Scared to Go to School

Scared to Go to School:

"He says schools need to have clear and accurate policies on bullying, confidential ways to report harassment, a safe haven within the school. “But more importantly,” says Meyers, “I think you need to have mechanisms in place where teachers learn what bullying is, so they know how to identify it, so they know how to respond, so they don’t think, ‘oh, that’s just kids, that’s just what kids do’.”

And, experts say, parents shouldn’t underestimate their power within the school.

“Parents have got to realize that it’s just not the schools that can do this,” explains Vermont state representative Peter Hunt. “The schools receive these kids. The schools really have to have the parents’ support.”

Some educators say parents, teachers, and children should all fight for a kind of “zero tolerance” for bullying."

Year-round school not solution for education woes - Opinion

Year-round school not solution for education woes - Opinion:

"'Now, I know longer school days and school years are not wildly popular ideas,' President Barack Obama mentioned earlier this year. 'Not with Malia and Sasha, not in my family and probably not in yours. But the challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom.'

What is our president talking about and suggesting? Year-round school, of course. Why, do you ask? Well, Obama's Education Secretary Arne Duncan put it this way: 'Our school calendar is based upon the agrarian economy and not too many of our kids are working the fields today. Young people in other countries are going to school 25, 30 percent longer than our students here. I want to just level the playing field.'

Currently, most public schools in the United States function on a 180-day system. This system was put into place when the United States was largely a farming nation. So when summer came, children were often needed to work the fields."

A child's education is up to the parents | span, style, align - Opinion - Jacksonville Daily News

A child's education is up to the parents span, style, align - Opinion - Jacksonville Daily News:

"We can offer all the lip service and put all the money we want into our schools, and nothing will remain improved for long without responsible parents who support education at home. If education is not held up in the home as one of the most important aspects of life, your school system and your child’s opinion about education will reflect your failure to do so.

If your school system is a failure, you can be assured that the majority of students in that school come from dysfunctional parenting; and parents are directly responsible for that.

You are also directly responsible for the quality of the schools in your community. It is an apparent yet little known fact that parents are responsible for their child’s education. School systems are meant to enhance your instruction of your children — they’re not meant to be a replacement for it. Are you supervising your child’s education at home daily or are you neglecting that responsibility?"

ASU, U-C Berkeley professors win Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences - Collegenews.

ASU, U-C Berkeley professors win Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences - Collegenews.:

"Two college professors, Elinor Ostrom and Oliver Williamson, have won the 2009 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, according to press releases from their respective institutions of higher learning.

According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the scientific organization that serves as the selection board for the prize, Ostrom won for her “analysis of economic governance, especially the boundaries of the firm.”

The Academy further noted that, “Elinor Ostrom has challenged the conventional wisdom that common property is poorly managed and should be either regulated by central authorities or privatized.”

Elinor Ostrom is the second ASU professor to have received a Nobel Prize in economics, while Oliver Williamson is the fifth recipient of an economics Nobel from U-C Berkeley."

California Academy of Sciences: One year later

California Academy of Sciences: One year later:

"Over a year later after its grand reopening and the California Academy of Sciences continues to draw massive crowds. As the epitome of green-friendly architecture, the boldly constructed museum received a major facelift at a sizable cost of $488 million. Ever since the original building was seriously damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the vision was to rebuild a sustainable facility that teaches conservation on a very personal level to the visitor. Located across the Music Concourse from the de Young Museum of Art, it has been completely redesigned by Italian architect Renzo Piano with see-through glass walls, 60,000 photovoltaic cells that produce 10 percent of its electricity, other walls packed with shredded denim jeans for insulation, and special sensors to adjust the lights according to the time of day."

California has become wretched state of affairs | San Francisco Examiner

California has become wretched state of affairs San Francisco Examiner:

"Graham — who’s touring the country touting his new book, “America, the Owner’s Manual,” on the roots of the country’s apolitical leanings and the need for more public civic engagement — noted that one of the requirements for statehood was that each agreed to have a “republican” or representative form of government. That may still appear to be the case on paper, but the runaway initiative process in California has placed a vice grip on the state’s lawmaking and budgetary process.

