The Legacy Factor

In the Boston metropolitan area, there are a number of first-rate public schools where families compete to enroll their children. There is just one problem. The competition is fixed in favor of those who have already won the game:

Coveted seats in the city's most popular schools are overwhelmingly filled by siblings of students already in the building, a new school report shows.

At the popular O'Hearn Elementary School in Dorchester, nine out of 10 available preschool seats are filled by siblings of current students. At the sought-after Lyndon K-8 in West Roxbury, 37 out of 45 kindergarten seats are taken by siblings, the report shows.

With so many siblings taking choice seats, parents find it almost impossible to break into a choice school, said Christopher Horan, chief of staff to Superintendent Thomas Payzant.

Siblings take so many popular seats because, under Boston's complex student assignment plan, brothers and sisters of current students get first crack at schools.

The district isn't likely to tamper with sibling preference anytime soon. It's popular in all sectors of the city, said School Committee member Helen Dajer, who served on the panel that studied the assignment process.

We just bet that this system isn't too popular with the parents of students that can't get their children enrolled and have to stand by and watch as folks that already have one child in the school are able to enroll their additional offspring by using a system that is not based upon academic merit, but upon birth.

But what are the alternatives?

Update: Commenter Jane correctly points out that it would be highly problematic to design and implement an academically-based merit system for the entry of 5-year-olds. She proposes a lottery system. We are supportive of this idea, in that a lottery could be fairly and openly administered. ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, please click here.

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And Now For Something Completely Different

How does an enterprising (but cash-strapped) young lady named Melissa Saunders get a copy (enlarge here) of the gown that she saw Eva Longoria (pic here) wearing on Desperate Housewives? She writes to the show's producers who then lent her the original for the senior prom:

The St. Hubert Catholic High School senior wrote to producers of the ABC series Desperate Housewives last fall, shortly after she saw actress Eva Longoria mowing a lawn in a stunning, lacy, rose gown.

"I asked for a few photos, so I could find something like that for my prom dress," Saunders, 17, said yesterday between classes at the all-girls school in Northeast Philadelphia. She wanted to shop early because money is tight, she told them. She is saving for college and faces medical bills.

The show's costumers went a few steps better than photos. They lent her the actual dress to wear at tonight's prom - and even had it altered. (Saunders said she is a size 1 or 0, perhaps even a touch smaller than the tiny Longoria.) The seamstress, she said, added material to the lining for modesty, to conform to prom specifications.

For Melissa, a great story to tell her future grandchildren.

For the show's producers, this sort of publicity is simply priceless. ---------------------------To view the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, please click here.

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CTA President Barbara Kerr Vs. Blogger Polski3

Blogger Polski3, who writes over at Polski3's View From Here, went to a little party last Wednesday evening where he came face-to-face with unelected Autocrat "President" Barbara Kerr of the California Teacher's Association:

Last night at our local Uniserv WHO Awards, Recognize building reps and negotiators dinner at the local country club, I had the opportunity to meet CTA President Barbara Kerr. She looks just like her picture that is published in CALIFORNIA EDUCATOR. She was seated at a special table reserved for special guests, all of whom had to eat facing the crowd. Anyhow, I had my letter and several copies of blog postings from other California teachers that were 'upset' in some manner over her/CTA's proposed $180 dues increase or their lack of democracy. (UkiahcoachBrown, RightontheleftCoast, EdWonk and myself, Polski3).

I ambled over to her table and introduced myself as a long-time teacher, and stated that I had a letter containing several grievances against CTA and its employees. She was polite and indicated that she would verbally like to hear some of my concerns. I began with my concern about CTA dictating to its locals what could and could not be in their local bylaws.....

Polski went on to detail the sordid goings-ons of his local full-time, highly paid, (and appointed by CTA/NEA) union operative. Then Polski had this to say regarding the need for democracy within the teachers unions:

I also mentioned, both verbally and in my letter, that I wished CTA and NEA were truly democratic organizations who allowed their members to actually be able to cast a vote for their state and national officers.

The entire post (which includes Polski's letter to Ms. Kerr) makes for an interesting read. Learn more about the dues increase that Polski refers to in our post here. ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, please click here.

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The Anti-Bullying Policy In Carlsbad, California: Too Little, Too Late

John Roach, Superintendent of the Carlsbad (California) Unified School District, has recommended that the governing board finally approve a policy designed to halt schoolyard bullying:

Carlsbad's proposed two-page anti-bullying policy prohibits bullying in many forms: shoving, hitting, teasing, name calling, social isolation or manipulation. Students are expected to report bullying immediately. And school employees are expected to conduct a prompt, thorough, confidential investigation of any bullying they learn of and to intervene when they witness harassment.

The proposed policy states that retaliation against anyone complaining will not be tolerated; penalties for bullying range from a "verbal warning" to expulsion.

Tragically, it took the suicide of a 12-year-old student that had been "picked-on" by several bullies before the anything was done.

As is common with many other noble-minded board policies, the anti-bullying rule sounds good on paper, but the reality will likely be very different.

In my years of service as a classroom teacher in California, it has been my experience that most instances of bullying that are reported will result in nothing more than a verbal warning being given to the bully. Oftentimes, the same bully is repeatedly given, "another chance."

In order for a bully to actually be suspended or expelled, the victim will probably have to sustain a concussion or other major bodily injury. In those cases, the damage to the victim will have already been done. ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, please click here.

