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april NEWS & VIEWS

[Items relating to the situation of contemporary young people]

WARNING OF LIVER-DAMAGE RISK FOR ATOMOXETINE (STRATTERA)
(February 2005) The FDA asked the drug manufacturer, Eli Lilly, to update labels for atomoxetine (Strattera), with a bolded warning on the risk of severe liver injury associated its use. Atomoxetine is an approved treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children. The FDA is advising health professionals to discontinue use of this drug in patients developing signs of jaundice. The warning follows two reports of severe liver injury in one teenager and one adult treated with atomoxetine for several months. www.fda.gov

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE
(February 2005) Michelle McKay, 916-340-0505, michelle@calyouth.org, announced The California Coalition for Youth and the Western States Youth Services Network presented a Taking Action conference on March 13-15, 2005 in Sacramento, CA. The focus was on Empowering You(th) to Be the Change, and providing tools for youth to make a positive impact on their communities. Contact Michelle for information on future conferences and workshops.

PROFESSOR ASSERTS TEACHERS UNIONS REPRESENT MEMBERS RATHER THAN STUDENTS
(February 19, 2005) The Union Leader, a New Hampshire publication, reported a commentary by Dr. Anthony Pastelis that asserts teachers unions speak for the narrow interests of union members, not students and parents. The teachers unions are the National Education Association (NEA), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) whose late President Albert Shanker was quoted in 1985 as saying "When school children start paying union dues, that's when I'll start representing the interests of school children." www.theunionleader.com/articles_showfast.html?article=50964

PARENTS LESS CONCERNED ABOUT DRUG EXPERIMENTATION
(February 22, 2005) MSNBC News reported a study of parental attitudes toward teen drug use, conducted by The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, found that barely half of the parents would be upset if their children experimented with marijuana. Researchers found that 11 percent of parents reported marijuana use in the last year. Only 18 percent of parents believe their children have smoked marijuana, but teen experimentation is 39 percent. Just 21 percent of parents believe friends of their teen are smoking marijuana, but 62 percent of teens report friends use. The survey found the number of parents who never spoke to their children about drugs is now 12 percent, double what it was just six years ago. www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7010947/

STUDY THAT BOYS AND GIRLS DOING EQUALLY WELL
(February 23, 2005) The Washington Post reported the most comprehensive examination of the overall well-being of male and female children found that the sexes are faring about equally. "If you're on one side or the other of the gender-wars debate, you could pick a specific indicator to buttress your case," said Kenneth C. Land, a professor of Demographic Studies and Sociology at Duke University, senior author of the study. "But if we take a step back and look at what the data says overall, we find the two genders track pretty closely." www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45259-2005Feb22.html?referrer=email

STUDY HINTS POSSIBLE RITALIN-CANCER ASSOCIATION
(February 24, 2005) The Houston Chronicle reported that in a small study local scientists have linked the most popular drug used to treat attention-deficit problems with increased risks of cancer. The study of 12 children on Ritalin found every one experienced a significant increase in their level of chromosome abnormalities occurrences associated with increased risks of cancer and other adverse health effects. "This study doesn't mean these kids will get cancer, but it does mean they're exposed to an additional risk factor," said Marvin Legator, a professor of Environmental Toxicology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and the study's principal investigator and senior author. www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3056557

AUTISM SOCIAL GAP GROWS WITH AGE
(February 26, 2005) A story in the New York Times reported intensive behavioral treatment can prepare autistic children to succeed academically in regular classes. Since social skills are more elusive for autistic children, without proper intervention the gap widens with each passing year. Without proper intervention, autistic children become conspicuous in the third grade and are bullied or ostracized by the time they reach middle school. Virtually nothing in the social arena comes naturally to autistic children and early intervention is very important." www.nytimes.com/2005/02/26/health/26autism.html

BOYS INTO MEN MENTORING SUCCESS
(February 26, 2005) The Goldsboro News, a North Carolina publication, reported the "Boys to Men Mentoring Program" at Brogden Middle School, indicates seventh-grade boys are succeeding. Several retired men have met weekly with the boys and encouraged positive changes using inspirational quotes and different exercises to evoke responses. The process has been gradual, the men say, but they have built a trust with the boys. www.newsargus.com/news/archives/2005/02/28/with_success_behind_them_retirees_reach_out_to_troubled_youth/index.shtml

