Arianna Huffington: How About a Little Coverage of the Millions of At-Risk Kids Not Trapped in a Balloon (or Hiding in the Attic)?

Arianna Huffington: How About a Little Coverage of the Millions of At-Risk Kids Not Trapped in a Balloon (or Hiding in the Attic)?:

"No matter what happens in the unfolding legal saga of the Heene family, the most appropriate response to the whole matter was that of Falcon Heene. He vomited. Twice. On national TV. Well, let me just say that Falcon speaks for me.

I had to stifle the same urge as I watched so much of the media devote so much of their resources to the story of the boy NOT in the balloon."

And, sure, I know that asking the media to have some sense of perspective on a story like this is like asking a dog not to bark. It's in their nature to give breathless, wall-to-wall coverage to these kinds of stories. But, even knowing this, I was shocked how little changed in the volume and tone of the coverage even after it was known the boy wasn't in the balloon. Even then, after we knew the balloon was empty, they kept running footage of the balloon, hour after hour.

As Bill Maher said on Real Time, "they're calling him Balloon Boy, which is so stupid, because the one thing we know about this kid, is that he was not in a balloon.

"Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/how-about-a-little-covera_b_326472.html

Old Soul coffee house Press Conference, 10.19.09

Old Soul Press Conference

Mayor Johnson announces that the Oak Park space formerly occupied by Starbucks will be housing the new Old Soul coffee house in January 2010

Gov.Schwarzenegger UC Merced Exceeds Enrollment Projections, Topping 2,700 Students

U C Merced - UC Merced Exceeds Enrollment Projections, Topping 2,700 Students:

Chancellor Sung-Mo meets with Governor Schwarzenegger

"Largest freshman class to date means full residence halls, full classrooms, full labs and a bustling campus culture

MERCED - For the second consecutive year, student enrollment at the University of California, Merced, has risen 45 percent compared with the prior year, university officials announced today, Oct. 1.

There are 2,718 students enrolled this fall, up from 1,871 in the fall of 2007 and 875 in the university's inaugural year of 2005. The current total includes 925 new freshmen, 139 new transfer students and 66 new graduate students. Last year's totals were 669 new freshmen, 116 new transfers and 52 new graduate students. Based upon admissions numbers and traditional yield rates, UC Merced officials expected 2,625 students on campus this semester."

Chancellor Sung-Mo

Steve Kang was appointed chancellor of the University of California, Merced, on January 17, 2007 in a regular meeting of the UC Regents. He began his duties in Merced on March 1.

Obama makes surprise visit to Silver Spring school | 44 | washingtonpost.com

Obama makes surprise visit to Silver Spring school 44 washingtonpost.com:

"President Obama paid a surprise lunchtime visit to Viers Mill Elementary School in Silver Spring Monday.

Montgomery County schools spokeswoman Kate Harrison said the visit lasted just 30 to 45 minutes, and that officials had been told to keep it secret. Obama 'really just wanted to interact with students and he wanted to do it during lunch,' Harrison said.

According to a pool report, the president visited with third- and fifth-graders. Ben Finkenbinder, a White House press aide, said Obama chose Viers Mill because in 2005 it became the first Montgomery County school with a large population of low-income students to be designated a National Blue Ribbon School for significantly closing the achievement gap. Such schools qualify for Title I federal funding."

"It's wonderful. I'm just so happy for the kids," Harrison said. "What a thrill. To be just sitting there eating your lunch, and all of a sudden the president of the United States walks in. It's so exciting."

Education News & Comment

Education News & Comment:

"YOUR BEST PARENT INVOLVEMENT YEAR EVER!
CREATING WELCOMING SCHOOLS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS"


Who Should Attend?

The Training is recommended for participants from all schools.

School teams (and individuals) are encouraged to attend. Teams may include: administrators, teachers, front office and school support staff, parent liaisons and parent leaders. School Site Council members, PTA/parent organization members, and community representatives should also attend.

Training Content:

Success in increasing the involvement of parents in their children’s education is directly tied to the actions and policies that schools have in place to welcome all families. One key factor that determines whether parents choose to become involved with their children’s schools is whether they feel their participation is welcomed and needed by the school. This half-day training will position your school to have the best parent involvement year ever! You will:

¨ Learn what research says about the connection of school environment to increasing parent involvement.

¨ Find out how to assess your school’s family friendly factors, including assessing how welcoming your school’s front office is to all families.

¨ Learn how to improve “friendliness” factors and two-way communication between home and school.

¨ Identify the strengths of your diverse school community for building a welcoming school climate.

¨ Learn outreach strategies to connect with under-involved families to improve student outcomes.
¨ Receive ideas, resources and materials to use immediately.

¨ Have opportunities to meet other parent and school leaders to learn about their successful practices.

