Strikes, Protests Hit Schools Like Wild Fire!

Schools everywhere hit with student, teacher strikes

It was the first day of school for millions across the country. But for thousands and thousands, strikes and protests prevented this day from going smoothly. Over 1000 Chicago students protested unbalanced funding in poorer neighborhoods by skipping school and showing up at the wealthier one instead. Some schools near Seattle had to be canceled altogether because of a teacher strike. The same thing is happening near Pittsburgh because of a wage dispute that doesn't appear to have a close ending in site. Across the state outside Philadelphia, contract problems are looming and forced 7,000 students to not start class as scheduled. Detroit avoided a near-miss, but could have a rough ride in next 30 days if disagreements don't get resolved. So what is to be learned by all this? That the American public is completely satisfied with the current state of education.

Students find new ways to cheat

Story: Students find new ways to cheat

It used to be such a hassle writing answers on your palms. Now it's as easy as surfing the web on your cell phone during a test. Or taking a picture of it, only to distribute copies to everyone else. Let's hand it to teens, they really have a grasp for creative uses of technology. Maybe this can help spur the debate for the actual value of test-taking.

Some schools eliminate homework

Story: How much homework is too much?

Many schools are downsizing the homework load, but let's just focus on the one's banning it altogether. Isn't this how we teach responsibility and help encourage learning on your own? Now we're not saying students should have hours every night, but if they don't take home what they hear in class, couldn't the argument be made that the material will be lost? So now teachers will have no choice but to spend half their day reviewing old assignments because no one went home to practice. Why don't we eliminate tests too so we don't force kids into studying either? I think this concept just continues to lower the bar for standards, and we will be left with a generation slightly less capable and intelligent than its predecessors.

200,000 Kids Physically Punished In School

Story: 200,000 Kids Physically Punished In School

Again, not all in the same day...that would be a record. But apparently corporal punishment is sweeping the nation as if it were the 1920's again. For what it's worth, the study also shows the the rate is higher among minorities. If violence is our preferred method of problem solving, why don't we hit teachers every time they screw up?

Paying students for good grades?

Story 1: Good grades pay off literally

Story 2: Learn to Earn

NCLB is having so many positive side effects in education. Now we are paying students in some cities when they receive good scores. We can't think of any better way to spend money towards improving education? This is completely stripping them of any sense of "going to school to learn." Students are becoming more focused on whether or not they're going to be getting $20 for their math test, and over-looking the fact that the rest of their lives will not be incentive-based. How about we put this "allowance" into some kind of fund towards higher education, instead of having a classroom full of 4th graders with nicer cell phones than their teachers. So really, is this what we are resorting to? Teachers have gotten so bad at motivating students that the only way to get them to study is by paying them off?
Bad idea.

Story featured on this Carnival.

California parents may home-school children without teaching credential

Story: Parents may home-school children without teaching credential

Prior to this, they forced students to attend crappy schools and be exposed to problems that hinder their education and threaten their safety. Now, they have that option, or to keep them home and jeopardize the development of their social skills, and never get to dance in a senior prom :( But it is nice to know that parents now have the right to decide what is best for their children.

School bully problem? Send in the clown

Story: School bully problem? Send in the clown

Really? A clown in the rodeo is the most qualified person we can find to educate youth about bullying? I almost interpret this as the schools way of treating the issue as a joke. I applaud the fact that we are not ignoring this epidemic problem...even though bullying has existed FOREVER, but since kids are wimps nowadays we have to treat every situation delicately. If only the boys from Columbine could have had someone make them balloon animals first, history could have been different.

Georgia schools say "Spank Away!"

Story: Spare the Rod or Swing the Paddle: How to Punish Students

Alright! Now we're getting somewhere. Where does this fit into the argument about who should raise children? Parents or teachers? Corporal Punishment is actually encouraged in these Georgia schools. Kids can finally relate to their parents/grandparents stories about being slapped on the hand with a ruler when they come home with cat-o-nine tails lacerations across their backs. But for the record...teacher and principals are allowed to demonstrate acts of violence for disobedience, but students still get arrested for fighting, right?