GOVERNORS DECRY STATUS OF PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS
(February 27, 2005) The Associated Press reported the nation's governors in their annual gathering said only drastic change would keep millions of students from falling short in American high schools. Statistics show that too many students are coasting, dropping out or failing in college. According to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, of every 100 ninth-graders, only 68 graduate high school on time and only 18 make it through college on time. http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050227/ap/d88gh7do0.html

GATES SAYS PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS ARE 1.0 IN A 5.0 WORLD
(February 27, 2005) The Los Angeles Times reported that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, in a speech to the US Governors, critiqued US high schools, calling them obsolete, and officials should be ashamed of a system that leaves millions of students unprepared for college and technical jobs. Gates said, "Once we realize that we are keeping low-income and minority kids out of the rigorous courses, there can only be two arguments for keeping it that way: Either we think they can't learn, or we think they're not worth teaching." www.latimes.com/news/education/la-na-gates27feb27,1,5309674.story?coll=la-news-learning

40% OF NEVADA COLLEGE FRESHMEN NEED REMEDIAL CLASSES
(March 3, 2005) The Las Vegas Sun said that according to a recent system report, about 40 percent of Nevada high school graduates entering the University and Community College in Nevada needed remedial education. Universities hope that increases in high school standards will force more students to take core classes such as math, English and science their senior year, meaning they wouldn't be as likely to need remedial classes. www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-ed/2005/mar/03/518385760.html

ONE-FOuRTH OF BRITISH TEACHERS WOULD EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN PRIVATELY
(March 4, 2005) The Guardian, a publication in England, reported according to a poll of 700 teachers by TES magazine, a quarter of state schoolteachers, admit they would educate their own children privately if they could afford it. However, two-thirds oppose privately sponsored city academies, which Prime Minister Tony Blair insisted were at the heart of Labor's plans to reform secondary education. http://education.guardian.co.uk/publicschools/story/0,12505,1430311,00.html

DAILY CANNABIS USE LINKED TO PSYCHOSIS
(March 4, 2005) The New Zealand Herald reported an Otago University study that found an apparent link between people who use cannabis every day and those likely to suffer psychotic symptoms. The research, by Professor David Fergusson and colleagues at the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, is part of a longitudinal study that followed 1000 people for 25 years. Professor Fergusson said daily users clearly had more psychotic symptoms. They were between 1.6 and 1.8 times more likely to experience symptoms such as hearing voices others couldn't hear, to suffer paranoid thoughts and feel isolated from others. www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10113187

WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVES TO HELP AT-RISK YOUTH ANNOUNCED
(March 7, 2005) First Lady Laura Bush announced two steps geared toward helping youth at-risk. One is a planned conference on Helping America's Youth, promoting public awareness of problems facing at-risk youth. The other is the creation of the Community Guide to Helping America's Youth, an assessment tool to help communities identify the challenges they face. www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/03/20050307-3.html

FTNYS ANNOUNCES CONFERENCE DATES
(March 7, 2005) Brooke Schewe, Director of Outreach and Development, Families Together, NYS Inc., Albany, NY, 518-432-03333, info@ftnys.org, www.ftnys.org, announced its annual conference, entitled "Raising Our Voices For Children: Family Centered Best Practices and Approaches, is set for May 1-2, 2005 at the Desmond Americana in Albany.