Contact: Manuel Guillot at (916) 643-7912 or Email: manuelguillot@sac-city.ca.us

SCUSD Observer: Listening or lecturing?

SCUSD Observer: Listening or lecturing?

Monday, October 19, 2009

Listening or lecturing?

This evening, SCUSD Superintendent Jonathan Raymond will visit the Pocket area as part of a continuing campaign of outreach to district stakeholders. Councilman Robbie Waters, Board President Ray Grimes and Raymond will partner to present the "listening and learning tour of the district" tonight at John F. Kennedy High School from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.An opinion piece in the Sacramento Bee yesterday urged local communities to assert a "count us in" approach by informing state legislators of the "barriers that need to be removed in order to achieve dramatic turnaround of the lowest performing schools." The feel-good ideas of reconstitution, transformation, and culture change are bandied about, yet the crux of the matter centers on a very ugly couple of words -- school closures.

Today, the Bee's editorial page is touting the "reconstitution" of Jonas Salk Middle School (San Juan Unified) as a dramatic fix to that particular school's problems of low API scores and chronic underperformance. The editorial, in no small way, credits the miraculous and swift turnaround to performance-based pay for teachers and a corporate partnership with Apple Computer, Inc.

...Continue reading this story at the SCUSD Observer

Cavala: Campaign “Reform” Claims Another Victim - California Progress Report

Cavala: Campaign “Reform” Claims Another Victim - California Progress Report

Bowing to realities, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell announced his withdrawal from the contest for Governor of California. The reason was money.
Under the rules in play through the election of Gray Davis, large contributors could supply the cash needed to run a political campaign to 20,000,000 voters. Now, with a system of contribution limitations in place, no one can run a serious campaign who is not already famous (viz Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jerry Brown) or incredibly rich (Poizner and Whitman).

Was it the intent of the voters to place such limits on their choices for top leadership? I doubt it. The electorate was attempting – as it always does – to limit the influence of big moneyed interests in the process of government. They succeeded only in reducing the total amounts contributed, not the proportions. “Special interests” still contribute disproportionate amounts to candidates for office. But the ability to put the millions behind a favored candidate in a primary election – something the education coalition might have done for O’Connell in a different time – is no more.

O’Connell won his first campaign (for State Assembly) in 1982. His opponent was Brooks Firestone, the heir to the Firestone tire and rubber fortune. With four months before the election, Firestone had already outspent O’Connell 600,000 to 8,000. But the rules of the period allowed the Speaker, Willie Brown, to transfer large sums to candidate’s like O’Connell. He was still outspent by hundreds of thousands, but he had enough wherewithal to make his case – and won.

This Week In Education: Thompson: To Each His Own Evidence

This Week In Education: Thompson: To Each His Own Evidence:

"Claus von Zastrow, recoiling from educational know-nothingism of recent opinion pieces in the Washington Post and the New York Times, suggested 'pay newspaper pundits for their performance. Pay them only for what they get right, or for judgments based on strong evidence'

What would such a grand bargain look like? Merit evaluations would lead to a quick exit of Jonathan Alter’s opinions. Richard Whitmire might avoid burnout and only seeing the worst in educators as a mentor refreshed his memory about journalism's best practices. Also with a little mentoring, Jay Mathews could assess the unhappy sides of stories as well as the uplifting, and I suspect he would rise into the top quintile. But if we evaluate on cold hard accuracy, the top bonuses would go to Gerald Bracey, and think of how blunt Bracey would be after receiving the full recognition he deserves."

Mayor Seeks Input On K Street Blight - Politics News Story - KCRA Sacramento

Mayor Seeks Input On K Street Blight - Politics News Story - KCRA Sacramento:

"Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is upset over blight on K Street and wants public input on plans to redevelop the area.

'We just can't have that main strip lay dormant,' Johnson said.

Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, acknowledges that corridor has a 'rough' image, but is hoping to see empty storefronts filled and more outdoor cafes open in the area.

'Downtown has got to be unique,' Ault said. 'It's got to be urban.'

Sean Kohmescher, co-owner of the popular Temple coffeehouse near 10th and K streets, said his business struggles to attract foot traffic after state workers go home for the evening."

City schools chief to meet Pocket residents Monday - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

City schools chief to meet Pocket residents Monday - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News Sacramento Bee:

"Sacramento City Unified School District Superintendent Jonathan Raymond will meet with residents of the Pocket-Greenhaven area Monday as part of his 'listening and learning' tour of the district.

Raymond will be hosted by school board President Roy Grimes and Sacramento City Councilman Robbie Waters from 6 to 8 p.m. at John F. Kennedy High School, 6715 Gloria Drive.
Raymond was chief accountability officer for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina before starting as superintendent in Sacramento on Aug. 21."

