High School Dropout Age

I think that raising the high school dropout age to 18 would be a smart decision. In order to obtain even a job paying minimum wage, most places require at least a high school diploma. If we raise the dropout age to 18 it will help ensure that more students graduate with a diploma. I also think that the decision of dropping out of high school is one that should be made when a student is of legal age to make decisions, in most states, for themselves. When a student turns 18 they are considered legal, in most states, to make decisions for themselves without parental consent. I think if they make it to this age, they should be able to make an educated decision about dropping out of high school. If the high school dropout age is raised to 18, it would make a lot more sense in conjunction with other laws that are in place regarding age. If a student is trusted to make decisions without parental consent regarding their body and other activities, that is the time when they should be allowed to consider dropping out of high school.

(2009, November 15). Raise dropout age to 18. The Boston Globe.
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2009/11/15/raise_dropout_age_to_18/

New Findings on Dyslexia

It was interesting to me to find out that dyslexics have a harder time tuning out background noises. I think this information can be very helpful to teachers. As teachers we strive to provide a learning environment that is conducive for all of the students in our class. I would hope that provided this information other teachers could work with dyslexic students in providing a quieter environment for learning. It would be interesting to see if these students really did begin to better understand information presented to them in an environment with less distracting background noise. I think this could be a simple thing teachers could be aware of to help their students with dyslexia. If I were to test this information out and work to provide a dyslexic student with a quieter learning environment it would be interesting to see if noise cancelling headphones would be worth the attention they would receive. I think that teachers should continually try to stay updated on this type of information because sometimes simple changes could mean the world to some students.

Alleyne, R. (2009, November 12). Dyslexics find it hard to filter out background noises. The Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/6544673/Dyslexics-find-it-hard-to-filter-out-background-noises.html

Healthy Student Eating Habits

I think that the school system in this article is definitely on the right track with providing elementary school students with breakfast, but I do not think that such unhealthy options should be provided as options. As elementary school students these children are at an extremely impressionable age. They do not have their parents there in the morning helping them make good decisions about the food they are about to start their day with. If these children are constantly bombarded with sugary unhealthy options, that is all they will learn to choose. While these children are young we need to instill better eating habits in them. If we start teaching them how to eat right from a young age, when they begin to make food decisions independently they will be making healthy ones. In a nation like ours in which obesity is a growing concern, I would think that teaching children to make smart decisions about how to eat a balanced diet would be a top priority. This school system has made a significant step in helping jump start their students in the morning, now they just need to start it with the right ingredients.

Eng, M. (2009, November 5). Chicago public schools breakfasts are big on doughnuts, sugary cereals. Chicago Tribune.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-cps-breakfast-nov05,0,79591,full.story

Budget Cuts in the Creative Arts

During a time when our nation is faced with growing budget problems school systems are forced to cut back certain programs, but is it really right to consistently let the art programs take the fall? I think it is essential to keep these programs in elementary schools. While younger children are developing, I think it is important to offer them creative outlets to ensure that it truly becomes a part of who they are as they grow older. Classroom teachers can attempt to integrate art and music in to their classes, but teachers who are specialized in these fields will be able to reach the children better because that is what they are trained to do. It is vital that we keep arts programs alive in schools, so we can continue to foster creativity in children. Without the creativity that the arts help to develop a lot of doors begin to close later in life. If children are not introduced to the creative arts, we are doomed to end up with generations that are only focused on facts and numbers, not knowing how to appreciate the beauty the arts can possess.

Berman, L. (2009, October 29). State Plays same old song with school cuts. The Detroit News.
http://www.detnews.com/article/20091029/OPINION03/910290399/1409/METRO/State-plays-same-old-song-with-school-cuts

Electronic Libraries?

New technologies often bring very difficult decisions. Does this new technology make what it is replacing obsolete? The burgeoning availability of online databases and computerized books seem to be making libraries a thing of the past. I think that digital databases are a great investment because they can provide students so many more sources than any fully funded library can. Investing in digital, online databases gives students a wide variety and large amount of sources without the extra space needed to house them. Online databases also take away the hassle of having to maintain a whole library of books. While this is definitely a viable option for research sources, I am hesitant to rely completely on technology for works like fiction and picture books. I do not think that purely because these books are available in digital form means we should utilize it for everything in print form. It is definitely more convenient to complete research online with databases, but reading books should stay on paper. While it may make sense to turn middle or high school libraries digital, I think elementary school libraries should remain primarily in print. I think the children would receive much more benefit from reading hard copies of books at those levels than purely in electronic form. Also, currently there is a smaller selection of these types of works available in digital form so it would not be of that much benefit for students since it would be limiting their selection. I think one of the wonderful things about elementary school libraries is the wide variety and selection that is available to them. If these children are encouraged to read as many books as they can to improve their reading skills and develop a love for reading, I think the best way to offer that to them currently is with books in print.