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The Future Of Bilingual Education In California?

It looks as though (click on image to enlarge) there might be a long-term need for Bilingual Education in California after all. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't happy about the transfer of territory. ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, please click here.

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The Spellings Report: They're Looking For A Few Great Teachers

At times, we disagree with some of the priorities of the Department of Education. However, we were pleased when we read this recent announcement by Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings:

The U.S. Department of Education is seeking nominations for its second annual American Stars of Teaching project, which recognizes outstanding teachers who are using innovative strategies to raise student achievement, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced today.

"American Star teachers represent our nation's many fine educators who use innovative strategies to close the education gap and change the course of their students' lives," Spellings said.

Teachers across all grade levels and disciplines will be honored this fall as 2005 American Stars in Teaching. One teacher, or team of teachers from a school, will be recognized in every state and the District of Columbia. Parents, students, colleagues, school administrators or others can nominate a teacher who they believe has the qualities to be an American Star of Teaching.

U.S. Department of Education officials will again visit the schools of American Star teachers to congratulate them on their success. The American Stars of Teaching project is part of the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, which offers teacher and principal roundtables, teacher workshops and conferences, regular e-mail updates, and a free online professional development tool. Nomination forms for American Stars of Teaching and information on the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative are available at http://www.ed.gov/teacherinitiative/.

"Every day in thousands of classrooms, teachers work tirelessly to help build a better future for their students. And they succeed because they believe—as do I and does President Bush—that every child, regardless of circumstances, deserves the opportunity to learn," Spellings said.

Would a Star Teacher be one of those "Thousand Points Of Lights" that the first President Bush used to talk about?

Consider nominating the Outstanding Teacher in your life today.---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, along with entry instructions for next week's Carnival, (which will be held at Jenny D's place) please click here.

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Who Says That You Can't Get Rich In Public Education?

The brand-new school superintendent of Dallas, Texas, Michael Hinojosa, proves that one can indeed get rich in public education:

The contract terms, approved unanimously by trustees Tuesday, include an annual base salary of $300,000 and up to about $40,000 a year in incentives to increase student performance.

"I'm extremely excited that this is coming to fruition," said Dr. Hinojosa, [who is currently] superintendent of the Spring school district, near Houston. "I can't wait to get there."

The article says (as can be verified by the above quote) that Hinojosa is eager to accept the job.

We just bet he is.

I wish that I had a nickel for every time our district's superintendent, Dr. Evil, taunted us teachers with that tired old saw: "You don't go into education to get rich."

I couldn't retire, but I could certainly go on a weekend trip to Las Vegas with all those nickels.

It was not disclosed if Hinojosa would be getting a taxpayer-furnished automobile as is the case with Dr. Evil and many, but not all, superintendents of middle-to-large school districts. ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, along with entry instructions for next week's Carnival, (which will be held at Jenny D's place) please click here.

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Information, Please

I've heard of this bunch before, but I had never actually went to their site. I now regret that unfortunate circumstance. SchoolMatters.com (which is brought to you by Standard & Poors) has a wealth of information about schools at the national, state, and local level.

I found that School Matters had this to say about my home state of California.

They then had this overview about a local school district.

And this about one of the district's schools.

The website is safe, fun, and easy to use. Information about your local schools is only a few clicks away. ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, along with entry instructions for next week's Carnival, (which will be held at Jenny D's place) please click here.

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The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest to see what are the most link-worthy posts from the conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."

The Council has met and voted on this week's submitted posts. As a proud member of The Watcher's Council, we here at The Education Wonks salute all the nominees that received votes this week!

Council Entries: The top vote getter this week was Right Wing Nut House with their fine entry about the life and times of Paul Revere called "Founding Brother."

Non-Council Entries: First honors were won by Terrorism Unveiled with their post entitled: "A Change In Tactics." ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, along with entry instructions for next week's Carnival, (which will be held at Jenny D's place) please click here.

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The Carnival Of Education: Week 12

Welcome to the twelfth edition of The Carnival Of Education. Here we have assembled a variety of interesting and informative posts from around the 'Sphere that have been submitted by various authors and readers. Those entries that were selected by us appear at the bottom of the page.

We believe that this collection represents a wide spectrum of topics, political/educational viewpoints, and writing styles.

As always, the secret for having a well-attended Carnival is publicity. Please consider helping to spread the word. The more folks who know about this collection of exhibits, the more that will "drop-in" and visit the midway. Trackbacks, links, and general advertising are all appreciated by the editors as well as the participants.

Jenny D. will be guest hosting the Carnival next week. Submissions for The Carnival should be sent to: jdemonte [at] comcast [dot] net and should be received no later then 10:00 PM (Eastern) 7:00 PM (Pacific) next Tuesday, May 3, 2005. The Carnival will open over at Jenny's place Wednesday morning.

The Carnival comes home to the Education Wonks May 11th.

And now...let's take a stroll down the carnival midway...

Is the handcuffing of an out of control 5-year-old student ever appropriate? Several jurisdictions currently use corporal punishment as a part of their disciplinary procedures. Going to the Mat asserts that there are times when both are justified.

As an occupation, public school teaching has a very high rate of turnover due to the large number of young teachers that leave the field each year. Many of those that choose to leave do so out of a sense of frustration. Over at Multiple Mentalities, a teacher with five years of classroom service gives us his reasons why he may be switching careers soon.

