a window for evacuation
- Select a safe spot for students to gather in the classroom
- Telephone in each classroom
- Keep outside doors locked
Source: Patrycja Malinowska, Chicago Sun-Times
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Copyright article 2008 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
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