Toppo, G. (2009, October 27). School chooses kindle; are libraries for the history 'books'?. USA Today.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-10-26-kindle-school-library_N.htm

Busing for Diversity

The proposal of ending the practice of busing students to different schools for diversity is interesting because it can be very controversial. While diversity in schools can be a problem with neighborhood zoning, is it worth the inconvenience? This system in North Carolina has clearly been in place for some time now and is working, but I feel like the school system should be able to work out a school zoning system that still provides for some diversity while allowing students to attend elementary school closer to their homes. While I realize that there would be many students affected by this new change in the school system, I think that in the long run it would be better for students. I also think this would help parents of all socio-economic levels. I do not think it would be fair to bus students from low-income families to a school that is farther away from their home because there are many aspects of school that cannot be attended by way of a bus. Requiring parents to drive out of their way to pick up a child at school or to meet with a teacher for a conference would be unnecessary stress on parents of a lower income bracket. A school should consist of diversity, yes, but also the sense of community that is reached when children who live close to each other go to school together.

Hui, TK, & Goldsmith, T. (2009, October 20). Wake schools to take new path. News Observer.
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local_state/story/149110.html

Interactive Whiteboards

The growing use of interactive whiteboards in the classroom today is increasingly helping teachers and students. These new whiteboards allow students to directly interact with PowerPoints and other interactive images and activities. I think this particular piece of technology will become more widely used and integrated in to the modern classroom within the next ten years. These whiteboards allow teachers to get students more directly involved with the lesson at hand. I think this direct interaction truly helps students make more connections with what they are learning because they are having a more hands-on experience with it. I think that students are also more likely to pay attention to lessons involving interactive whiteboards because it uses technology. This generation of students is constantly consumed with technology so the more we can integrate it into teaching, the more we are going to grab student attention. During a time when attracting student attention is becoming harder every year, I think this piece of technology is definitely worth schools investing in for every classroom.

Taboada, MB. (2009, October 6). Leaving chalkboards in the dust. Austin American Statesman.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/10/06/1006grant.html

September 11th Education

For many adults today, visions of the 9/11 terror attacks will never be forgotten, but for many students entering middle and high school they do not have much of a recollection of the attacks. In the article I read it is discussed that, former mayor Giuliani of New York is working on creating and implementing a curriculum to teach middle and high school students about the 9/11 terror attacks. I think that if this information is presented in the right forms by teachers it can be used to get students to think critically about our current foreign relations. Not only is it important to remember and understand what happened on that day, just like the attack on Pearl Harbor, it is important for students to be able to understand why it occurred and how it relates to our current situation. Teachers can use the materials former mayor Giuliani wants to provide to stimulate class discussions and even help students better understand current events. This information is still relevant to our daily lives even though it occurred 8 years ago. This was a tragic event in our nation’s history and it deserves to be remembered and discussed. Because it is a controversial event and these students will have a growing lack of knowledge on the subject, it will be important for teachers to present as much unbiased information as possible to provide a healthy environment for classroom discussion on the topic of 9/11 and how it continues to relate to our nation today.

Associated Press, Initials. (2009, September 8). 9/11 education to be initiated in schools. USA Today.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-09-08-Sept-11-education_N.htm

Autism Research

With a growing number of cases of autism in the United States, teachers are trying to find ways to help these children learn. I think it is great that the government is finally taking action on this situation which is growing in intensity every day. The Obama administration has begun to take more serious steps in funding a national effort to research autism and its causes. It is great to think that at some point in our near future not only will families of these children be able to have answers, but teacher will be able to understand how to better teach these children. The research that the Obama administration is funding will be an integral part of helping us understand these children, and I think it will greatly impact their future. As a teacher it will be great to finally have some resources to look to, to help students in the classroom with autism. The more information that is available to teachers will continue to help these children receive a better education. I think an essential part of helping these autistic children will be complete cooperation and dedication between the family at home and teachers at school. If both aspects of the children’s lives are devoted to detecting autism and helping treat its affects, I think we will see a great progress towards helping these children be fully functional in society. I truly hope that this new investment in autism research will help make more information available not only to parents of children with autism, but teachers as well.

Sebelius, K. (2009, October 5). Fight to overcome autism gets major boost. A Global Leading News Source.
http://www.ednews.org/articles/fight-to-overcome-autism-gets-major-boost.html

Teachers as Role Models

When you think about your favorite teacher, it isn’t a teacher who was well educated and presented you with a lot of information. It is a teacher who took the time to get to know the students and really interacted with the class. It is a teacher who took the time to find the most creative way to present the information and engage the classroom. What makes the best teacher can’t always be learned in a classroom, but it comes from the heart. This article speaks to how teachers should be the best role models for students and teachers with that natural ability to truly help students should be praised and serves as role models for other teachers. I think that sometimes teachers forget that they are not just striving for good test scores, but to help these students become better people in the process. If a teacher focuses on being a good role model for students by caring about what they teach and who they’re teaching, they can help mold students with a strong character like themselves.

