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News & Views - Nov,
2000 Issue (page 2)
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Page 2 of 3 - Previous | Next
SECRET SERVICE STUDY ON SCHOOL SHOOTINGS
(October 15, 2000) The Secret Service released a study on Saturday that "found that most kids don't 'just snap," but
rather leave a string of hints to their coming rage." A consultant for the study said, "This is not about personality. This is about
behavior. This is about asking whether this kid is on a pathway to a violent act, and if so, where is he on that path and how quickly
is he moving." The study found there was no clear profile, and warned against profiling students, suggesting that what was needed
was to listen to students.
CORE KNOWLEDGE SCHOOLS EXPANSION
(October 15, 2000) EducationNews.org, Lexington Institute,
Arlington, Virginia, presented "Public Charter Schools and the Core Knowledge Movement," a report stating "there will be 1,100 Core
Knowledge schools operating in 46 states." This number has grown from one such school in 1991. Based on Cultural literacy,
a book written by E. D. Hirsch in 1986, the Core Knowledge Schools concept asserts that "tightly focused teacher-directed instruction
is more effective for most children than is child-directed instruction."
HOME SCHOOLING EXPANDING
(October 16, 2000) U.S.News printed, "Home
school comes of age," an overview of Home Schooling, or what is sometimes called unschooling, appearing at. It points out that
the most recent expansion has been due to parents choosing this option for educational and non-religious reasons. They estimate about
1.7 million children, or about 2 percent of the school population, are now being home schooled, based "on the idea that education
should be a natural process." The article also points out that home-schooled children often outperform public and private schooled
peers on standardized exams, pointing out that home schoolers scored an average of 1100 on the SAT scores, 81 points higher than the
national mean.
NEW CEO FOR CHADD
(October 16, 2000) Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Inc. (CHADD) announced E. Clarke
Ross, DPA will be joining the 22,000 member organization as their new Chief Executive Officer on November 13, 2000. Ross has had almost
30 years of national association executive experience, most recently serving as Deputy Executive Director for Public Policy for the
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI).
REUTERS/ZOGBY POLLS ON EDUCATION
(October 16, 2000) A series of polls appearing on October 13th and 16th on Yahoo News, reported 44.2% of adults favored
education accountability and standards over the 41.6% who favored smaller class size. 62.6% felt the best method to combat illegal
drug use was through better parenting/stronger families, compared to 12% who favored using foreign trade, 8.5% who favored legalizing
marijuana, and 7% who favored electing a tough anti- drug president. Polls also showed 54.3% favored upgrading public schools while
36.8% favored experimenting with charter schools. 50% preferred alternative certification, while 41.7% favored certification based
on education and credentials.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION CLAIMED COMMON
(October 16, 2000) U.S.News, article entitled "Junior
Zombies", reported that only 15 percent of adolescents report sleeping 8.5 hours or more on school nights. Pediatrician, Will
Wilkoff, stated "About 80 percent of my practice is not getting enough sleep." He concluded "some children who are labeled ADD or
hyperactive are actually [acting] that way because they are tired." It was also suggested that tired students don't learn well, car
accidents are more likely for sleep deprived inexperienced teen drivers and too little sleep can contribute to depression."
TEENS FLUNK CHARACTER TEST
(October 16, 2000) The Joseph & Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics survey of 8, 600 students, appearing at, reports
92% had "lied to their parents in the past year. Seventy-eight percent said they had lied to a teacher, and more than one in four
said they would lie to get a job. One in six said they had arrived in class drunk 'at least once in the past year.' Sixty-eight percent
admitted they hit someone because they were angry. Nearly half - 47 % - said they could get a gun if they wanted to." Also 7 in 10
"admitted cheating on a test at least once in the past year, and nearly half said they had done so more than once…."
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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