The DC Education Blog shows us what a couple of education bloggers saw when they visited William E. Doar, Jr. Public Charter School for the Performing Arts. (We certainly were impressed when we saw the photos.)

Joanne Jacobs has an informative post that features three controversial stories: A play about intolerance that isn't being tolerated, a school t-shirt that the school doesn't like but is now tolerating, and a couple of female high school students that insist that others tolerate the wearing of buttons to school that proclaim the girls' affection for a Certain Body Part.

The end of a semester of teaching is often a time for reflection. Jenny D is letting us know about a study that indicates that there may be some discrepancies between the scores that students earn on the Graduate Record Examination (G.R.E.) and the grades that graduate students are given at the end of the semester. (Inflation -- it isn't just for prices any more.)

In this era of increased accountability, educators and parents expect that when elementary and high school students take standardized tests, the questions on the exams will have been fully reviewed for accuracy and field-tested for validity. Number 2 Pencil is reporting the disturbing news that this is not always the case.

In Sterling Heights, Michigan, teachers are required to give tests each semester on which 75% of the questions must be the same district-wide. The teacher has discretion over 25% of the questions. Interested Participant is telling us that the teacher's union is protesting the whole procedure based on this notion:"Uniform tests do not take students with special learning styles or other individual needs into consideration."

It has been said that life consists of a series of lists. Over at This Week in Education, Alexander Russo is compiling one that will be of definite interest to those that write education-related blogs. In a bonus post, there is a roundup of articles about the latest dust-up involving the National Education Association's lawsuit against the Administration over funding NCLB.

What happens when a couple of girls insist on wearing a button to school that proclaims their affection for a Certain Female Body Part? Darren, over at Right on the Left Coast, gives us the perspective of a classroom teacher that would have to deal the classroom disruptions that the would result from these buttons being worn.

A charter school where the focus is on individual responsibility is the subject of a post at News, The Universe, and Everything. At Amistad Academy in New Haven, Connecticut, good behavior is recognized, while students who engage in undesirable behaviors must engage in self-criticism in the presence of their classmates.

In this week's entry, The Super's Blog has linked to a 30 second video clip you can download. In the video, Indiana's governor is explaining what he REALLY thinks about Indiana schools. The Super also has some fun with the governor's recent newspaper quotes in which he is actually quoted as saying, "the best business textbook I ever read was The Godfather." No kidding.

Over at Tall, Dark, & Mysterious, Moebious Stripper is wrapping up a semester of teaching college math. In her always-engaging style, Moebious has some thoughts about some-less-than-stellar test scores earned by students that may not know how to study but have a thorough grasp of the Art of Making A Play for Sympathy. And then there is the ethical dilemma of gambling with students... who have refused to study the basics of probability. Don't miss the lively discussion that has been going on in the commenting thread!

Have you ever had a kid try to wheedle you into allowing him or her into watching an inappropriate television program? The kid may say, "Yes I know its got some bad parts, but it has so many more good ones...." Spunkyhomeschool gives parents some hilarious (but powerful) ammunition for dealing with that line of reasoning. Also, don't miss the first Online Homeschool Convention that was just hosted over at Spunky's place.

At Se Hace Camino Al Andar, Girlontheescape has figured out a way to productively use cooperative learning in the teaching of poetry. (We enjoyed the pics of the posters-- the magic of flicr.)

Janet, who teaches first graders in New Jersey, writes over at The Art of Getting By. She finds that she has been tasked by her principal with teaching her students all about cursive writing. What is a teacher to do when his or her own cursive writing isn't that neat?

A clash of personalities often results in unintended consequences. When the conflict is between a college professor and a student, the friction often overheats to the point of meltdown. Rhymes With Right is telling us what happened when a student wrote a poem that the professor perceived as a threat and was banned from attending the class.

At Mentor Matters, Mrs. Ris implemented a form of student self-assessment that showed positive results for her severely emotionally-disturbed students.

What do the authors of a popular high school physics textbooks really think of the students who are destined use the text? Joe, At No Left Turns, links to an article that explores the possibility that the text's authors believe that the book's intended users (high school students) are incapable of being educated in physics.

Who says that all teachers tow the N.E.A.'s Party Line? Written by a high school math teacher, Bored of Education takes a look at the hot-topic of school choice and diversity.

In a trip back to the future, (or a blast from the past) John R., over at EdWatch has a surprising bit of news for many New Generation Educators. He is telling us of a classroom study that shows that students who sit in rows do better than those seated in groups.

Phil Shapiro, a resident of Washington, D.C., is reporting that the nearby Fairfax County, Virginia, library system is using taxpayer dollars to buy audio books. That's good. The bad part is that the books won't work on any Macintosh, iPods, or Linux systems. Guess what type of operating system is used by most computer labs that are accessible to many working-class families who live in public-housing projects?

Polski3 is a junior high school history teacher. He writes over at a site called Polski3's View From Here. In this week's Carnival entry, Polski shares with us some of his tips for classroom teachers. See part I here, and part II over there. (Now why didn't I think of calling a post Teacher 2 Teacher?)

Could you imagine what it's like to be lost (and alone) in Paris, France? And what would make it worse, intolerably worse, is being lost and not knowing any French. A California teacher named "M" was the victim of just such a circumstance, and her post at Open up my head and see what's on my mind will take you along for the ride.

