800,000 Doses Of Kids' Flu Vaccine Recalled - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

800,000 Doses Of Kids' Flu Vaccine Recalled - Sacramento News Story - KCRA Sacramento

800,000 Doses Of Kids' Flu Vaccine Recalled

Tests Show Vaccine May Not Be Strong Enough To Protect Against Virus

ATLANTA -- Health officials are recalling hundreds of thousands of doses of swine flu vaccine after tests indicated they may not be potent enough to protect against the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified doctors about the recall Tuesday. The recall involves about 800,000 doses made by Sanofi Pasteur. The doses are pre-filled syringes intended for young children, ages 6 months to almost three years.

Health officials recommend children those ages get two doses, spaced about a month apart.

Health officials say it's not clear how many doses have already been given, but they don't think children need to be re-vaccinated. The lots passed potency tests when they were first shipped, but tests ind

Controlling a classroom isn't as easy as ABC -- latimes.com

Controlling a classroom isn't as easy as ABC -- latimes.com:

"Students filed into Chris Cox's dim classroom at Daniel Webster Middle School in Los Angeles' Sawtelle neighborhood, took their seats and immediately began working on a language arts warmup exercise.

While Cox took roll, the eighth-graders silently worked. When they went over the answers, students raised their hands and waited to be called on.

Down the corridor, seventh-graders streamed into Brent Walmsley's classroom and took over. Some sat on table tops; others wandered around the room, pausing to grab foamy handfuls of hand sanitizer that sloshed on the floo"

The Answer Sheet - A major reading program that gives more points to 'Breaking Dawn' than 'The Grapes of Wrath'

The Answer Sheet- A major reading program that gives more points to 'Breaking Dawn' than 'The Grapes of Wrath':

"On one hand you have the book “Breaking Dawn,” the fourth book in the “Twilight Saga” by Stephenie Meyer. On the other, you have John Steinbeck’s classic “The Grapes of Wrath.”

If you were going to assign points to each work--points that students would amass by reading each one and then passing a quiz on it--which book would get the most?

I’m guessing that most of you (myself included) would put Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize winning stunner on top."

Class Struggle - Why I have no use for the achievement gap

Class Struggle- Why I have no use for the achievement gap:

"I don't mean this as a criticism of my talented colleague Bill Turque. He was reporting the news, as usual. But I did not like the focus of his otherwise irreproachable Sunday story on the achievement gap not narrowing in the D.C. schools.

Turque was letting us know that despite the growth in D.C. math scores, the gap between black and white students had gotten larger for fourth-graders. This was an important topic in education circles, so he had to report it.

But I think the achievement gap is useless as a measure of school improvement, and we would be much better writing about how much each ethnic group, each school, each child is improving, or not improving. Our gap fixation puts us in a very awkward position."

EducationNews.org - A Leading Global News Source - In the push for gender equity, turnabout is not fair play

EducationNews.org - A Leading Global News Source - In the push for gender equity, turnabout is not fair play:

"So, ladies, it appears that big boulder we've pushed uphill is rolling back down after all.

After decades of grinding it out in classrooms, working to get into college and expand our universe of career choices beyond teacher, nurse, secretary or well-educated wife, we've apparently done too well.

For the past few years, college admissions offices have been seeing far fewer Y chromosomes, and they've been flummoxed about how to the treat the new male minority.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has launched an investigation to determine whether universities have met this quandary by discriminating against qualified young women and lowering admissions standards for less-qualified male applicants.

All of this all sounds outrageous -- skewing admissions practices to create some kind of artificial, boy-girl-boy-girl hoedown formation on campuses and the idea that women are seen as a majority that needs its leash yanked before we take over."

School folks in space war - NYPOST.com

School folks in space war - NYPOST.com:

"Parents at a Lower East Side charter school are slamming the city for pitting a slew of public-school parents against them in a battle over scarce building space.

Parents of kids at the Girls Prep charter elementary school are set to rally at City Hall today over what they say is their unfair image as the 'bad guys' as a result of Department of Education space-sharing proposals.

The high-performing charter school is looking to expand into the middle grades.

But the three proposals outlined last month for allowing Girls Prep to do so have stirred resentment because they call for carving classrooms out of a number of successful nearby schools -- including the highly regarded Shuang Wen elementary school."

Jamaica HS students, alumni band together to keep school open

Jamaica HS students, alumni band together to keep school open:

"If it's a fight the city is after, supporters of Jamaica High School are going to give it to them.

Staff, students and alumni are doing everything they can to keep the 117-year-old institution open after the city announced its proposal to shutter the school - where famous alumni like director Francis Ford Coppola and former U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell once walked through the halls.

'We're going to fight the closure of Jamaica High School with every ounce of strength we have,' said social studies teacher and union representative James Eterno. 'We're going to mobilize and organize the Jamaica community, the students, the parents and any other friend of this school.'"