Schools eye four-day week to cut fuel costs

Story: Schools eye four-day week to cut fuel costs

We've covered this story before [here], but it seems like eliminating a school day is the latest hot button sweeping the education world. It only lends itself to logic that less schooling will make children smarter. If this trend catches on like wildfire, before you know it this will be the last generation that the parents are less educated than their kids. I say we think pro actively, and just go right to three 10-hour school days per week.

School failure harder on girls than boys

Story: School failure harder on girls than boys

I think this was based on a previous study that determined "everything is emotionally harder on girls than boys." The research basically states that when girls fail or get in trouble in school, they are more likely to become depressed. Really!!! That's what ice cream, malls, and Sex and the City are for. I am glad we are wasting money to get to the bottom of this pressing issue in education.

School lunch programs hit by food prices

Story: School lunch programs hit by food prices

Essentially it's getting too expensive to feed kids at school. I'm sure the government isn't too concerned about this and it won't really be considered an issue until a few years from now when middle-income families are investigated for neglect because they couldn't afford the school lunch. Maybe then, we'll realize that certain costs in our schools will need to be subsidized to account for the fact our dollar is losing value.

Retailers Start to Get Ready for School

Story: Retailers Start to Get Ready for School

It's almost that time of the year again. What is commonly referred to as "Back to School" shopping, but what retailers call "Our opportunity to guilt teens and parents into spending tons of cash because if they don't have our product, they forfeit any chance of self-esteem and popularity." Kohl's and JC Penny's are already having marketing wars for who can have the coolest commercials, and low-income families have already started explaining to their children that "if they don't like you for your clothes, then they aren't real friends anyway."

Secondary Schools Serve Unhealthy Foods

Story: Secondary Schools Serve Unhealthy Foods

So basically, the study concludes that after 5th grade, we give up on the general health and nutrition of students. OR...certain administrators realize that older children have "disposable income" that allows them to buy crap from vending machines all day, which in turn generates a profit for the school. If you're a kid with a dollar in your pocket, are you buying the fruit cup or the bag of Skittles?

Subway Bans Homeschooled Kids from Essay Contest

Story: Subway Bans Homeschooled Kids from Essay Contest

Since it's hard to market to students at home who are not exposed to constant ads in the hallways, on Channel One, and even their reports cards, Subway decided it's not fair to let them cash in on any prizes. In addition, it was rumored that the initial concept for the contest was titled "The advantages of eating fast food and cutting PE time in schools."

A Vision of K-12 Students Today

This project was created to inspire teachers to use technology in engaging ways to help students develop higher level thinking skills. Equally important, it serves to motivate district level leaders to provide teachers with the tools and training to do so.

1.2 Million American High School Students Drop Out Every Year

Story: 1.2 Million American High School Students Drop Out Every Year

When school was fun I don't think this was an issue. When students were treated like people they enjoyed going to school. Now that they've been sedated and every day is just the potential for something going wrong, it's no wonder the dropout rates are sky-rocketing every year.

Cell Phones Could Be Banned in School Zones

Cell Phones Could Be Banned in School Zones

You'd be shocked to hear how many kids get hit by cars crossing the road from school. Then again I'm not sure of the actual statistics. But how many of these accidents are caused by cell phones and not just negligant drivers?

The real irony occurs when someone does get hit, and no one is allowed to call 911 because of the cell phone ban.

High school dropout, suspension rates rise

High school dropout, suspension rates rise

This is a big mystery? As DetentionSlip.org demonstrates on a daily basis, students get suspended for more and more ridiculous reasons. We are in such a state of panic that even straight-A kids get in trouble for nothing. Rather than give them a reason to stay in school, we keep creating reasons to keep the OUT of school. Obviously this will lead to a higher dropout rate if we intentionally suspend and expell them as much as possible. Let use some common sense on this one.

Crocs banned at schools

Crocs get the boot at some schools

Just another victim to add to the list. Apparantly now shoe's can be deemed a distraction to the learning process. I clearly remember getting a D on a science test once because I was only able to focus on the person's feet next to me. Oh the colors!

It would be a lot easier to make one very strict dress code than just banning a new clothing item every other week.

Student Journalists Discover Secret Cameras In High School

Secret Cameras Discovered In High School