Many folks think that homeschooling is principally done by moms. Over at Guiltfree Homeschooling, they are telling us that fathers also should be involved in the homeschooling of their offspring. (We are especially fond of Guiltfree's thoughts about rough-housing. We did plenty of rough-housing with our daughter [who is now the 13-year-old TeenWonk] who is now growing taller with each passing day.)

And now, here are some entries that were selected by the Editors:

Nowadays, children from privileged backgrounds openly recoil at the thought of having to share anything when they go away to college. After all, they expect a certain standard of living. Think about heading over to Number 2 Pencil and taking a look at the post entitled "Coddling the Millennials." Next thing we know, there will be a maid service just for those fortunate sons and daughters. (Oops... someone's already thought of that.)

Dave Shearon has a tasty article that's all about how some high school students are now using summer vacation as a time to perform activities designed to increase their chances of being accepted at first tier colleges and universities. (We've always liked that quote by Mark Twain in Dave's banner. We are tempted to use it ourselves.)

If you could wave a magic wand and fix one of our country's societal ills, which one would you choose? Katie, who writes A Constrained Vision, has a well-constructed post that merits consideration.

At Pratie Place, Melinama has written a fascinating post about the last dancer from The Ziegfeld Follies. Incredibly, 101-year-old Doris Eaton Travis is still performing. (The pictures are simply amazing.

Finally, here at The Education Wonks, we offer our own take on the lawsuit that the National Education Association has initiated against the United States Government.

-------------------------Carnival Archives
The first edition can be seen here, the second here, the third, here, the fourth, here, and the fifth, here, the sixth, here, and the seventh, here and the eighth, here the ninth, here the tenth, here and the eleventh, over there. To get to EdWonk's main page, (with a variety of education-related posts) please click here.

Standardized Testing: Word Problems?

For the next two weeks, we will be spending nearly two hours of each day giving our junior high school students their annual standardized tests. Actually, we will begin today, as the school doesn't do any testing on Mondays or Fridays. This is due to our relatively high rate of student absenteeism on those two days.

Here in California, the tests are collectively known as the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) assessment protocols.

I was reading in The New York Times that there have been some concerns expressed about the wording on the standardized tests (known as TAKS) that are given in Texas:

Two years ago, fifth graders taking Texas's annual standardized science test faced this multiple-choice question: "Which two planets are closest to Earth?" The four choices were "Mercury and Saturn," "Mars and Jupiter," "Mercury and Venus" and "Venus and Mars."

But wait, said Mark Loewe, a Dallas physicist who was curious about what students are expected to know and so took the test. The question asked which planets - not which planets' orbits - were closest to Earth. So the correct answer depends on when the question is asked.

"Mercury, which orbits closest to the Sun, is closest to Earth most often," Dr. Loewe said, and sure enough, during that test week in spring 2003, Mercury and Mars were the planets closest to Earth, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Web site. That pair was not among the possible answers.

So is the question valid? Perhaps, since the problem was written for a typical 10-year-old, not someone with Dr. Loewe's understanding of science. On the other hand, the problem ignores the physical world woven into the question, and that might trip up brighter fifth graders.

Part of the challenge is writing appropriate questions for a particular grade level while not misleading a student who happens to know more. A 10th grader with a sibling in 12th grade may know some higher-level math; a 12th grader taking a physics course at a local college or online may look at a question differently than another student in the same grade.

In most cases, the people who write the questions are or have been teachers. Often, they are paid to attend summer workshops led by companies that have contracted with the states to develop the tests.

There is much more to this article, and it can be read here.

I've been teaching for more years than I care to name here, and in that time, I've seen a number of test questions that were not only misleading, but the choices given for the students to select from were all wrong. (And yes, I did report the errors.) --------------------------An Invitation: All writers and readers of education-related posts are invited to contribute to the eleventh edition of The Carnival of Education. Please send your submissions to: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net. We should receive your contributions no later than 10:00 PM (Pacific) tonight. The Carnival midway will open here at the 'Wonks Wednesday morning. Get our easy-to-follow entry guidelines here. View the latest edition of the Carnival there.

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And Now The Latest From Fox News...

Consider going and taking a look at Joanne Jacobs' latest column over at Fox News. It's a nice roundup of stories about students that have been behaving badly:

Last month, 16-year-old Jeff Weise murdered his grandfather and his companion. He then went on to kill a teacher and a campus security officer at Red Lake High School. The tribal council has made some surprising decisions concerning who will receive monies that were donated to the victims' families.

In Colorado, some schools have been intentionally under reporting incidents of school site violence in order to improve their statistics.

The videotaped sexual assault of a 16-year-old female special education student and what happened afterwards to the school administrators that attempted to discourage the child's father from reporting the crime to the police.

An ex Marine that is now in medical school offers some not-so-practical-but-o-so-tempting advice for the parents that have out of control teens.

Did you know that there is a kid out there that is asserting that he has a religious right to attend high school with a face made-up to look like a "goth clown?" (As a classroom teacher, I find this story to be potentially problematic, especially if the clown persuades ACLU to attend services.)

Since these are Joanne's stories, you'll need to go over to the Fox News Channel's website to read 'em. --------------------------An Invitation: All writers and readers of education-related posts are invited to contribute to the eleventh edition of The Carnival of Education. Please send your submissions to: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net. We should receive your contributions no later than 10:00 PM (Pacific) tonight. The Carnival midway will open here at the 'Wonks Wednesday morning. Get our easy-to-follow entry guidelines here. View the latest edition of the Carnival there.