Federal grants change charter school equation -- Page 2 -- Times Union - Albany NY

Federal grants change charter school equation -- Page 2 -- Times Union - Albany NY:

"Politics as much as policy may determine how much money New York gets from Race to the Top, noted Jeanne Allen, president of the Center for Education Reform, a national group that supports reforms such as charter schools and pay-for-performance.

Allen contends that the scoring requirements have already been watered down due to political pressure. She believes the Obama administration would be hard-pressed to completely exclude a large, heavily Democratic state like New York from the grant program.

'What state you are in and how it factors into a political race has just as much to do as whether or not you're following a program's guidelines,' Allen said. 'That's the cynical part of my attitude. The purist says (Duncan) will really hold their feet to the fire.'"

School Districts Scramble After Paterson Delays State Aid - NYTimes.com

School Districts Scramble After Paterson Delays State Aid - NYTimes.com:

"ALBANY — The Mount Vernon School District has largely stopped ordering supplies and equipment for its schools. The Saugerties Central School District has warned 36 teachers that they could face layoffs. The Albany School District is switching to a cheaper food service company starting next month.

On Monday, superintendents across the state — and particularly in smaller and poorer districts — were recalibrating their budgets after Gov. David A. Paterson announced that he would temporarily withhold $146 million in school aid payments due on Tuesday and an additional $436 million in property tax reimbursements due to be paid to districts later this month."

Education chief copes with shortfall in state aid : Home: The Buffalo News

Education chief copes with shortfall in state aid : Home: The Buffalo News:

"The state's education chief faced a dilemma Monday that dramatically illustrates the fiscal dangers that lie ahead for local public schools.

State Education Commissioner David M. Steiner called for a series of controversial reforms — including lifting a cap on charter schools — that are designed in large measure to enhance the state's chances of being awarded from $500 million to $700 million in highly competi tive federal grant money.

At the same time, both Steiner and school officials across the state were trying to figure out how to cope with a delay — and possible loss — of $582 million in state financial aid announced Sunday by Gov. David A. Paterson."

Center for Urban Education Marks 10-Year Anniversary - USC News

Center for Urban Education Marks 10-Year Anniversary - USC News:

"The USC Center for Urban Education celebrated a “Decade of Making a Difference” at the California African American Museum on Dec. 8. The gathering served as a holiday party and celebration of the center’s 10-year anniversary.

The event honored provost emeritus Lloyd Armstrong Jr. and professor Michael A. Diamond, former executive vice provost, for their contributions to the founding of the center, which was part of the university’s original Urban Initiative"

UC Davis News & Information :: Tears, Pride as Honorary Degrees Conferred

UC Davis News & Information :: Tears, Pride as Honorary Degrees Conferred: "Editor's note: Photos of the ceremony and recipients are available.

'Talk about Kleenex. My daddy getting his degree, it just makes you want to cry.'

Christine Pooley swelled with emotion after a University of California honorary degree was conferred on her late father, who had been forced from his studies at what is now UC Davis during World War II. 'This is like closure,' she said.

Pooley's father, Henry Satoru Marubashi, was one of 47 former Japanese American students honored amid the pomp and circumstance of a graduation ceremony at UC Davis on Dec. 12."

12.14.2009 - Reaction to the attack on University House

12.14.2009 - Reaction to the attack on University House

Reaction to the attack on University House

From Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger:

California will not tolerate any type of terrorism against any leaders including educators," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "The attack on Chancellor Birgeneau's home is a criminal act and those who participated will be prosecuted under the fullest extent of the law. Debate is the foundation of democracy and I encourage protestors to find peaceful and productive ways to express their opinions.

From University of California President Mark Yudof:

The attack on Chancellor Birgeneau's residence late last night was appalling. The behavior as described went far beyond the boundaries of public dissent, and such lawlessness cannot be tolerated. I have spoken with the Chancellor to express my support. The matter is now appropriately in the hands of law enforcement authorities.

From Robert M. Berdahl, president of the Association of American Universities (and former UC Berkeley chancellor):

The Association of American Universities strongly condemns the violent attack on the Chancellor’s home that took place at the University of California, Berkeley, on December 11.   This outrageous behavior has nothing to do with legitimate dissent.  These are criminal activities intended to intimidate and terrorize, not to protest, and law enforcement needs to treat them as such.

Our universities are havens for civil discourse and debate.  Dissent and protest are expected, even welcome, as signs of thriving democracy.  However, when dissent turns violent, it undermines the foundation of a university and the democratic values of our society.

Most of the nation’s colleges and universities are facing their worst financial challenges in decades, none more serious than those besetting the University of California.  There is plenty of room for reasoned debate over the difficult steps that institutions must take to respond to these challenges.  We call on all parties to the debate to insist on civility and the principles of rational discourse.