Graham said he’s not sure if a federal judge would rule in favor of a legal challenge to California’s adherence to its original statehood charter, but it does point to the problems that have prompted a number of observers to say that the once-great state is rapidly failing."

UC may charge based on major - Local - The Modesto Bee

UC may charge based on major - Local - The Modesto Bee:

"LOS ANGELES -- At the UCLA studio of the American Society of Civil Engineers, undergraduates are engaged in such extracurricular projects as designing and constructing a 20-foot concrete canoe to race against other California college teams.

But the young engineers face a potentially tougher challenge as University of California leaders consider a plan to charge these students more for their undergraduate education than most others at the university.

As part of a plan to plug the UC's battered budget, the regents might vote as early as next month on the tradition-breaking proposal to require engineering undergraduates, along with those studying business, to pay $900 more a year than the rest of the student body. That would be in addition to the $2,514 systemwide fee increase that all students figure to see by next fall."

Are the rich paying their fair share? -- latimes.com

Are the rich paying their fair share? -- latimes.com:

"When it comes to the state budget and state taxes, everybody knows the following facts:

People earning $75,000 or less pay little or no taxes now.

The same people use 99.9% of state social programs.

Ergo, millions of residents of this state are getting something for nothing, and the rest pay for their freeloading.

Of course I'm kidding. These are popular myths (I owe the formulation above to a reader's e-mail), not facts. Yet, like a cracked windshield, they have the power to distort almost everything we see when we turn our attention to state spending and taxation."

Oil tax supporters, detractors clash on campus - News

Oil tax supporters, detractors clash on campus - News:

"A group of conservative students protested a rally Monday that was designed to drum up support for an oil tax to fund higher education.

The students silently held up signs in front of Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico as he was speaking to about 400 people at the Cesar Chavez Memorial Arch.

The rally was in support for Assembly Bill 656, which would charge oil companies a 9.9 percent severance tax to help fund higher public education in California, according to the text of the bill.

About seven students, many of whom said they were with the College Republicans at SJSU, stormed the podium when Torrico took the stage and held up signs that read 'Don't think you won't pay this tax' and 'Tax cost 9,000 jobs.'

Others with signs supporting the bill quickly rushed the stage to counter the protesters."

Five myths about paying good teachers more | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Five myths about paying good teachers more detnews.com The Detroit News:

"Education Secretary Arne Duncan says paying public school teachers based on their performance is his 'highest priority,' and he plans to dole out hundreds of millions of dollars to states and school systems that embrace the idea. In the District of Columbia, Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee has made such reform a cornerstone of her agenda -- and a backdrop to her recent move to lay off 229 teachers in response to budget cuts. But school reformers have been trying unsuccessfully to introduce performance pay in public education for decades. If today's reformers want to break the deadlock, they're going to have to let go of several myths hanging over the debate:"

Voice of the Day | News-Leader.com | Springfield News-Leader

Voice of the Day News-Leader.com Springfield News-Leader:

"Former California Governor Jerry Brown once famously said, 'A little vagueness goes a long way in this business.'* Obviously Springfield Public Schools officials have taken that advice to heart as concerns the proposal relating to Study and Westport.

Or perhaps, more accurately, it is not vagueness but prevarication that best describes the ever-changing explanations, rationalizations and fabrications that comprise the narrative 'spun' by SPS."

t has been publicly and privately asserted that "research" justifies this proposal and/or, alternatively, that one can "find numbers/data/research that say anything." Understandably, SPS doesn't really desire to engage in an open discussion regarding either the existing national research or the local experience relevant to this matter.