Education Week: Schools Taking Part in Campaign to Give Swine-Flu Vaccine

Education Week: Schools Taking Part in Campaign to Give Swine-Flu Vaccine:

"Thousands of American schools are mobilizing to ensure that students are vaccinated against swine flu in the coming weeks, a task complicated by parental fears and overlap with vaccine programs for seasonal flu.

Public-health officials say the swine-flu season is in full swing, and in fact has never stopped since the new virus, known as H1N1, was identified in April. Children have been among the groups hardest hit. A total of 76 children in the United States have died from swine flu, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week. Thirty-seven states are reporting widespread swine flu, the Atlanta-based CDC said.

As the first doses of the vaccine are distributed this month, health and school officials are focusing on helping to get children inoculated. People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years are among the “priority groups” recommended to receive the swine-flu vaccine. And health officials say they should also be vaccinated against regular, seasonal flu, which typically is more..."

Connecticut Law Tribune: Justice Souter’s Civics Lessons

Connecticut Law Tribune: Justice Souter’s Civics Lessons:

"Retired Justice David Souter has taken up a cause – better civics education in our schools. His urgings are unlikely to reverse a trend away from the ABCs, particularly in the nation’s urban schools. The justice is concerned that students are not properly educated on the role of the courts in our republic. I’m not sure I want Justice Souter’s view of that role to prevail – but in many ways it already does.

In too many public schools, the curriculum is the product of a politicized teaching establishment with activists controlling the content. Liberals predominate in public school faculties, and the leadership of the National Education Association drives the left-wing agenda. Rather than the core and essential subjects I and my elementary school classmates were made to focus our time on, too many kids today are subjected to a curriculum the gist of which boils down to “I’m a victim, you’re a victim,” and “Everybody’s the same, everybody’s entitled.”"

Treatment for Native American youths begins with building trust | Clackamas County News - - OregonLive.com

Treatment for Native American youths begins with building trust Clackamas County News - - OregonLive.com:

"OREGON CITY -- It's easy to swoop past the fenced facility on tree-lined Clackamas River Road as the pavement bends and curves along the winding river.

But advocates hope it will be harder to miss the import of what Cedar Bough does for Native American youths in Oregon, and beyond.

Cedar Bough, a residential center run by ChristieCare that treats mentally ill Native American and Native Alaskan youths, opened a year ago on the site of a former operator that was shut down by the state.

In that time, the center has treated more than 60 kids from middle through high school. The center, which includes academics, equine therapy, counseling and more, is especially vital for youth who face a high risk of substance abuse, foster placement and juvenile detention.

But for Cedar Bough to even open its doors, administrators at parent ChristieCare first had to close their mouths.

They were, after all, a non-Native organization offering to house and treat the youths of tribes with a long history of abuse from white America. Memories of children being taken from tribes, ordered to cut their hair and prevented from learning their culture remain fresh."

Sacramento News & Review > Blogs > SNOG > Hey KJ, see Tapped at the Crest before selling all our water to Nestle > October 18, 2009

Sacramento News & Review > Blogs > SNOG > Hey KJ, see Tapped at the Crest before selling all our water to Nestle > October 18, 2009:

"More recommended viewing for the mayor and city council, as well as the city’s Economic Development department. On Wednesday, the Crest Theater is showing the documentary Tapped, which documents the big business of bottled water.

The screening is being put on by Save Our Water–the organization formed to oppose a new Nestle Waters bottled water plant in South Sacramento, and it will be preceded by a presentation on the Nestle situation here in Sacramento.
Regular SN&R know that Nestle is planning to open a bottled water plant here in Sacramento after the company was basically run out of the town of McCloud, near Mt Shasta. The Nestle deal would allow the multinational company to purchase Sacramento tap water and sell it at profits exceeding 1,000 times what they pay for it. This at a time when Sacramento residents are being asked to follow strict new conservation rules or risk fines.

The plant is supported by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, but at least a couple of Sacramento city council members are skeptical. Council member Kevin McCarty is introducing an “urgency ordinance” that would require bottling companies to get special permits before beginning operation, and he wants the council to consider charging bottling plants higher rates that other users, as is the practice in some other cities, like Los Angeles."

Viewpoint: Sacramento 'world-class'? Not with burdens on business - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

Viewpoint: Sacramento 'world-class'? Not with burdens on business - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial Sacramento Bee:

"When Kevin Johnson was running for mayor, one of the issues on which he ran was boosting economic development and jobs. He also frequently stated that he wanted to make Sacramento a 'world-class city.'

With 450,000 residents in the city of Sacramento, and 1.7 million residents in Sacramento County, Sacramento is a good-sized city, but not a metropolis. The burning question is who really wants Sacramento to become a sizable, 'big' city: politicians or residents?"

Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency

Media-Newswire.com - Press Release Distribution - PR Agency:

"(Media-Newswire.com) - Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda I. Gibbs, Commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Dr. Thomas Farley and the City’s Chief Service Officer Diahann Billings-Burford today launched Flu Fighters, an NYC Service initiative to help combat the spread of influenza this season. The program will mobilize hundreds of volunteers to conduct outreach at community events, schools, senior centers and houses of worship in New York City to raise awareness about influenza and the importance of getting vaccinated. Flu Fighters is one of the 40 initiatives of NYC Service announced by Mayor Bloomberg in April and is a component of the City’s comprehensive influenza prevention plan outlined by the Mayor in early September.

“Our biggest goal for NYC Service is to strategically and methodically direct volunteers to the areas of our city where they are needed the most – something that had never really been done before,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Flu Fighters will address a critical area – flu prevention – serving as a needed extension of City efforts to protect the public. The more New Yorkers we can get to take steps to protect themselves against the flu, the better chance we have of containing any outbreak. If you want to make a real difference in this city and possibly save lives, then please sign up to be a Flu Fighter.”"

Starkville Daily News - New CDC study finds unhealthy snacks in schools

Starkville Daily News - New CDC study finds unhealthy snacks in schools:

"The percentage of secondary schools in Mississippi in which students could not purchase less nutritious food and beverages, such as candy and soda, increased significantly between 2006 and 2008, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Mississippi ranked among the 10 best states in the percentage of secondary schools that did not sell less nutritious food and beverages from vending machines or at a school store, canteen, or snack bar in 2008.

“We are gratified that the school health policies and programs in our state have led to impressive improvements in the foods and beverages available to students,” said Shane McNeill, Director Office of Healthy Schools, Mississippi Department of Education. “However, we still have a lot of work to do to ensure that all students learn in a healthy school environment.”

The CDC study found that in 2008, in 62 percent of secondary schools in Mississippi, students could not purchase chocolate candy, other candy, baked goods and salty snacks that are not low in fat, and soda or fruit drinks that are not 100 percent juice.

The percentage of secondary schools in Mississippi in which students could not purchase soda or fruit drinks increased from 22 percent in 2006 to 75 percent in 2008.

The percentage of secondary schools in Mississippi in which students could not purchase candy or salty snacks not low in fat increased from 23 percent in 2006 to 72 percent in 2008."

Read the full report: Availability of Less Nutritious Snack Foods and Beverages in Secondary Schools ---Selected States, 2002--2008

Test That Makes U.S. Look Bad May Not Be So Good - Class Struggle - Jay Mathews on Education

Test That Makes U.S. Look Bad May Not Be So Good - Class Struggle - Jay Mathews on Education:

"A key failing of PISA, Loveless said, is “it does not measure what kids have learned in school.” Why not? Because PISA exams are written by the losing side in a century-old debate over how to teach math. For convenience, call the pro-PISA people progressives and the anti-PISA people traditionalists. Loveless, who taught sixth grade in California for nine years before getting his Ph.D. in education from the University of Chicago, is a traditionalist but appreciates the arguments on both sides. The progressives want to make math instruction more relevant to the real world, and emphasize mathematical reasoning more than calculation. The traditionalists say you can’t reason well without mastering the fundamentals. They dislike their approach being dismissed by progressives as “shopkeeper math,” Loveless said, “like it was old-fashioned to try to compute anything.”"

Ravenna school closed; many sick kids | WOOD TV8

Ravenna school closed; many sick kids WOOD TV8:

"RAVENNA, Mich. (WOOD) - Too many sick students and staff members has forced another West Michigan school to shut down.

North East Education Center in Ravenna is closed on Monday.

Schoolcraft Middle School in Kalamazoo County closed on Friday after a third of its students were absent on Thursday."

New report says black male Dropouts lead nation in incarceration

The St. Louis American

"(NNPA) - On any given day, nearly 23 percent of all young Black men ages 16 to 24 who have dropped out of high school are in jail, prison, or a juvenile justice institution in America, according to a disturbing new national report on the dire economic and social consequences of not graduating from high school.

Dropouts become incarcerated at a shocking rate: 23 of every 100 young Black male dropouts were in jail on any given day in 2006-07 compared to only six to seven of every 100 Asian, Hispanic or white dropouts. While young Black men are disproportionately affected, the report, released Oct. 9, found that this crisis cuts across racial and ethnic lines. Male dropouts of all races were 47 times more likely to be incarcerated than their peers of a similar age who had graduated from a four-year college or university.

The report was released by a coalition of leading national and regional education, advocacy, and social service groups. It is titled, “Consequences of Dropping Out of High School: Joblessness and Jailing for High School Dropouts and the High Cost for Taxpayers — 22 percent Daily Jailing Rate for Young Black Men Who Drop Out of High School”. The report is available online at www.clms.neu.edu."