November 2011
Obesity Targeted by Task Force in Tennessee Schools Nov 30, 2011
Numerous studies show the ill effects that being obese or overweight have on health. So if you're near the bottom of the 'most-obese states' list, it's likely time to do something about it. When Tennessee found itself in that spot, it began its...
Harassment Follows Naming of Lesbian Homecoming King and Queen Nov 30, 2011
When a lesbian couple at a San Diego high school were recently named homecoming king and queen, it was the culmination of an abundance of support. That spirit of acceptance was marred, though, when the school began receiving hate-filled calls and...
5 Reasons Not to Delay Your Child's Enrollment in School Nov 29, 2011
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), about 10% of kindergarten-age children are delayed entry into school by their parents, a practice known as 'redshirting'. Many believe that children whose birthdays are close to...
5 Tips to Help Your Advanced Students Stay Engaged in Class Nov 29, 2011
Not all students within the same classroom learn at the same pace. High achieving students often find themselves bored or disengaged in class. While technology in the classroom can help to reduce this boredom to some extent, you might find you...
Why More Sleep = Better Grades Nov 28, 2011
More than 200 years ago, Benjamin Franklin coined the memorable and oft-quoted phrase, 'Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.' Today, research shows that Franklin's words certainly apply to school children, with...
Help Your Child Beat Bullying Nov 23, 2011
Parents play a larger role in helping their children beat bullying than they might think. While of course teachers and school administrators must typically become involved and are likely to know of bullying incidents before parents, moms and dads...
Could E-Readers Help to Make Reading Cool? Nov 23, 2011
Let's face it: kids love gadgets. Almost any type of portable electronic device invariably wins them over. Put an iPod in their hands and they'll download music. Put a cellphone in their hands and they'll text their friends. Put a Kindle in their...
Illegal Facebook Friends: Children and Their Teachers Nov 22, 2011
Missouri may be the 'Show-Me State,' but the state is attempting to ban teachers and students from showing each other their Facebook pages. The move, which may seem extreme, is the result of significant controversy over how the social networking...
Is Mandatory Reporting Mandatory Enough? Nov 22, 2011
What are the responsibilities of those who work with children to report signs of child abuse? And why do cases such as those at Penn State go unreported for so long? It may be that mandatory reporting regulations are difficult to enforce,...
Sexual Harassment Plagues Teen Girls Nov 21, 2011
The issue of sexual harassment isn't just affecting the presidential campaign. It's also a very real threat to teenage girls throughout the country. A new report suggests that harassment among middle and high school girls is rampant. The...
Childhood Hunger Hits the Street...Sesame Street Nov 21, 2011
Lily, a new Muppet on 'Sesame Street,' is unlike other Muppets. She and her family don't always have enough food to eat. Lily represents a significant milestone in the children's television show. It's an opportunity to begin teaching children...
Why Are Some Schools Banning Backpacks? Nov 18, 2011
Over the past two decades or so, backpacks have become as synonymous with school as reading, writing and 'rithmetic. How else can students transport all the books and supplies they need for classes each day? Despite their practicality, backpacks...
California Schools Are Not Paying Up Nov 17, 2011
When it comes to spending, California is not doing well...at least not for its students. According to a recent analysis, spending on a per-student basis in California's public schools is at an all-time low. And some say that things could get even...
Answering Nature's Calls at Chicago High School Could Lead to Trouble Nov 16, 2011
At one Chicago high school, too many trips to the restroom can lead to another trip at the end of the day: back to the classroom to make up time lost. That's how Evergreen Park High School is addressing the problem of students abusing bathroom...
Life After Liberation: Students Return to Libyan Schools Nov 15, 2011
The 42-year reign of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya ended in August 2011 after months of a violent revolution, but its effects will undoubtedly be felt for years to come. That fact was evident when schools in the ravaged country's capital, Tripoli,...
Are DC Public School Students in Danger? Nov 14, 2011
Being a kid can be tough, and a recent survey of middle- and high-school students in Washington, DC, revealed alarming statistics about just how tough it is. From thoughts of suicide to joining gangs, survey results tell a story that can be...
No School for Unvaccinated California Students Nov 11, 2011
Begun in the 1800s to prevent smallpox, vaccinations in U.S. schools have long been a requirement for children to enter public school. All 50 states have immunization requirements and laws vary from state to state, though nearly all require shots...
Classes in New York Too Big, Students Suffering Nov 10, 2011
While many cities across the United States, including Seattle and Tulsa, are facing overcrowded schools, perhaps none are quite as dire as New York City. Overcrowding in New York City schools has hit a 10-year high, a situation that has led to...
Should Shakira Have a Say in Your Child's Education? Nov 09, 2011
It might be true that Shakira's voice would be instantly recognizable to many school-age children both in and outside the United States. But how many of those children realize that the young star also gives voice to educational reform and...
Diabetic Teacher Fights to Have Life-Saving Pooch in the Classroom Nov 08, 2011
Despite her name, Jinx brings anything but bad luck. The female boxer, a trained Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD), is responsible for responding to her owner's hypoglycemic, or low blood sugar, episodes. The problem? Jinx's owner, a schoolteacher, wants...
Students Turn Away from Healthy Snacks in School Vending Machines Nov 07, 2011
Snickers may satisfy hunger pangs, but the candy bar doesn't satisfy the nutrition standards of the government's new Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act signed into law by President Obama in December 2010. Many schools across the United States are now...
Parents in California 'Pulling the Trigger' Nov 04, 2011
Parents of schoolchildren in Compton, California are armed and ready... armed, that is, with provisions of the state's new Parent Empowerment Act or, as it is more commonly referred to, the parent trigger law. The law gives a stronger voice to...
Contractors Steal Millions From New York City School System Nov 03, 2011
As with many political entities, the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg in New York City has been faced with its share of scandals. One of the most recent, emerging over much of the past year, has involved the city's Department of...
New Accountability System for Arizona Schools An A for Effort an F for Confusion Nov 02, 2011
Are Arizona schools making the grade? Under a new accountability system beginning in the 2011-12 academic year they just might. . .or might not. The new system now uses letter grades, in the same way students are graded, to assess each school's...
Some Chicago Schools Approving Longer Days Nov 01, 2011
Long known for having one of the shortest school days in the United States, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) may finally be able to shed that image. Or at least some schools in that district will be able to: as of September 2011, 13 CPS institutions...