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News & Views - Oct,
2000 Issue (page 2)
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Page 2 of 3 - Previous | Next
VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOLS
(August 31, 2000) A Chronicle of Higher
Education article on distance education reported “More States Create Virtual High Schools, With Virtual Universities’ Help.”
ARE SCHOOLS FAILING BOYS?
(September 5, 2000) The Globe and Mail, an Internet Canadian publication presented a survey of Canadian educators recognizing
that boys are increasingly falling behind girls in reading and writing throughout the country. This appears to be the same problem
being discussed in the United States and Great Britain, summarized by some as: “They’re not just falling behind, they’re giving up.”
One suggestion is changing reading content for boys to reflect their greater interest in action narratives; others suggest an effort
should be made to help boys, similar to what has been done in the last decade or two to help girls.
BIPOLAR WEB LINK
(September 5, 2000) The Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has
established a web site featuring Bipolar Disorders. Sections include a description of their clinic, definition of Bipolar Disorder,
and other related information.
STUDENTS SHOW FEW GAINS IN READING SKILLS
(September 6, 2000) The New York Times, reported an analysis
in “The first of five annual reports planned on the National Assessment of Educational Progress” that students today read at about
the same level as students in the early 70s, and have advanced in basic math skills only slightly. The analysis was based on a new
analysis of standardized tests given since the 1970s.
WARNING FOR GIRL ATHLETES
(September 6, 2000) The American Academy of Pediatrics, in a publication of a statement updating a 1989 policy statement
in the September issue of the Pediatrics journal, warned “Adolescent girl athletes should be monitored closely to ensure that their
training doesn’t include unhealthy eating habits that could result in damaging bone loss.” David Martin, chairman of sports science
for USA Track and Field, said many male coaches “use male lingo to exhort their female atheletes to train hard, run fast, get skinny….
It’s kind of a militaristic approach but is perceived by these girls as, ‘I can please my coach by losing weight and getting thin.’
HARRY POTTER NUMBER ONE IN CENSER ATTEMPTS
(September 7, 2000) USA Today reports the Harry Potter books were “the No. 1 target last year of efforts to pressure
libraries and schools into making the books difficult or impossible to get.” The fictional books have also been No. 1 on the best
sellers lists for months.
POLL SHOWS VOUCHER SUPPORT DECLINING
(September 7, 2000) A poll conducted by the Gallup Organization for Phi Delta Kappa International, reported in Education
Week, concluded that “Support for publicly financed vouchers for private school tuition has declined over the past three years, from
44 percent of respondents in 1998 to 39 percent this year.”
FBI LIST OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE WARNINGS
(September 7, 2000) Reported in the New York Times, “F.B.I. Lists Caution Signs for Violence In Classroom,” the FBI
developed a list of “more than 40 signs for school officials to check once a threat of violence had been discovered.” Warning this
was not a profile that could identify a potentially violent student, it does cover “the student’s personality and family, as well
as school and social dynamics.”
BALANCED PARENTING WEBSITE
(September 8, 2000) Dr. Brien O’Callaghan, a clinical psychologist with over 32 years of experience, is developing
a web page at http://www.jbocallaghan.com/fr_home.htm called Balanced Parenting, designed to present his thoughts on the proper balance
in parenting, such as “Family struggles start with an imbalance: too much or too little protection and control of children.” He emphasizes
use of common sense.
ATTACHMENT DISORDER WEB SITE
(September 8, 2000) Billing itself as “Your Place for Information and Support Regarding Reactive Attachment Disorder,”
the Attachment Disorder Site can be found at http://www.attachmentdisorder.net.
EDUCATION IS TOP POLITICAL ISSUE
(September 8, 2000) The New York Times, article entitled “On the Stump, the Hot Topic Is Education,” points out that
virtually all candidates for public office this year, from President to county commissioner, sound like they are running for school
board. It seems as if the voters are expecting all candidates to have the solution to education’s problems. (How did we get to where
the public seems to feel politicians are more qualified than teachers, parents or the children themselves in educating our children?
–Lon)
Copyright © 2000, Woodbury Reports, Inc. (This article may be reproduced without prior
approval if the copyright notice and proper publication and author attribution accompanies the copy.)
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