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Carnival Entries Due

Entries for the 11th Edition of The Carnival Of Education are due TONIGHT. We should receive them no later than 10:00 PM. (Pacific) Please send all submissions to owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net. Get additional details about the Carnival here, and the latest edition of the Carnival there.

The Carnival's midway will open here at the 'Wonks tomorrow morning.

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They Can't Make The Scene If They Can't Pass The Machine

What does a Boston-area high school do when kids keep showing up to school-sponsored events drunk and disorderly? CNN is reporting that at Westwood High School, (website here) they make them blow into the machine:

It was getting so few teachers at Westwood High School in suburban Boston wanted to chaperone school dances. There were drunken quarrels and dramas. At one school event, a student was rushed to the hospital with alcohol poisoning.

So, in recent weeks, she and fellow administrators adopted a policy that a growing number of schools are using to deter drinking at after-hours events: They're now testing students who enter school dances, including the upcoming prom, with Breathalyzers.

Some teens complain that the testing policies are intrusive and misdirected. They include 18-year-old Jason Speakman, who thinks officials' efforts would be more effective if they tested students as they left events to drive home, or increased road patrols.

It seems the idea of having a Breathalyzer at the door of school events has been around for sometime:

At North Central High School in Indianapolis, an early adopter of alcohol testing, that's been the rule for 10 years. And Principal C.E. Quandt has never had a student test positive -- proof, he says, that students are getting the point.

"You can't protect kids 24-7, but you can make the experience they have here a positive one," Quandt says. "We're not going to 'wink-wink' the issue. There is a right and wrong."

Not surprisingly, many students are opposed to at-the-door Breathalyzer tests:

"Kids getting into cars stumbling drunk -- THAT'S a problem," says Speakman, a high school senior in Barrington, Rhode Island, where school officials are considering alcohol tests."

Without a Breathalyzer ... you have to be lucky or the kid has to be stupid," says Rich Catrambone, a social worker at Newton South High School in Newton, Massachusetts, where testing is done on a case-by-case basis. "This takes the guess work out of it."

Last fall, officials at the school expanded testing to a night football game -- a move that caught many students off guard and resulted in nine getting suspended.

That outcome prompted student newspaper editor Chiraag Mundhe to write an editorial suggesting that giving students advance warning would do more to deter underage drinking.

"It really didn't curb the problem; it just punished kids," says Mundhe, a 17-year-old senior.

Interestingly, most of the students that oppose the policy don't seem too interested in boycotting the events. --------------------------An Invitation: All writers and readers of education-related posts are invited to contribute to the eleventh edition of The Carnival of Education. Please send your submissions to: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net. We should receive your contributions no later than 10:00 PM (Pacific) Tuesday, April 26, 2005. The Carnival midway will open here at the 'Wonks Wednesday morning. Get our easy-to-follow entry guidelines here. View the latest edition of the Carnival there.

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Is Just Saying No The Right Way To Go?

In some parts of Arizona, not only are they considering teaching gun safety and marksmanship in high school, but they are also offering students incentives for not watching television:

The student list keeps growing each year that Mercury Mine Elementary School in northeast Phoenix participates in TV-Turnoff Week.

Last year, teacher Jody Taylor estimated she had about 150 students who turned off their sets every day.

This year, Taylor expects the numbers to be even greater. She keeps track of the students by having them return a signed parent slip that verifies they did activities other than watch TV.

Every slip makes the students eligible for prizes that range from pencils, books, a sleeping bag, microscopes and art sets.

Today is the beginning of the 11th-annual TV-Turnoff Week where millions of people take a break from the television for a week and see what life is like without it.

About 7.6 million people are expected to have dark television screens this week, said Frank Vespe, executive director of the TV-Turnoff Network, a non-profit organization that promotes healthier living through watching less television.

Without a doubt, many kids watch too much television. But is it a question of quantity, or quality? Having kids not watch TV altogether may help focus their attention on more positive activities, but they also miss-out on programming that may actually be informative. --------------------------An Invitation: All writers and readers of education-related posts are invited to contribute to the eleventh edition of The Carnival of Education. Please send your submissions to: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net. We should receive your contributions no later than 10:00 PM (Pacific) Tuesday, April 26, 2005. The Carnival midway will open here at the 'Wonks Wednesday morning. Get our easy-to-follow entry guidelines here. View the latest edition of the Carnival there.

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Site Feed Added To The 'Wonks

In response to several email requests, we've added a site syndication feed. This particular one is "ATOM;" it can be found in our sidebar. We hope to obtain other formats soon.

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A New Take On "Western Studies"

In Arizona, Governor Janet Napolitano has just signed into law Senate Bill 1271. This law makes her state the first in the nation that will authorize school districts to offer classes in marksmanship and gun-safety as high school electives:

The voluntary, one-semester elective is among the first in the nation, according to advocates. But many administrators in the [Phoenix] Valley say their budgets and schedules are over-taxed as it is, and offering an elective that doesn't relate to life skills or state standards isn't in the cards.

Al Korwin anticipated that tepid response. The Phoenix gun-law publisher initiated discussion of the bill, which Sen. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa, introduced in January. Korwin said he knew schools would be uncomfortable with the course because "a lot of teachers are fearful of guns."

Rex Powers isn't one of them. The Wickenburg High School art teacher and coach of one of the country's few high-powered-rifle teams has seen the self-discipline that working with firearms instills in students. But Powers fears losing time available to teach other courses.

