Category Archives: Elementary School Controversy
Who Can We Trust? Was The Study Linking Vaccine to Autism A Fraud?
A parent’s job is to worry…about everything. Are our kids going to a good school? Am I feeding them healthy meals? Are they safe when I’m not with them? Should I have them vaccinated…when a reputable study says that vaccines have been linked to autism? The question whether to have our kids vaccinated has been one of the toughest and most controversial that parents have had to face.
For many the thought that a vaccination for a childhood illness could increase their child’s chances of autism far out weighed the risk of that illness. So, when Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues published a paper in 1998 linking the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) shot to autism it was enough to convince many parents, worldwide, to fore go the vaccine.
Goodbye, Mr Chips…You’ve Been Replaced By A Robot
I think that everyone probably has a favorite teacher…the one that took the extra time to help you with your long division…the one that played with the kids at recess…the teacher that you knew loved to teach. What kind of memories do you think you’d have if your teacher was a robot?
It’s not that strange of a question or something out of a bad science fiction movie…30 robots have started teaching English to students in a South Korean city in a project designed to nurture the nascent robot industry.
Want To Make A Good Impression As Governor-elect?
Try kicking a puppy, having some racy pictures of yourself posted on Facebook or if you’re really daring announce that you’re introducing education vouchers in your state. Florida Governor-elect Rick Scott has recently announced his proposal that all children should receive education vouchers that they can use to attend private, public or charter schools has done the trick for him…more publicity than he knows what to do with.
Education Dollars
Is Data Fabulous to Second Graders?
I came across a blog the referred to a YouTube clip about second graders and data. I have to say I didn’t even read the rest of the blog – I stopped reading and watched the clip, the whole time in disbelief.
What’s the (Percentage) Point?
Child Enrichment Industry Keeps On Growing
When I look at kids today I feel like I may have been short changed by my parents. Sure I had Girl Scouts, softball league and swim lessons in the summer, but where were my enrichment activities?
Immune to the Economy?
It seems that not even a bad economy can keep the ever-growing enrichment industry from getting a boost from parents who are overly anxious about their children’s future prospects, according to an article on Yahoo! Finance.
The Times They Are a-Changin’ – At Least For The Boyscouts
The times they are a-changin’…who knew Bob Dylan would still be right 46 years after he wrote those lyrics, but it’s true. You see it everywhere and one group that has been feeling it is the Boy Scouts of America.
The Boy Scouts Tradition
I remember when I was in school you always knew which boys were Scouts because they would wear their uniform to school on the days of their meetings. They all looked so cute and were so proud of that uniform, but times have changed and because of allegations of sexual abuse, homophobia and the exclusion of those who don’t believe in organized religion many schools are no longer sponsoring Scout troops.
We Don’t Expect Nurses To Buy Bandaids, So Why Should Teachers Have To Buy Classroom Supplies?
I’m always amazed at how much money my sister in-law spends on supplies for her second grade classroom. It’s really astounding…there’s the aquarium and fish tank for the class project, books for the class library, art supplies (somethings aren’t made with construction paper), decorations and special snacks for the end of the year Hogwarts Party…just to name a few.
What Teachers Are Spending
The Associated Press recently reported that teachers in classrooms across the country are spending their own money to insure that they have needed supplies. Teachers spent almost $400 on school supplies and $540 on instructional materials for the 2009-2010 school year, according to a survey conducted this year by the National School Supply and Equipment Association.
Same Sex Math Class…Can It Be Seperate But Equal?
First of all, I have to confess that I just don’t like math. I don’t like it now (take a look at my unbalanced check book register if you don’t believe me) and I didn’t like it when I was in school.
I think that one reason I didn’t like math in school was because of how competitive math class could be. To me, math class was sort of like a game and the winner was the person who could answer the question correctly the fastest…that was never me. It seemed that the boys in my math classes just thrived on this competition and I just hated it.
Sugary drinks still in our Schools!
I am just going to say upfront that I’m shocked. I really have a hard time with this. Schools are still putting sugary drinks into the hands of our kiddos. Often times we have no control over what our kids drink when they are at school because we send lunch money to school (with good faith!) and then our lovely kiddos get to choose what they drink with lunch. We tell them to choose milk, but we all know that most kids will choose the sugary alternative over milk. So why is it even available??? Don’t we all want our kids to be healthy? If it’s not an option, then it’s won’t be a concern!
