Teacher education

Here are some of the key quotes from the Conservative Party s Social Justice Policy Group s paper on addictions .particularly in step with \ journal ‘is not negotiable’ approaches to education to children in greatest need. It also seems to be in step with the concerns of scientific experts on cannabis.
With the understanding of the real dangers of drug abuse and addiction.

Systematic carefully designed research to test the impact of different approaches [to what they call addictation education] – scientific, informational, experiential and personal, and peer led interactive – to be tested and compared across different school settings is required. Impact measures need to look at comprehension and retention in addition to longer term behaviour change. This requires a ‘capture and recapture’ method or other form of longitudinal, cohort study.

Filed under: Conservatives

Stick that on your power cord!

Ungdomsengagemang projektmedlemmar both on television and by celebrities. Our peers are another strong influence and we believe that peers who don’t use drugs are a positive influence.

-Boredom contributes to young people using drugs and positive activities need to be more accessible.

-Drugs and alcohol are widely available and easily accessible to young people.

Looking in more depth at what the young people said about drug education Mentor report:

The young people were adamant that the personality of the worker who delivers a drug intervention is key to its effectiveness.

There was a general lack of trust in the ability of some teachers to deliver drug education. It was felt that they were not really motivated to teach the subject and were biased in their messages; they only talked about the negative effects of drugs and did not give a balanced view.

One of their participants said:

“I don’t think [teachers] actually care about it, they’re just paid to do the job.”

Of course I’m sure this isn’t entirely fair, but it does suggest that the way teachers approach the subject makes a significant difference to the way it is perceived by those receiving it.

Filed under: Drug Education Forum Members , drug education , Mentor UK

I asked if Id give people a health warning in schools Conference:

The Thomas Coram Research Unit are putting on what looks to be an interesting conference:

This conference aims to provide participants with new ways of thinking about promotion of the health and well-being of children and young people. Themes and topics to be addressed include:

-alcohol use

-bullying

-sexual health

-physical activity, obesity and healthy lifestyles

-mental health and wellbeing

The conference will be on 14th May in London.  You can download the flier from here .

Filed under: Conferences , Institute of Education

One of the other blogs devoted to the virtual school is to decide on Schools Online (DAOS) note that this blog is no longer available . I know  t think it would be unfair to characterize this as a blog with a specific agenda (like most blogs, websites and even do). On the page purposes, it has two major goals:I ‘ll post more about this attempt to destory public education, then I  sure). I  Trackbacks I posted on their blog and I  confident that they can correct me if I wrong.and at the federal level?
-Can the e-learning to help students make progress towards the objectives of the No Child Left Behind? most burning right now? And, do you have any thoughts about your responses to those two questions?

If you fall more into the educator category, which two questions do you see as the most burning right now? And, do you have any thoughts about your responses to those two questions?

Tags: virtual school , cyber school , charter school , high school , education

The guys over at Slashdot – the techie news service, have posted an entry a few days ago that ooks ahead to the coming year and makes some Technology Predictions for 2006? While I usually just skip over this blog in my Bloglines, as it is usually more technical than what I can manageor have an interest in, but this one stuck out at me for some reason.

It may be because around the same time that I saw this entry, I was also preparing a list of trends about virtual schooling – trends about the practice of virtual schooling and I felt that the activities of assessing the current trends of virtual schooling was much like trying to predict what the future year may hold for us in technological advances. For those in the know, both activities involve some level of uncertainty and both items could easily be debated, but in both instances you just have to use what you know about the topic and lay it out there.

In this end, I came up with five trends about the current practice of virtual schooling. They were:
The number of states with virtual schools and the number of students taking virtual school courses is growing.
Virtual schooling is moving from primarily targetting the secondary grades to being available for middle school and elementary school students.
Virtual schools are moving away from their initial focus on advanced level mathematics, science, and other specialty courses to cover a wider variety of the mandated curriculum.
Virtual schooling is becoming more and more popular with students and parents looking for alternatives to the public school system.
Recent research continues to focus upon student performance and the nature of students served by virtual schools.Now, I thought that since I have this blog and, if you believe the information presented in Statistics for December , a fairly steady readerhip, I wanted to see how on or off base I was with these trends. So…If you agree with any of these five, which ones do you agree with?If you disagree with any of these five, which ones do you disagree with and why?If you feel that I missed one or more, what are they are why should they be included?I look forward to your response…Tags: virtual school , cyber school , high school , education

drtombibey
April 18, 2008 at 2:08 pm

Wow chili! You do have your hands full.

There is an old saying in bluegrass: “We tune because we care.”