"It's a good idea because we live in a state where there are a lot of firearms, and learning how to handle them responsibly is important," Powers said. "But we have enough on our hands. As long as it's voluntary, it's great. If it's going to cost the school district money, I'm not really for it."

The Arizona Game and Fish Department, which will certify the instructors, is in the process of developing the course's curriculum, though there should be one in place by the beginning of next school year. It is up to individual school boards to decide whether or when they will offer the course.

It was not disclosed if the schools will furnish the guns-N-ammo or if it will be BYOGA. --------------------------An Invitation: All writers and readers of education-related posts are invited to contribute to the eleventh edition of The Carnival of Education. Please send your submissions to: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net. We should receive your contributions no later than 10:00 PM (Pacific) Tuesday, April 26, 2005. The Carnival midway will open here at the 'Wonks Wednesday morning. Get our easy-to-follow entry guidelines here. View the latest edition of the Carnival there.

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Tales From The Trenches: Classroom Teachers Speak

If it's Sunday, that means it's time for another installment of Tales From the Trenches: Classroom Teachers Speak in which we visit with some of those that serve students in the classroom.

Learning Curves is written by Rudbeckia H., who teaches college-level Math. In a recent post, she answers a variety of commonly asked questions that are on the minds of some students at this time of year. Here is a taste:

Q: I've failed precalculus twice, but I think I'm passing this time. The University says that you can only take a lower division course three times. Can I take calculus in the fall?

A: Yes, but not the section that meets MWRF at 9:05 in room 127.

Mr. Babylon has been teaching Edgar Allen Poe's The Cask of the Amontillado to his classes in New York City's Bronx. Learn the strange tales that came from the pens of his students, including that of one student who invented a bizarre story in which the student got Mr. Babylon drunk and buried him alive because he had stolen his girlfriend, porn star Jenna Jameson.

When a student is getting an "F" and it's time to make a recommendation for next year's placement, what's a high school English teacher to do? The problem is that the student is capable of doing better than would be indicated by the "F." Nicole is confronting this ethical dilemma over at Post-Hip Chick.

The hot topic of student blogging is on the mind of Bud The Teacher. He takes a well-reasoned look at some of the issues that are raised when students write their own blogs. (We wish that our district allowed students to have their own blogs. *sigh*) Bud has already gotten his students up and writing theirs. See his announcement here. Then go and see the blogs there.

Before she left for San Francisco, students at Ms. Frizzle's junior high school participated in "Poem In Your Pocket Day" as part of National Poetry Month. Consider taking a look at how Ms. Frizzle participated herself. (We think it's good when a teacher models desired student behavior by taking part themselves.)

The newest addition to the EduSphere is The Daily Grind, which is written by a Washington State teacher named Mr. McNamar. The Grind takes a look at one of the Eternal Questions that is often on the minds of educators: Do students and the public perceive teachers differently when teachers "dress-up" by wearing business attire?

Jennifer, the Ramblin Educat, had a very long first hour. It was the day for kids to deliver speeches for class elections, and (naturally enough) the students were a little shy. The classroom conversation became very one-sided. At one point, a tumbleweed blew across the room, breaking the silence.

In a very thought-provoking and well-reasoned post, A School Yard Blog examines the vital need for teachers to look at their students through un-biased eyes. ASYB also reminds us of an important concept: that sometimes, "You forget to find the small, beautiful part of the day."

At Unicycle, newly-wed Rachel has just written 52 (!!) thank-you notes. With a graduate project soon due and a presentation to plan for, how is Rachel going to find enough time to do all the sewing that she wants to get done? The fabrics are just piling-up..

Finally, here at The Education Wonks, we offer our take on the sad story of the 5-year-old Florida girl that was handcuffed and detained by the police after refusing to comply with the directives of two very patient (and professional) educators. --------------------------An Invitation: All writers and readers of education-related posts are invited to contribute to the eleventh edition of The Carnival of Education. Please send your submissions to: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net. We should receive your contributions no later than 10:00 PM (Pacific) Tuesday, April 26, 2005. The Carnival midway will open here at the 'Wonks Wednesday morning. Get our easy-to-follow entry guidelines here. View the latest edition of the Carnival there.

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Welcoming A New Addition To The EduSphere

At The Education Wonks, we are constantly on the look out for new education-related voices, viewpoints, and opinions. Over the next few days, we will be adding a number of sites to our sidebar.

Today, we are pleased to be adding The Daily Grind to the EduSphere.

This site is written by a classroom teacher named Mr. McNamar who teaches in Washington State. The Daily Grind's addresses educational-related issues, with a particular focus on events that take place in the classroom and on campus. Consider taking a look at this humorous post from April 1st.
--------------------------An Invitation: All writers and readers of education-related posts are invited to contribute to the eleventh edition of The Carnival of Education. Please send your submissions to: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net. We should receive your contributions no later than 10:00 PM (Pacific) Tuesday, April 26, 2005. The Carnival midway will open here at the 'Wonks Wednesday morning. Get our easy-to-follow entry guidelines here. View the latest edition of the Carnival there.

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The Watcher's Council Has Spoken!

Each and every week, Watcher of Weasels sponsors a contest to see what are the most link-worthy posts from the conservative side of the 'Sphere. The winning entries are determined by a jury of 12 writers (and The Watcher) known as "The Watchers Council."

The Council has met and voted on posts submitted during the week of April 15th. These are the winning entries:

Council Member Entries: China's Time Bombs by The Glittering Eye.

