Education News: December 7, 2007

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending December 7, 2007.

Many Children Struggling After ’05 Storms
(Source: The New York Times, 12/7/07):  A new study indicates that at least 46,600 children are suffering from serious mental health problems as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  These problems are having a pronounced effect on the children’s performance and behavior at school.

ACLU-NC Criticizes School
(Source: The Raleigh News & Observer, 12/6/07):  An incident of racial segregation at a middle school in Raleigh, North Carolina, has prompted criticism from the ACLU.  Following a skirmish between a black girl and a Hispanic girl, during which gang symbolism was used for intimidation, black and Hispanic seventh-graders were sent to separate assemblies to discuss the incident and the dangers of gang violence.  White students were not sent to any assembly at all.  An ACLU-NC representative said it would have been more constructive to bring all the students together to discuss the problem.

Project Brings Wireless Internet to City Classrooms
(Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/6/07):  A $40 million project to bring wireless Internet to all public school classrooms in Philadelphia has been completed, and plans to introduce additional technology resources are in place.  The school district’s new wireless network is one of the largest of its kind in the world, according to education officials.

Teachers Turn to Web Site for Classroom Funding
(Source: The Detroit News, 12/4/07):  Since its soft launch three months ago, the Web site DonorsChoose has amassed school project funding proposals from 32,500 teachers, many of whom have successfully secured funding.  The Web site allows prospective donors to browse through school projects and choose the projects they would like to fund.  One Michigan education official praised the website, but also said it was unfortunate that teachers have to compete for resources because of inadequate education funding.

Official Leaves Post as Texas Prepares to Debate Science Education Standards
(Source:  The New York Times, 12/3/07):  Christine Comer, who worked for 27 years as a science teacher and then nine as science director for the Texas Education Agency, was apparently forced to resign over her support of the theory of evolution.  Ms. Comer forwarded an email about an upcoming conference to be held by a group that opposes the intelligent design concept, an action that in her eyes did not constitute an endorsement, although she does support the teaching of the theory of evolution.  In early 2008, Texas’ education standards on evolution will be revisited, and a heated debate is likely.

Fewer Males Teaching
(Source: The Detroit News, 12/3/07):  According to the NEA, the percentage of male teachers is at a 40-year low, and men are especially scarce in elementary schools.  Reasons for the shortage include lack of status and pay, the stereotype that teaching is a woman’s job, and fear of abuse allegations.  Education experts say it is important for there to be more male teachers as children need both male and female role models to look up to.

Some Schools Selling Their Sizzle
(Source: The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 12/2/07):  Some suburban school districts in the Minneapolis area have been placing paid advertisements in local newspapers and magazines in an attempt to counteract expected declines in enrollment due to population trends.  The ad campaigns have enabled the districts to keep enrollments steady and maintain their desired level of federal funding.

Effort to Limit Junk Food in Schools Faces Hurtles
(Source: The New York Times, 12/2/07):  A proposed amendment to the farm bill would eliminate unhealthy food, such as candy, salty, high-fat snacks, and sugary sodas, from school vending machines and cafeteria al la carte lines.  Proponents of the measure believe that incorporating the legislation into the farm bill may be the most politically expedient way to get junk food out of schools.  However, corporate involvement as well as differing opinions amongst activists on how far the legislation should go may hinder the process.

Group Urges Immediate Action to Reduce Class Sizes
(Source:  The New York Times, 11/28/07):  A new report by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity said that the New York City school system is under-utilizing resources that would allow for reduced class sizes and urged education officials to take immediate action.  The report recommended that class sizes be capped at 20 in elementary school, 23 in middle school, and 24 in high school.

No Child Law May Slight the Gifted, Experts Say
(Source: The Washington Post, 11/25/07):  Some education experts have expressed concerns that No Child Left Behind is diverting valuable educational resources from gifted children.  Due to the pressure to continually increase the number of students who pass standardized tests, they say, teachers are often forced to focus the bulk of their time on the ‘middle of the pack,’ academically speaking, and any additional time they have on students who are on the cusp of success and failure.

Minority Teachers Under-Represented in Ohio Schools
(Source:  The Cleveland Plain-Dealer, 11/24/07):  A new study has found that just 6% of Ohio’s teacher force is comprised of minorities, compared to 14% of the state’s public school students.  Experts say this is a problem because all children need role models to look up to, some of whom look like them, and because an increase in minority teachers could help reverse the trend of minority students receiving a disproportionate amount of disciplinary actions and being placed in special education programs at a higher rate.