voiceofsandiego.org: Education... How a Controversial Rule Played Out in Other Schools

voiceofsandiego.org: Education... How a Controversial Rule Played Out in Other Schools:

"Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009 As bargaining grinds on between San Diego Unified and its teachers union over its expired contract, a public debate has erupted over a few paragraphs of legalese.

Teachers and their union say a new proposal will help kids by preventing teachers from being overloaded with new duties. Opponents say it will allow the union to veto any changes to what teachers do -- even small ones -- by enshrining all existing practices in the contract. It has pitted the principals union against the teachers union, divided and perplexed parents."

Yet both its backers and its critics point out that the proposal, known as "maintenance of standards," is nothing new. Similar rules show up in teachers union agreements as early as the 1970s in New York and have cropped up across Wisconsin and Michigan, spreading to Colorado and even Alaska. They typically state that working conditions "shall be maintained at not less than the highest minimum standards in effect" at the time -- language that isn't always clear to the average person.

That wording has varied, along with its impact. Attorneys and educators tell radically different stories about how the clause works. A Wisconsin attorney calls it "a union trump card." A Minnesota superintendent said it posed no problems. And a New York official said it's sometimes difficult.

Bag Theft Scoop: Mayor Kevin Johnson and his lost garment bag

MacArthur Metro - Money Honeys, Articles, & News

MacArthur Metro - Money Honeys, Articles, & News:

by Sharon Higgins

"Kids eating junk food? That is nothing new. I nag, preach, and explain to my kids that they need to limit the amount of junk food they eat. On some days, they get more than they should. On some days, so do I. Last spring at Bret Harte Middle School, after seeing a young man eat chips for breakfast (which he purchased at the cafeteria that morning), after attending a student-safety meeting and after working on the school's litter problem for almost two years, I decided to find out what the students were eating. For three days I randomly approached 90 students during lunchtime and asked them about their lunches."

"The two other options for kids are to bring lunch from home (18 percent) or to have the tray lunch (14 percent). The tray lunch may be purchased at a reasonable price by any student but rarely is. Usually students have it because their income qualifies them to receive it free or for a reduced price. The tray lunch is subsidized and must adhere to federal dietary guidelines. The students described the food on the tray lunches as "all right." Unfortunately, throughout Oakland in the middle and upper grades, tray lunches are stigmatized by many students and, therefore, avoided. Additionally, some families who would qualify for the lunch are unaware that they are eligible. So the sad fact is that many who can least afford to pay for their lunch will do so."

The White House - Blog Post - The Story of the White House Garden

The White House - Blog Post - The Story of the White House Garden:

"The Story of the White House Garden
Posted by Jason Djang

Since ground-breaking and initial tilling in March, we've been documenting the progress of the first garden on White House grounds since Eleanor Roosevelt's Victory Garden during World War II. This new garden was planted with the help of local elementary school children and has yielded a constant supply fresh produce for the First Family and White House events. Hear and see the story of the garden first-hand from First Lady Michelle Obama and White House chef Sam Kass."

First 5 California Joins Sid the Science Kid to Talk about the Importance of Immunizations

First 5 California Executive Director Kris Perry joined Sid the Science Kid in a PSA informing young children and parents about the importance of vaccinations.

Come meet Sid and attend a special screening of Sid the Science Kid on Tuesday, October 20 from 3-5 pm. Show starts at 3:30 pm at the Kidspace Children's Museum (480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103).

For more information about health, education, services and support, visit www.first5california.com/parents.

NASA hosts lunar robotics competition - UPI.com

NASA hosts lunar robotics competition - UPI.com:

"MOFFIT FIELD, Calif., Oct. 15 (UPI) -- NASA says 23 teams are participating in this weekend's 2009 Regolith Excavation Challenge in California to find better ways of handling moon dust.

The two-day event begins Saturday at NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif.