Non-Council Entries: War With China: 2008 - 2010? by The Redhunter.

At this time, there is one open seat on the Watcher's Council. Get more information as well as the application guidelines here. --------------------------An Invitation: All writers and readers of education-related posts are invited to contribute to the eleventh edition of The Carnival of Education. Please send your submissions to: owlshome [at] earthlink [dot] net. We should receive your contributions no later than 10:00 PM (Pacific) Tuesday, April 26, 2005. The Carnival midway will open here at the 'Wonks Wednesday morning. Get our easy-to-follow entry guidelines here. View the latest edition of the Carnival there.

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Testing The Limits

Back in March, we profiled an instance where an extremely defiant and unruly 5-year-old female kindergarten student in St. Petersburg, Florida, was handcuffed and arrested after kicking a teacher and throwing a candy dish at an administrator.

What we didn't know at the time was that the confrontation had been videotaped.

I saw the video on Fox News Channel last evening.

Both Fairmount Park Elementary School teacher Patti Tsaousis and administrator Nicole Dibenedetto, used remarkable patience and restraint in their dealings with the unruly student. They maintained a calm demeanor although, as shown by the video, the child struck the administrator several times and destroyed school property.

Generally, educators may only physically restrain students if they are attempting to cause physical harm to another student, staff member, or themselves. In some jurisdictions, (such as California) restraint is also permitted to prevent the destruction of property.

We feel that the educators acted admirably. They displayed the highest degree of professionalism and self-control at all times.

Through her attorney, the mother, who is contemplating a lawsuit, has accused the educators of "hovering."

Once the police arrived, the girl was soon restrained and led away. After spending some time in the police cruiser, she was released to the custody of her mother, Inda Akins.

View a television station's coverage of the story (with excerpts from the video) here, and a slideshow over there.

Update:(PM) On CNN, Inda Akins's attorney, John Trevena, indicated that the mother is convinced that the school "set her daughter up" and intentionally provoked the confrontation in order to get it on video tape. When asked if the mother was suing for money, he gave the expected reply: "It's not about the money.... but in the legal system that we have... money is a factor."(heh.)

Additional Commentary: Joanne Jacobs ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, along with entry instructions for next week's Carnival, please click here.

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Reality Bites

Erin Shatraw, an 18-year-old woman in Salinas, California, has been convicted of one misdemeanor count of child molestation. Incredibly, Shatraw attempted to convince her 14-year-old female victim that she was a vampire:

A Salinas woman who claimed she was a vampire was sentenced Wednesday to six months in county jail for molesting a family friend, according to Monterey County Deputy District Attorney Gary Thelander.

Shatraw apparently claimed to be a vampire, telling the 14-year-old female victim that she would cast a spell on the girl and her family if she didn't engage in sexual activity.

Thelander said the victim had testified that she noticed Shatraw dressing more and more in black, adding to her beliefs that the woman was a vampire.

The girl also testified that she did believe Shatraw could cast spells when the molestations occurred in July.

Shatraw has been sentenced to serve 6 months in jail. It remains unknown at this time whether or not Shatraw will be allowed to have this visitor. ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, along with entry instructions for next week's Carnival, please click here.

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A New Twist On The Flag Pledge Controversy

As a classroom teacher, I've heard a lot over the years concerning students that refuse to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. But this is a first. A Colorado educator that deliberately mangled the Flag Pledge:

"One nation, under 'your belief system.' "

Joanne Jacobs has all the details here. ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, along with entry instructions for next week's Carnival, please click here.

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A Green Light For Blue Language?

As long as kids have been kids, there have always been some that took great pride is cursing like the proverbial sailor. When I was a child, most kids didn't use much foul language. And those that did never did so in the presence of adults. Today...things are different:

Kids might be punished when they swear in front of their parents, but the penalty is usually milder than liquid soap, especially if the children have heard the same words from Mom or Dad.

I have spoken about swearing to entire student bodies at high schools and middle schools. When I ask the students how many of them swear, more than 90 percent of the boys and girls shamelessly raise their hands. I ask them if their parents swear. More than 70 percent of hands shoot up.

Does it matter? Our language evolves along with our culture. The rigid and repressive mores of the 1950s have been replaced with informality. Some say our relaxed culture - from casual dress to casual sex - has gone too far. Others are content with the freedom to do as they please, say what they want to say, use whatever words they want to use, and give their individual rights precedence over the rights of others.

What about the parents who prefer not to have their children swear? What can they tell their kids? How can certain words be bad if they are said on TV, in movies, at ball games, and at their friend's house? Are they just harmless words, forbidden by outdated social conventions?

Maybe curse words are now widely accepted - or tolerated - but they are still unpleasant. They have lost some of the harshness, but still convey a tone and attitude that adds to our stress and weariness by the end of a long day of hearing them.

Once, when I was about 12-years-old, my mother overheard me say something inappropriate while I was cutting the grass. I can still remember the revolting taste of the Irish Spring. I counted myself lucky. If mom had told my dad it wouldn't have been soap that I would have had to worry about, but a Certain Piece of a cut branch... ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, along with entry instructions for next week's Carnival, please click here.

