I reviewed the article titled, "Young Adults Give Low Marks to High Schools" in the April 20th issue of Ed Weekly. This article is about a survey given to young adults so they can rate different aspects of their high school education. They were asked if their high school prepared them for college or trade school and work or internships. It also asked if it exposed you to the latest technology and did it give you the pratical skills you will need to survive as an adult. The majority of surveyors gave a "fair" judgement to most questions. A few of them said they had an excellent experience and a handful said it was a very poor experience. The biggest seems to be being prepared for college.
I can relate to this because I attended a small rural high school in Tillamook Oregon and although I was in college level writing in high school, I wasnt prepared for college math or science. My placement scores for college math put me in the lowest level math offered. In science, I struggled with basic concepts, like parts of a cell. I think I was required to take science for a couple semesters and thats all I remember. I still struggled in writing in college. Even though I took writing 121 my senior year I still couldn't tell the difference between, their, there and they're or your and you're. Apparently I missed some basics in my grammar and to my surprise it wasn't addressed until I took a college level writing class in college. Overall, I would have probably scored this survey the same way, that I had a mediocre high school education.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Ed Weekly, Blog #17, 4-27-2011
I reviewed the Ed Weekly article entitled, "Critics Targeting 'School Shooter' from the April 27th, 2011 issue. This article talks about a new video game that is available. In the video game the player is the shooter and they are in a school shooting students and teachers because they are upset about some issue in school. The graphics are very real and bloody. The player can choose weapons similar to those used in Columbine and other real life school shootings. Many people in the field of education and otherwise are outraged that such a game is out there. Many studies have shown that those that play violent video games are more likely to display violent behavior in their lives.
Personally, I think this is horrific! I dont understand why we would even give students a choice or a way to act out agression like this. In essence these disgrental students are practicing a violent act on innocent people. I think it is just obscene. Unfortunately the game makers have first ammendment rights and are within those rights by putting this game out for the public to buy. Superintendent Joe Kristobak of the Central Pennsylvania school district states it well when he says, "I'm not a fan of any of these games, violence is not a game and death is not a game. "If you start promoting it as a game, it becomes less realistic to people and it becomes a fantasy". This is exactly right and I wish the game makers could see this. I hope that it doesn't take another trajedy to make this point clear.
Personally, I think this is horrific! I dont understand why we would even give students a choice or a way to act out agression like this. In essence these disgrental students are practicing a violent act on innocent people. I think it is just obscene. Unfortunately the game makers have first ammendment rights and are within those rights by putting this game out for the public to buy. Superintendent Joe Kristobak of the Central Pennsylvania school district states it well when he says, "I'm not a fan of any of these games, violence is not a game and death is not a game. "If you start promoting it as a game, it becomes less realistic to people and it becomes a fantasy". This is exactly right and I wish the game makers could see this. I hope that it doesn't take another trajedy to make this point clear.
Ed Weekly, Blog # 16, 4-20-11
I reviewed the article titled "Judge Blocks Ban Of Cancer Bracelet" from the April 20th, 2011 issue of Ed Weekly. This article is about a Pennsylvania school district ban on the breast cancer awareness bracelet that students are wearing because it says "I heart boobies" on it. The bracelets are sponsored by the nonprofit Keep a Breast Foundation of Carlsbad. In the the Pennsylvania school two students were suspended for defying the district and taking the case to court.
The students won and the schools is no longer allowed to ban the bracelets. Other schools still enforce the ban and seem uneffected by the decision. The middle school that I currently work in has a ban on the bracelets and some teachers follow the school rules and take the bracelets away from the students, some teachers make the students turn it inside out so cant see the words and then some teachers turn the other cheeck. I am one who turns the other cheeck. I understand that the actually phrase on the bracelet might be inappropriate for middle schoolers but I believe there is a better way to handle it than banning the bracelet. What if one of those students has an aunt or a grandmother who had breast cancer and they are supporting the cause. Then what have we taught them? I think a far better lesson would be to discuss the issue of cancer because almost everyone knows someone who has been effected by it. Talk about the real issues of the disease and how research is needed to be done and how that costs money and how the bracelets support all that. The bracelets themselves should not be the issue. Students who are wearing the bracelets for the wrong reason is the issue. If A student believes strongly about a cause and truly wants a part in it, why would we as educators ever stiffle that? I never want to discourage a student to make a stand and support a cause especially one like cancer!
The students won and the schools is no longer allowed to ban the bracelets. Other schools still enforce the ban and seem uneffected by the decision. The middle school that I currently work in has a ban on the bracelets and some teachers follow the school rules and take the bracelets away from the students, some teachers make the students turn it inside out so cant see the words and then some teachers turn the other cheeck. I am one who turns the other cheeck. I understand that the actually phrase on the bracelet might be inappropriate for middle schoolers but I believe there is a better way to handle it than banning the bracelet. What if one of those students has an aunt or a grandmother who had breast cancer and they are supporting the cause. Then what have we taught them? I think a far better lesson would be to discuss the issue of cancer because almost everyone knows someone who has been effected by it. Talk about the real issues of the disease and how research is needed to be done and how that costs money and how the bracelets support all that. The bracelets themselves should not be the issue. Students who are wearing the bracelets for the wrong reason is the issue. If A student believes strongly about a cause and truly wants a part in it, why would we as educators ever stiffle that? I never want to discourage a student to make a stand and support a cause especially one like cancer!