The space agency said the $750,000 prize competition -- part of its Centennial Challenges Program -- will involve 23 teams from across the nation using robots they designed and built to excavate simulated lunar soil, known as regolith. Teams will test their robots in a box approximately 13 feet square and 1 1/2 feet deep that contains eight tons of simulated moon soil."

Welcome to Reporting Transparency in Government Website - State of California

Welcome to Reporting Transparency in Government Website - State of California:

"Welcome to California’s site dedicated to transparency. Governor Schwarzenegger recognizes the importance of making data available to its citizens. Governor Schwarzenegger also believes these data should be easily accessible and easy to view."

Read the report California Budget Transparency 2.0 at : http://www.docstoc.com/docs/13258579/California-Budget-Transparency-20

For Hearing, Sign Language Becomes Classroom Tool - washingtonpost.com

For Hearing, Sign Language Becomes Classroom Tool - washingtonpost.com:

"Teachers come to the classroom with noble goals -- closing the achievement gap, illuminating young minds. But first they must confront a more pressing problem: how to manage children's urgent requests, in the middle of the most carefully planned lessons, for permission to sharpen pencils, get drinks of water or visit the bathroom.

One solution, a growing number of teachers are finding, is learning to speak without making a sound.

'The very first year I taught, I realized how much time I was wasting in my classroom for my students to be constantly raising their hands,' said Fran Nadel, 25, a second-grade teacher at Woodburn School for the Fine and Communicative Arts in Falls Church. 'I realized if they could do this without talking, I could send them somewhere with a flick of my finger.'"

NCES Kids' Zone Home Page

NCES Kids' Zone Home Page:

"The NCES Kids' Zone provides information to help you learn about schools; decide on a college; find a public library; engage in several games, quizzes and skill building about math, probability, graphing, and mathematicians; and to learn many interesting facts about education.

Did you Know?
85% of fourth-graders received five or more hours of mathematics instruction per week.

The Word of the Day
negligible -(adj.).So insignificant as to be unworthy of consideration."

In a Democracy The Majority Rules - California Progress Report

In a Democracy The Majority Rules - California Progress Report:

"A cornerstone of our democracy is when you elect a legislature, the majority rules.

That means when one party gets 50 percent plus one of the vote, they are the majority.

If they agree on a legislative program, they pass it.

If the majority of the people disagree, then they will vote the majority party out and put the other party in power.
We all agree with this. It speaks to our sense of fairness."

Historic: Governor Signs Bill Honoring California Slain Civil Rights Leader Harvey Milk With Special Day - California Progress Report

Historic: Governor Signs Bill Honoring California Slain Civil Rights Leader Harvey Milk With Special Day - California Progress Report:

"Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, citing legislative progress on his multi-billion dollar water canal plan, lifted his veto threat for the 707 bills piled on his desk awaiting signature in time to sign 478 of them into law before the Sunday deadline passed.

Among the bills signed into law by the governor Sunday was Senate Bill 572, authored by State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), designating each May 22 Harvey Milk Day in California.

The governor’s endorsement comes just one year after Schwarzenegger vetoed similar legislation intended to create “a special day of significance” for the slain civil rights leader. Schwarzenegger’s veto message then: Milk should be honored, but locally, not statewide."

Then an academy award winning movie about the gay rights pioneer, a posthumously awarded Medal of Freedom to Milk, the highest civilian honor, bestowed by President Barack Obama and finally the governor and first lady’s own decision to induct Milk into the State’s Hall of Fame, combined to change the Governor’s mind and garner his signature Sunday.Openly gay State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) authored the Harvey Milk Day legislation both years.“It is certainly appropriate the first openly gay elected official in our State, someone who literally gave his life in service to his community, should be recognized in this way,” Senator Leno told the California Progress Report.

