All about character and tarnished reputations
Talk radio host Dennis Prager once posed the question, “Would you rather your child smoke or cheat?” At first glance, the answer seems to be a no-brainer. I mean, who in their right mind would ever wish a future of lung cancer on loved ones, or the colostomies, false...
The Measles Outbreak, Pennsylvania, and the Need for Immunization
On February 7th, the Times Herald headlined with “Case of measles suspected,” about a teen-aged boy right here in Montgomery County. Naturally, worrying kicked in. Had the virus traveled here all the way from California, where 103 cases had already been confirmed?...
Education Data Mining, Kids’ Privacy Rights, and Protective Measures Being Taken
Obama recently took to the bully pulpit again, this time proposing what he called the Student Digital Privacy Act, saying, “If we’re going to be connected, then we need to be protected.” The act’s purpose is “to prevent companies from selling sensitive student...
It’s a Matter of Time: Make More of It Count
“Time is opportunity flying by,” wrote eighth grader April, and she got it so right. Time does, indeed, fly, as we continually hear ourselves saying that we’ve run out of it or never had enough of it in the first place. And yet so much of it is wasted. In fact, says...
How E-readers and Tablets Stack Up Against Bound Books
Back in 2012, a New York Times’ headline led off with, “The Bookstore’s Last Stand,” and went on to illuminate the trials of the last big-standing bookstore, Barnes & Noble. Its storied history speaks for itself. Back in 1873, one Charles Montgomery Barnes went...
Quotable Quotes: January 5, 2015
** "Our educational problems of today have little to do with schools. The problem today is the demise of the family. In my family, there was no watching TV unless you had completed your homework. Although I was a good athlete, I could not play high school sports...
A Tween Must-Read: Gabriel Finley and the Raven’s Riddle
Raab Associates, Inc. Tell your kids to buckle up: There’s a new fantasy adventure out there waiting for them called Gabriel Finley and the Raven’s Riddle. In it, author George Hagan explores such universal themes as honor, betrayal, greed, compassion, trust, and...
Common Core Pros and Cons: What You Need to Know
The Common Core Standards, first announced in 2009, were fully implemented in a number of schools last year; nevertheless a September Gallup poll of 532 parents found that 32% had no opinion or had never even heard of them. Other findings included: • 35% of the...
Civic Education, Politics, and an Uninformed Populace
Certain dates are standouts, like February 14, October 31, and December 25. But what about September 17? It should be a standout, too, but it’s not. In fact, most of us don’t give the date a second thought; we certainly should, though. That’s because it’s not just...
Education-Related Websites: October 23, 2014
** www.coursera.org ~ This site has partnered with top universities and organizations in the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free" and covers all subjects. ** http://home.edweb.net ~ This free social and profession network offers educators an...
Quotable Education Quptes: October 20, 2014
** "Just when things can't get any worse for kindergartners, they do. It used to be that kindergartners could play--which is how childhood development experts say young children learn and are socialized best. Today, 5- and 6-year-olds are forced to sit for hours at a...
Recommended Education-Related Websties: October 16, 2014
** www.edweb.com/amazon.html ~ Here students can "explore the geography of the Ecuadorian Amazon through online games and activities." ** www.sharemylesson.com ~ This site is "by teachers, for teachers," offering, to date, more than 294,000 resources, including those...
It’s an Education Fact: Obtober 15, 2014
1) Researchers studied nearly 200,000 children, ages birth through 17, from 2000 to 2011 and found that, overall, disabilities affected 8% of them by 2011--10% of low-income children and 6% of wealthy children. 2) According to the U.S. Government Accountability...
As the Heroin Tide Rises Throughout Pennsylvania, Remedies Are Sought
We’ve long held marijuana to be a “gateway drug,” but now lobby legislators to legalize its medicinal and recreational use, a la Washington and Colorado. And then, surprise, surprise, headlines such as: “Heroin a ‘growing epidemic’: Pennsylvania ‘cannot arrest its way...
Character-Building: Steps to Take
Lots of folks say that, while they can’t exactly define it, they know it when the see it. Character, that is. Few, though, would argue with author and talk show host Dennis Prager’s take on it: “Goodness is about character—integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity,...
Quotable Education Quotes: October 13, 2014
** "Sure, every aging generation thinks things were better in 'their' day, but this time it's not a case of rose-colored reminiscing. Somewhere along the line, things have changed. From the massive homage paid to political correctness to the insatiable desire to...
Recommended Education-Related Websites: October 9, 2014
*** www.scholastic.com/browse/lessonplans ~ Here you'll find timely lessons and units for all your teaching needs, by grade and by subject. *** http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci ~ This site "mixes hot science with your cool ideas" with loads of activities and...
It’s an Education Fact: October 8, 2014
1) Responding to an ASCD survey asking if this year's Common Core Standards assessments should be used for accountability, 25% of teachers said they want a 4-year-delay and 24% seek a 2-year-delay. 2) An August PDK/Gallup poll found that 81% of respondents had heard...
Making Education News: October 7, 2014
1. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has announced that states can delay using test results in teacher-performance ratings for another year. Over the past 4 years, 40 states adopted laws tying teacher evaluations in part on students' standardized test results. 2. Texas...
Quotable Education Quotes: October 6, 2014
** "Arne Duncan brought the most ambitious reform agenda in years to the Department of Education--and a determination to use every lever of power to accomplish it. The results were stunning: In barely a year, more than 100 state laws were passed to open public schools...