Ed Weekly Blog # 15, 4-20-2011
I reviewed the article "Schools for Homeless Students Feel Recession's Impact" in Ed Weekly's April 20th, 2011 issue.
This article talks about a couple schools that cater to homeless youth. These schools are different because they have offer more than one meal a day, they have showers on the facility for the students. They supply clothes and toiletries and other things that homeless families cannot afford. The students receive counseling and other classes that deal with the issues they are undergoing. It is much different than most schools because of the special attention it gives to the unique issues these students experience.
One of the problems these schools are having is similar to many school in the nation and that is budget cuts. The school has promised to stay open and continue to help this population no matter the money situation. I think that this is a wonderfully positive program that can only help these children. They are just as likely to be successful if given the same tools and resources those who are not homeless have.
This article talks about a couple schools that cater to homeless youth. These schools are different because they have offer more than one meal a day, they have showers on the facility for the students. They supply clothes and toiletries and other things that homeless families cannot afford. The students receive counseling and other classes that deal with the issues they are undergoing. It is much different than most schools because of the special attention it gives to the unique issues these students experience.
One of the problems these schools are having is similar to many school in the nation and that is budget cuts. The school has promised to stay open and continue to help this population no matter the money situation. I think that this is a wonderfully positive program that can only help these children. They are just as likely to be successful if given the same tools and resources those who are not homeless have.
Ed Weekly, Blog # 14, 4-6-11
I reviewed the Ed Weekly article titled "Independant Play Fosters Discovery In Young Children" from the April 6th, 2011 issue. This article touches on the fact that when little children play they are also wondering and discovering and using science to answer their questions.
I found this to be very true and have thought this about my son many times as I watch him play. I happen to be a neat freak of a mother, so I used to not let me son tear into anything because it would make such a mess. But I had to losen up a bit and let him be a boy. In watching him "be a boy", I noticed that he liked to take things apart and try to put them back together. I also started letting him fix his mistakes or try to figure out how things work instead of doing it for him because it's easier. I remember one dinner when he decided to pour his own milk. He did a great job but in drinking his milk, he decided to gurgle it and make bubbles in his cup. At first I wanted to say, "Don't do that"! But then I realized that although trite to me, what he was doing was discovery and science and it needed to be done. I really enjoy watching my son discover now and I am a lot more lenient about the messes.
I found this to be very true and have thought this about my son many times as I watch him play. I happen to be a neat freak of a mother, so I used to not let me son tear into anything because it would make such a mess. But I had to losen up a bit and let him be a boy. In watching him "be a boy", I noticed that he liked to take things apart and try to put them back together. I also started letting him fix his mistakes or try to figure out how things work instead of doing it for him because it's easier. I remember one dinner when he decided to pour his own milk. He did a great job but in drinking his milk, he decided to gurgle it and make bubbles in his cup. At first I wanted to say, "Don't do that"! But then I realized that although trite to me, what he was doing was discovery and science and it needed to be done. I really enjoy watching my son discover now and I am a lot more lenient about the messes.
Ed Weekly, Blog # 13, 4-6-11
I reviewed the following Ed Weekly article, "Curriculum defintions stir up worries of a national curriculum from the Arpril 6th, 2011 issue. This article touched on the idea of a national curriculum and how it will effect teachers, schools, districts and commumities. The concern from teachers is that their creativity and teaching know how will be stiffled by rigid guidlines of how and what to teach. The schools are afraid of the same thing. They fear they will lose their individuality toward education.
All of this is incorrect according to the federal government. Their primary goal is to see uniformity and equality in education for all students. They would like to know that every grade schooler will know about the types of rocks (let's say) that are out there by the time they go to junior high school. They would like there to be a common knowledge amongst our young people in the public education system.
My personal experience in this area comes from working in a junior high school in Salem Oregon. Next year the superintenents and administration have agreed that all middle schools in Salem will have a common six periods a day. This is done so that each student no matter which school you attend will receive the same amount of science time for instance as anyone else.
Overall, I think a similar curriculum is a wonderful idea and it is esesential for those students who move often such as military kids.
All of this is incorrect according to the federal government. Their primary goal is to see uniformity and equality in education for all students. They would like to know that every grade schooler will know about the types of rocks (let's say) that are out there by the time they go to junior high school. They would like there to be a common knowledge amongst our young people in the public education system.
My personal experience in this area comes from working in a junior high school in Salem Oregon. Next year the superintenents and administration have agreed that all middle schools in Salem will have a common six periods a day. This is done so that each student no matter which school you attend will receive the same amount of science time for instance as anyone else.
Overall, I think a similar curriculum is a wonderful idea and it is esesential for those students who move often such as military kids.
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