|
February
NEWS & VIEWS
[Items relating
to the situation of contemporary young people]
LEST
WE FORGET
(1989) A statement by President George H. W. Bush regarding
the federal government's goals for education: "By the
year 2000, American students will leave grades 4, 8, and 12
having demonstrated competency in challenging subject matter
including English, mathematics, science, history, and geography."
DEPRESSION INCREASING
AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS
(November 30, 2004) The Chronicle of Higher Education reported
that in a survey of 74 colleges, 14.9 percent of the students
had a diagnosis of depression in the spring of 2004, compared
to 10.3 percent in the spring of 2000. Also, 10 percent of
the students surveyed said they had seriously considered suicide
during 2004.
REDUCED CLASS SIZE
DOES NOT DETERMINE LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT
(December 2004) A Univ. of London study indicates that reduced
class size for young students seemed to have no impact on
student achievement. www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RBX13-04.pdf
BROOKS TO KEYNOTE
AT FOUNDATIONS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
(December 17, 2004) Beth Brody, 609-397-3737, bebrody@aol.com,
with Foundations Behavioral Health, Doylestown, PA, 215-345-0444,
www.fbh.com,
announced Robert Brooks, Ph.D., author of “The Self Esteem
Teacher” will be the keynote speaker at their annual seminar
Friday, May 13, 2005 at Trevose, PA. His talk is entitled,
“Working With Angry, Resistant Youth: Strategies to Foster
Motivation, Self-Discipline, and Resilience.” For information
on attending the seminar, contact Brody.
FACING AUTISM IN YOUR
CHILD
(December 29, 2004) The New York Times presented a feature
story about autism, emphasizing one family's story in coming
to grips with the disorder, and institutions that they called
on for help. The story pointed out that scientists know little
about autism, except that it starts developing shortly after
conception. Literature on autism emphasizes the importance
of early detection, since early treatment can increase the
chances of success.
www.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/education/29autism.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=4adbe3792550d767&ex=1105592400&oref
(Free registration required)
OBESITY RISING AMONG PRESCHOOLERS
(December 30, 2004) An article by the Associated Press, posted
on the Austin American Statesman, reported more than 10 percent
of US children, ages two to five, are overweight, according
to the American Heart Association's annual statistical report
on heart disease and stroke. This percentage is up from seven
percent in 1994. New statistics show that nearly four million
children, ages six to 11, and 5.3 million young people, ages
12 to 19, were overweight or obese in 2002. Experts blame
the prevalence of junk food marketed to children, too much
TV and the decline in the number of families who sit down
together to eat.
DC AREA PARENTS TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE
TEEN DEATHS
(December 31, 2004) The Washington Post reported car crashes
killed 18 teenagers in the Washington region in the past 12
weeks. Parents say they have never felt more anxious about
where their children will be at midnight of the New Year,
what they will be drinking and how they plan to get home.
Many parents feel torn between an urge to lock their teenagers
in the house and showing that they trust their children's
judgment. Some parents are keeping their teenagers home, while
others are providing alcohol free functions or attending neighborhood
parties with their teens.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37593-2004Dec30.html
CHEATING INVESTIGATIONS
AT HOUSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
(December 31, 2004) DallasNews.com reported that a Dallas
Morning News investigation found strong evidence that at least
some of the success at Wesley and two affiliated schools comes
from cheating. After the Dallas Morning News shared its findings
with Houston officials, Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra issued
a written statement. "We have reviewed the anomalies
in the test scores of the Acres Home schools as pointed out
by The Dallas Morning News, and we agree that these anomalies
identify performance that is highly questionable." Based
on the analysis, cheating investigations began in the Dallas,
Houston, El Paso, Amarillo and Wilmer-Hutchins school districts,
and a criminal inquiry is on-going in Wilmer-Hutchins. www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/123104dnmetcheating.add1e.html
(Free registration required) On January 12, 2005, eSchool
News online reported the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is launching
an effort to catch cheating on standardized tests. Officials
will hire an outside expert to review security measures and
build a tracking system to monitor test-score irregularities
that could signal cheating. www.eschoolnews.com/news/showstoryts.cfm?Articleid=5458
(Free registration required)
ARE SOME TEACHERS
BECOMING CHEATING ROLE MODELS?
(January 2, 2005) The Indianapolis Star reported that today's
top cheaters include teachers who lead entire classes into
dishonesty, by attempting to “prop up” test scores. The pressure
nationwide is causing a growing number of teachers and administrators
to try inflating standardized test scores. A group of former
testing experts turned evidence of cheating nationwide into
a business opportunity. Caveon, a new Utah consulting firm,
operates as testing detectives for hire by schools and health
care and other industries. The group reviews testing policies,
analyzes student answer sheets for patterns of cheating and
looks for test questions leaked in advance.
TEACHER COMMENTS FROM
EIA
(January 3, 2005) The Education Intelligence Agency, EducationIntel@aol.com
, www.eiaonline.com,
included these two quotes, among others, from public school
teachers as among the most enlightening examples in 2004 as
to the cause of some of the problems in the US education establishment.
"Content sometimes is really overrated. A teacher is
like an artist, a coach. He has to be able to inspire children."
- Philadelphia middle school teacher Nick Perry, commenting
on the news that more than half of the city's middle school
teachers failed their content exams for certification as "highly
qualified" teachers." If it were up to me, I wouldn't
teach long division until high school." - Robert Hetzel,
eighth-grade math teacher at O'Keefe Middle School in Madison,
WI.