What School Parent Groups Do - SchoolFamily.com

What School Parent Groups Do - SchoolFamily.com:

"With a new school year starting, you’re probably flooded with flyers and forms, school lunch menus, supply lists, and announcements. As you sort through the stacks of paper deciding what to keep and what to toss, chances are you’ll come across a letter inviting you to join your school parent-teacher group. Hold onto that one. That letter is a keeper.
The Role of Parent Groups

For many people, the first introduction to their school parent group is through a product fundraiser catalog. And while it’s true that a mission for many PTOs and PTAs is to bring money into the school to pay for extras like playground equipment and cultural arts programs, parent groups contribute much more. They support teachers and staff, enrich the educational experiences of students, and improve schools. Through their efforts, these parent groups turn what could be a mere collection of individuals into a strong and supportive school community."

Teach Your Children to REALLY Finish Their Homework

Teach Your Children to REALLY Finish Their Homework:

"I spend a lot of time talking about what students should do before they sit down to do homework. Today, I'd like to discuss what students should do after they've finished it! I have found that putting everything away is a crucial-but-often-neglected step, resulting in lost assignments and insane mornings. (Can you relate?)
Explain to your children that they're not really, truly, absolutely finished with their homework until they have put:"


EVERY assignment in their homework binder in the correct pocket.

The homework binder INSIDE their backpack.

ALL of their books in their backpack.

ALL materials (pencils, papers, calculator, etc.) that remain home away in a drawer or their handy Magic Homework Box.And, finally...

Their backpack by the front DOOR- or where ever they'd have to step over it before they leave in the morning.

Can you imagine how much easier everybody's life will be when your children complete all of these steps regularly?

Advice for Parents Volunteering at School - WSJ.com

Advice for Parents Volunteering at School - WSJ.com:

"Rosa Rivera receives so many invitations to volunteer at her children's school and other activities that the dozens of daily emails and calls about various projects can be 'just overwhelming,' says the mother of two.

At her children's stage, ages 7 and 9, her top priority is to take the projects that will help them most in school and life, says Ms. Rivera, Austin, Texas. But it can be hard to figure out which projects those are. 'You're pulled and stretched in so many directions, now more than ever,' she says."

Sometimes, of course, it is best to volunteer where a school needs you most. And most school volunteer projects have worthy goals. Fundraisers keep alive arts, sports or music programs. Helping out in the school office fills staffing gaps. Painting classrooms improves kids' environment. Serving on the school board helps shape schools' strategy and direction.

But for parents with limited time and energy, which roles deliver the biggest benefit for your kids? And how does the answer to that question change as a student grows up?

Education and Children | iparticipate.org

Education and Children iparticipate.org:

"Communities In Schools
Tutor, mentor, and or help with after-school enrichment activities in a public school. Short-term or long-term volunteers are needed to support the nation’s largest organization dedicated to helping students achieve.

Find Communities In Schools Opportunities"

New Orleans schools' recovery depends on increased federal involvement, report says | New Orleans Metro Education News - - NOLA.com

New Orleans schools' recovery depends on increased federal involvement, report says New Orleans Metro Education News - - NOLA.com:

"If the federal government doesn't do more to assist with the recovery of New Orleans schools, gains made over the past four years will prove unsustainable, according to a new report by the Southern Education Foundation.

Jennifer Zdon/The Times-PicayuneLangston Hughes Academy, a charter elementary school, opened in a new building in August, but the majority of New Orleans public school students remain in outdated buildings.The foundation says that unless the federal government increases its commitment to moving forward, 'the progress made to date could become a 'flash in the pan,' to the detriment of all.' Officials must give particular attention, it said, to rebuilding the city's destroyed school buildings and to supporting instruction within their walls.

Since Katrina, only 4 percent of federal disaster relief aid provided to the Gulf Coast has gone to education, according to the not-for-profit advocacy group and think tank, which is based in Atlanta."

New Orleans schools' recovery depends on increased federal involvement, report says | New Orleans Metro Education News - - NOLA.com

New Orleans schools' recovery depends on increased federal involvement, report says New Orleans Metro Education News - - NOLA.com:

"'That money has been spent, and there's no more in the pipeline,' said Steve Suitts, the foundation's vice president and an author of the report.