First, the "research" cited by SPS administrators is generally not research at all. Various lists provided at various times in various circumstances include virtually nothing of substance but rather consist of a motley collection of magazine articles, personal essays and the like. The one unifying element of these pieces is that they do not, in any manner, endorse the proposal at hand. Indeed, the one most compelling argument each makes is for the creation and/or retention of smaller schools-precisely opposite of the course of action pursued by SPS. The case that is being made therein for the relative virtues of new K-8** schools is contingent on the small size existing or proposed for such entities as against the larger middle schools prevalent in urban settings where such re-configurations are being undertaken.

'Future of Education Computing' Recognized via Award From National School Boards Association | Reuters

'Future of Education Computing' Recognized via Award From National School Boards Association Reuters:

"SAN JOSE, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Wyse Technology, the global leader in thin computing and client virtualization,
today announced that Brian Seaman, Network Administrator at the Western Wayne
School District in Northeast Pennsylvania has been named by the National School
Boards Association`s Technology Leadership Network (TLN) annual list of '20 to
Watch' emerging leaders in education technology. These individuals are
recognized by NSBA for championing technology initiatives that make a difference
for students, teachers, school districts, and the greater education technology
community.

According to Ann Flynn, Director of Education Technology for NSBA, 'This year's
'20 to Watch' represents educators who see the potential that technology brings
to the learning environment, and who know how to translate that knowledge in a
way that excites and inspires their students and colleagues.'"

Education Week: Education Secretary Leads Chorus Calling for Big City-Hall Role

Education Week: Education Secretary Leads Chorus Calling for Big City-Hall Role:

"The troubles that plague many local school boards prompt some observers to throw up their hands. But when it comes to big-city districts, there’s a popular remedy that continues to gain momentum: mayoral control.

This governance arrangement sidelines school boards, for the most part, in favor of a strong chief executive handpicked by the mayor.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who for seven years ran Chicago’s public schools under Mayor Richard M. Daley, is using his bully pulpit to aggressively promote the approach as a necessity for reversing decades of abysmal academic performance in some cities. In a speech to mayors and school superintendents last spring, in fact, Duncan said he would consider his time as education secretary a “failure” if more mayors didn’t take over city school systems by the..."

Early statistics show teachers gaining the most from Obama's stimulus plan by avoiding layoffs -- latimes.com

Early statistics show teachers gaining the most from Obama's stimulus plan by avoiding layoffs -- latimes.com:

"In California, the stimulus was credited with saving or creating 62,000 jobs in public schools and state universities. Utah reported saving about 2,600 teaching jobs. In both states, education jobs represented about two-thirds of the total stimulus job number. Missouri reported more than 8,500 school jobs, Minnesota more than 5,900. In Michigan, where officials said 19,500 jobs have been saved or created, three out of four were in education.

'They're going to be the biggest driver of jobs from the state side,' said Chris Whatley, who tracks stimulus programs for the Council of State Governments.

Figures for construction companies will vary because some states have spent that money faster than others. Unlike construction jobs, which require bidding and contracting, teaching jobs were relatively quick to save once billions of dollars in aid arrived from Washington."

AuburnPub.com - Center enlists art groups for education

AuburnPub.com - Center enlists art groups for education:

"Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson told The Associated Press the initiative could not have come at a better time as school districts face budget cuts. Groups like the Sacramento Theater Company and Crocker Art Museum will also benefit by fostering a new generation of patrons for theater, ballet and art, he said.

Over the next few months, the Kennedy Center will conduct an audit of the local arts scene and existing arts programs in the Sacramento Unified School District and Twin Rivers Unified School District."

Education Week: Questions Raised on New York Test System's Reliability

Education Week: Questions Raised on New York Test System's Reliability:

"The recent news that 97 percent of New York City public schools got an A or B under the district’s grading system might be seen as reason for celebration, but critics suggest the grades hold little value and highlight the need to revisit the state assessment system.

The results, they say, reveal far more about flaws in the city’s so-called “progress reports” —and the state testing regime that largely drives them—than they do about the quality of education in the 1.1 million-student district."