TEENS DRIVING UNDER
THE INFLUENCE
(January 3, 2005) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), Office of Applied Studies (OAS) reported
that in 2002 and 2003, 21 percent of persons aged 16 to 20
reported they had driven under the influence of alcohol or
illicit drugs in the past year. www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k4/youthDUI/youthDUI.htm
BOOT CAMP HEAD CONVICTED
OF MANSLAUGHTER
(January 4, 2005) The New York Times reported that Charles
Long, Director of juvenile boot camp, America's Buffalo Soldiers
Re-enactors Association, Phoenix, AZ, was convicted of reckless
manslaughter in the death of a 14-year-old boy who died of
complications of dehydration and near drowning after training
exercises. Long was also convicted of aggravated assault not
related to the death of the boy.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E5DF1339F937A35752C0A9639C8B63
GROWING GENDER GAP:
GIRLS RULE
(January 4, 2005) The Indianapolis Star reported girls have
eclipsed boys on state and national tests. They are more likely
to stay in school and graduate, and the data shows they demand
less special attention than boys do. The effort to pull girls
up to an equal footing resulted in an unintended consequence.
A US Department of Education study noted the academic edge
that boys once held has vanished, and "the issue now
is that boys seem to be falling behind," said Education
Secretary Rod Paige.
CHANGES PLANNED IN
JUVENILE JUSTICE FOR GIRLS
(January 4, 2005) The Arizona Republic reported Marie Dils,
policy manager for the Arizona Office of Policy, Strategic
Diversity and Equity, and other Arizona child advocates are
leading a national effort to restructure juvenile-justice
programs for girls. More than 400 counselors, youth advocates,
probation officers and group-home operators from across the
country will kick off the National Girls Initiative, a conference
that aims to shape programs and policies that affect services
for girls. The Girls Initiative is calling for gender-specific
programs for girls in the areas of sex education and sexuality,
vocational training, education and mental-health services.
www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/0104azgirls04.html
MOTHER JAILED FOR
SON'S GUN THREAT AT SCHOOL
(January 7, 2005) The Washington Post reported Naomi Lewis,
39, began serving a three-month sentence in jail on January
6, in Prince William County, VA, because her 12-year-old son
ambushed his middle school with a loaded gun in June. Lewis
pled guilty to weapons possession on school property acknowledging
that she did not take reasonable steps to remove the weapons
locked in her van. The judge concluded this was clearly a
criminal conduct case. Her son, now 13, pled guilty in August
to three felony weapons and abduction charges. He was committed
late last year to a state juvenile facility to spend an indefinite
amount of time, possibly until he is 21.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53324-2005Jan6.html?referrer
SCHOOL FAILURE FROM
TOO MUCH VIDEO
(January 8, 2005) Daily Mail, a London publication, reported
that children who spend hours playing computer games and watching
television are failing to develop the skills to succeed in
school. Professor Robert Winston, a leading British scientist
and fertility doctor, warns that youngsters are not acquiring
the long-term powers of study and application they need in
class, because the games and programs only require short-term
bursts of concentration. Children who have computers and TVs
in their bedrooms often do not get enough sleep. Studies show
a lack of sleep can lead to increased irritability and emotional
or behavioral problems, including lack of concentration.
www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=333352&in_page_id=1770
SOME TIPS ON DECODING
EDUCATION JARGON
(January 9, 2005) The Boston Globe reported education is laden
with jargon. Here are some common words and phrases and definitions
you might hear on a school tour. Looping: A class of students,
usually in elementary school, stays with the same teacher
for at least two grade levels. Hands-on learning: Projects
that require some physical activity to help explain an abstract
concept. Cooperative learning: Students working in small groups
on an assignment. Inclusion: The philosophy that all students,
regardless of the severity of their learning or physical disabilities,
can learn in a traditional classroom. www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2005/01/09/decoding_the_jargon/
ANGRY RESIDENTS OPPOSE
STATE TEEN CENTER
(January 11, 2005) CBS 3 KY-TV in Philadelphia reported hundreds
of residents, in Burlington County, NJ, voiced their concerns
regarding plans to put a center for troubled teens in their
neighborhood. The proposed location by the Capital Academy
overlooks the Delaware River in addition to a park where children
play, thus making security, or the lack thereof, a big issue
for the buildings neighbors. “Children who have had deviant
sexual issues, behavior issues, fire setting issues, I don't
think those are the kind of kids to come into this community,”
said New Jersey Republican State Senator Diane Allen.
http://kyw.com/Local%20News/local_story_011235316.html
PRESIDENT BUSH PROPOSES
EXPANDING TESTING TO HIGH SCHOOLS
(January 13, 2005) The New York Times reported that President
Bush called for a rigorous high school testing program in
math and reading. The effort would expand the No Child Left
Behind Act by $1.5 billion as it tries to rescue lagging students
in the upper grades. He described poor performance among high
school students as a "warning and a call to action,"
and prescribed testing for freshmen, sophomores and juniors
as a solution. The proposal would allocate $1.2 billion for
"high school intervention" to help students who
are falling behind and an additional $250 million for testing.
www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/education/13bush.html?oref=login&oref=login
(Free registration required)
STUDY FINDS NON-MEDICAL USE OF RITALIN
IN COLLEGE INCREASING
(January 13, 2005) Inside Higher Ed, a DC publication, reported
a new study in the journal Addiction, indicates that campus
health officials believe college students are using prescription
drugs designed to treat attention disorders as non-medical
stimulants. The study found seven percent of college students
used the drugs in that way, while four percent used them that
way in the last year. A summary of the findings released by
the University of Michigan stressed researchers were not suggesting
the use of prescription stimulants, such as Ritalin, Dexedrine
and Adderall, was a bad thing if used under medical guidelines.
The problem is with students using the drugs for non-medical
reasons.
www.insidehighered.com/insider/partying_with_ritalin
Copyright © 2005,
Woodbury Reports, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
(This article may not be reproduced without written approval
of the publisher.)
Return to Strugglingteens.com
Home
|