I guess something similar is true for folks who doctor, write, or teach, but that kind of e-mail is bound to test your patience.

Dr. B

Reply

9 Comments.
Clix
April 13, 2008 at 7:50 am

Hm. ARE they pedagogical gold? If, after showing these emails to students and demonstrating what’s wrong with them, you still get similar emails… is it really working?

(This is something I wrestle with A LOT. Sometimes I’ll think that lesson X has worked better than lesson Y… but you know, it’s never with the same group of students, so maybe the lesson X group was more attentive and would’ve done just as well with lesson Y…)

I don’t think you’re in water that’s ETHICALLY murky, that’s for sure. Teachers use prior student work as samples all the time, and that’s stuff that’s turned in for a grade, not for use as an example. As long as you leave out identifying details, you’re fine.

OTOH, there’s something to be said against ridicule in general. I don’t think it’s an effective teaching method. The students who most need to see your real point – that stupid mistakes should be avoided – are the ones most likely to get caught up in the vicarious embarrassment and tune out what you really want them to hear.

Anyway, to make a long story short (well, short-ER at least!) I just don’t know. I think mostly it depends on your delivery.

Reply

Beginning with the Yahoo! News Alert virtual school.

Home, for some, is where the school is Villages Daily Sun Tue, 07 Nov 2006 6:18 AM PST

BUSHNELL — Children taught at home miss out on so many experiences that children who attend public school get to experience every day. Their parents are thrilled about it.

Moving on to the Yahoo! News Alert for cyber school.

Santorum, Casey race close; voters explain why Standard Speaker Sat, 04 Nov 2006 9:09 PM PST

Issues such as war in Iraq, taxes and immigration draw voters to either Rick Santorum or Bob Casey in the race for the U.S. Senate, but so do personal experiences.

General News Clarion News Tue, 07 Nov 2006 5:08 AM PST

KNOX – The Keystone School Board Oct. 16 agreed to enter a $7,500 agreement with the Intermediate Unit 5 for services aimed at drawing students back to the district who have enrolled in cyber charter schools.

Casey for Senate York Daily Record Mon, 06 Nov 2006 11:21 PM PST

Robert Casey is a better fit ideologically for Pennsylvania than Rick Santorum. ·Residency: Sen. Rick Santorum has been hammered because he lives most of the year in a Virginia house with his family – rather than a modest home near Pittsburgh he also owns.

The Cyber School Option WNEP 16 Pennsylvania Wed, 08 Nov 2006 12:58 PM PST

Some students in our area are getting their education not in the traditional classroom but over the internet.

Western Pa. voters show local passion in ousting Santorum, Hart phillyburbs.com Fri, 10 Nov 2006 1:11 PM PST

PITTSBURGH – The ballroom was decorated with red, white and blue balloons and posters of a smiling U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. But as his supporters waited anxiously for the results of his race with challenger Bob Casey on Tuesday night, the reality of what was to come started to settle in.

Something new this week, from eSchool News.

Study: Virtual-school enrollment explodesNov 7 FULL STORY

Enrollment in K-12 online courses in the United states has exploded in the past year, increasing by as much as 50 percent in some states, according to a new report from the North American Council for …

Similarly, from the ASCD SmartBrief.

Report: Virtual school enrollment soars

Thirty-eight states now regulate or sponsor virtual learning programs, while enrollment in online K-12 courses has soared over the past year, finds a report released by the North American Council for Online Learning at its annual Virtual School Symposium. The group also released the results of a separate survey that provided snapshots of virtual learning programs in 30 different countries. eSchool News (free registration) (11/7)

Minnesota district gets a boost from virtual schools

Launching two online schools for students statewide four years ago has turned out to be an enrollment and funding boon for Houston, Minn., a small district that until that time had been slowly but steadily losing students. Superintendent Kim Ross says the initiative — which has attracted about 850 virtual students, each accompanied by about $5,000 in state aid — has shielded the district from the fiscal pressures most districts face. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul) (free registration) (11/9)

Next, the Google News Alert for virtual school.

Group behind Missouri’s virtual K-12 school launches website News-Leader.com – Springfield,MO,USA

… start offering K-12 courses online, has launched a website and an outreach campaign to keep families informed of developments with Missouri’s virtual school. …

And finally from the Google News Alert for cyber school.

Santorum, Casey race close; voters explain why Standard Speaker – Hazleton,PA,USA

… The children were enrolled in a cyber school until a Democrat on the school board in Penn Hills objected because the school district paid the tuition at the …

Cyber school support Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – Pittsburgh,PA,USA

Cyber school is public school. My child happens … I am well aware not everyone should home-school or cyber-school their children. I don’t …

Tags: virtual school , cyber school , high school , education

QUESTION: Do you think the world governments are putting forth enough effort to stop and prevent human trafficking? If you had the means and power what would be your proposed resolution?

