Education News: April 28, 2006

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending April 28, 2006.

House puts lid on soda
(Source: The Hartford Courant, 04/28/06) Connecticut passed the strictest school beverage ban in the nation by prohibiting all beverages that are not milk, water, or 100% juice. Although the bill does not automatically ban food, it does give financial incentives for schools that stock healthy food in their vending machines. The bill also allots money to redesign the school lunch program to make it more nutritious. The passing is seen as a big defeat for Coca-Cola and Pepsi, both of whom lobbied relentlessly against the measure.

A $100 million incentive to improve teaching
(Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer, 04/28/06) Next week the Education Department will seek applications for a merit-based reward for principals and teachers who have increased student achievement in high-risk areas. Some teachers’ unions are stating that merit pay does not increase student achievement; therefore, the money should be spent on proven measures such as improving the conditions of the school.

City schools cut parents’ lifeline (the cell phone)
(Source: The New York Times, 04/27/06) The recent implementation of roving metal detectors in NYC high schools has discovered a great number of cellular phones, which are banned in the district. Schools’ administration purports that cell phones distract students, citing that students have used the phones to take pictures in locker rooms and cheat on exams. Students too admit to carrying phones for social or fashion reasons. Parents, however, insist that the phones are essential for their children’s safety, as they use public transportation to go to school and extracurricular activities.

Schools reading list gets a rewrite
(Source: The Seattle Times, 04/26/06) In the quest to get all students interested in reading, schools are expanding their reading list to include more than the classics. This is not a new trend according to a study conducted by a professor at the University at Albany. He cites that schools since the 1960’s have used contemporary literature to increase student involvement. What is new is that schools have begun to add more multicultural authors in public schools to appeal to a diverse student body.

Learning on their own terms
(Source: The Washington Post, 04/24/06) Fairhaven school in the Washington DC area is challenging the idea of what it means to be educated. Based on creating democracy and personal freedom this alternative school has no requirements, grades, grade levels or teachers. Students seek out and decide what they would like to do each day. The school is not accredited, but does award diplomas based on a thesis explaining how the student has become an effective adult. Past graduates have decided to attend Sarah Lawrence University, to begin a professional skateboarding career, or become a waiter.

D.C. public school seeks links up with new charter school
(Source: The Washington Post, 04/22/06) In an unprecedented collaboration, an elementary school with declining enrollment seeks to be a feeder school for a successful charter. The superintendent and the two principals support the idea. The school board plans to vote on the initiative later this week. Opponents to the linkage cite that it will be harmful to the school district because more students will leave the system after elementary school. The feasibility of the plan is also debatable because charter schools cannot favor students from any one school or neighborhood.