Borsuk, A. (2009, October 4). Good educators all differ . Journal Sentinel.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/63457502.html

New Teacher Evaluation System

The new teacher evaluation system that is being implemented in Washington, D.C. is putting much more emphasis on student test scores in their evaluation. Along with the test scores teachers are also evaluated by 5 different classroom observations. I am a bit confused as to how the overall score is achieved, but this system seems very comprehensive. I think it is very important to be able to provide teachers with feedback on their teaching, not just a score or grade. Teachers should be given areas they need improvement in so they can become better teachers. I think it is interesting that this system plans on providing teachers with information on their strengths and weaknesses and also a plan for additional help if it is necessary. I think this feedback will be what helps this program succeed in evaluating teachers. If teachers are aware of specific areas they need improvement in, they will be able to provide a better classroom environment and increase the number of passing test scores. I think the details they are focusing on in these evaluations are very interesting and important, like seeing if teachers are providing lessons that speak to at least three different learning styles. It will be interesting to see if this new system of teacher evaluation will provide enough feedback for teacher improvement or if it will only serve to identify and cut teachers who are not succeeding.

Turgue, B. (2009, October 1). New d.c. teacher ratings stress better test scores. The Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/30/AR2009093004729.html?wprss=rss_education

Virtual Classrooms

More advances in technology have led to the growing popularity of virtual classrooms or distance learning. The classes that are being offered for high school students in specialized and AP classes present a great opportunity for students to take classes that can’t be offered at their school for budgetary reasons. While distance learning should never replace face-to-face teaching unless necessary, it is a great new technology that is providing many new opportunities to students. I think that the more this technology is developed it can be utilized in many different classrooms. While it may be easier to integrate this technology into high school and middle school s, I think that it will also be able to be used in elementary classrooms. With further development, I think this technology can become more interactive, getting rid of the most prominent con to the idea. This is a great technological advance which can help education become more accessible to students who may not be able to make it to a concrete classroom on a daily basis.

Lefferts, JF. (2009, September 27). High school classes go virtual. The Boston Globe.
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2009/09/27/nonprofit_virtual_high_school_consortium_gaining_schools_students/

National Education Standards?

An optimistic step towards a national set of learning standards is beginning to be developed. The proposal includes English and math skills that should be obtained before high school graduation. While the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 aimed to improve national scores in order to compete with other countries, I find it difficult to accurately analyze our improvement as a nation if a national test or national standards don’t exist. I think that if national standards were implemented for K-12, with a national standardized test to account for them, we would be able to create more change for our national education system and create strong improvements. With national standards it would be easy to compare state to state and help individual schools see where they need to improve curriculum and instruction. With these national standards, I think states could still create their own standards that may supplement the national one. The national standards would serve as the minimum expectations for students and could always be supplemented for an even better education. I think that these national standards would help states that are currently lacking to be more accountable for their educational scores, while at the same time providing a way to equalize education nationally.

Anderson, N. (2009, September 22). Skills set drafted for students nationwide. The Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/21/AR2009092102289.html?wprss=rss_education

Math Computer Program and Number Sense

With our growing dependence on technology, it comes as no surprise that it is continually being added into school curriculum. In Orange County, California some elementary schools are testing out a new computer program to teach math skills. While this article boasts of great student improvement on standardized tests, I am led to question what type of learning is occurring through this computer program. Is it teaching students basic math formulas or is it helping students gain number sense to better understand math concepts? I would be interested to see how this program works to teach students the math they are required to learn. Number sense is a very important part of learning math because having better number sense makes it easier for students to comprehend more difficult math concepts later on. While this program might be showing immediate improvements on standardized tests, I think the real success will show in these students’ scores in middle and high school. If they have truly mastered these elementary concepts, they should be able to do well on upper level tests as well. I am skeptical of the sole use of this program to teach math to these students, but I hope that future results of the success of this program will prove me wrong and be a great tool for teachers to help teach the math skills and number sense necessary for elementary students.

Mehta, S. (2009, September 16). Innovative math program boosts scores at o.c. schools. Los Angeles Times.
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/16/local/me-santa-ana16

Violence in Schools Getting Younger?

Elementary schools have always been thought of as a more innocent part of our school system, but the issue raised in this article might suggest otherwise. Whether violence in elementary schools is increasing because of zero-tolerance policies or not, this is clearly an issue that should be looked at closely. If more and more kindergarteners and first and second graders are committing acts of violence in school against teachers or other students, these disciplinary problems should be addressed before it becomes too late. School should be a safe place to work and to learn, so I agree with the idea of suspending these students to get them out of the classroom, but if their home life is the problem a suspension won’t help the student’s situation at all. While suspending a student effectively grabs parental attention, it doesn’t effectively help the parents deal with their child’s behavior. If parental counseling were available in conjunction with the option of in-school suspension, there might be hope for behavioral improvement. I think that school counselors or principals who are dealing with the situation should immediately remove these students from the classroom environment and arrange a meeting with parents where they can discuss what might help their child better. A zero-tolerance policy should not be black and white, but be tailored to a student’s needs and situation at home. Even though a student might have behavioral problems, they still have a right to an education. It is our job as educators to ensure we can provide that to all of our students.

Toppo, G. (2003, January 12). School violence hits lower grades. USA Today.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-01-12-school-violence-usat_x.htm