SECURITY FIRMS BEING HIRED TO GUARD AGAINST HIGH-TECH CHEATING
(March 9, 2005) eSchool News online reported many states are hiring outside firms to guard against testing fraud in the administration of high-stakes exams in public schools. The threat of cheating has risen with the No Child Left Behind Act and new technology, such as cell phones and hand held devices. www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=5564&page=1

EXAMPLE OF SUCCESS IN REFORMING HIGH SCHOOLS
(March 9, 2005) Education Week, in Kansas, reported James P. Connell, a developmental psychologist from Philadelphia and creator of the Institute for Research and Reform in Education, a nonprofit school improvement organization, helped the Kansas City School District in Kansas restructure their schools with an improvement model called First Things First. The district's progress stood out when viewed against the disappointing results yielded by previous reform attempts of carving high schools into smaller units.
www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/03/09/26firstthings.h24.html?rale=l4RcsgF70mPtCaS2ek8aL%2FHim3s5xG%2FFC%2F0aoIW2aK%2F87HR2pVZ75%2B5NGJJCTq3D2wrif

ONE-THIRD OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS USE DISTANCE LEARNING
(March 9, 2005) Education Week reported the National Center for Education Statistics first survey of distance learning in K-12 schools found students in one-third of the nation's public school districts took distance education courses in the 2002-03 school year. The survey also found that nearly one of every 10 public schools in the country had students enrolled in courses that are conducted via the Internet or through video- or audio-conferencing, with the teacher and student in separate places. Susan Patrick, the director of the US Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology, said the survey points to a "huge growth" in the availability of online learning. www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/03/09/26distance.h24.html

SCOTTISH EDUCATOR: REFORMERS GOT IT ALL WRONG!
(March 9, 2005) The Scotsman, a Scottish publication, reported an article by George K McMillan, a Former Assistant Rector of Perth Academy, who sites indiscipline, bullying, vandalism, falling standards, breakdowns in examination correction and assessment procedures, staff shortages and teachers taking early retirement as just some of the reasons why Scotland's school system is failing. He asserts that reforms to solve the growing problems has led us down a path that has gone from bad to worse. McMillan states that without some sort of a radical step, there is no hope for us or our young people.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/education.cfm?id=256472005

UTAH VOUCHERS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS PASSED
(March 9, 2005) Education week reported the Utah House of Representatives passed the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship legislation bill by a vote of 58-17. The scholarships will provide $1.4 million in voucher money to help parents of students with disabilities to attend private schools, both secular and religious, that place particular emphasis on helping such students. www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/03/09/26vouch.h24.html

ATTORNEY DISCUSSES WHY SPECIAL ED STUDENTS FALL FURTHER BEHIND
(March 9, 2005) An Education Week commentary reported that the longer special needs students receive special instruction, the steeper their academic decline. It concludes frustration and stigma have led to emotional and behavioral problems that further impede learning. www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/03/09/26hettleman.h24.html?rale=l4RcsgF70mPtCaS2ek8aL%2FHim3s5xG%2FFDyifDItLr2IB2AHsPmsaoO5NGJJCTq3D2wriffb6uWgO%

BETHEL BOYS ACADEMY CHANGES NAME TO IMPROVE IMAGE
(March 9, 2005) A story in the Clarion Ledger reported that Bethel Boys Academy, Lucedale, MS, is attempting to improve its image and has now changed its name to Eagle Point Christian Academy. John Fountain, director of the program, is trying to overcome the negative publicity from allegations of torture and abuse. Fountain says he has worked to reform the school, parting with the ways of his father. Fountain has "a zero tolerance of abuse now," said Bill East, the school's court-appointed monitor. www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050308/NEWS01/503080377/1002

GOLF USED FOR CHARACTER EDUCATION FOR KIDS
(March 11, 2005) The Enquirer, an Ohio publication, reported that Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester, announced the formation of the first Southwest Ohio Chapter of The First Tee, an international program developed by the World Golf Foundation in 1997 to teach kids of all backgrounds character education through golf. This summer the program will host 120 to 150 children ages 9-17 at the Forest Hills Country Club for free weekly golf sessions focusing on nine core values.
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050311/NEWS01/503110384/1056/news01

INCREASE IN DIGITAL MULTITASKING KIDS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES/DANGERS?
(March 11, 2005) eSchool News reported a survey by The Kaiser Family Foundation, found that 700 kids from grades third through twelfth, showed 26 percent "multitasked" when using any form of media, compared with 16 percent five years earlier. That could mean a child is downloading music over the internet while playing video games, or chatting online while watching TV. "The parental fear is that this can't be good by splitting kids' attention into so many segments," said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project. "Yet the argument in favor of it is, you are more efficient, you can do things on the fly that you couldn't do before."
www.eschoolnews.com/news/showStoryts.cfm?ArticleID=5566&page=1