The movie Taken was released January 30, 2009. The action, adventure, and drama filled thriller made over 145 million dollars in the United States box office. The film portrayed a family distraught, because their young teenage daughter had been kidnapped on an international vacation. Her father, known as a “preventer”, saved his daughter from being bought and sold into the sex trafficking business.

The idea of a mainstream film revealing the devastating details of this ever-growing industry says that people worldwide are being affected by this epidemic. Therefore, it is up to world citizens to ask their country’s governments, “What are you doing about this issue?” and “How can you protect my family?” From the shocking stories, primetime specials and film portrayals of this industry, one would conclude that there is danger around ever corner.

Although human trafficking is a worldwide epidemic, many Americans are under the impression that young women and children are only being abducted from foreign countries, but they are sadly mistaken. There have been several incidents reported where children and young women have been abducted from several places which most wouldn’t believe to be perilous. It appears as if there is nothing our governments can do to reduce the occurrence of forced prostitution worldwide. While it may be easier to track criminals who put children and young women on the streets, those whom continue to move to different locations makes finding the missing persons a challenge for police officers and government officials.

Knowing that there may potentially be predators lurking around every corner, riding down your street or even in line behind you at the grocery store; one might ask is any place safe? Is there really anything the police and lawmakers can do to combat this violent epidemic? Though there are non-government agencies that battle for the enslaved children and young women being trafficked, and there have been laws passed making human trafficking a federal crime, there are still over 100,000 women and children being bought and sold in America everyday. As citizens of the world we must demand that the deplorable people that commit these horrible acts be severely punished.

By Karenia S. Ferguson

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

- Thinking Things Through
- How can we monitor human trafficking?
- A dialogue

Kim
February 1, 2008 at 10:08 pm

Saintseester, you are right on about the kids having to grab on. I deal with that struggle everyday in my classroom, and they’re only 10!

First off, I love teaching. I love my kiddos, and I doubt I will ever do anything outside of education. That being said, I believe our education system as it exists now is irretrievably broken, and we must throw out all of the “this is the way we do it” and “it’s their fault” (whoever they are) garbage.

We need to be courageous enough to think outside the box, stop trying to pander to special interest groups (including the unions) and stumping for votes. It’s not about power, privilege, prestige or pride. It’s about KIDS. Once we get that through our thick heads and ruthlessly seek only what is best for them, no matter the cost – personal or financial – we might have a chance.

Reply

3 Comments.
saintseester
January 23, 2008 at 10:02 am

“Intellectual simulation” – ha, ha!

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4 Comments.
Sooza
January 3, 2008 at 8:44 pm

Wow! Kizz and I must be on the same wavelength. I was going to mention the former classmate as well, but she beat me to it! I’m sure he’d be willing to talk strategy with you.

I have to admit, though, I still don’t see why the hybrid class even makes it on the schedule. I can’t really see a good situation for it, unless you have incredibly motivated students.

On that note — good luck!

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saintseester
May 7, 2008 at 7:58 am

I was reading a novel this week. The author kept using sentence fragments. In one paragraph I counted 5 of them. It drove me batty! I mentioned it to my mom; being the “expert” writer she said it was okay if it was for dramatic effect. I said, it is not okay if it drives the reader batty.

I struggle with my son every time he has to turn in a research paper. I will tell him to edit sentences that need work, and he’ll fuss because “his teacher didn’t tell him to do that.” Grrr. The prime issue this week was not starting a report of with the phrase “this report is about.”

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9 Comments.
Lanie
May 8, 2008 at 8:57 pm

I would reply on the bottom of the page saying “I hope you find some motivation because I really don’t FEEL like having you in the class again next semester!”

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3 Comments.
Val
May 5, 2008 at 9:43 pm

You hit the nail right on the head-their ignorance is terrifying. I like using King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail to illustrate logos, pathos and ethos. It’s amazing when I tell student King had to logically prove segregation was wrong, less than 50 years ago!
Like you, I don’t feel like it’s very much, but we have to start somewhere

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2 Comments.
saintseester
April 23, 2008 at 8:18 am

It took me forever to see it. Must have more coffee. That is just sad.

This reminds me that I have an email from a company from whom I buy certain formaldehyde-free products. The email is riddled with grammar and spelling errors. I replied to them and said that if they could not do better than that then I wasn’t a customer any longer.

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