Overall, the report says, progress has been made in New Orleans, the only city in the country where a majority of public school students attend charter schools, which are publicly financed but more privately run. It says the federal government has an obligation to continue supporting the rebirth of the city's schools for two main reasons.

First, it says, the federal government was complicit in the destruction of schools, and the unprecedented trauma and dislocation endured by its children, because of its failure to maintain and construct levees properly or respond quickly in the days after they failed.

Also, it says, New Orleans will serve as a crucial test of whether an education system composed primarily of autonomous charter schools can succeed in the long term."

SN&R > Columns > Bites > The ground game > 10.15.09

SN&R > Columns > Bites > The ground game > 10.15.09:

"When Bites heard that Richie Ross would be running the campaign to stop the strong-mayor initiative, Bites thought, “Why not just coronate Kevin Johnson now?”
Ross got creamed running Heather Fargo’s campaign for mayor, in the media, in the debates and on the ground. Christopher Cabaldon’s campaign for state Assembly was Ross’ to lose, and darned if Ross didn’t lose it. The list goes on.

So Bites started calling around and asking, “Why Richie Ross?” Bites even called Richie Ross to ask, “Why Richie Ross?” though that call went unreturned.
Well, apparently Bites wasn’t the only one asking that question, because last week, word came that Ross is out and political consultant Phil Giarrizzo is in, hired by the building trade unions and the Sacramento County Democratic Party to stop the measure.

Giarrizzo is said to bring a real “ground campaign” to the contest. After all, he ran the field operation for the unions that torpedoed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s special-election package back in 2005."

Layoff ax falls in D.C. schools | SocialistWorker.org

Layoff ax falls in D.C. schools SocialistWorker.org:

"ANGER ERUPTED at Washington, D.C., public schools October 2 after Chancellor Michelle Rhee delivered RIF (Reduction in Force) notices to nearly 400 people, abruptly laying off hundreds of mostly long-tenured teachers and support staff a mere five weeks into the new school year.

Though a budget crisis was the reason given for the layoffs, the real reason is plain--Rhee is continuing her campaign to break the teachers' union and further open D.C. schools to privatization."

The community response the day of the layoffs caused what the Washington Post described as "one of the most turbulent days in recent history" in the D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) system. And six days later, thousands of students, teachers and workers rallied in downtown D.C. against Rhee's latest assault. The rally followed a series of smaller actions led largely by students protesting against the massive teacher layoffs.

After hiring more than 900 new teachers in August, Rhee, with the backing of Mayor Adrian Fenty, laid off 388 DCPS teachers and other staff, causing unprecedented disruption and chaos at the start of a new school year. Among those laid off were 229 teachers, plus dozens of guidance counselors and custodial staff. Teachers who received RIF notices were told to pack their things that same day, and many were escorted out of classrooms by D.C. police.

NEA - NEA commits $6 million to support quality teaching in high-needs schools

NEA - NEA commits $6 million to support quality teaching in high-needs schools:

"WASHINGTON - September 03, 2009 - As school bells ring across the country signaling the start of another school year, many districts struggle to fill thousands of classroom vacancies. High poverty, high need schools have failed to effectively recruit and support a stable and quality staff. The National Education Association (NEA) contends that solutions are at hand if policymakers, parents, and teachers themselves promote thoughtful and comprehensive strategies to address working conditions, school leadership, and teacher quality. That belief has prompted the NEA in partnership with the Center for Teaching Quality to release,“Children of Poverty Deserve Great Teachers: One Union’s Commitment to Changing the Status Quo,” a report that highlights what is needed to identify and develop teachers and to recruit and retain them for high-needs classrooms.

Part of NEA’s “Turn Around for Great Public Schools Initiative,” The Children of Poverty report summarizes NEA’s commitment to principled changes in the status quo — signaling its determination to break ground for new teaching policy and strategic partnerships. The initiative includes an investment of $1 million per year over six years to develop comprehensive strategies and policies to increase teacher effectiveness in high-needs schools."