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They've Got The Beat

As classroom teachers, we like the idea of kids learning about music. We strongly feel that music should be an integral part of their educational experience. Sadly, in these days of budgetary shortfalls, schools are not always able to fulfill that need. Then it becomes vital for others to step-up and introduce youngsters to the World of Music. That's why we were pleased when we ran across this little story in the Los Angeles Times:

In a grassy area of Hancock Park, kids and parents rummage through big blue plastic bins that contain small West African-style drums (djembes), beaded gourds (shekeres), tambourines and collections of goat hoofs.

Kids give a perfunctory shake, pound and tap on sound shapes, lollipop drums and assorted vegetable shakers before deciding on the right instrument. Hurrying over to a shaded area, families find seats at this Rhythm Child drum circle, where leader Norman Jones is thumping away on his own djembe.

"Come on! Join the drum circle!" entices Jones as families get settled. "Let's see what kind of music we can make today."

Participants bob up and down as they pound and shake instruments in a frenzy. Jones then instructs everyone to see how quietly they can drum. Finally, he says, "Let's get louder!" and the whole drum circle explodes with infectious rhythms and exotic beats.

Indeed, making music is at the heart of Rhythm Child, an organization Jones, a 40-year-old Culver City musician, started with his wife, Heather, almost two years ago. The idea is to introduce young kids to the rudimentary elements of music in a family drum circle experience.

The Joneses and their collection of drums may often be found at Family Sunday events, (which are sponsored by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and at this year's Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, along with entry instructions for next week's Carnival, please click here.

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The First Online Homeschool Convention

Over at Spunkyhomeschool, they have done something quite remarkable. I took one look and said to myself, *wow*(!) Spunky has assembled well over 45 posts that were submitted by a variety of sites whose primary interest is homeschooling.

Simply amazing.
---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, along with entry instructions for next week's Carnival, please click here.

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This One Just Has To Be Read To Be Believed

Both Kimberly at Number 2 Pencil and Darren at Right on the Left Coast are covering a story about a couple of female Minnesota high school students that have invented an altogether different method of disrupting the educational process. The girls are wearing buttons that proclaim their affection for a Certain Female Body Part:

I (heart) my (starts with a "V" and ends with an "A")

Of course, the girls claim that they are wearing the buttons in the name of free speech and "raising awareness" of violence against women. The school has asked that the girls remove the buttons and has threatened them with suspension. At least one of the girls is defying the school's directive.

Amazingly, much of the community is rallying around the girls.

As a classroom teacher in a secondary school, (with more years of service than I care to say here) it is my opinion that this is probably more about getting attention, and less about advocacy.

Read Number 2 Pencil first, and then Right on the Left Coast second.

Update:(5/3/05) On his television program, Bill O'Reilly said: "It's not about the appropriateness of the word; it's about the appropriateness of the venue." We couldn't agree more. ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, along with entry instructions for next week's Carnival, please click here.

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The National Education Association Vs. The United States Government

We have learned that the National Education Association (NEA) has joined nine local school districts in a lawsuit against the federal government over funding the No Child Left Behind Act:

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for eastern Michigan, is the most sweeping challenge to President Bush's signature education policy. The outcome would apply only to the districts involved but could have implications for all schools nationwide.

Leading the fight is the National Education Association, a union of 2.7 million members that represents many public educators and is financing the lawsuit. The other plaintiffs are nine school districts in Michigan, Texas and Vermont, plus 10 NEA chapters in those three states and Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Utah.

Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, as the chief officer of the agency that enforces the law, is the only defendant. The suit centers on a question that has overshadowed the law since Bush signed it in 2002: whether the president and Congress have provided enough money.

The challenge is built upon one paragraph in the law that says no state or school district can be forced to spend its money on expenses the federal government has not covered.

In response to the lawsuit, The United States Department of Education has released this short statement:

U.S. Department of Education press secretary Susan Aspey today issued the following statement regarding the National Education Association's action regarding No Child Left Behind:

"Today's announcement is regrettable. No Child Left Behind is, at its core, about fairness and educational opportunity for all students. The preliminary results are in, and in just three short years, states across the nation are showing strong gains in student achievement. The achievement gap-decades in the making-is finally starting to narrow.

"President Bush and Congress have provided historic funding increases for education, and yet we continue to hear the same weak arguments from the NEA. Four separate studies assert the law is appropriately funded and not a mandate.

"We're not alone in our efforts. Respected, national education organizations, including the Council of the Great City Schools and the Council of Chief State School Officers, are working with us to continue this unprecedented national progress. We intend to continue moving forward in partnership with national and state education leaders, and look forward to the day when the NEA will join us in helping children who need our help the most in classrooms, instead of spending its time and members' money in courtrooms."

Over at its website, the NEA had this to say:

"Today we're standing up for children, whose parents are saying, 'No more' to costly federal regulations that drain money from classrooms and spend it on paperwork, bureaucracy and big testing companies," said NEA President Reg Weaver. "The principle of the law is simple; if you regulate, you have to pay."

And there you have it. NEA's unelected Autocrat "President" Reg Weaver decided to use NEA funds to pick this courtroom fight with the federal government. N.E.A. claims to represent teachers, and yet they didn't bother to ask us (who actually serve in the classroom) whether or not we wanted any portion of our dues money to be used in order to tilt at legal windmills. No polls, no ballots, and no choice.

And since California is what is known as a "closed shop" state, the withholding of dues from the union is not an option.

Other Commentary: Eduwonk, (here and here) Jenny D, Joanne Jacobs ---------------------------For the latest edition of The Carnival of Education, along with entry instructions for next week's Carnival, please click here.

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