DOCTORAL CANDIDATE CALLS FOR PARENTS WITH ADHD CHILDREN
(March 14, 2005) The Washington Post reported Esta Rapoport, a doctoral student in Special Education at Boston University, is looking for families to research on the impact of home-schooling children with two types of Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder: inattentive type and hyperactive type. Learning disorders are one of the main reasons families decide to home school, because of the frustration with traditional schooling. If home schooled ADHD children have a different set of outcomes than those traditionally educated, it is important for parents to know that regarding education choices. Interested candidates are encouraged to e-mail ERapoport1@aol.com.
http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20050313-091432-8836r.htm

SCOTTISH TEACHERS USE WEB TO DISCUSS VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM BY STUDENTS
(March 14, 2005) The Scotsman, a Scotland publication, reported that teachers are using an Internet chat room to highlight the violence and abuse they experience on a daily basis in the classroom. The revelations, posted through the Times Education Scotland website, have led to calls for teachers to be given more powers to act against troublemakers. Pat O'Donnell, of the teaching union NASUWT, said, "Some head teachers are not keen for violent-incident forms to be filled in, but senior management teams can only do what they're allowed to do by the local authority. What is needed is a national approach. http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/education.cfm?id=275702005

BETHEL GIRLS ACADEMY IS UP FOR SALE
(March 16, 2005) News 7 in Hattisburg, MS, reported that Herman Fountain Jr. is placing the controversial Bethel Girls Academy up for sale because the school no longer has any residents and it can't afford to stay open. www.wdam.com/Global/story.asp?S=3087001&nav=1Pw1XZhy

MULTIMEDIA LIBRARY SERVICE FOR HOMESCHOOLERS
(March 17, 2005) A media release from ACT, Inc., an independent non-profit organization, reported parents can rent educational videos, DVD's and CD-ROMs through ACT Advantage, an online Library. According to the National Home Education Research Institute, the number of home schooled children has more than doubled in the last four years and the need for resources is growing. Annual membership for ACT Advantage is $25 and programs rent for an average of $5 each that includes free shipping. For more information visit www.actadvantage.org.

EXPANDED RECALL OF METHYLIN CT
(March 17, 2005) The Manissess Communication Group reported that the FDA and Alliant Pharmaceuticals have issued a nationwide voluntary recall of a drug used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Alliant originally recalled one lot of Methylin (methylphenidate HCI) Chewable Tablets (#AMT50402A) after testing indicated that the 5 mg strength found it may contain up to three times the active ingredient. Now all lots are being recalled including all 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg dosages, as some tablets may contain too much or too little of the active ingredient potentially causing serious health risks. www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or www.manisses.com/2online/PUAlert/PA.html

MITCHELL COLLEGE SPRING OPEN HOUSE
(March 21, 2005) Mitchell College, New London, CT, 800-443-2811, admissions@mitchell.edu, www.mitchell.edu, announced its spring open house is set for April 14, 2005. Students will provide guided tour as well as parent and student panels to share insights into Mitchell College. There are also one-on-one information seminars on financial aid, campus life, admissions and academic support program planned.

10 DIE IN DEADLIEST SCHOOL SHOOTING SINCE COLUMBINE
(March 22, 2005) KeystoSaferSchools.com reported in Redby, MN, the worst US school shooting since Columbine, erupted at Red Lake High School. The gunman shot and killed his grandfather, his grandfather's wife, a school security guard, a teacher and five other students before killing himself. Two students are currently in critical condition in Fargo, ND. An eye witness said he heard the gunman say something to another student in a class across the hall. "He asked the student if he believed in God. And then he shot him." Other witnesses reported that he smiled and waved as he gunned down various people. www.keystosaferschools.com/red_lake_school_shooting.htm

Copyright © 2005, Woodbury Reports, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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