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News & Views - Dec,
2000 Issue (page 3)
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Page 3 of 3 - Previous
HERSHEY SCHOOL ALUMNI BATTLES SCHOOL MANAGERS
(November 27, 2000) The AP reported in New
Jersey Online, that Alumni of the Milton Hershey School in Hershey, Pennsylvania, founded by the chocolate baron, as a no-cost
school for orphans, are objecting to construction and changes occurring at the school that they claim are contrary to the roots of
the school. The Hershey school is planning extensive construction and modification of the school, supported by a $5 billion trust
fund, one of the largest in the world. The school’s web page is http://www.hershey.pvt.k12.pa.us/,
and the alumni association is at http://www.mhsaa.org.
SCHOOL REFORM PROPOSALS
(November 27, 2000) Craig R. Barrett, President and CEO of Intel Corp. wrote
an article about the role industry could play in improving American schools. Although he points out that our “top students are
smarter and perform better than ever before,” he claims, “American schools lag far behind on math and science. The longer American
students stay in school, the poorer they perform compared with students from other countries. In 1998, U.S. colleges and universities
awarded 20 percent fewer degrees in electrical engineering, computer engineering and computer science than a decade earlier.”
PUBLIC SCHOOL RESTRAINTS CRITICIZED
(November 27, 2000) The Massachusetts Board of Education is considering objections to the state policy adopted last
year “allowing public school teachers and administrators to mechanically, physically and chemically restrain a student.” The article
was published by the Boston Herald and can be found in their archives.
ALLEDGED ABUSE IN GEORGIA BOOT CAMP-LIKE
PROGRAM
(December 1, 2000) An 11-year-old boy was hospitalized “who showed some physical signs of abuse” after becoming ill
while doing drills in a boot camp-like program subcontracted by the Camden County School District. Reported by the Florida
Times-Union, drill instructors involved were suspended pending an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The school
district plans to continue the program “because of the many instances where students enrolled in the program showed great improvement
in attendance, grades and behavior.”
CHARTER COLLEGES PLANNED IN COLORADO
(December 2, 2000) RockyMountainNews.com reported recommendations
to the legislature to create two charter colleges, along with their K-12 charter schools.
SCOTLAND ROBBERY
(December 2, 2000) The Electronic Telegraph, reported three
“privileged” boys were sentenced to four years in youth custody for robbing “a millionaire businessman at gunpoint in his home.” Several
others were arrested and received various sentences. The victim of the robbery, which had been planned over a period of four weeks
later said, “I feel heartbroken for the families of the boys and I’m sad these lads seem to have had nothing better to occupy their
minds than plan a robbery.”
REPORT CONFIRMS COLUMBINE BULLYING
(December 2, 2000) RockyMountainNews.com, reported
that an investigator for the governor’s Columbine Review Commission, Regina Huerter, said bullying, including previous bullying and
ridicule of the shooters, had occurred at Columbine High School, site of the infamous shootings last year. She also added, however,
that it was probably no worse than other schools. Teachers and administrators emphasized bullying is not part of the culture, and
isolated incidents should be expected in a school of 2,000 students.
THIRD SUICIDE AT GRANADA HILLS
(December 2, 2000) The Daily News of Los Angeles
reported a third student committed suicide in the last year at Granada Hills High School outside Los Angeles, California. According
to the news report, the 17-year-old shot himself outside the school in front of a video camera he had set up. “Several of his friends
blamed it on increasing expectations at school for the college-bound student taking Advanced Placement classes.”
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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