From the UC Berkeley faculty:

We, the undersigned members of the Berkeley faculty, unconditionally condemn the acts of violence committed against Chancellor Birgeneau and his family.

Adam Berman Executive Director Haas School of Business Ali Niknejad Associate Professor EECS Alice Agogino Professor Mechanical Engineering Ananya Roy Professor City and Regional Planning Ann Smock Professor French Anthony J. Cascardi Professor Director, Townsend Center for the Humanities Comparative Literature, Rhetoric, and Spanish Barbara Mellers Professor Haas School of Business Barrie Thorne Professor Sociology and Gender and Women's Studies Barry Staw Professor Haas School of Business Benjamin E. Hermalin Professor Economics Bjoern Hartmann Assistant Professor EECS Bob Hass Professor English Brian A. Barsky Professor EECS - Computer Science Bruce G. Baldwin Professor Integrative Biology Carlo H. Sequin Professor EECS - Computer Science Catherine Cole Professor Theater, Dance and Performance Studies Catherine Wolfram Associate Professor Haas School of Business Christine Parlour Associate Professor Haas School of Business Christine Rosen Associate Professor Haas School of Business Christopher Kutz Professor Law - Jurisprudence and Social Policy Claire Tomlin Professor EECS Colleen Lye Associate Professor English Costas J. Spanos Professor EECS Cyrus Wadia Professor Haas School of Business Daniel F. Melia Associate Professor Rhetoric/Scandinavian David Aaker Professor Haas School of Business David Ackerly Associate Professor Integrative Biology David B. Wake Professor Integrative Biology David Winickoff Assistant Professor ESPM Déborah A. Blocker Associate Professor French Duncan Williams Associate Professor East Asian Languages and Cultures Edwin R. Lewis Professor emeritus EECS

Elad Alon Assistant Professor EECS Ellen L. Simms Professor Integrative Biology Fiona M. Doyle Professor Materials Science and Engineering Ganesh Iyer Professor Haas School of Business Ian Duncan Professor English Ion Stoica Associate Professor EECS Isha Ray Assistant Professor Energy and Resources Group Ivan Kamimnow Professor EECS James O'Brien Associate Professor EECS Jeff Romm Professor ESPM/ARE Jeffrey Boore Associate Professor Integrative Biology Jennifer Chatman Professor Haas School of Business Jere H. Lipps Professor Integrative Biology Jitendra Malik Professor EECS Johan Walden Assistant Professor Haas School of Business John Efron Professor History John Harte Professor Energy and Resources Group Jonathan Leonard Professor Haas School of Business Karl Ashoka Britto Associate Professor French & Comparative Literature Katherine Snyder Associate Professor English Kevin Padian Professor Integrative Biology Kevis Goodman Associate Professor English Kris Pister Professor EECS Laura Kray Associate Professor Haas School of Business Laura Tyson Professor Haas School of Business Leo Goodman Professor Sociology Dept. and Statistics Dept. Louise Fortmann Professor ESPM Maria Nondorf Assistant Professor Haas School of Business Mark Goble Associate Professor English Matthew D. Potts Assistant Professor ESPM Maximilian Auffhammer Associate Professor Agricultural and Resource Economics/IAS Meg Conkey Professor Anthropology

Meghan Busse Assistant Professor Haas School of Business Michael Iarocci Associate Professor Spanish and Portuguese Nelson Maldonado-Torres Associate Professor Ethnic Studies Pablo Spiller Professor Haas School of Business Patrick Kirch Professor Integrative Biology and Anthropology Paul Licht Professor & Director Univ. California Botanical Garden Pradeep Chhibber Professor Political Science Randy Katz Professor EECS Richard B. Norgaard Professor Energy and Resources Group Richard Cándida Smith Professor History Richard Gilbert Professor Economics Richard Lyons Professor Haas School of Business Robert Rhew Associate Professor Geography Ronald C. Cohen Professor Chemistry/Earth and Palnetary Science Ronald Fearing Professor EECS Rosemary A. Joyce Professor Anthropology Rudolf Schmid Associate Professor Integrative Biology Rui de Figueiredo Associate Professor Haas School of Business and Department of Political Science Santiago Oliveros Assistant Professor Haas School of Business Scott Shenker Professor EECS Sebastian Teunissen Adjunct Professor Haas School of Business Severin Borenstein Professor Haas School of Business Shannon Steen Associate Professor Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies Steven Tadelis Associate Professor Haas School of Business susan maslan Associate Professor French Susan Schweik Professor English Tony Long Professor Classics Tyrone B. Hayes Professor Integrative Biology Vinod K. Aggarwal Professor Political Science Wasim Azhar Lecturer Haas School of Business Wayne Getz Professor ESPM Zsolt Katona Assistant Professor Haas School of Business