Schools Chancellor Touts Test Score Gains to Business Leaders - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com

Schools Chancellor Touts Test Score Gains to Business Leaders - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com:

"Supporters of mayoral control of city schools like to say that having one person in charge of the schools eliminates the old politics of the Board of Education. But it’s simply been replaced by a different kind of politics, centered on just how well Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and his schools chancellor, Joel I. Klein, have done in the battle to improve city schools.

So it was hard to put aside politics Monday at an hour-long presentation Mr. Klein gave to business leaders on the 50th floor of the J.P. Morgan Chase building on Park Avenue. With his back to a stunning view of the Chrysler Building, Mr. Klein went over a dozen graphs charting out what he called tremendous progress of the city’s schools."

City Insider : This isn't the kind of steal Kevin Johnson used to relish

City Insider : This isn't the kind of steal Kevin Johnson used to relish:

"When he played for the Phoenix Suns, point guard Kevin Johnson was known for his steals. But the tables were turned on Johnson, now the mayor of Sacramento, when he visited Union Square over the weekend and had his belongings snatched.
Johnson describes the troubling incident on his blog. Apparently, the Good Samaritan - in San Francisco for an arts education conference - was helping an elderly man get into a cab when someone grabbed his garment bag. He lost a suit, pair of shoes and toiletries."

CAVALA: Legislature Victim Of Yet Another ‘Cheap Shot’? - California Progress Report

CAVALA: Legislature Victim Of Yet Another ‘Cheap Shot’? - California Progress Report:

"The Sacramento BEE is leading yet another crusade against the State Legislature. This attack focuses on the benefits provided Legislative employees. While factually accurate, the BEE story is biased and unfair.

After listing the benefits – which contrast favorably on paper with those enjoyed by other state employees and many private sector employees (like BEE reporters), and then allowing reliable witnesses like Jonathan Coupal of the Howard Jarvis organization to take his usual shot at any government action, it isn’t until paragraph 16 (after the fold) that we find the following:"

“Unlike other state workers legislative aides lack civil service protections, receive no automatic pay increases can be fired without cause, receive no overtime compensation and must try to get hired by another legislator when theirs leaves office”.

Which, because of term limits, is a five year occurrence.

Let’s look at the lavish benefits exposed in this hard-hitting report.

Vacations? “Vacations ranging up to six weeks for long time employees”. But with a 35% staff turnover “every year” – a fact listed in paragraph 17 – how many “long time employees” are around to enjoy their six weeks? I was such an employee. In my 25 years of service I enjoyed a net 20 days of “vacation”. My vacation “time” was used up in unpaid volunteer service in political work in an effort to keep my employer in a job where he could employ me.

Retirement benefits? The same as other state employees and not as good as those enjoyed by the staff of Legislative “sergeants” – who are “peace officers”. But who are the Legislative employees who serve long enough or are old enough to retire in grade? Typically they are the clerical workers of the Legislature, not the highly paid attaches of my grade.

Education Week: State law blocks stimulus education funds

Education Week: State law blocks stimulus education funds:

"RENO, Nev. (AP) — Nevada is ineligible to compete for millions of stimulus education funding because of a state law pushed by the teachers union.

The law prohibits student achievement data from being used in teacher evaluations. That means the state isn't eligible to enter the Obama administration's Race to the Top, a $4.3 billion competition for states trying to turn around failing schools."

State superintendent Keith Rheault says Nevada won't apply for the first round of funding because of the law, which would need a special legislative session to change.

"If you're desperate for money and you get a credit card offer in the mail, you read the fine print to see what the interest rate is," Rheault said. "This to me is like a 35 percent interest rate, with all the federal reporting requirements and changes to regulations. But it just depends on how desperate you are for the money."

The state can still work to resolve other issues in time for the second phase of funding, Rheault said.

Rheault said changing the state law would not immediately make the state eligible for the federal funds because the competition requires states to have increased education funding between 2008 and 2009 and Nevada had to cut its funding. The state would also have to dedicate money for after the stimulus funds ran out.